A trope that does not work
Shadowrun (the roleplaying game) created a great world out of the idea that magic comes and goes.
True! The mana-based solution could easily fit into that, or anything similar.
Though if there is not one known reason for it, there will be a thousand.
Have you read Ra, by Sam Hughes (writes under the name qntm)? There, magic *is* technology.
It's not the only one. There's Rick Cook's Wizardry Compiled series
Shadowrun (the roleplaying game) created a great world out of the idea that magic comes and goes.
True! The mana-based solution could easily fit into that, or anything similar.
Though if there is not one known reason for it, there will be a thousand.
Have you read Ra, by Sam Hughes (writes under the name qntm)? There, magic *is* technology.
It's not the only one. There's Rick Cook's Wizardry Compiled series