At WorldFantasyCon, I attended a panel by this same name. Going into the panel, I expected a discussion of different types of strengths being compared to the default of physical strength. Instead, the panel veered into magical strength and stayed there.


Defining Strength
Of course, we addressed the titular topic, but the conversation just kept swaying magical.

Strength can be just an overwhelming level of power. But, to use one’s strength to accomplish one’s goals of any type is a form of competence. Be it physical, mental, mystical, or magical, without competence you end up with more of a firestorm than a laser.

Things Magic Can Represent
Magic can just be the extraordinary, but often in fantasy, it’s a way of discussing real-world issues without bringing all the baggage that its real-world counterpart has accumulated.

The hubris of the human spirit
It’s often an allegory for privilege or power
In worlds where magic is bad – the main character is often non-magical
In worlds where magic is good – the main character is often magical
Ways Magic Can Influence A Society
When certain people have power that others don’t have access to, that’s going to disrupt the social order. Just like any other sort of wealth or power.

Innate magic leads to a more stringent class hierarchy
Gained or earned magic tends to be in worlds with greater social mobility
Availability of magic determines if it’s rare or commonplace — expensive or cheap.
If magic is inherent in a place or object, that gives power to those who possess that place/object (ley lines/hubs, Dune’s dust…)
Tropes For Different Strengths
There are a lot of tropes when it comes to giving characters strengths and powers. Some are more overdone than others.

Magic users are seen as more intelligent
Magic types as innately light or dark
Magic as a tool
Magic based societies not developing more mechanical technology alongside it
Using an outsider or non-magical person to introduce us to the magical world
Using magic to solve everything
Giving poor characters fewer skills, rather than different ones
Try having a farmboy where his farming skills come in handy
‘Leveling’ the main character up everytime there’s a new boss
Types of Strengths For Villains
Heroes aren’t the only ones with strengths. Any respectable foe needs to have some strengths of their own.

Some villains share the main character’s strengths… but let their moral convictions prevent them from doing the right thing or rationalize their way into the wrong thing.
Some villains have good — or at least understandable motives — but their methods and the lengths they go, using their strengths to achieve their objective cross the line into monstrous.
Some villains are the protagonist of their own story. The strength of their moral convictions — like Magneto in the X-Men. He might be on the wrong side, but I can’t say he’s wrong.
What sort of strengths do you have? Your core competencies?
What about your main characters and your villains?
Do they balance each other?

The panelists were Fonda Lee, Carol Cummings, Marissa Lingen, and Rhiannon Held.