Weaknesses in spell-point system [Archive] - Wizards Community

Weaknesses in spell-point system [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
ShamusYoung
09-19-05, 04:03 PM As part of our house rules I came up with my own "magic points" based magic system. A spell requires energy equal to the level of the spell + 1. So, level 0 spells need 1 energy, level 1 spells need 2, etc.

Base energy comes from the chart below.

Level | Max Spell Level |Base Energy (Ability Mod)
+0 +1 +2 +3 +4 +5
1 1 5 6 7 8 9 11
2 1 6 7 8 9 11 13
3 2 7 8 9 11 13 15
4 2 8 9 11 13 15 17
5 3 9 11 13 15 17 20
6 3 11 13 15 17 20 23
7 4 13 15 17 20 23 26
8 4 15 17 20 23 26 30
9 5 17 20 23 26 30 33
10 5 20 23 26 30 33 37
11 6 23 26 30 33 37 40
12 6 26 30 33 37 40 44
13 7 30 33 37 40 44 48
14 7 33 37 40 44 48 53
15 8 37 40 44 48 53 57
16 8 40 44 48 53 57 66
17 9 44 48 53 57 66 75
18 9 48 53 57 66 75 84
19 9 53 57 66 75 84 93
20 9 57 66 75 84 93 102

So, a level 3 Wizard with an INT of 14 (ability mod +2) would have a base energy of 9. She would have enough energy to cast 3 level 2 spells. (Or, say four level 1 spells, with 1 magic point left over. She could also cast up to NINE level zero spells, which seems like a lot, but those spells are weak so...)

Anyway, I like the system because it is simple and easy to understand. So far we've played to level 5 and it still seems balanced. If you want the long version, its here (http://www.shamusyoung.com/twentysidedtale/?p=17).

However, I'm worried about problems in the long run. Is being able to cast 20 or more level 0 spells at level 10 going to be imbalancing? What other long term balance problems might I face?

I'm sure other people have tried systems like this. How did it work?
RaspK FOG
09-19-05, 08:09 PM The way things work is something like this: you may fire more powerful spells per day, but that is not necessarily a good choice.
Ilium
09-20-05, 09:51 AM I think you'll find just the opposite of what you're worried about. Usually when a spell point system is used, the casters end up using all their points on their highest-level available spells.

So at 10th level, your wizard (assuming his INT is 16 by then) will be able to cast 5 5th-level spells, as opposed to a regular wizard who can cast 2.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
ShamusYoung 09-19-05, 04:03 PM	As part of our house rules I came up with my own "magic points" based magic system. A spell requires energy equal to the level of the spell + 1. So, level 0 spells need 1 energy, level 1 spells need 2, etc. Base energy comes from the chart below. Level \| Max Spell Level \|Base Energy (Ability Mod) +0 +1 +2 +3 +4 +5 1 1 5 6 7 8 9 11 2 1 6 7 8 9 11 13 3 2 7 8 9 11 13 15 4 2 8 9 11 13 15 17 5 3 9 11 13 15 17 20 6 3 11 13 15 17 20 23 7 4 13 15 17 20 23 26 8 4 15 17 20 23 26 30 9 5 17 20 23 26 30 33 10 5 20 23 26 30 33 37 11 6 23 26 30 33 37 40 12 6 26 30 33 37 40 44 13 7 30 33 37 40 44 48 14 7 33 37 40 44 48 53 15 8 37 40 44 48 53 57 16 8 40 44 48 53 57 66 17 9 44 48 53 57 66 75 18 9 48 53 57 66 75 84 19 9 53 57 66 75 84 93 20 9 57 66 75 84 93 102 So, a level 3 Wizard with an INT of 14 (ability mod +2) would have a base energy of 9. She would have enough energy to cast 3 level 2 spells. (Or, say four level 1 spells, with 1 magic point left over. She could also cast up to NINE level zero spells, which seems like a lot, but those spells are weak so...) Anyway, I like the system because it is simple and easy to understand. So far we've played to level 5 and it still seems balanced. If you want the long version, its here (http://www.shamusyoung.com/twentysidedtale/?p=17). However, I'm worried about problems in the long run. Is being able to cast 20 or more level 0 spells at level 10 going to be imbalancing? What other long term balance problems might I face? I'm sure other people have tried systems like this. How did it work?
RaspK FOG 09-19-05, 08:09 PM	The way things work is something like this: you may fire more powerful spells per day, but that is not necessarily a good choice.
Ilium 09-20-05, 09:51 AM	I think you'll find just the opposite of what you're worried about. Usually when a spell point system is used, the casters end up using all their points on their highest-level available spells. So at 10th level, your wizard (assuming his INT is 16 by then) will be able to cast 5 5th-level spells, as opposed to a regular wizard who can cast 2.