Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Melayl 07-30-06, 03:13 PM	I've never really liked the idea that spellcasters are only able to cast a certain amount of spells per level of spell. I've always been of the opinion that (like psionics) if you have the power, you should be able to use it however you want to. This being the case, I've decided to offer an alternative, following the idea of the Rod of Absorption. This doesn't really require a huge change. You merely add up to total levels of all the spells a character would be able to cast that day (as currently written in the rules), with cantrips counting as 1/4 of a spell level. i.e. a 5th level wizard (with no bonus spells) gets 4 cantrips, 3 1st level spells, 2 2nd level spells, and 1 3rd level spell. This would add up to 10 total spell levels and 4 cantrip uses (or 11 total spell levels and no cantrip uses, if the mage wished). After determining the total spell level (TSL), the character can distribute the levels however he wishes. He could prepare 11 1st level spells, 3 3rd level spells and 1 2nd level spell, 44 cantrips, etc. Casters that prepare spells would still need to prepare them. Sorcerers would still be able to cast spontaneously, using whatever spell level they chose (out of their available TSL). I don't believe this will make spellcasters any more powerful than they already are, but I would like to hear what the rest of you think. Also, I would make Druids have access to only 1/2 of their spells known per level (evens out the power somewhat). I thought about doing that with clerics, but it seems that many of them are domain spells, and clerics only get access to 2 domains... Fire away.
FatGuy 07-30-06, 03:23 PM	That is overpowered - One 9th level spell is worth a lot more than three 3rd level spells, One 4th level spell is worth more than two 2nd level spells. See here: http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/magic/spellPoints.htm For a more balanced version of your idea. They'd give your 5th level Wizard, with no bonus spells, 16 points per day. He could cast three 3rd level spells and one 1st level spell. Or, sixteen 1st level spells, or five 2nd level spells and one 1st level spells (1 point plus 2 points per spell level beyond 1.) All Wizards could cast 5 Cantrips per day.
Crimson_Concerto 07-30-06, 03:30 PM	The MP system has been done many times over all of these boards, but here's the thing: A 2nd level spell is worth more than 2 1st level spells. It's worth about 3 1st level spells. A 9th level spell is worth MUCH more than 9 1st level spells. About 17 of them to be exact. (Note, this is not necessarely fact. I'm merely assuming magic scales similarly to psionics, and I could be wrong, but many MP systems I've seen before still use this.) It shoudl also be noted that doing this your way gives casters much more power. If you're going to base your determination of MP/day by simply adding up the ammount a normal one gets, you end up with a character who's pretty much the same except for the fact it has SO MUCH more versatility that it really is unbalancing in a big way. I suggest looking over the numerous MP systems suggested on this board and on the House Rules board. It won't take much looking to find one, I don't think.
Melayl 07-30-06, 03:32 PM	So the Rod is overpowered? A possibility... Although, I don't see how a 4th level spell is more than twice as powerful as a 2nd level spell. If you could explain, please? Also, I was looking for something easier to implement than the spell point system, otherwise I would just have adapted the psionics rules to fit spells...
FatGuy 07-30-06, 03:42 PM	Also, I was looking for something easier to implement than the spell point system, otherwise I would just have adapted the psionics rules to fit spells... Take a look at the link I posted - it is NOT the Psionic rules for power points. It is a variant spell casting system designed for Bards, Clerics, Druids, Wizards, Paladins, Rangers and Sorcerers. Much simpler than adding up the spells*levels you get on the standard Wizard chart. You look at the chart, see how many points you get a a given level of Wizard, and add your points for bonus in high Int. It's simpler even than adding up the spells*levels you get on the standard Wizard chart.
Melayl 07-30-06, 03:53 PM	I looked briefly at it, and will examine it in more detail later. I partially chose to try the method I posted because I hadn't heard good things about the spell point system from anyone, but I'll give it more of a look now. But please, really, explain why a 4th level spell is more than twice as powerful as a 2nd level spell. Maybe it's just been awhile since I played D&D so I don't remember, but it didn't seem that way to me before...
FatGuy 07-30-06, 04:05 PM	But please, really, explain why a 4th level spell is more than twice as powerful as a 2nd level spell. Maybe it's just been awhile since I played D&D so I don't remember, but it didn't seem that way to me before... Think of a 20th level Wizard, with no bonus spells. He can cast 4 spells of each level per day, or 165 points under your system. He could then cast Meteor Swarm 18 times in a row. Or 13 times in the Spell Point variant., much less broken. Looking at 4th vs 2nd - would you rather be able to damage the CR7 baddie with 2 Celestial Giant Eagles, or 4 Celestial Eagles? Considering the # of rounds in most combats, wouldn't it be better to cast 5 or 6 great spells, the best you've got, rather than being able to cast the best ones 1 or 2 times, and then a bunch of lower level stuff?
Melayl 07-30-06, 04:21 PM	Think of a 20th level Wizard, with no bonus spells. He can cast 4 spells of each level per day, or 165 points under your system. He could then cast Meteor Swarm 18 times in a row. Or 13 times in the Spell Point variant., much less broken. I can see your point there. However, he could only do that if he had prepared Meteor Swarm 18 times that morning... (the sorcerer is a different story...) He would also lose a great deal of versatility doing so, and might not be able to react to other situations (it would really suck for said wizard to get pushed off a cliff and not be able to cast Fly...) Looking at 4th vs 2nd - would you rather be able to damage the CR7 baddie with 2 Celestial Giant Eagles, or 4 Celestial Eagles? That's kinda arbitrary...4 chances to do slightly less damage per hit or 2 chances to do slightly more damage per hit... An argument could be made for either. Considering the # of rounds in most combats, wouldn't it be better to cast 5 or 6 great spells, the best you've got, rather than being able to cast the best ones 1 or 2 times, and then a bunch of lower level stuff? ????? As you pointed out in your own post, under my system you would be able to cast your best stuff more often than under the spell point system. I'm not trying to be offensive, I'm just confused...