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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Horoku" data-source="post: 1644403" data-attributes="member: 12667">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.</blockquote>

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