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Magic system idea
Aug. 9th, 2011 03:33 pm(for use in a story or role-playing game)
The source of magical energy ("mana") is the Earth's mantle. Solid rock blocks the flow of mana, so regions over sedimentary bedrock are Very Low Mana (the strata form powerful barriers), but regions over igneous bedrock (or with plenty of fairly recent igneous surface stone) are Low Mana due to the residual mana still in the rocks.
Active volcanoes form a direct opening to the source itself, so they turn the immediate region into a High Mana Zone, or Very High for purposes of Fire- and Earth-related spells. Extinct volcanoes are not as powerful but still act as a mana conduit, making them Normal Mana Zones for all purposes. Very deep caverns and mines may also count as Normal Mana due to being closer to the source.
On the surface of the ocean, there is a little bit less crust blocking the way, so more mana can get through--but it's aspected by the water on its way up. For purposes of Water- and Weather-related spells (perhaps spells related to marine biology as well), the surface of the ocean is considered a Low or Normal Mana Zone depending on the depth of the water below (deeper water means stronger magic). A very deep trench or an undersea magma vent may raise this to High Mana. Tempestuous conditions may also provide a bonus, as the churning water allows faster mana flow. For unrelated spells, ocean surface still acts as the usual Very Low Mana.
This should lead to desirable situations such as skilled tribal shamans performing mighty rituals on the slopes of active volcanoes, hermit enchanters setting up ramshackle laboratories in old cinder cones, weather wizards sailing into storms to tap into the raw power, and fishman warlocks gathering in Atlantean temples built over undersea vents. Fun!
The source of magical energy ("mana") is the Earth's mantle. Solid rock blocks the flow of mana, so regions over sedimentary bedrock are Very Low Mana (the strata form powerful barriers), but regions over igneous bedrock (or with plenty of fairly recent igneous surface stone) are Low Mana due to the residual mana still in the rocks.
Active volcanoes form a direct opening to the source itself, so they turn the immediate region into a High Mana Zone, or Very High for purposes of Fire- and Earth-related spells. Extinct volcanoes are not as powerful but still act as a mana conduit, making them Normal Mana Zones for all purposes. Very deep caverns and mines may also count as Normal Mana due to being closer to the source.
On the surface of the ocean, there is a little bit less crust blocking the way, so more mana can get through--but it's aspected by the water on its way up. For purposes of Water- and Weather-related spells (perhaps spells related to marine biology as well), the surface of the ocean is considered a Low or Normal Mana Zone depending on the depth of the water below (deeper water means stronger magic). A very deep trench or an undersea magma vent may raise this to High Mana. Tempestuous conditions may also provide a bonus, as the churning water allows faster mana flow. For unrelated spells, ocean surface still acts as the usual Very Low Mana.
This should lead to desirable situations such as skilled tribal shamans performing mighty rituals on the slopes of active volcanoes, hermit enchanters setting up ramshackle laboratories in old cinder cones, weather wizards sailing into storms to tap into the raw power, and fishman warlocks gathering in Atlantean temples built over undersea vents. Fun!
