Pulling In Magic For Later

[Mr. Death]

So, back in Small Favor, when

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the Denarians are setting up that circle to trap the Archive, Harry runs in and sucks up all the magic he can so he has something to work with once the Nickelheads cut the power.

How might this be modeled in game?

Off the top of my head, I'm thinking that it was a series of maneuvers Harry made on himself with either Conviction or Discipline, which he later tagged to get passed the scene aspect that was limiting magic.

Of course, Harry was also apparently giving himself a headache holding on to the magic, so maybe it was a series of quick evocation maneuvers? Or drawing in the power (and marking off the mental stress) right at the start, and releasing/controlling it later? Like maybe he made four five-shift Spirit evocations just to pull in the power, giving him 20 shifts of magic that he could divvy up and throw out as spells later on?

Thoughts?

[sinker]

I'd deal with it via aspects. The headaches could be compels (if they are bad enough) or simply narrative flavor.

[Haru]

I'd treat it similar to your idea, only a bit different. Instead of precasting spells, I would have the wizard decide how many shifts of mental stress he wants to use and if he wants to take any consequences. Those get marked and are the only resources the wizard has during that conflict. When he actually uses them they get crossed out as usual. If he didn't take enough stress/consequences in the beginning, he'll have a problem. If he took too much and didn't use them, he's got a headache for nothing.

[UmbraLux]

Thoughts?

He's making declarations and/or maneuver and taking consequences (mild) to counter a block.

[Katarn]

I like the stress idea- on a 1:1 ratio.  The amount of stress/consequences the character is willing to take is the extra shifts they can pull.  Maybe make the consequences 2:1 (shifts:consequence-stress), since they're limiting themselves even before combat.