Willpower: The Engine of Magic

Here is another sneak peek under the hood of Novarium.

In the game, your primary character is a mage. The magic systems that I have seen in other RPGs are typically either balanced against other classes (which we don't want here) or weighted so heavily that the mage basically never runs out of power.

My goal in this mechanic was to create a system that was fairly robust but which would break down if you really push the envelope too hard. Also, I wanted to disconnect the mechanic from physical strength and easy resting. Games like GURPs turn into Algebra: The Game if you are a mage because you are calculating how to maximize your rest times so that you have enough Fatigue to do what you want. Or the cliche from video games of casting a bunch of fireballs, resting, then proceeding to the next room.

This mechanic satisfies that pretty well. It depletes under several different circumstances. As in Ars Magica, you only lose points when you fail a roll, giving much more longevity to the caster than D&D style systems. It rises under several different circumstances. And it should be hard to exploit. It is simple too. Just a single page and easy to understand.

Thoughts?