Mana

The mana system replaces traditional spell slots with a single flexible resource: Mana Points (MP). This system keeps the pacing of 5e spellcasting while offering players more freedom in how and when they cast spells.

What Mana Represents

Mana is a measure of a caster’s magical stamina—the amount of arcane, divine, or innate energy they can safely channel before requiring rest. It does not change what spells a character has access to; it changes only how those spells are spent.

Mana Points

Every spellcaster has a maximum mana pool determined by their class progression. Each spell slot granted to a character in the base rules is converted to mana equal to the spell slots level. For instance, a level 1 spell slot becomes 1 mana, a level 5 spell slot becomes 5 mana, etc.
• Casting a spell costs mana equal to the spell’s level.
• Cantrips cost no mana.
• When you are out of mana, you cannot cast leveled spells - even ritual spells

Recovery of Mana

Mana is normally restored on a long rest, returning the caster to their full mana pool. Some classes, items, and abilities may allow partial recovery on a short rest or through active features.

Mana may also be recovered through:
• Mana potions
• Class abilities
• Magical effects
• Narrative or environmental sources

The amount restored varies according to the effect.

Maximum Mana Rules

A character’s mana pool can never exceed its maximum value. Any mana gained in excess of the character's max is lost.

Spell Preparation & Known Spells

The mana system does not alter what spells a character can access.
• Prepared casters still prepare spells each day.
• Known-spell casters learn spells as their class dictates.
• All normal class restrictions still apply.

Mana functions only as the resource expended to cast those spells.

Design Goals

This simplified system is meant to:
• Maintain overall 5e balance
• Reduce slot-juggling without increasing complexity
• Allow casters to tailor their daily casting to the situation at hand
• Make resource use more intuitive and flexible