Per Encounter? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Per Encounter? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Steely_Dan
03-28-07, 09:39 AM I've never been a fan of the assumed 4 encounters a day. So I was wondering if anyone could help me out in breaking down classes like wizard/psion/cleric etc (any class with spell/power slots/points) to function on a per encounter basis, ala the Tome of Battle classes?

I'm using the Spell Point variant from UA, so should I just give every class a quarter of their normal Points and all classes can refresh as a full round action (that provokes an AoO)?
Rotfl_and_Lol
04-03-07, 10:49 AM This seems good system, but you should give them something other for non-combat part of adventure. For example give them combat slots, regenerating every encounter, and utility slots, which need to be regained through rest.

4 encounter per day is bad system. It tries to balance casters, but doesn't work. Encounter amount should be variable, not constant. Players can just decide to rest all the time, and wait for monsters to come.
Steely_Dan
04-03-07, 11:38 AM This seems good system, but you should give them something other for non-combat part of adventure. For example give them combat slots, regenerating every encounter, and utility slots, which need to be regained through rest.

Apparently there is an article about this on Monte Cook's site, and the general consensus is that in order to balance magic on a "Per Encounter" basis you would have to re-work the magic/spell system from the ground up.

…Who's with me?!
Arcade
04-03-07, 12:02 PM A full round action to recover all spell points seems a little easy. It will usually be worth it to go all out with high attack spells and rest for one round then to use a string of lesser attack spells. Though, that's only my gut feeling and not drawn from experience. The guys from Tome of Battle can use their big abilities off the bat and then get to choose between taking a round of rest to recharge them or use their lesser abilities. They can have many rounds of lesser abilities left, whereas the wizard will cast his biggest spell and then cast one last spell to use up the remainder to use everything up and take his break.

I agree that utility spells need to be modified, or else the entire party is going to mage armored, bull's strength, cat's grace, etc. as soon as they hit third level. Not good.

Potions, scrolls, wands, etc. need to be cut in cost as well.

Maybe use the normal wizard tables, cut those in 1/4 and let the wizard recover those with a 1 round rest. That would more closely simulate the tome of battle.
Thomar_of_Uointer
04-04-07, 03:21 AM I've seen this thread before. Can't remember where, though.

Anyways, ToB is a good baseline. I've been working on a similar system myself, similar to psionics but involving a very small rechargeable pp pool, but it's nowhere near done yet.
Steely_Dan
04-04-07, 03:45 AM Anyways, ToB is a good baseline. I've been working on a similar system myself, similar to psionics but involving a very small rechargeable pp pool, but it's nowhere near done yet.

Right on – please feel free to share when you're done.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Steely_Dan 03-28-07, 09:39 AM	I've never been a fan of the assumed 4 encounters a day. So I was wondering if anyone could help me out in breaking down classes like wizard/psion/cleric etc (any class with spell/power slots/points) to function on a per encounter basis, ala the Tome of Battle classes? I'm using the Spell Point variant from UA, so should I just give every class a quarter of their normal Points and all classes can refresh as a full round action (that provokes an AoO)?
Rotfl_and_Lol 04-03-07, 10:49 AM	This seems good system, but you should give them something other for non-combat part of adventure. For example give them combat slots, regenerating every encounter, and utility slots, which need to be regained through rest. 4 encounter per day is bad system. It tries to balance casters, but doesn't work. Encounter amount should be variable, not constant. Players can just decide to rest all the time, and wait for monsters to come.
Steely_Dan 04-03-07, 11:38 AM	This seems good system, but you should give them something other for non-combat part of adventure. For example give them combat slots, regenerating every encounter, and utility slots, which need to be regained through rest. Apparently there is an article about this on Monte Cook's site, and the general consensus is that in order to balance magic on a "Per Encounter" basis you would have to re-work the magic/spell system from the ground up. …Who's with me?!
Arcade 04-03-07, 12:02 PM	A full round action to recover all spell points seems a little easy. It will usually be worth it to go all out with high attack spells and rest for one round then to use a string of lesser attack spells. Though, that's only my gut feeling and not drawn from experience. The guys from Tome of Battle can use their big abilities off the bat and then get to choose between taking a round of rest to recharge them or use their lesser abilities. They can have many rounds of lesser abilities left, whereas the wizard will cast his biggest spell and then cast one last spell to use up the remainder to use everything up and take his break. I agree that utility spells need to be modified, or else the entire party is going to mage armored, bull's strength, cat's grace, etc. as soon as they hit third level. Not good. Potions, scrolls, wands, etc. need to be cut in cost as well. Maybe use the normal wizard tables, cut those in 1/4 and let the wizard recover those with a 1 round rest. That would more closely simulate the tome of battle.
Thomar_of_Uointer 04-04-07, 03:21 AM	I've seen this thread before. Can't remember where, though. Anyways, ToB is a good baseline. I've been working on a similar system myself, similar to psionics but involving a very small rechargeable pp pool, but it's nowhere near done yet.
Steely_Dan 04-04-07, 03:45 AM	Anyways, ToB is a good baseline. I've been working on a similar system myself, similar to psionics but involving a very small rechargeable pp pool, but it's nowhere near done yet. Right on – please feel free to share when you're done.