In regards to drawing mana from the land, what if: As you enter a hexagon, a mana bar for that region begins to increase based on your experience in that element and the strength of the mana present. The longer you are there, the more mana you tap. Upon leaving the hexagon, that mana bar begins to depleate based on your experience and on your distance from the hexagon. The mana coud decrease logrithmicly (you lose a percentage of your remaining mana every time unit, so the less mana you have, the slower it disipates) so that you only lose the majority of the element-specific mana to begin with and you only lose it all if you spend it or spend too much time away from that element.
What do you think?
Just another point to ponder, how complex can you make this system before it scares people off?
I like your idea. however, the hexagons are close together, they border on each other. So that gauge wold pretty much stay filled. I think it will work if you stand still and the gauge fills up. As soion as you walk you lose contact with the land. Tapping mana takes some small effort and concentration. In a way you can link it to your concentration ability.
Another option is that you lose 50% of what you tapped. That means you can move once and still have some of the mana that you sucked up.
Also, I envision not much change in a forest area. All the mana you tap there save a few spots, like my example of some evil shrine, will be the same. Earth mana.
