Spells
In role-playing games, there are usually a series of spells that certain characters may cast that do certain things, like summon a minion to draw fire away from the caster, or heal someone, or deal damage to someone. Most systems which allow casters to do this kind of thing regulate such powers with a requirement of mana, so that such characters can't just wield such powers willy-nilly. You have to pay for spells, with mana. If you don't have enough mana, you can't cast the spell you want, etc.
I'm glad that I was introduced to such systems in my time as a gamer, because it has helped me to understand my limits in my life. I use the word 'mana' to mean drinkable water, and there are things that I may want to do in my life (spells that I need to cast) that I can't possibly hope to do without mana replenishment.
When I went to California last time, I had an 'episode' outdoors. It was sunny outside, I was wearing heavy boots, and I was dehydrated and had just eaten about 2 kg of hot food. Not enough mana. I decided that that was a good time to have a smoke (cast spell: have a smoke), so I did, and regretted it almost immediately afterward. I started greying out and slurring my speech, grabbing at things to hold onto so I wouldn't fall. My friend who was with me at the time, bless her, asked "Are you alright?!?". I said "No.", and passed out for a couple seconds, falling to the ground. When I came to, I knew I was in serious trouble if I didn't get out of the sun and get something to drink. Between the two of us we dragged my body over to some stairs in a shady spot, where I could sit. I said that I needed water, as much as possible. She went and got something like 3 litres of mana and brought it to me, which I promptly drank like my life depended on it. Looking back now, my life did depend on it. I'm really glad that Suzy was there that day, because I would have died if she hadn't been there for me.
I am strong. For my age, I'm the strongest person I know, and my weight is correct for my height according to Body Mass Index. But with all that strength and ability, I am no less vulnerable to dehydration than your average 80-year-old. Somewhere in my late 20s I lost the ability to just do anything I want without considering whether I was hydrated enough. Since the California episode, I consider carrying mana an emergency when I go out. I carry mana "potions" in order to cast "spells".
A short list of spells I know:
-live through the day (6000 mL mana cost)
-have a smoke (1000 mL mana cost)
-Charm Person (no cost)
-walk 1 km (500mL)
I'm glad that I was introduced to such systems in my time as a gamer, because it has helped me to understand my limits in my life. I use the word 'mana' to mean drinkable water, and there are things that I may want to do in my life (spells that I need to cast) that I can't possibly hope to do without mana replenishment.
When I went to California last time, I had an 'episode' outdoors. It was sunny outside, I was wearing heavy boots, and I was dehydrated and had just eaten about 2 kg of hot food. Not enough mana. I decided that that was a good time to have a smoke (cast spell: have a smoke), so I did, and regretted it almost immediately afterward. I started greying out and slurring my speech, grabbing at things to hold onto so I wouldn't fall. My friend who was with me at the time, bless her, asked "Are you alright?!?". I said "No.", and passed out for a couple seconds, falling to the ground. When I came to, I knew I was in serious trouble if I didn't get out of the sun and get something to drink. Between the two of us we dragged my body over to some stairs in a shady spot, where I could sit. I said that I needed water, as much as possible. She went and got something like 3 litres of mana and brought it to me, which I promptly drank like my life depended on it. Looking back now, my life did depend on it. I'm really glad that Suzy was there that day, because I would have died if she hadn't been there for me.
I am strong. For my age, I'm the strongest person I know, and my weight is correct for my height according to Body Mass Index. But with all that strength and ability, I am no less vulnerable to dehydration than your average 80-year-old. Somewhere in my late 20s I lost the ability to just do anything I want without considering whether I was hydrated enough. Since the California episode, I consider carrying mana an emergency when I go out. I carry mana "potions" in order to cast "spells".
A short list of spells I know:
-live through the day (6000 mL mana cost)
-have a smoke (1000 mL mana cost)
-Charm Person (no cost)
-walk 1 km (500mL)