Magical College series: Should the people know?

In my series, about a college where most of the students have some sort of magical superpower, I'm not sure if everyone should know about it, and the college being open about its magical students, with classes to train them to become better? Or, should it just be a regular college, doing its best to keep the magical wackiness out of the newspapers?

The series is slightly cynical, with plenty of Dead Baby Comedy. It's starring a Tall Darkand Snarky lightning elelental, best friends with a Warlock Butcher specialising in Blood Magic.

edited 6th Apr '12 3:33:02 AM by M4dH4tter

The Masquerade is a highly implausible trope, so if realism is your aim, I'd say that the college being open about it is the way to go.

Why not have them keep it all secret, and have everyone know? That is to say, the masquerade is broken, but the mages refuse to admit that it's broken, and are still froggifying everyone who's caught discussing it.

That certainly sounds like it would fit the planned tone.

Alright, that sounds pretty good. So, everyone in town knows about it, but any newcomers wouldn't know. Great!

Why does it remind me of a certain British Wizarding School or a certain city filled with superpowered students?

Because everything has been done before. What matters is how you do it, and certainly the tone here sounds distinctive enough.

People like familiar. People like tropes. Maybe not to the extent of blatant plaigarism, but I personally wouldn't enjoy reading something truly original. Harry Potter isn't exactly the epitome of originality and creativity, if you don't mind me saying, and while the Certainverse is fun, all of it's appeal has been done somewhere before. And that's fine. Harry Potter...well, I don't actually have many positive things to say about Harry Potter aside from the fact that it got a bunch of kids reading, so it's not really a good example, but if everything about it was better and yet it still retained it's inspirations, then it would be enjoyable and unique—despite it's components being standard tropes. Likewise, the Certainverse implements a variety of frequently used cliches in inventive ways. A story should not be judged by the creativity that went into designing it's premise, but how well its pulled off. Sure, a unique premise might work as a good hook, but honestly that's not what makes the work work.

Thank you!