Mana: Difference between revisions

 

See: [[Psychic Powers]] for the [[Sci-Fi]] genre's version of human special powers.

 

{{examples}}

== Anime and Manga ==

* In ''[[Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch]]'', Michel stole [[Life Energy]] apparently to fuel his powers and make him stronger. While this is part of it, it soon turns out that the other part is just to keep himself alive through the process of {{spoiler|altering his DNA to merge with Michal.}}

* ''[[Dragon Ball]]'': "Sentô-ryoku (literally "fighting power", and actually called such in the Latin American dub)" or "Power level" is an famous use of this trope; it resembles Ki. Note that power level isn't something that can be used up like most of the other examples and is more like a [[Character Level]] than a [[Mana Meter]]. It can go down, but only if the character is ''really'' low on energy. Generally when it starts dropping, that means the fighter is on their last legs, and is fighting to stay conscious. (On one occasion, Gohan actually got his dropped to zero; he looked comatose.)

* ''[[The Banned and the Banished]]'': Mages of the Chiric and Choric styles store mana in their hands, which turn a dark red shade that lightens as the power is slowly used up. Both types can recharge from sunlight, and Choric "wit'ches" can also use moonlight or the glow from a ghost (gaining access to different types of spells when they do so.) However, they can't recharge a hand unless it's completely empty of power, which can be problematic if a Chiric mage is running out of mana near sundown.

* ''New Mana: Transformations of a Classic Concept in Pacific Languages and Cultures'' [http://press.anu.edu.au/publications/series/monographs-anthropology/new-mana book] edited by Matt Tomlinson and Ty P. Kāwika Tengan explores the history of the term. The last part being ''How Mana Left the Pacific and Became a Video Game Mechanic'' by Alex Golub and Jon Peterson.

 

== Tabletop Games ==

* Aversion: One of the eccentricities of ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' is that it does not have the concept of Mana, but instead uses [[Vancian Magic]] revolving around the limited capacity to prepare spells beforehand.

** [[Psychic Powers|Psionics]], interestingly, uses this instead with a pool of Power Points. You can also spend more power points on early-learned powers to put them on par with their higher-level counterparts.

 

== Video Games ==

* In the ''[[Lunar]]'' games, all special attacks, including [[Ki Attacks]] use up the same MP. However, they do not all count as "magic" as defined by the series. This gets weird in ''Lunar 2'', when Ronfar's healing spells are determined to be "not magic."

* The MMORPG ''[[City of Heroes]]'' uses Endurance to fuel all superpowers, whether they are magical, technological, the result of mutation or scientific experimentation, or plain ol' martial arts.

* Crest Magic users from the [[Wild ARMs]] series are all [[Big Eater]]s, and they claim that casting spells uses a lot of energy. This results in the often scrawny or waiflike magic users consuming truly prodigious amounts of food (Celia in the first game at one point orders more food than should actually be able to fit in her body). The first game does use MP however, for two of the characters, and thus it might be that the fuel used for magic is perfectly normal bodily energy, as the other user uses his MP to fuel his various sword techniques. This makes a bit more sense when you realize {{spoiler|that the only character who doesn't have MP, Rudy, is actually a [[Ridiculously Human Robot]].}} Later games do away with traditional MP, but the implication that Crest Magic users burn lots of energy and eat lots of food remains.

 

* Lux in ''[[Tales of the Questor]]'' is a bit light on ritual, but otherwise fits the spell-casting thing pretty well. [[Word of God]] says lux is more akin to a really funky neutrino field than typical magic. Most of the populace treats it like magic, though, and it can summon lightning bolts.

* In ''[[Drowtales]]'', drow call the substance that powers their [[Functional Magic]] "Mana". In fact the author rather objects to the term "magic". Not only is it generated by the elves' own [[Life Force]], it is necessary to allow the fey races to remain immortal.

* Izzy from ''[[Adorable Desolation]]'' has the ability to map mana trails.

* In ''[[The Dragon Doctors]]'' it's possible to go into "Mana Shock" when you accumulate too much; this happens to a girl who was turned to stone and left soaking in the bottom of a leyline for 2000 years. She nearly exploded when she went into Mana Shock later.

 

== Web Original ==

* Aura in ''[[Chaos Fighters]]'' and using it effectively requires charging, i.e. accumulating it into something. However, aura are ''atom sized particles'' and in-universe it is partially explained using ''quantum mechanics'' and partly using ''classical wave theory''.

* ''[[RWBY]]'': When asked at a convention during or just after volume one what Dust was, [[Word of God|Miles Luna]] simply replied, "Mana."

 

== Western Animation ==

 

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Magic and Powers]]

[[Category:Power Source]]