Magic in the Second World
Popular RPG systems tend to make a distinction between those with magic and those without it. Spellcasters are the ones who wield magic, whereas martial fighters are given different abilities and mechanics to reflect their non-magical weapon and skill mastery.
In the Second World, things are different. The incredible abilities that martial or otherwise non-mage characters wield are derived from a universal foundation of magic. Everyone has a little magic. Magic is what enables people - dedicated spellcasters or otherwise - to perform actions that would otherwise be considered impossible for a normal person. In Second World Magic, there is no mechanical distinction between a spellcaster casting a spell and a martial fighter conducting an incredible and unbelivable feat of heroism. The difference between these two types of characters is how they wield or manifest their inner magical potential.
The Second World's magic system is designed to represent a wide variety of heroes, whether they be traditional bookworm wizards, masters of the blade, or engineers who derive power from incredible inventions. The system aims to maximize player freedom and expression while remaining as mechanically lean as possible.