Spell points and reserve feats [Archive] - Wizards Community

Spell points and reserve feats [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Vengeblade
10-19-06, 07:19 PM I have converted my game over to a spell point system for some time now. I had gone over my complete mage and really liked the reserve feats.

My problem is, how do I convert them over to the spell point system?

I figured instead of having a spell slot still available, they would need the proper spell prepared for the day and so many spell points remaining.

However, this may be a bit overpowered, since spell points would remain longer than any single level of spell slots.

Anyone have any ideas or maybe just how many spell points in reserve they should have for some of the feats?
Tempest Stormwind
10-19-06, 07:58 PM Work off of an investment method, sort of like the bastard child of incarnum feats and 3.0 psionic feats.

Here's an example using Storm Bolt, the only one I know (I don't own, nor do I want, Complete Mage).

Do note that this is a quick-and-dirty conversion and has not been even roughly considered in context of game balance. Thus, I would look long and hard at what reserve feats can do in a system that doesn't use free scaling.

==================
Storm Bolt, Spell Point
Prerequisites: Able to cast 3rd level spells, knowledge of at least one Electricity spell that can be cast as a 3rd level (5-point) or higher spell.
Benefit: When you regain your spell points for the day, you may invest spell points into this feat. You must invest an odd number, and cannot invest more than your caster level. Invested spell points are unavailable for normal use (but see below).
While spell points remain invested in this feat, you may fire a 20' line of lightning as a standard action that deals 1d6 points of electicity damage. Every two spell points invested in this feat beyond 1 improves this by 1d6.
Additionally, you cast electicity spells at +1 caster level. This increase improves the limit of spell points you can invest in the feat.
Special: You may use spell points invested in this feat as if they were in your reserve, but only to cast electicity spells. After using them, you cannot invest more spell points in this feat until you next recover spell points.

Example: A 5th level spellcaster knows Lightning Bolt, Shocking Grasp, and takes this feat. He chooses to invest 5 spell points in it at the start of the day (reducing his reserve accordingly) -- his caster level for electicity spells is 6, but he must invest an odd number. For the day, he can fire off 3d6 Storm Bolts. If, later, his reserve runs down and he needs a Shocking Grasp (1pp), he can draw upon his invested reserve in Storm Bolt to cast it -- but this reduces the invested reserve accordingly, to 4, which isn't high enough to get 3d6 any more (he now only has 2d6 storm bolts).
Deathmond
10-19-06, 08:30 PM Couldn't it just be used almost like it is for spontaneous casters? He knows and has a spell slot available to cast a spell of the minimum level required by the feat and he can use it. With spellpoints it'd work basically the same for them yes? They know and have enough spellpoints to cast a spell of that level so they can use the feat.

For a prepared caster he'd have to have the appropriate spell prepared and still have points enough to cast it and the feat would be available to him.

If I'm missing something totaly obvious let me know.
Vengeblade
10-19-06, 11:06 PM I think I figures it out, I'll just have to arbitrate it based on how many spell points an average character would have when they got that level of spell. For example, with my spell point system, the average spell points between a wizard and sorcerer with an 18 in their key ability is 39. Since I want them to be able to use the feat while still being able to use some of their highest level spells (at the time), I would set it around 29 or 30.

Here's how I figured it out so far:

Storm Bolt [Reserve]
Prerequisite:Ability to cast 3rd-level spells.
Benefit:As long as you have an electricity spell of 3rd level or higher prepared/redied for the day and at least 30 spell points remaining from you daily allotment, you can fire a 20ft. line of electricity as a standard action. This bolt deals 1d6 points of electricity damage per level of the highest level electricity spell you have prepared.
As a secondary benefit, you gain a +1 competence bonus to your caster level when casting electricity spells.
starfire311
10-20-06, 12:17 AM Work off of an investment method, sort of like the bastard child of incarnum feats and 3.0 psionic feats.

Here's an example using Storm Bolt, the only one I know (I don't own, nor do I want, Complete Mage).

Do note that this is a quick-and-dirty conversion and has not been even roughly considered in context of game balance. Thus, I would look long and hard at what reserve feats can do in a system that doesn't use free scaling.

==================
Storm Bolt, Spell Point
Prerequisites: Able to cast 3rd level spells, knowledge of at least one Electricity spell that can be cast as a 3rd level (5-point) or higher spell.
Benefit: When you regain your spell points for the day, you may invest spell points into this feat. You must invest an odd number, and cannot invest more than your caster level. Invested spell points are unavailable for normal use (but see below).
While spell points remain invested in this feat, you may fire a 20' line of lightning as a standard action that deals 1d6 points of electicity damage. Every two spell points invested in this feat beyond 1 improves this by 1d6.
Additionally, you cast electicity spells at +1 caster level. This increase improves the limit of spell points you can invest in the feat.
Special: You may use spell points invested in this feat as if they were in your reserve, but only to cast electicity spells. After using them, you cannot invest more spell points in this feat until you next recover spell points.

Example: A 5th level spellcaster knows Lightning Bolt, Shocking Grasp, and takes this feat. He chooses to invest 5 spell points in it at the start of the day (reducing his reserve accordingly) -- his caster level for electicity spells is 6, but he must invest an odd number. For the day, he can fire off 3d6 Storm Bolts. If, later, his reserve runs down and he needs a Shocking Grasp (1pp), he can draw upon his invested reserve in Storm Bolt to cast it -- but this reduces the invested reserve accordingly, to 4, which isn't high enough to get 3d6 any more (he now only has 2d6 storm bolts).

Bravo, this is a very elagant adaptation of the reserve feats to spell point system.

