GURPS TL 2.
The mana level is cyclical.
Game time is set as it is just returning to the world.
The previous cycle of normal mana was unusually long, followed by periods of high and very high which lasted as long as the normal levels normally ran.
Then the levels dropped straight to low for a very brief time then to no mana until just recently when it returned to low.
The no mana time lasted long enough that people have come to think that there never was magic. This is despite evidence that there was once a lot of it. The very high period last cycle lasted long enough that miracles were attempted and succeeded (and disasters were epic.).
The length of the cycles and the unusual period of very high created an apocalypse.
That creates large swathes of unclaimed wild lands to adventure in.
Magical knowledge was preserved by rote, so there can still be mages.
Not sure what to do about gods and religion.
The mana level is cyclical.
Game time is set as it is just returning to the world.
The previous cycle of normal mana was unusually long, followed by periods of high and very high which lasted as long as the normal levels normally ran.
Then the levels dropped straight to low for a very brief time then to no mana until just recently when it returned to low.
The no mana time lasted long enough that people have come to think that there never was magic. This is despite evidence that there was once a lot of it. The very high period last cycle lasted long enough that miracles were attempted and succeeded (and disasters were epic.).
The length of the cycles and the unusual period of very high created an apocalypse.
That creates large swathes of unclaimed wild lands to adventure in.
Magical knowledge was preserved by rote, so there can still be mages.
Not sure what to do about gods and religion.