Witch Discussion

some more ideas and thoughts! I'm relying on what Zo has suggested, so the ideas here just an add on to that route.

Things I think would be a cool touch to consider:

- Witches powers and type of magic could be effected by a few main factors. I think it's safe to say these are the important ones: origin (where the witch was born, country/state wise), life experience (where they have stayed and the most common terrain they have been on even?) and interests (for example - more keen to herbs, interested in nature, medicine, etc).
I think it would be logical to say, for example, that witches who were born in India would know more about the type of spells and enchantments and superstitions regarding this certain country, and they will have a harder time learning Finnish spells and potions.
And of course, anything potions related might be tricky if you're not in your origin country, and can't collect certain ingredients.
As far as life experience goes - I'd like to give an example! If a certain witch has lived most of their lives in their hut in the mountains, they are more likely to master certain type of magic in order to survive and live in that area! So maybe they are more knowledgeable in specific potions, spells, earth magic or even wind/air magic. Anything that would help them throughout their lives. If a witch tends to travel a lot, they might have a more basic knowledge of spells and potions, but their own power won't be focused on a few specific elements. It could be either good - witch is more versatile and has an opportunity to study different magic techniques through out the time; or bad - their magic power is rather low, since they couldn't focus their inner energy and channel it through, thus making them weak.
Interests are kinda connected to your life experience as well! If you're very curious about human psychology, learning further about the subject, your magic powers would be channeled towards mind reading abilities or even mind control. If you're more interested in astrology, it might be easier for you to predict certain events in the future, or know when certain types of magic are effected by the stars and planets movements.
Specifically the interests part is a bit tricky, because I don't think it would make a BIG factor as the other two, but it can certainly effect them.

- Basic magic can be learnt from books and scrolls, and could be practiced by trial and error. You might not be mastering these spells or potions, but you'll be able to do them decently. It's best to learn and receive guidance from master witches of course, in order to achieve better results! Take it into consideration, if you only study from books, you can also get REALLY BAD RESULTS (aka - you could hurt yourself and not know it, because no one has taught you).

- Potion rules? I have joked about it before but I think that there are certain types of potions that are rumored to exist but could not actually be made. Some of them include - love potion, resurrection potion and immortality potion. 
While you could make potions that have similar effect as a love potion or immortality potion - and even use necromancy to talk to the dead - you can't make a person fall in love with you, gain immortal life or bring the dead back to full life. 

- that potion part being said - I'd like to add that maybe when magic is involved, it is based on equivalent exchange, similar to the Alchemy in Fullmetal Alchemist. Basically, you can't have anything without giving anything. If you want to use a speed enhancing spell, it will take a toll on your legs. Any kind of magic you use repeatedly will eventually fade off over time, and will have an effect on your body. The more powerful the magic you use, the more energy it will need from your body, and that might effect your abilities to do certain things, and even your life span. 

Things to still talk about that might be tricky:

- while I agree with the fact that witches are born with their powers, do we need to go further into family trees?
Does your ancestors or family members (close and far family) need to be witches as well, for the magic abilities to be passed down by blood?
Is it possible to be born with magic even if you're not from a witches family?

- what type of supernatural creatures can be considered as familiars? and would there be specific rules to how one pact is made? I had some vague ideas but I'd like to hear what others have to say as well.

- Do... do we need wands or staves? 

Hullo my brain is bees so i am going to just talk about some of these points for now ty

"- Basic magic can be learnt from books and scrolls, and could be practiced by trial and error. You might not be mastering these spells or potions, but you'll be able to do them decently. It's best to learn and receive guidance from master witches of course, in order to achieve better results! Take it into consideration, if you only study from books, you can also get REALLY BAD RESULTS (aka - you could hurt yourself and not know it, because no one has taught you)."

I think that we are in agreement learning for books is possible, and you can do decently without the use of a teacher. It would be no fun if.... say I for some reason wanted koby to go down a witch path in the rp, and he wasn't able to do cool magic (regardless of how bad or strong that magic ends up being). Maybe these book-taught witches end up as generalists and never get to master anything, Not without a teacher or something. I do love the idea that if you have no clue what you are doing, there will be bad consequences sometimes from these missteps!

"- Potion rules? I have joked about it before but I think that there are certain types of potions that are rumored to exist but could not actually be made. Some of them include - love potion, resurrection potion and immortality potion. While you could make potions that have similar effect as a love potion or immortality potion - and even use necromancy to talk to the dead - you can't make a person fall in love with you, gain immortal life or bring the dead back to full life. "

Haha yeah I really like this idea that there are certain IMPOSSIBILITIES with some potions or spells, and perhaps many witches in the past have suffered the consequences trying to challenge such feats.

I WILL BE BACK WITH MORE PONDERING , SO MUCH FUN STUFF TO TALK ABOUT