The Genesis of MANA on PDX games

[EarlKonrad]

Does anyone knows when MANA was first used to describe one of the game's resources?

Everything leads me to believe that it began with EU IV but maybe this term was already being used for prior Paradox games. Additionally, where was it born? This forum? Reddit? YouTube?

 

[Republic of Mercury]

I believe it was a steam review, which described the game as one where you play a mage who uses various forms of mana to accomplish things throughout their country.

Edit: Another possibility was that it was a backronym: Monarch Power -> MP -> Mana Points.

 

[Meglok]

Does anyone knows when MANA was first used to describe one of the game's resources?

Everything leads me to believe that it began with EU IV but maybe this term was already being used for prior Paradox games. Additionally, where was it born? This forum? Reddit? YouTube?

Can't tell you when it started in PDS games, but I know we were using the term in role playing games in the 70s.

 

[EarlKonrad]

I believe it was a steam review, which described the game as one where you play a mage who uses various forms of mana to accomplish things throughout their country.

Edit: Another possibility was that it was a backronym: Monarch Power -> MP -> Mana Points.

I can see how one might reach that conclusion. It that was the case, it shouldn't be too hard to find said comment being passed around as a meme. After all, there were some other slightly popular EU 4 steam reciews that were passed around as memes.

Hmm... wonder if I can find something like what you described on the image meme thread.

Can't tell you when it started in PDS games, but I know we were using the term in role playing games in the 70s.

That much I knew already. Now you got me thinking, which RPG wad the first to use mana? If I recall correctly, D&D never used mana but instead opted for the slot system. Maybe OG Warhammer Fantasy.

 

[Less2]

It was definitely EU4, but its been sort of back-ported to describe somewhat similar things in previous games (Magistrates in EU3, dip points in Vic2).

 

[Meglok]

......That much I knew already. Now you got me thinking, which RPG wad the first to use mana? If I recall correctly, D&D never used mana but instead opted for the slot system. Maybe OG Warhammer Fantasy.

Memory is telling me it was Arduin. But it has been a while and I don't want to go digging into sealed boxes to look.

 

[RichardOlcese]

There's an interesting article on the subject:

Magic (game terminology) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

It has also been discussed in some forums:
https://www.reddit.com/r/etymology/comments/3klnyf

 

[Jarvin]

@Republic of Mercury is correct
the steam review in reference:

 

[RichardOlcese]

In proper foundation, the name Monarch Points is as incomplete as Mana, since it only mentions one source for the aforementioned points. The right term should be BaseMonarchFocusAdvisor50PowerProjection Points. Power Projection is allowed to be shortened to just PP, though.

 

[MrParadux]

@Republic of Mercury is correct
the steam review in reference:

View attachment 645242

I have never read the original one. This is great

 

[Me_]

I find it fascinating that the devs have been using "mana" to describe Magic Points as well as of late; even in dev diaries. They used to shun it at first.