Playing Pool Of Radiance got me learning the ins and outs of 2nd edition AD&D and I came to the realization today that I prefer games with a magic points or mana system. Probably because I grew up with JRPGs which exclusively deal with MP over spell slots. Don’t get me wrong, D&D is great, but it’s such a pain when you get into battle and you realize you forgot to memorize Detect Magic and now you have a bunch of potential good loot.
I like vancian magic. It makes wizardry weird and arcane, requires strategic thinking and preparation. Your vast cosmic power comes with weird rules and restrictions that don’t make any sense because it’s magic. Pathfinder did a lot of stuff to take the edges off of it with cantrips and what not and I think that was a good choice.
Agreed, it works better in fiction though. The way it’s described in Tales of a Dying Earth really sells the notion that magic is weird and powerful while following rules that prevent it fully being under our control.
Totes fair. It’s always been a weird system.