Mana Vortex

The Mana Vortex is described as a "common powerstone quirk" that is "in effect, a portable no-mana zone". It's inverse is a Mana Pool. It is mentioned in Wizardly ToolsClassic: Magic Items 1 p 64
==Functioning despite itself==
The "in effect" does not mean literally, since presumably all aspects of enchanted items (including their quirks) would fail to work in an ACTUAL no-mana zone. So more likely it functions like enough Mana Damper to bring things down to No Mana, but with P59's "Discriminatory" (replaces Switchable and Selective Effect for mana advantages) so it does not affect the "user" itself (the quirked item).
This would be similar to having Mana Damper (Magical -10) with Discriminatory needed to avoid the damper shutting off the source that powers it.
==Pools==
It causes Mana Pools to cease functioning, basically answering that they are Magical -10% Mana Enhancers. Pg 63's "even from a low-mana area.
It's never been tried in a no-mana area." reference to the stand of the Lapis Potentissimus left that answer as vague, unless the stand doesn't follow standard "Pool rules".
==Powerstone capacity==
The writeup also helps in explaining what happens to powerstones in no-mana zones:
:"will be completely drained, and must recharge normally."
This is something not entirely clear in regard to how Powerstones work when "off" (either in No Mana, or if the -5/-10 penalties for Low/Very Low reduce it's "Power" below 15)
Some think an "off" powerstone might simply not be able to have it's energy drawn, or recharge, but still "hold" energy it already did. Mana Vortex sets the precedent this is not so.
The distinction here in terms of advantages would be like Energy Reserve (Magical; Slow Recharge -60%) [2] and Energy Reserve (Magical; Slow Recharge -60% Magical -10%) [1]. The latter would be affected by a lack of magical energy, and ER being turned "completely off" would EMPTY it. ER (and probably by extension HP and FP) should be assumed as "empty capacity" when initially switched on, and filled through other means.
==Missile spells==
This also clarifies a Classic clarification for missile spells in No Mana zones:
:"Ranged spells with physical effects however (Fireball, Stone Missile) will endure for 1 turn within the Vortex."
This was written prior to 4e's ability to add enhancements like Guided/Homing that could add a multi-second transit time to attacks, so this was very much a "throw it or lose it" clause if someone walked into a No Mana Zone or a Mana Vortex snuck up on them.
==References==
category:Wizardly Tools