Regarding magic systems do you perfer hard or soft systems.
I don't have a strong preference for either type when I'm reading or consuming media, I've seen really cool examples that fall into both categories. For my own writing I tend to have a bit of range. Generally, I my systems tend to fall around the center. Most of my main setting tends to slightly lean towards having softer magic with some guiding principles and restrictions. It's nowhere near as hard of a system as FMA. The closer characters get to being "divine" the less restrictions. The outright deities have very few outright restrictions in comparison outside of other deities, and things of that nature. Overall, I like to have rules and structure for general magic that are malleable to not restrict the plot, but don't completely break everything. I think harder system give a stronger sense of logic and reason, while softer magic tends to impart an almost mystical sense. My magic system rn isn't 100% done, but there are very few absolute rules throughout its entirety. I also have different sub systems that I'm working on.
An example of the type of "soft" limitation I have, is that unbound flight, resurrection, time travel, creation, and absolute destruction magic is in some ways nigh impossible. In regard to how this plays out in the story, it's generally accepted as being impossible to truly create or destroy something with magic for mages, with very limited caveats. So, the "destruction magic" closest to true annihilation for 99% of mages breaks down targets into
veeeeery small (as in subatomic or smaller particles. With that being said it is possible erase things, but that's considered to be the divine form. Alteration magic is a close approximate to creation magic, as in matter manipulation and alchemy, it's one of the hardest forms of magic to pull off. The closest thing possible for resurrection is generally either necromancy or advanced healing. Unbound flight is an idea inspired by Avatar which makes it impossible to fly using magic under most circumstances. By unbound I mean without any external aid, so wings or technological advances are outside the scope. It would be more like Superman's flight. Levitation is more feasible but it's difficult to sustain, is generally a sign of spiritual or magical advancement. Time Travel isn't exactly possible under normal circumstances. Most of these rules are what I call "soft impossible" as in there are barriers preventing them, but they can technically be done. And again, this doesn't really apply to gods. A deity could resurrect anyone they wanted, create, destroy, etc. But this doesn't really happen due to several factors. There are different types of gods, but they have intergroup rules instead of hard limits. Some random gods could bring back whoever they want, but that would of course make Death angry.
TLDR:
My magic system leans on the softer side, because there aren't any real rigid rules to them. Among non-divines their magic has "soft laws". But the main limitations binding gods are mostly from either other gods or lack of skill instead of being caused by "laws". So, I generally refer to my magic as a mixed system, because it's not magic that's limited, it's always a user limitation in some way.
