[quote=Gelgarin] Personally I favor it being at least partially a learned ability, just since it adds more of an interesting class element to the proceedings. If magic requires study then Joe the farmer is probably never going to become a mage, because he's too busy farming so as to not starve. It's hard to devote years to the study of incantation when you can't read, can't afford a teacher and have to get up at sunrise every morning to milk the cows. Magic is going to be limited to those powerful enough to devote time to its study, either through wealth, rank or family - which offers a somewhat more human reason for normal people (read:me) to resent magic users. [/quote] Totally agree with this ^ Edit: A good mix of an inner talent thing that has to be taught and controlled by learning and studying is probably the best.