Variant Spellcasting: Recharging [Archive] - Wizards Community

Variant Spellcasting: Recharging [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Germytech
01-21-06, 03:47 AM This is a suggestion for a variant of a variant: recharge magic.

I find recharge magic, as presented in Unearthed Arcana, extremely clumsy. In essence, every individual spell is going to have a different recharge time, as well as preventing a spellcaster from completing fin and unique combinations.

I have an idea that would conform D&D spellcaster closer to my idea of what a mage should be.

Recharging Spell Slots

Spellcasters recieve their same spells per day, preparing and obtaining them as normal. However, all spell slots do not return after eight hours of rest: only one spell slot per level will.

So, if a wizard has 5 6th-level spells to cast per day, and uses 3 of them during two encounters, he will regain only one after a night's rest, and will only be able to prepare 3 6th-level spells the following day. If he uses no 6th-level spells that day, he will be able to prepare 4 the next day.

I always envisioned spellcasting as somewhat "exhausting," but the current D&D mechanic does not portray this. It puts more emphasis on a spellcaster's need to rest (in order to "recharge" spell slots), and helps curb the exponential power of such spellcasters at higher levels.

Other than that, everything else is the same. Sorcerers still have a limited number of spells known, wizards still need a spellbook, and clerics still need to commune daily.

This variant, of course, opens up a lot of options for magic items to mediate the weaknesses of recharging one spell slot at a time. Pehaps rings that allow an extra spell of a given level to be recharged per day. Or an amulet that allows two spells to be gained per day... Just some ideas.

What do others think of this variant?
Darkmatter20
01-21-06, 07:32 AM So assuming a level 1 wizard/sor/cleric has just faught a tough encounter that day and has used all his spells. After he has rested for eight hours he now only has one lv1 spell slot returned. So he would have to rest for two days just to get two level one spells back? Not including cantrips.

The rest of the party are fully rested after this time. Do the party wait the extra days for the wizard so they can continue their adventure? At level 10 he restores 10 spell slots when he has a total of 24 needing three days rest to be fully recovered. At level 20 he restores 20 spell slots per day when he has 40 avaliable (without the mod for a high int taken into account).

Its terrible.

Since the challenge ratings are based around the RAW rules with mean that a certain amount of magical healing is available per day. You have just removed to amount of healing available the next day.

As per magic items that make recharging faster this shouldn't be available to a low level group anyway if the wealth levels are being followed roughly. If you do give them to a low level group it just means that this recharge varient of yours doesn't work anyway.

What will the wizard do in combat now he has precious few spells as it is and he has to hoard them from day to day as he will never know when he "really" needs them.

Casters are much more powerful then most other classes at high levels. No getting around that. However casters tend to be worse at low levels which makes up for it. Getting through several levels when your not able to do much really pays off at higher levels.

OK so maybe you want to represent your idea of what magic should be better. As it stands this varient looks like it will slow the game down a lot as the entire party waits twice a long for the casters to recharge their spells fully. Bar in mind that this includes healling spells so Mr. Fighter will want to rest longer if he has any sense.

As it stands bleah.
Germytech
01-23-06, 01:17 PM I think you might have misunderstood some aspects of the system I am proposing.

First, a spellcaster will regain one spell level per spell level per day. Meaning a 5th-level wizard will regain one each of 0-level, 1st-level, 2nd-level, and 3rd-level spells, every day.

Second, I never suggested that such magic items should be parceled out to low-level characters. They should be priced accordingly, probably within the same range as a pearl of power.

Third, since clerics will suffer the same effect, meaning they will regain spell slots in the same manner, also meaning that healing will be a lot rarer. Parties will need to spend more time healing naturally rather than by spells.

Thus, the entire system in self-correcting. Yes, the warrior classes will have to wait for the spellcasters to regain their full allotment of spells. However, these same classes will have to wait to regain their full allotment of hit points.

These "days of rest" can easily be conducted off-screen, with the DM saying, "Okay, you rest for a couple days, regaining X amount of hit points and X spell slots per level." But it results in a very different feel to the game.

In-game time will be lenghtened, yes, but not necessarily playing time. What this system adds to the game experience is a level of resource management, especially if the party is on a time limit, or must complete a task in a certain number of days. Characters will need to be much more aware of their needs for rest, as do many epic characters in stories and film.

