Contemplating a variant magic system...

[Horoku]

I have an idea for a variant casting system for use in a high-magic world. Basically, it would revolve around the following two themes: The universe is infused with a higher-dimensional energy field, called "mana" (or whatever). This dimension is where magical energy exists, and is also where living auras are manifest; Normal life-forms are quite incapable, with few exceptions, of making their auras do the kind of structural backflips necessary to cast complex spells.
Mechanically, this means that standard PC races cannot normally cast spells beyond 0-level.
However, being the ingenuitive weirdos that they are, people have found ways around this handicap. To this end, we have the discovery of the Mana Stone. A Mana Stone (MS) can be formed from any gemstone that is exposed to a great deal of natural mana. A standard MS usually has a specialization in a given school. Every MS has a random, unknown number of "Stress Points" (SP). When a caster prepares a spell, he channels a bit of his aura into the MS, causing it to store his spell, rather than storing it in his own life force. Whenever a spell in a MS is cast, there is a (5 x total spell levels currently in stone) chance of it having a stress reaction: If the spell being cast was of the stone's specialty school, it loses 1 SP; otherwise it loses 2 SP. If a MS runs out of SP, it burns out.
There are other varieties of MS, as well, categorized as Advanced Mana Stones (AMS). These stones might ignore schools, or might have an amount of stress resistance. They can only be made by a spellcaster (probably with crafting of some kind). Some AMS can be used to hold charges of spells, like a magic item. In this way, large AMS can be used to power temples, instititutions, and cities with magic.
Anyway, the basic caster classes both use MS. Wizards use them to store arcane spells from themselves. Clerics use them to divine spells from their Source.
Sorcerors don't use MS; their auras can handle the stress of magic.
Paladins use MS; their intense purity lets them charge MS with positive energy from their souls, to produce spell effects.
Rangers and Druids don't use MS; their close bond with nature allows them to call upon nature spirits to help them.
Bards use MS as a part of a musical instrument, channeling their music into the manastream to create spell effects.

This is really designed for a non-psionic environment.

Magical monsters and creatures with (Sp) and (Su) abilities still function normally.

I dunno. It's all very basic and sketchy right now, but I think it could be cool for a flavor thing. What do you guys think?

Edited to take out some of the unnecessary rambling.

 

[Horoku]

Double-Post. Sorry. And... er... Bump.

Some ideas for Advanced Mana Stones:

Minor Battery:
This AMS is a large gemstone, about one inch in length, with runes carved into the surface. It can hold, as an item of Spell Storing, up to 3 levels of spells within it. Each time a spell is cast from it, the Minor Battery loses a Stress Point.

Major Battery:
A huge crystal, 8 inches in length and covered in runes, this AMS can hold up to 6 levels of spells within it. Each time a spell is cast from it, the Major Battery loses a Stress Point.

Greater Battery:
A gigantic crystaline structure, easily 10 feet tall, this AMS has been enchanted to provide spell energy to a large area. Imbued with powerful magicks, the Greater Battery stores raw Mana instead of spells. A Greater Battery has 5d20 + 10 Mana Charges per day. Each Mana Charge can fuel one spell-level; 0-level spells use half a Mana Charge. A Greater Battery can be recharged at command if necsessary, but it will lose 1d10 Stress Points. Mana Charges are harnessed by casters (who generally require some sort of key) in the area, or by devices that have been attuned to the Battery. The caster level of a Greater Battery spell is equal to the level of the caster, or the level of casting that the device is designed to utilize. Casters can use this Mana to hardcast spells that they know by taking the necessary time to prepare that spell and cast it as one long action. Devices are generally have situational triggers (street lamps activate at sundown, and cast Light, using a built-in metamagic (Extend, +1 to spell-slot level). Most street lamps have a caster level of 10. Therefore, it takes 4 Mana Charges per 12-hour period to light one lamp).

Wow, that last one was funky. I dunno. Contemplation is fun. Now I must sleep.

 

[glass]

I have also been thinking about a gemstone based caster recently, although as a standalone class rather than a modification to the other classes.

Also still in the random ideas stage, but I was thinking all their spells would have some sort of gem as M or F component. I was also thinking they could have pet rocks like psions (which do not exist IMC).


glass.