Spells: Difference between revisions
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===Mana | === Mana === | ||
All supernatural and spell-like abilities are powered by mana. Extraordinary abilities usually are not, being inherent to the person or creature who possesses them. | All supernatural and spell-like abilities are powered by mana. Extraordinary abilities usually are not, being inherent to the person or creature who possesses them. | ||
Mana is stored and used by the aura, which is the interaction field between a physical body and the background magic of the world. | Mana is stored and used by the aura, which is the interaction field between a physical body and the background magic of the world. | ||
Both Arcane and Divine abilities use this basic mechanism. | Both Arcane and Divine abilities use this basic mechanism. Arcane abilities require the efforts of the wielder to store the mana in the aura. Divine abilities are placed into the aura of the wielder by a (presumably benevolent) Divine Entity. Some users of magic use different mechanics, and the mana is stored in an object. This includes the bombs and extracts of an alchemist, or the poultices of a ranger. | ||
Spell-like, supernatural, and extraordinary abilities, regardless of how they are powered, are mostly defined as being either Vancian or Howardian in their behavior. (Vance and Howard are ancient sages and scribes whose towering intellects and dominating contributions have enshrined them forever.) | Spell-like, supernatural, and extraordinary abilities, regardless of how they are powered, are mostly defined as being either Vancian or Howardian in their behavior. (Vance and Howard are ancient sages and scribes whose towering intellects and dominating contributions have enshrined them forever.) | ||
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There is a third class of abilities, the Yngvarian abilties, whose only defining trait is, they don't fit the Vancian or Howardian models cleanly. Yngvarian abilities are hotly debated as an ongoing area of philosophical discussion. | There is a third class of abilities, the Yngvarian abilties, whose only defining trait is, they don't fit the Vancian or Howardian models cleanly. Yngvarian abilities are hotly debated as an ongoing area of philosophical discussion. | ||
===Mana and Mana-Burning=== | |||
====Spells, Extracts, and Poultices as class abilities==== | ====Spells, Extracts, and Poultices as class abilities==== | ||