The more I think about it, the more it amazes and confuses me all at the same time. I've googled it just to be sure but it seems people compare it to the likes of time/space manipulation, which is a different beast but doesn't have the same power level of a reality warper to me, or matter manipulation, which is odd because it only concerns in the atomic structure of humans, animals, etc. I have also read something about omnipotence which they also compare it to reality manipulation. Is there some kind of difference between the two? It seems like it's just a different term for reality manipulation. Links I've read: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TheOmnipotent https://powerlisting.fandom.com/wiki/Reality_Warping https://www.quora.com/What-power-ability-is-more-powerful-than-Reality-Warping (this one is weird because the examples given already apply to reality warping) https://comicvine.gamespot.com/forums/gen-discussion-1/reality-warper-vs-matter-manipulator-684206/ (I'm not sure what to think about this because I think reality transcends matter) I'm kinda afraid to include it in my story (even though it's a major thing) because it may lead to such plot holes like why didn't just this character did this then everything would have been solved? Thing is I want to avoid having my characters resort to some kind of deus ex machina/"It just works." moment so instead, they solve the conflict through other means. One of them has the power to bend reality but his personality and morals is what makes him not do it in the first place. (he's afraid that he could mess up the universe) I'm just not sure if it's believable.
It is what YOU want to make of it. Since this is fiction, you don't have to follow any particular definition. If you want your character to be able to create weapons out of thin air, you can call it matter manipulation, reality manipulation, whatever you like as long as it makes sense - it wouldn't make sense to call it genetic manipulation.
@Naomasa298: Apologies, I guess I didn't get my point across. I'm thinking along the lines of meta/concepts in regards to reality bending. That means anything that happens in reality, whether that be matter, time, or something else, is included. If that makes any sense. Thing is, I worry about the potential plot holes it could create.
It would be possible to have a godlike super weapon grabbing the enemy's brain from nowhere. If disconnected from the time-space fabric while being able to make new connections at will, you're practically a god able to open a gate to heaven or hell as you constructed it. If another planet is 0.1% ahead of us, that's millions of years and enough to reach ascension as pure energy. Anyone else not approved to ascend would be killed before even born. Either way, such unnatural gods would come from evolution, see us as insects and not give a damn unless we threat their existence.
Now that explains it. I haven't read it though I heard a lot about it because I like cosmic horror. Hmm, I'll try to think reality warping in lovecraftian sense. Thanks for giving me an idea.
My point is, YOU define the limits of any power. If you worry about plot holes, then you need to think about the situations your powered character gets in to and think "Why doesn't he use his power just to do this?".
@Naomasa298: Ah, my bad. I think I misunderstood your reply. I brought this topic up because I really need to know what exactly is "reality" (not how I define it but as a concept itself) and what does it actually affect. That way I can put limitations to my character. Plus it lets me understand how such ability would work in a given situation. Anyways, the cosmic horror perspective is an interesting way to look at it. I am still open for opinions about reality warping though.
You may want to read A Certain Magical Index. In it you have 'Espers' at various power levels from 1-5, 5 being the most powerful. Essentially an Esper is a reality warper. Their powers work a certain way because that's how they think it should work. The mind imposes its own limits on reality even if you are not aware of them.
No "s." You don't want things like that holding back your writing. In all fiction we are creating new limits on reality or bending the one we know. Consistency within the confines of your story is what's really important. I love a good end-of-the-world story. And I'm a sucker for a good zombie story. There doesn't need to be a believable reason for these things in the real world so long as it's believable in your story. And consistency is what is going to keep you from creating plot holes. There's no reason to make it harder than it has to be. I don't really focus the reasons behind the story so much as the story. And I've found with this approach I can alter reality just about any way I want.
