Sorcerer Spells per day: How does the sorc know his limit? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Sorcerer Spells per day: How does the sorc know his limit? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
ConfusedUs
11-22-03, 12:49 AM Everyone here knows that casters have limits on spells per day. Wizards limited by spells they can memorize, divine casters by the spells granted to them, but what about the sorc?

Sorcerers cast innately, but yet there's not mention of 'tiredness' after casting, or 'mental drain' or anything else. So how does a sorc know when he's out of spells?
Drakenul
11-22-03, 01:14 AM Well, depending on the character, a sorc could be played to learn by trial and error. For instance, he could use his last spell for the day, and later try to cast a spell, and just have it fizzle with no effect, then later, when no real adventuring is going on, cast rapid fire to measure himself.

Or there's the innate knowledge of knowing his limits. Sorta like a subconcious counter that alerts his waking mind of when he's... unable to call upon his magic anymore until he gets some rest... or something like that. Depends more on the setting than the character for the explanation of magical power.
Dauntless
11-22-03, 01:47 AM I go by the innate feel for it. If sorcery were trial and error, then sorcerers would get random spells too. I feel that sorcerers have a bit of an innate sense of how magic works (though maybe not WHY it works) and how to handle it. They know when they are reaching their limits the same way an athlete can tell they are getting fatigued, or losing some zip off the fastball.
Krondar, Palemaster of Cuthbert
12-06-03, 12:06 AM IMDMHO having the sorcerer in question become fatigued after exhausting their arsenal of firepower is a good indicator of them having run out. Another alternative that I think is better than that is having all of the sorcerer spells have a backlash of 1+spell level worth of non-lethal damage. So a first level spell has a backlash of 2 subdual damage. This also stops sorcerers from casting five direct damage spells in quick sucession (I've had bad experiences with munchkinned sorcerers, even if the DM was the one who was being the munchkin).
Edymnion
12-06-03, 12:22 AM Way I see it is a specialized form of mental fatigue.
Sort of like doing hard math problems for hours on end until you can't add 2+2 in your head without getting 5, then going off to play a video game, read a book, or go play a sport.

For my sorceress, I utilize Prestidigitation as a way to judge her remaining spellpower (in addition to general fatique level). She's a storm themed caster, so I have her finger up and shoot sparks out of it, and see how strong the sparks are, how far they shoot, etc and judge spellpower from there. Your sorcerer could do the same thing with a ball of light and it's brightness.

Another idea I've used is a magical tattoo. I had a sorcerer get a tattoo on the inside of his wrist and forearm that would change shape and color based on how many spells of each level he had left.

Another one would be to steal a description from Wheel of Time. In that, the Aes Sedai describe Saidar as being like someone standing behind them, just looking over their shoulder. As long as they are capable of channeling (aka not shielded), they can feel it there, and reach out to it when they want to cast a spell. Perhaps your sorcerer has a similar feeling, and can judge his remaining spellpower by judging how strong that feeling is. More spells you cast, weaker it gets. When you're out of spells, you can't feel it at all.

If you go the Wheel of Time route, it could add some flavor to your character, as the WoT casters get really antsy and disturbed when they are cut off from Saidar/Saidin for long periods of time because they're used to that presence all their lives, and its suddenly gone, so they keep looking over their shoulders like they might find it again. Your sorcerer goes into an anti-magic zone, he might be able to FEEL the lack of magic in the area, while the wizard wouldn't know until he tried to cast.
Sphyre
12-07-03, 04:41 AM A sorcerer gets his power from the strength of his personality (CHA). Because of this I beleive a sorcerer should very easily know the strength of power he has to manifest because he's willing his personality into existance. (Which i find ironic because I'm playing a sorcerer with a 27 cha and 8 wis right now)

If he runs out of his highest level spell slot he might not feel he's able to let a, lets say, fireball fly because he personally doesn't feel upto it but may feel he has enough strength to let a magic missle go. But if he were out of 1st level slots and still had second level and wanted to cast magic missle he might feel it might be a bit harder to cast that one (taking up a second level slot)

