Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Alextroy 12-02-04, 09:35 PM	I am getting ready to start a new campaign, and I want to give the players more flexibility in game. One thing I want to add flexiblity to is magic. I am therefore adapting an old magic home rule a friend developed way back under 2nd Edition and need some constructive feedback on balance (and clarity) of the rules. Here we go! Alterations to Standard Magic Rules Prepared Spellcasters In this campaign, prepared spellcasters have more flexibility in spellcasting then in your average D&D campaign. Rather then preparing specific spells and then casting those spells, prepared spellcasters memorize spells and then are able to cast any combination of memorized spells up to their daily allotment of spells. Essential, prepared casters operate in a manner similar to spontaneous spellcasters, except that they are able to change their spells known on a daily basis. To memorize spells, a spell caster follows the normal rules for their class as presented in the Player’s Handbook. You may memorize the same number of spells of the appropriate levels as your Spells Per Day, however you do not need to memorize a spell more then once nor memorize a spell with specific metamagic feats attached to them. Additionally, spells do not need to be memorized on a daily basis. Once memorized, a spell remains so until a different spell is memorized in its place. However, arcane casters are still required to spend an hour between meditation and memorization each day or they cannot recover spells. When casting spells, the caster can use any spell he memorized without losing the spell from memory. He may also elect to add one or more metamagic feats to the spell at that time. He then marks off that casting against his Spells Per Day allotment for the appropriate spell level. Metamagic There are three changes to metamagic in this campaign. 1. Prepared casters may add metamagic effects to their spells on the fly, just like spontaneous casters. 2. Casting a spell with a metamagic feat does not require extra time, for prepared or spontaneous casters. (Yes, spontaneous casters can now use Quicken Spell.) 3. All casters may use the Heighten Spell feat without taking it. Cleric Clerics use the altered rules for prepared spellcasters with the following additions. · Clerics no longer spontaneously cast Cure or Inflict spells. · Clerics do not get to choose a spell to memorize for their Bonus Domain Spells. · Clerics Domain spells are always considered prepared as long as they have the level and wisdom required for casting that Domain spell. This applies to all Domains he possesses. · Clerics still receive the bonus domain Spells Per Day, which must be used to cast a domain spell, however is he not limited to using on that one Spell Per Day to cast his Domain spells. Druid Druids use the altered rules for prepared spellcasters and are always considered to have the Summon Nature’s Ally spell prepared for each spell level the druid can memorize spells for and that he has the minimum wisdom to cast. Favored Soul Favored Souls may choose one of their god’s domain and adds the Domain spells from that domain to his spells known for each level he is capable of casting and to his spell list. He does not benefit from the Domain power, nor does he gain any additional Spells Per Day. Sorcerer Once per day per spell level (0 to 9th) a sorcerer is able to cast, a sorcerer may use one of his spells per day to cast any spell he does not know as long as the spell is on the sorcerer spell list and the DM agrees that he is familiar with the spell. Only one spells for each spell level the sorcerer can cast can be used this way, and the sorcerer must have a high enough Charisma to cast the spell. Generally, a sorcerer is familiar with spells he has cast from spell completion and spell trigger items or spells he has studied in detail. Alextroy
Ertai, sorcerer adept 12-03-04, 03:46 AM	You're giving to prepared spellcasters metamagic on the fly, which is half of the advantage spontaneous spellcasters had over them. What I think you're doing is messing with the CR system, but not enough to a full point of CR. Your players may be tempted to ask other advantages for their characters too. One idea is to look at other threads for other house rules to help players. An example: Sorcerers have free Eschew Materials, 4 skill points per level and more charisma-based class skills: Diplomacy at least, Gather Information, Intimidate, maybe even Sense Motive.
Alextroy 12-05-04, 04:56 PM	You're giving to prepared spellcasters metamagic on the fly, which is half of the advantage spontaneous spellcasters had over them. Hence the effort to compensate the spontaneous casters. I want to see more metamagic, but I also want to mantain balance. Do you think the alterations to Sorcerer and Favored Soul are enough to keep the balance? If not, any ideas on something that would? Your players may be tempted to ask other advantages for their characters too. One idea is to look at other threads for other house rules to help players. An example: Sorcerers have free Eschew Materials, 4 skill points per level and more charisma-based class skills: Diplomacy at least, Gather Information, Intimidate, maybe even Sense Motive. Those do not address the issue I am seeking to change, so they are not really on my list of things to change at this juncture. Alextroy