Post/Author/DateTime	Post
BlaineTog 04-22-04, 09:26 PM	There are three things in DnD that have always bothered me a little: The inecessability of magic. If you want to cast any sort of spell, you basically have to take levels in the classes that specifically focus on it. The Paladin and Ranger are exceptions, but theirs is token casting. The uberness of casters at high levels. They are just so much more powerful than the other classes that any sort of casting is a huge boost. The extent to which multiclassing cripples casters. No one else has a similar problem. Which is why the Magic Rating system sounded interesting to me. Right off the bat, the concept seemed like it could solve all of my problems. Unfortuantelly, it exasperates #2 and does nothing to address #1. It's a marked power-up to casters with no like powerup to noncasters. So I have a rough idea about how to fix it. It's kinda in the early stages and I don't have it completelly worked out, even in my mind, but perhaps we can beat something out. Here it is, very very rough draft: Every non-casting class gains a Magic Rating, which stacks with Caster Level. Casting Classes get a special Magic Rating that is only used for the purposes of multiclassing and varrys depending on what you multiclass with. As in UA, but change row C to 1/3. We always consider the casting class that "base" for the purposes of multiclassing, even if it's taked later. This is merely for the purposes of simplicity. When multiclassing with noncasting classes, you may add your Magic Rating from in any combination you want to any casting classes you have. Once you gain a point of Magic Rating, you set it to one class and cannot thereafter change it. When multiclassing with multiple casting classes, you add 1/2 of your levels in that class if it is of the same type (divine or arcane) or 1/3 if it is of a different type. So far, it's pretty much like the system in UA, which a few tweaks. Here's where I try to make this system a benefit to noncasters as well: If you have no casting classes but are of sufficent level to have a magic rating, you can begin taking a feat tree to gain spellcasting. Here's how it would work: Mike, a halfling rogue, has been adventuring for several years and picked up a few tricks from the party's wizard. She hasn't been splitting her attention very much, but she has spent a goodly amount of time peaking over her shoulder. At third level, she feels her understanding of magic is good enough to cast a few spells. She takes the as-to-be-created feat "Spell Knowledge 1." It allows him to cast 0th and 1st level spells as a wizard of his Magic Rating (there would be a feat open to him to decrease --or even, perhaps, eliminate-- ASF). At 9th level, he feels that his magical studdies have advanced and is ready forthe next level: he takes "Spell Knowledge 2" which allows him access to 2nd level Wizard spells. These feats would each have Magic Rating prerequisites and you couldn't take, for instance, #4 without taking #s 3, 2, and 1 as well. What do you think? Other than the semantics (which are "blech"), how does it sound?
Masterful_Norg 04-22-04, 11:34 PM	I like it. :)