That's just my opinion. i think he should know how many of each level spell slot he has left - but obviously the character himself would think 4 magic missles or mage armors etc and 2 scorching rays left and know that casting false life is just as taxing as scorching ray.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
ConfusedUs 11-22-03, 12:49 AM	Everyone here knows that casters have limits on spells per day. Wizards limited by spells they can memorize, divine casters by the spells granted to them, but what about the sorc? Sorcerers cast innately, but yet there's not mention of 'tiredness' after casting, or 'mental drain' or anything else. So how does a sorc know when he's out of spells?
Drakenul 11-22-03, 01:14 AM	Well, depending on the character, a sorc could be played to learn by trial and error. For instance, he could use his last spell for the day, and later try to cast a spell, and just have it fizzle with no effect, then later, when no real adventuring is going on, cast rapid fire to measure himself. Or there's the innate knowledge of knowing his limits. Sorta like a subconcious counter that alerts his waking mind of when he's... unable to call upon his magic anymore until he gets some rest... or something like that. Depends more on the setting than the character for the explanation of magical power.
Dauntless 11-22-03, 01:47 AM	I go by the innate feel for it. If sorcery were trial and error, then sorcerers would get random spells too. I feel that sorcerers have a bit of an innate sense of how magic works (though maybe not WHY it works) and how to handle it. They know when they are reaching their limits the same way an athlete can tell they are getting fatigued, or losing some zip off the fastball.
Krondar, Palemaster of Cuthbert 12-06-03, 12:06 AM	IMDMHO having the sorcerer in question become fatigued after exhausting their arsenal of firepower is a good indicator of them having run out. Another alternative that I think is better than that is having all of the sorcerer spells have a backlash of 1+spell level worth of non-lethal damage. So a first level spell has a backlash of 2 subdual damage. This also stops sorcerers from casting five direct damage spells in quick sucession (I've had bad experiences with munchkinned sorcerers, even if the DM was the one who was being the munchkin).
Edymnion 12-06-03, 12:22 AM	Way I see it is a specialized form of mental fatigue. Sort of like doing hard math problems for hours on end until you can't add 2+2 in your head without getting 5, then going off to play a video game, read a book, or go play a sport. For my sorceress, I utilize Prestidigitation as a way to judge her remaining spellpower (in addition to general fatique level). She's a storm themed caster, so I have her finger up and shoot sparks out of it, and see how strong the sparks are, how far they shoot, etc and judge spellpower from there. Your sorcerer could do the same thing with a ball of light and it's brightness. Another idea I've used is a magical tattoo. I had a sorcerer get a tattoo on the inside of his wrist and forearm that would change shape and color based on how many spells of each level he had left. Another one would be to steal a description from Wheel of Time. In that, the Aes Sedai describe Saidar as being like someone standing behind them, just looking over their shoulder. As long as they are capable of channeling (aka not shielded), they can feel it there, and reach out to it when they want to cast a spell. Perhaps your sorcerer has a similar feeling, and can judge his remaining spellpower by judging how strong that feeling is. More spells you cast, weaker it gets. When you're out of spells, you can't feel it at all. If you go the Wheel of Time route, it could add some flavor to your character, as the WoT casters get really antsy and disturbed when they are cut off from Saidar/Saidin for long periods of time because they're used to that presence all their lives, and its suddenly gone, so they keep looking over their shoulders like they might find it again. Your sorcerer goes into an anti-magic zone, he might be able to FEEL the lack of magic in the area, while the wizard wouldn't know until he tried to cast.
Sphyre 12-07-03, 04:41 AM	A sorcerer gets his power from the strength of his personality (CHA). Because of this I beleive a sorcerer should very easily know the strength of power he has to manifest because he's willing his personality into existance. (Which i find ironic because I'm playing a sorcerer with a 27 cha and 8 wis right now) If he runs out of his highest level spell slot he might not feel he's able to let a, lets say, fireball fly because he personally doesn't feel upto it but may feel he has enough strength to let a magic missle go. But if he were out of 1st level slots and still had second level and wanted to cast magic missle he might feel it might be a bit harder to cast that one (taking up a second level slot) That's just my opinion. i think he should know how many of each level spell slot he has left - but obviously the character himself would think 4 magic missles or mage armors etc and 2 scorching rays left and know that casting false life is just as taxing as scorching ray.