Why isn't there a video game like or based on this yet?
It's a mediocre book, don't bother reading it, but it has some ideas that would translate excellently.
>The world is made up for 6 or 8 elemental essences (fire water earth air light dark I think there were two more but it doesn't matter for this)
>All living beings have souls composed of varying degrees of these
>Something being stronger means it has more essence, but the finesse in which it's used is also very important
>When something dies all its essence is released in a second, which can be harvested if you know how by any other living being
>essence can also be taken from living beings without killing them, albeit much more slowly
Now, with those ground rules for magic
>dungeons are living beings that grow things inside them by putting a portion of their soul into the surroundings, effectively making it their body
>Plants, water, rocks etc can have their essence extracted which will build back up as they "live"
>After sufficient essence is built up animals can either be lured there to be killed for much faster essence, or be linked with the dungeon's soul like inanimate objects to allow the dungeon to control it
>Controlled animals can be infused with different balances of essence to cause different effects, making them faster, stronger, more agile, and in the right combinations giving them new abilities or even appendages (a horned rabbit for example)
>Humans vary wildly in their concentrations of essence and killing them gives an immense amount even if they are weak
>Humans have to have a reason to come, and if too many die they will either stop coming or possibly attempt to kill the dungeon before it spreads further
>Making useful items for humans and letting them leave with it costs you essence, but attracts more humans and lets the ones who departed with it grow stronger for later harvesting
The game would revolve around management and experimentation. Growing stronger would require you to constantly change as humans would get more and more efficient at overcoming your challenges, meaning lower "profit margins".
Share books/movies/ideas that are in the wrong medium