Of course, it's not for everyone, but for this type of game, what do others think of it?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Germytech 01-21-06, 03:47 AM	This is a suggestion for a variant of a variant: recharge magic. I find recharge magic, as presented in Unearthed Arcana, extremely clumsy. In essence, every individual spell is going to have a different recharge time, as well as preventing a spellcaster from completing fin and unique combinations. I have an idea that would conform D&D spellcaster closer to my idea of what a mage should be. Recharging Spell Slots Spellcasters recieve their same spells per day, preparing and obtaining them as normal. However, all spell slots do not return after eight hours of rest: only one spell slot per level will. So, if a wizard has 5 6th-level spells to cast per day, and uses 3 of them during two encounters, he will regain only one after a night's rest, and will only be able to prepare 3 6th-level spells the following day. If he uses no 6th-level spells that day, he will be able to prepare 4 the next day. I always envisioned spellcasting as somewhat "exhausting," but the current D&D mechanic does not portray this. It puts more emphasis on a spellcaster's need to rest (in order to "recharge" spell slots), and helps curb the exponential power of such spellcasters at higher levels. Other than that, everything else is the same. Sorcerers still have a limited number of spells known, wizards still need a spellbook, and clerics still need to commune daily. This variant, of course, opens up a lot of options for magic items to mediate the weaknesses of recharging one spell slot at a time. Pehaps rings that allow an extra spell of a given level to be recharged per day. Or an amulet that allows two spells to be gained per day... Just some ideas. What do others think of this variant?
Darkmatter20 01-21-06, 07:32 AM	So assuming a level 1 wizard/sor/cleric has just faught a tough encounter that day and has used all his spells. After he has rested for eight hours he now only has one lv1 spell slot returned. So he would have to rest for two days just to get two level one spells back? Not including cantrips. The rest of the party are fully rested after this time. Do the party wait the extra days for the wizard so they can continue their adventure? At level 10 he restores 10 spell slots when he has a total of 24 needing three days rest to be fully recovered. At level 20 he restores 20 spell slots per day when he has 40 avaliable (without the mod for a high int taken into account). Its terrible. Since the challenge ratings are based around the RAW rules with mean that a certain amount of magical healing is available per day. You have just removed to amount of healing available the next day. As per magic items that make recharging faster this shouldn't be available to a low level group anyway if the wealth levels are being followed roughly. If you do give them to a low level group it just means that this recharge varient of yours doesn't work anyway. What will the wizard do in combat now he has precious few spells as it is and he has to hoard them from day to day as he will never know when he "really" needs them. Casters are much more powerful then most other classes at high levels. No getting around that. However casters tend to be worse at low levels which makes up for it. Getting through several levels when your not able to do much really pays off at higher levels. OK so maybe you want to represent your idea of what magic should be better. As it stands this varient looks like it will slow the game down a lot as the entire party waits twice a long for the casters to recharge their spells fully. Bar in mind that this includes healling spells so Mr. Fighter will want to rest longer if he has any sense. As it stands bleah.
Germytech 01-23-06, 01:17 PM	I think you might have misunderstood some aspects of the system I am proposing. First, a spellcaster will regain one spell level per spell level per day. Meaning a 5th-level wizard will regain one each of 0-level, 1st-level, 2nd-level, and 3rd-level spells, every day. Second, I never suggested that such magic items should be parceled out to low-level characters. They should be priced accordingly, probably within the same range as a pearl of power. Third, since clerics will suffer the same effect, meaning they will regain spell slots in the same manner, also meaning that healing will be a lot rarer. Parties will need to spend more time healing naturally rather than by spells. Thus, the entire system in self-correcting. Yes, the warrior classes will have to wait for the spellcasters to regain their full allotment of spells. However, these same classes will have to wait to regain their full allotment of hit points. These "days of rest" can easily be conducted off-screen, with the DM saying, "Okay, you rest for a couple days, regaining X amount of hit points and X spell slots per level." But it results in a very different feel to the game. In-game time will be lenghtened, yes, but not necessarily playing time. What this system adds to the game experience is a level of resource management, especially if the party is on a time limit, or must complete a task in a certain number of days. Characters will need to be much more aware of their needs for rest, as do many epic characters in stories and film. Of course, it's not for everyone, but for this type of game, what do others think of it?