I hope we get a wild Sounsyy to repost some the good stuff already written about how magic is supposed to work in the game, but for a fast, unsourced (because I should be working at work :p ) repsonse is that it's a "it depends" type of thing.
Mages all manipulate/amplify aether through the use of their casting tool of choice.
Arcanists use geometries/runes with aether-conductive ink. The better the ink, the better the conductivty. And the better the conductivity, the better the image of the geometries, which is the real spellcasting.
Conjurors basically cast through borrowing nature's power, channelled through well, a piece of nature. That's why many of their tools are made from plants/flowers/wood,etc.
THaumaturges use their internal aether reserves and cast though channeling that aether through bones and stones, often aspected. There are apparently sacrimonial jeweled daggers that can be used for casting!
--
So what happens if a mage loses their amplifier tool? Well, their spells probably fail or aren't at potent. Maybe the carbuncle comes out the size of a mouse and it won't listen to commands. Or maybe that cure only makes a scab instead sealing a cut. Or that fireball comes out as a puff of smoke.
In the past, some people have speculated that an Arcanist could possible hard-code a spell onto themselves with a tattoo. (Headcanon territory!)
Mages all manipulate/amplify aether through the use of their casting tool of choice.
Arcanists use geometries/runes with aether-conductive ink. The better the ink, the better the conductivty. And the better the conductivity, the better the image of the geometries, which is the real spellcasting.
Conjurors basically cast through borrowing nature's power, channelled through well, a piece of nature. That's why many of their tools are made from plants/flowers/wood,etc.
THaumaturges use their internal aether reserves and cast though channeling that aether through bones and stones, often aspected. There are apparently sacrimonial jeweled daggers that can be used for casting!
--
So what happens if a mage loses their amplifier tool? Well, their spells probably fail or aren't at potent. Maybe the carbuncle comes out the size of a mouse and it won't listen to commands. Or maybe that cure only makes a scab instead sealing a cut. Or that fireball comes out as a puff of smoke.
In the past, some people have speculated that an Arcanist could possible hard-code a spell onto themselves with a tattoo. (Headcanon territory!)
