Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Alan Smithee 10-19-05, 02:10 PM	A while back I emailed Andy Collins about the Spell Points variants in Unearthed Arcana. He forwarded the email to Bruce Cordell, who wrote the section on Spell Points (go figure). Below is an abbreviated version of the correspondence - with Mr. Cordell’s responses to my questions. My playing group and I are fans of the spell point variant rule and we are trying to put together a more comprehensive set of rules for our campaign. To this end, we have a few questions concerning the initial design of the rules as presented in Unearthed Arcana. For instance, we would like to develop a spell point progression for other spontaneous casting classes such as assassins, favored souls, and warmages - the spell point system just doesn’t seem right for non-spontaneous casters. Knowing how you came up with the numbers would help us greatly. What formulae did you use to assign spell points to sorcerers and bards? I don't explicitly recall the system, but it was likely modeled on the spell points provided to classes in the original Psionics Handbook. The updated Expanded Psionics Handbook, with new power point totals, hadn't yet come out. The earlier method of determination utilized simple counting of expected number of spells, by level, per day, assigning power points as appropriate, though at higher levels this was not a one for one calculation because of the perceived problem of using all a character's power points only on the highest level powers. This problem was perceived to be greater than it actually was, and a more generous power point allocation was presented in the Expanded Psionics Handbook - but Unearthed Arcana is modeled on the earlier system. Look to the Expanded Psionics Handbook if you are going to make new spell point progressions, or modify those that exist in UA. How did you determine the bonus spell points for high ability scores? Is there a formula? Again, based on the system used in the original Psionics Handbook. Which was based on a comparison of expected bonus spells for arcane classes, then assigning power points as most appropriate. Why do enhancement bonuses from magic items (such as a cloak of charisma) do not add bonus spell points when such items normally add bonus spell slots (and power points)? I don't know - worn items that are effectively permanent should change bonus spell points, just as they do power points for psionicists. Why do metamagic feats not increase the casting time for spontaneous casters as they normally do? If all casters are 'spontaneous casters' with spell points, then all should be equally impeded, or none should. We went with none. Another problem that we are having is determining the epic rules for a spell point character. I think that the best solution is a simple variant on Improved Spellcasting Capacity from the Epic Level Handbook. Ok! I hope that Spell Point enthusiasts will all share their solutions, references, and conclusions on this thread and we can come up with a more complete set of Spell Point rules. I repeat, in our campaign, we use spell points only for spontaneous casters. The system just does not feel right for non-spontaneous casters. Because the topics are so similar, I have also started an almost identical thread on the “Psionics” board that deals with Power Points. You can find it here (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?p=7540244#post7540244). I am sure that the two discussions will diverge rapidly. Once again my thanks to Mr.’s Collins & Cordell for their indulgence of math-obsessed geeks like me.
Cymraegmorgan 10-19-05, 02:45 PM	In my CS, I use Resource Points. ( http://www.angelfire.com/rpg2/altvogge/pcaltvogge.html) All classes get them, to one degree or another. They can be used as Spell Points, Power Points, or Action Points. Each class has a designated progression of R.P. Several mechanical details, like metamagic and metapsionic feats, had to be reworked. But, taken as a whole, it playtested well until Hurricane Katrina scattered my group. Resource Points combined with Altvogge's edited classes make for very powerful characters, so I had made a decision to use it in conjunction with a 25 point buy.
Alan Smithee 10-20-05, 09:36 PM	I can't believe that no-one has anything to add to this thread. Has this topic been done to death already? Is there already a general consensus of opinion on spell points? Can someone posts some links or something?
jagggar 10-20-05, 11:27 PM	Here's a couple that I bookmarked from shortly after UA was released. Spell Points (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=236044) Spell Point Progression and another query (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=258553) The progression I made for the sorcerer (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=266228) And the spellpoint sorcerer (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=305562) I made from my calculations (and a few other UA variants). I agree about points not feeling right for non-spont. casters.
Alan Smithee 10-24-05, 10:16 AM	I did some investigating. The new Psion in the XPH is a close parallel to the Wizard. Same BAB, same saves, bonus feat at 1st level & every fifth level, second level powers at 3rd level instead of 4th, etc... etc... Spell Points work much the same as Power Points. If one adds up the base spell point cost to cast each of a 20th level wizard's daily spell slots (excepting 0-level spells) once, you get a total of 324 - a number not far off from the Psion's 341. (1*4 + 3*4 + 5*4 + 7*4 + 9*4 + 11*4 + 13*4 + 15*4 + 17*4 = 324) Basically, if this figure will work for the Psion, then you can probably extrapolate a figure of 486 for sorcerers. (1*6 + 3*6 + 5*6 + 7*6 + 9*6 + 11*6 + 13*6 + 15*6 + 17*6 = 486) I think that this is what our group is going to playtest. Has anyone else tried this? For 0-level spells, I think we will use the old PsiHB method: your first 3 per day are free, after that 1 pt each.