Even though I plan to make my story into a manga/comic, I still have to write dialogues. English isn't my first language so this means a lot. I see. I'll take note of it. I'm having a bit of a eureka moment either. (in a meta way)
"What is reality?" You're asking a question that literally thousands of philosophers and writers of fiction have attempted to answer. You could spend several years attaining PHD's in both subjects and not receive a definitive, agreed upon answer. The types of articles you mentioned are mostly collating data from existing fantasy and science fiction (mixed with notions from modern and classical philosophy) and then categorizing it. I would suggest shifting your focus to defining the rules in your own fictitious mythology as you see them benefiting your story. Make up our own rules, and call it what you want (or see if it fits neatly into one of their categories.) When powers and abilities are split into "existing" categories before the story is written, you often end up with trope exhaustion from readers. YA F/SF is rife with it, whether divided into elemental powers or specific psi-abilities or simply power levels. It's basically the first chapter of half of all YA novels in the last twenty years, and while it's a very popular trope, it usually isn't done well even in the better written novels. Instead, put the limitations you want on your characters, try to be consistent by avoiding unexplained gaps in power ("If the character can do this, then why wouldn't they be able to do that?") and, in the end, call it what you want, whether it fits the blogs and wiki "definitions" or not. Those pages are just going by terminology and limitations established by authors such as yourself, and there's great inconsistency between them. Join the ranks and put in your own two cents. Also, if you want to avoid trope exhaustion, don't give powers or the people who have them silly names or color-coding. I watched The Darkest Minds the other day (haven't read the book) and involuntarily rolled my eyes about once a minute during the first twenty minutes. (Everyone gets one of five elemental or psi abilities complete with corresponding eye color flashes? Blech.)
@Rzer0: That's what everyone's telling me too. I guess I really got it all complicated for myself. (I was reading reality in wiki prior to your reply and it just made me more confused.) I'm also used to superpowers in YA as well which probably only hindered me. I don't read many YA novels so I only search for examples. Most of it are what you mentioned. I think it's the weirdness of the abilities is what draws me into it. I'm going to recheck my story and see what I can do. Apologies for causing everyone inconvenience but I learned a lot in return. Thanks. I've checked it on TV Tropes. It mentioned that the movie changed how some of the abilities work. What I find weird is the red psi, it's no longer your usual pyrokinesis. The eye flashing part seems okay but does it change their eye colors or does it retain it's true color? (just asking)
I don't know about the book. In the movie, the kids' eyes were normal until they used their abilities. If they lit up in the book, I assume it was the same, otherwise she couldn't have hidden with the greens for years. Either way, it was trite. Don't do it. Glowing irises may look cool or scary or something, but they don't make sense, and they're WAY over used. Use a glowing aura or something if you really, really have to, but not power-specific color-changing eyes.
You can alter your written world anyways you want to. If you can write it, it exists. Will it be understood? Maybe. Do you have to consult a physicist to ask whether a black hole is capable of sentience and wearing a top hat? No, a physicist is not master of your world. A man born in 5x5 room, never having been outside, can still write of flowers and birdies(aside: How different will that be! Sometimes I want to crawl into the mind of someone who was born blind, just to see how they visualize existence) For a reality-warper, you can impose limitations of scope, or you can add the fact that warping reality taxes the character greatly: Summoning a watermelon is all right, but if he has to change the atmospheric composition of a planet, or summon an eldritch catsquid from another verse, this will physically affect him, maybe even put him in a coma. Personally, having an all-powerful reality bender and then tying morality to him ill suits me, it is much like a god paradox: If omnipresent benevolent creature can but does not create utopia, is it benevolent? Or is its idea of utopia not in line with that of its creations? Another angle is antagonism: There are forces which can block the character's warping, or they also warp and so either a point of nullification or chaotic unraveling of extant laws occur due to warpers in opposition. Think: Two painters with vastly different art styles painting at cross purposes on the same canvas.
Hahahaha. That cracked me up. (I suddenly thought about an ability that lets you gouge eyes only if it glows by itself) Don't worry, I only think of glowing eyes for characters that have psychic powers or Code Geass or some kind of dramatic effect. I dunno if you're into anime but I'd like to suggest watching JoJo's Bizarre Adventure. They also have psychic things going on, except all their powers are personified.
@31152104: That's good way to look at it. I like those suggestions especially about the blind person. It empathizes with the character. My character is like what you described here.
