Essence - Cleaner Spellcasting and Multiclassing [Archive] - Wizards Community

Essence - Cleaner Spellcasting and Multiclassing [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
IceFractal
02-04-07, 05:12 PM I was reading a thread about the problems with caster multiclassing, and an idea struck me that could, hopefully, simplify things in that area a great deal, as well as giving non-casters some more options. So here it is - PEACH away.

Goals:
* Make multiclass spellcasting more viable without specialized PrCs.
* Make gish type characters more viable with specialized PrCs.
* Add some options for non-casters to be less dependant on potions and such.
* Unify and simplify the various casting systems.

ESSENCE POINTS
Essence points are basically stored potential - every person possesses them, some to a greater extent than others. Most kinds of magic and supernatural abilities are fueled by Esssence. Essence can be recovered after 8 hours of sleep, or at least restful activity.

ESSENCE PROGRESSIONS
Each class has an EP progression, which determines how many Essence points they recieve at each level. In addition to this, they gain bonus EP from a high score in their essence ability, which is dependant on class. See the chart here (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/classes/index.htm#abilitiesAndManifesters). There are four different Essence progressions - Full, Partial, Half, and Minor.

Full Progression (Cleric, Druid, Psion, Sorcerer, Wilder, Wizard): As Psion (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/classes/psion.htm).
Partial Progression (Bard, Psychic Warrior): As Psychic Warrior (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/classes/psychicWarrior.htm).
Half Progression (Monk*, Paladin, Ranger, Soulknife*): Half the points of the Partial progression.
Minor Progression (Barbarian, Fighter, Rogue): 1 point per level.

Note: This is still under development, and the points should be smoothed out so that low-level Barbarians don't have more EP than low-level Bards, but that's the basic breakdown of the classes as I see them. Note that the Monk and Soulknife may need some tweaking to balance their gain of points, but I felt that they fit better into that category.

MULTICLASS CHARACTERS
Multiclass characters pool the essence from their classes, and can use the pool to fuel any of their abilities. However, maximum caps for spellcasting (see below) apply to each class separately. Note that feats like Practiced Spellcaster and Practiced Manifester can help with this.

USING ESSENCE
Essentia can be used in several different fashions.

FOR PSIONICS
Use Essentia points exactly as you would use power points.

FOR SPELLCASTING
Spellcasting would need to be coverted to a point system as Psionics currently is. However, this conversion already exists in several places - on this very forum, in fact. Secondly, the classes would need to be coverted. The Bard and Sorcerer work more or less as-is (Sorcerer should no longer have delayed access though). The Wizard could use a system like the Erudite (Complete Psionic), where they know a potentially unlimited number of spells, but can only use a small number of different ones each day. For the Cleric and Druid, they could either be made spontaneous casters with limited spells known (aka Favored Soul), or they could be coverted the same way as the Wizard. For the Paladin and Ranger, making them spontaneous seems simplest, as they already have a very limited selection of spells.

FOR NON-CASTERS
Non-casters can use Essence through Essence feats, which are detailed below. In addition, some races could have Essence-powered abilities, much like the Elan (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/psionicRaces.htm#elans) does. And finally, classes and prestige classes, such as the Monk in particular, could have Essence-fueled class abilities.
Note: Still under development - if you've got any ideas, post 'em.

ESSENCE FEATS
Here's a few Essence feats as an example. If you've got ideas for more, or on changes for the ones here, I'd like to hear them.

Shield of Will [Essence]
Prerequisites: Wis 13+
Benefit: You can use Essence to ablate attacks against your person. As an immediate action when you take damage, you can reduce the damage by 2 points per Essence point you spend.

Blazing Strike [Essence]
Prerequisites: Cha 13+, BAB +1
Benefit: You can cause your Essence to burn like a flame as you make a strike. As an immediate action, you can spend Essence points to deal extra fire damage on a strike, equal to 1d6 per Essence point you spend.
Limit: You can only spend up to 1 EP + 1 EP/5 levels on this feat at one time.

Vital Regrowth [Essence]
Prerequisites: Concentration or Autohypnosis 2 ranks, Heal 2 ranks
Benefit: You can use Essence to heal your wounds at a rapid rate. As a full-round action, you can spend an Essence point to heal 2 points of damage.

And that's a wrap, for now. Does it seem workable? Useful? Annoying?
Galstaf, Sorcerer of Lite
02-04-07, 06:00 PM So, essentially, it's a spell point system in which magic and psionics work from the same pool? Seems doable.

I like that even non-casters get a little better at casting as they progress. A fighter who multiclasses to wizard still sees his BAB raised, albeit at a slower rate. Why not give the same treatment to the spellcasting ability of a wizard who multiclasses over to fighter?

I'm a little foggy on the mechanics of the erudite -- is it similar to a spirit shaman in that they potentially have access to their entire class spell/power list, but choose which ones they "know" each day and cast spontaneously? If so, I like that approach; it still provides an excuse to have the wizard poring over his spellbook each day (probably pulling just from the spells in the book instead of the entire spell list for the class), but doesn't include that ridiculous "fire and forget" mechanic from the standard rules. Makes more sense to me. That's also the mechanic I'd use for clerics and druids (though with daily prayers substituting for the studying, obviously).

Regarding the EP level of barbarian 1 vs. bard 1, maybe just start non-casters at 0 EP, then give +1 EP per level from there? That way they'd have the same base amount for the first two levels, after which point the partial casters would pull ahead and not look back. Plus, the bard would have bonus points from Charisma, while the barbarian, not having a casting stat, would be stuck with just his base amount, so even during those first two levels, chances are the caster would out-EP the non-caster.
Melayl
02-07-07, 02:41 AM An interesting idea...

