DESTROY CANTRIPS: Keep Orisons....

[Fifth Element]

Sorry for the quick derail, but can someone explain to me why spell points are always called "mana"? Considering the word is Jewish term for 'bread like food that came from heaven', I don't see the connection.

No, that's manna.

Mana is a polynesian concept for one's internal force or power.

Its application to RPG spell-point systems originated from Magic: the Gathering I think.

 

[jadrax]

No, that's manna.

Mana is a polynesian concept for one's internal force or power.

Its application to RPG spell-point systems originated from Magic: the Gathering I think.

IIRC, Larry Niven pretty much popularised the term in his novels.

 

[ExploderWizard]

No, that's manna.

Mana is a polynesian concept for one's internal force or power.

Its application to RPG spell-point systems originated from Magic: the Gathering I think.

GURPS was using mana as a base resource for mages long before MTG.

 

[Thunderfoot]

Thanks all, clarification is a wonderful thing.

 

[Fifth Element]

GURPS was using mana as a base resource for mages long before MTG.

Ah yes, I knew that. Thanks.

 

[Mishihari Lord]

or at least redefine what a cantrip is...


Rather than making them zero level spells why not make them the foundation of an arcane spellcasters learning.

(snip interesting stuff)

I kind of like it, but I think the presentation is a little convoluted. How about this instead:

There are several things you can do with each spell. I'll use the Charm Person spell as an example because it's already been used. Once you learn the spell you can

• Cast the spell as currently written
• At-will get a +1 for a social/reaction/influence roll vs 1 humanoid.
• With an arcane check, get a +1 for a social/reaction/influence roll for a larger group

Each spell becomes significantly more useful, so I'd probably want to cap the spell/level numbers a bit lower than what they are now.

 

[Mishihari Lord]

GURPS was using mana as a base resource for mages long before MTG.

It was around even before that. I have a third-party spell list book from the early '80s intended for use with multiple systems that uses the term.

 

[Herschel]

No, that's manna.

Mana is a polynesian concept for one's internal force or power.

Its application to RPG spell-point systems originated from Magic: the Gathering I think.

I like bread.

 

[Empath Negative]

Convoluted is right.

Cantrips as the basic language and gestures of magic.

If a spell against fearlessness was est sularis oth mithas.. The cantrip would be est sularis. It would be a +2 to will against fear effects for 3 rounds.


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[the Jester]

Its application to RPG spell-point systems originated from Magic: the Gathering I think.

Arduin Grimoire used a mana system back in the... late 70s? Early 80s?