This would actually make it so you mus set aside 2 allotments of points if you have 2 reserve feats, unlike just basing it on a threshold to keep it active.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Vengeblade 10-19-06, 07:19 PM	I have converted my game over to a spell point system for some time now. I had gone over my complete mage and really liked the reserve feats. My problem is, how do I convert them over to the spell point system? I figured instead of having a spell slot still available, they would need the proper spell prepared for the day and so many spell points remaining. However, this may be a bit overpowered, since spell points would remain longer than any single level of spell slots. Anyone have any ideas or maybe just how many spell points in reserve they should have for some of the feats?
Tempest Stormwind 10-19-06, 07:58 PM	Work off of an investment method, sort of like the bastard child of incarnum feats and 3.0 psionic feats. Here's an example using Storm Bolt, the only one I know (I don't own, nor do I want, Complete Mage). Do note that this is a quick-and-dirty conversion and has not been even roughly considered in context of game balance. Thus, I would look long and hard at what reserve feats can do in a system that doesn't use free scaling. ================== Storm Bolt, Spell Point Prerequisites: Able to cast 3rd level spells, knowledge of at least one Electricity spell that can be cast as a 3rd level (5-point) or higher spell. Benefit: When you regain your spell points for the day, you may invest spell points into this feat. You must invest an odd number, and cannot invest more than your caster level. Invested spell points are unavailable for normal use (but see below). While spell points remain invested in this feat, you may fire a 20' line of lightning as a standard action that deals 1d6 points of electicity damage. Every two spell points invested in this feat beyond 1 improves this by 1d6. Additionally, you cast electicity spells at +1 caster level. This increase improves the limit of spell points you can invest in the feat. Special: You may use spell points invested in this feat as if they were in your reserve, but only to cast electicity spells. After using them, you cannot invest more spell points in this feat until you next recover spell points. Example: A 5th level spellcaster knows Lightning Bolt, Shocking Grasp, and takes this feat. He chooses to invest 5 spell points in it at the start of the day (reducing his reserve accordingly) -- his caster level for electicity spells is 6, but he must invest an odd number. For the day, he can fire off 3d6 Storm Bolts. If, later, his reserve runs down and he needs a Shocking Grasp (1pp), he can draw upon his invested reserve in Storm Bolt to cast it -- but this reduces the invested reserve accordingly, to 4, which isn't high enough to get 3d6 any more (he now only has 2d6 storm bolts).
Deathmond 10-19-06, 08:30 PM	Couldn't it just be used almost like it is for spontaneous casters? He knows and has a spell slot available to cast a spell of the minimum level required by the feat and he can use it. With spellpoints it'd work basically the same for them yes? They know and have enough spellpoints to cast a spell of that level so they can use the feat. For a prepared caster he'd have to have the appropriate spell prepared and still have points enough to cast it and the feat would be available to him. If I'm missing something totaly obvious let me know.
Vengeblade 10-19-06, 11:06 PM	I think I figures it out, I'll just have to arbitrate it based on how many spell points an average character would have when they got that level of spell. For example, with my spell point system, the average spell points between a wizard and sorcerer with an 18 in their key ability is 39. Since I want them to be able to use the feat while still being able to use some of their highest level spells (at the time), I would set it around 29 or 30. Here's how I figured it out so far: Storm Bolt [Reserve] Prerequisite:Ability to cast 3rd-level spells. Benefit:As long as you have an electricity spell of 3rd level or higher prepared/redied for the day and at least 30 spell points remaining from you daily allotment, you can fire a 20ft. line of electricity as a standard action. This bolt deals 1d6 points of electricity damage per level of the highest level electricity spell you have prepared. As a secondary benefit, you gain a +1 competence bonus to your caster level when casting electricity spells.
starfire311 10-20-06, 12:17 AM	Work off of an investment method, sort of like the bastard child of incarnum feats and 3.0 psionic feats. Here's an example using Storm Bolt, the only one I know (I don't own, nor do I want, Complete Mage). Do note that this is a quick-and-dirty conversion and has not been even roughly considered in context of game balance. Thus, I would look long and hard at what reserve feats can do in a system that doesn't use free scaling. ================== Storm Bolt, Spell Point Prerequisites: Able to cast 3rd level spells, knowledge of at least one Electricity spell that can be cast as a 3rd level (5-point) or higher spell. Benefit: When you regain your spell points for the day, you may invest spell points into this feat. You must invest an odd number, and cannot invest more than your caster level. Invested spell points are unavailable for normal use (but see below). While spell points remain invested in this feat, you may fire a 20' line of lightning as a standard action that deals 1d6 points of electicity damage. Every two spell points invested in this feat beyond 1 improves this by 1d6. Additionally, you cast electicity spells at +1 caster level. This increase improves the limit of spell points you can invest in the feat. Special: You may use spell points invested in this feat as if they were in your reserve, but only to cast electicity spells. After using them, you cannot invest more spell points in this feat until you next recover spell points. Example: A 5th level spellcaster knows Lightning Bolt, Shocking Grasp, and takes this feat. He chooses to invest 5 spell points in it at the start of the day (reducing his reserve accordingly) -- his caster level for electicity spells is 6, but he must invest an odd number. For the day, he can fire off 3d6 Storm Bolts. If, later, his reserve runs down and he needs a Shocking Grasp (1pp), he can draw upon his invested reserve in Storm Bolt to cast it -- but this reduces the invested reserve accordingly, to 4, which isn't high enough to get 3d6 any more (he now only has 2d6 storm bolts). Bravo, this is a very elagant adaptation of the reserve feats to spell point system. This would actually make it so you mus set aside 2 allotments of points if you have 2 reserve feats, unlike just basing it on a threshold to keep it active.