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
IceFractal 02-04-07, 05:12 PM	I was reading a thread about the problems with caster multiclassing, and an idea struck me that could, hopefully, simplify things in that area a great deal, as well as giving non-casters some more options. So here it is - PEACH away. Goals: * Make multiclass spellcasting more viable without specialized PrCs. * Make gish type characters more viable with specialized PrCs. * Add some options for non-casters to be less dependant on potions and such. * Unify and simplify the various casting systems. ESSENCE POINTS Essence points are basically stored potential - every person possesses them, some to a greater extent than others. Most kinds of magic and supernatural abilities are fueled by Esssence. Essence can be recovered after 8 hours of sleep, or at least restful activity. ESSENCE PROGRESSIONS Each class has an EP progression, which determines how many Essence points they recieve at each level. In addition to this, they gain bonus EP from a high score in their essence ability, which is dependant on class. See the chart here (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/classes/index.htm#abilitiesAndManifesters). There are four different Essence progressions - Full, Partial, Half, and Minor. Full Progression (Cleric, Druid, Psion, Sorcerer, Wilder, Wizard): As Psion (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/classes/psion.htm). Partial Progression (Bard, Psychic Warrior): As Psychic Warrior (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/classes/psychicWarrior.htm). Half Progression (Monk, Paladin, Ranger, Soulknife): Half the points of the Partial progression. Minor Progression (Barbarian, Fighter, Rogue): 1 point per level. Note: This is still under development, and the points should be smoothed out so that low-level Barbarians don't have more EP than low-level Bards, but that's the basic breakdown of the classes as I see them. Note that the Monk and Soulknife may need some tweaking to balance their gain of points, but I felt that they fit better into that category. MULTICLASS CHARACTERS Multiclass characters pool the essence from their classes, and can use the pool to fuel any of their abilities. However, maximum caps for spellcasting (see below) apply to each class separately. Note that feats like Practiced Spellcaster and Practiced Manifester can help with this. USING ESSENCE Essentia can be used in several different fashions. FOR PSIONICS Use Essentia points exactly as you would use power points. FOR SPELLCASTING Spellcasting would need to be coverted to a point system as Psionics currently is. However, this conversion already exists in several places - on this very forum, in fact. Secondly, the classes would need to be coverted. The Bard and Sorcerer work more or less as-is (Sorcerer should no longer have delayed access though). The Wizard could use a system like the Erudite (Complete Psionic), where they know a potentially unlimited number of spells, but can only use a small number of different ones each day. For the Cleric and Druid, they could either be made spontaneous casters with limited spells known (aka Favored Soul), or they could be coverted the same way as the Wizard. For the Paladin and Ranger, making them spontaneous seems simplest, as they already have a very limited selection of spells. FOR NON-CASTERS Non-casters can use Essence through Essence feats, which are detailed below. In addition, some races could have Essence-powered abilities, much like the Elan (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/psionicRaces.htm#elans) does. And finally, classes and prestige classes, such as the Monk in particular, could have Essence-fueled class abilities. Note: Still under development - if you've got any ideas, post 'em. ESSENCE FEATS Here's a few Essence feats as an example. If you've got ideas for more, or on changes for the ones here, I'd like to hear them. Shield of Will [Essence] Prerequisites: Wis 13+ Benefit: You can use Essence to ablate attacks against your person. As an immediate action when you take damage, you can reduce the damage by 2 points per Essence point you spend. Blazing Strike [Essence] Prerequisites: Cha 13+, BAB +1 Benefit: You can cause your Essence to burn like a flame as you make a strike. As an immediate action, you can spend Essence points to deal extra fire damage on a strike, equal to 1d6 per Essence point you spend. Limit: You can only spend up to 1 EP + 1 EP/5 levels on this feat at one time. Vital Regrowth [Essence] Prerequisites: Concentration or Autohypnosis 2 ranks, Heal 2 ranks Benefit: You can use Essence to heal your wounds at a rapid rate. As a full-round action, you can spend an Essence point to heal 2 points of damage. And that's a wrap, for now. Does it seem workable? Useful? Annoying?
Galstaf, Sorcerer of Lite 02-04-07, 06:00 PM	So, essentially, it's a spell point system in which magic and psionics work from the same pool? Seems doable. I like that even non-casters get a little better at casting as they progress. A fighter who multiclasses to wizard still sees his BAB raised, albeit at a slower rate. Why not give the same treatment to the spellcasting ability of a wizard who multiclasses over to fighter? I'm a little foggy on the mechanics of the erudite -- is it similar to a spirit shaman in that they potentially have access to their entire class spell/power list, but choose which ones they "know" each day and cast spontaneously? If so, I like that approach; it still provides an excuse to have the wizard poring over his spellbook each day (probably pulling just from the spells in the book instead of the entire spell list for the class), but doesn't include that ridiculous "fire and forget" mechanic from the standard rules. Makes more sense to me. That's also the mechanic I'd use for clerics and druids (though with daily prayers substituting for the studying, obviously). Regarding the EP level of barbarian 1 vs. bard 1, maybe just start non-casters at 0 EP, then give +1 EP per level from there? That way they'd have the same base amount for the first two levels, after which point the partial casters would pull ahead and not look back. Plus, the bard would have bonus points from Charisma, while the barbarian, not having a casting stat, would be stuck with just his base amount, so even during those first two levels, chances are the caster would out-EP the non-caster.
Melayl 02-07-07, 02:41 AM	An interesting idea...