hope to heck Strange is connected to Thor more, I don't know how to explain it but it fits to that part of the MCU.
It just seems that not only by magic, but the style.
I don't know. Dr Strange doesn't work quite as well with the "technomagic" aesthetic. While I am all for Strange's sorcery being something that advanced science ( ala Asgard ) can eventually theoretically understand, I don't want the plot to spend all its time using technobabble.
If I had to design a model for it, I'd steal from the old Marvel Adventure Game the system of Internal vs Universal vs Dimensional magic.
-Internal magic is basically psychic phenomenon, powered by your own mind and body. Any ritual or components are basically psychosomatic crutches.
-Universal magic involves manipulating various exotic natural forces and laws using the methods of Internal magic as your tools. Produces much larger and more potent effects than Internal magic, but also is *much* harder to do. Ritual or components here have real effects, usually dependent on exotic properties and geometries.
-Dimensional magic involves, basically, contacting sentient entities and asking for help. Produces extremely large and potent effects, potentially. . . but also involves indebting yourself to powerful beings. Ritual or component here are symbolic but still necessary, as they derive from the arbitrary preferences of whoever your trying to entreat.
It has the advantage of avoiding my "magic randomly causes anybody wearing a labcoat to go stupid" pet peeve, while also adequately explaining why modern science hasn't discovered any of this ( "you don't have the tools to see or manipulate any of this easily unless your already psychically active *and* mystically trained" puts a serious roadblock in study ), and giving good reason for a proper high wizardry aesthetic.
