Something else along the same lines. I realize this isn't 100% consistent with the above, but it's still a work in progress.
Filtered mana casters:
Casting speed is limited by the environment. On leylines or outflow points (Earthnodes) where available mana is higher, casting speed will likewise be higher. Thus an filtered mana caster will always be looking for the “high spot” in available power to draw from. Daily maximum is effectively unlimited, but risk of failure increases as more power is used between rest breaks. Most places in most environments will yield 2-3 PPs/round, but a cluster of outflow points whose radii of effect overlap could yield 10-20 PPs/round or higher. This isn’t too risky soon after a rest, but can easily be lethal to the caster if he or she is tired.
Rendered mana casters:
Every single act, including casting, is a representation of your God. Therefore every single casting requires an Appeasement roll in order to acquire the necessary PPs. Extraordinarily good or bad Appeasement rolls will shorten or lengthen casting time, and could even affect subsequent actions/spells. Note that sacrifices and other actions can add bonuses or penalties to Appeasement. Also note that while available power is only limited by the power of your God, asking for more than the minimum necessary is pushing your luck, and can also affect Appeasement rolls. Risk is also tied to Appeasement rolls. How much Appeasement results are dependent on die rolls vary with whether your God is a proponent of order or chaos.
Personal mana casters:
Casting is fast, with the default being instantaneous. Available power is determined by Self Mastery skill, and in theory you could use all of the day’s power on a single instantaneous spell. But on the other hand, while power is instantly available, the more power you use at a time, the higher your risk of failure and the more likely the consequences are to be bad. Thus Personal mana casters will tend to stick to low cost spells when possible, and when high cost spells are needed, choose to take as long as conditions permit to cast the spell. The above example of using all of the day’s power instantaneously is very much a desperation move, and could easily render the caster permanently insane.
Anchored mana casters:
Casting speed is one round per component used. Thus a Anchored caster will always be looking for the most powerful possible components, so that the most powerful spells can be cast in a minimum amount of time. PPs beyond what is needed for the casting will be expressed as Fortean effects. Expect Anchored casters to be very grudging about using components that are even a single point more powerful than the minimum needed. As with Filtered mana users, Anchored mana users’ risk increases with the amount of power used since the last rest period.
Hybrids of 2:
Filtered/Anchored:
Speed is whichever is faster. Risk is amount of power used between rest breaks.
Filtered/Rendered:
Speed and risk are dictated by the granting entity.
Filtered/Personal:
Speed is limited by environment. Risk is power used per amount of casting time
Anchored/Personal:
Speed is one round per component. Risk is power used per amount of casting time.
Anchored/Rendered:
Speed and risk are dictated by the granting entity.
Rendered/Personal:
Speed and risk are dictated by the granting entity.
Hybrids of 3:
Filtered/Anchored/Personal:
Speed defaults to instantaneous. Risk is power used per amount of casting time.
All other hybrids of 3:
Speed and risk are dictated by the granting entity.
