[4e] Wizard chooses spell when casting - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

[4e] Wizard chooses spell when casting

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
spaceshot
Sep 12, 2008 18:16:16 I am trying out a rule in my group where wizards don't have to prepare spells their daily or utility spells. They just cast what they want when they want (basically like a sorcerer). I did this, first of all, because there is no sorcerer in the game. Second, I have found that wizards I play or DM often just keep picking one spell to prepare every day.

Sure, sometimes you get info on what you might face, but it really has to be obvious (oh we might face some creatures that are vulnerable to cold, okay that is some guidance). No matter what, you end up in situations where you kick yourself, and that doesn't seem fun for me or my players.

It's not like I am allowing extra uses. For example, if you are a level 1 wizard and you chose Sleep and Freezing Cloud, you still only pick one and when it's used that is your Level 1 Daily spell for the day.

What do you think are the implications of this long term? Is anyone else doing something similar?
#2
aluman
Sep 12, 2008 20:42:16 Allowing them to choose as they cast, will raise the effectivness of Spellbook class feature and the feat tied to it. how much is hard to say, it dependso n the GM in question.
#3
xeorsos
Sep 12, 2008 23:38:03 While I can't honestly say if it's overpowered, I will say it's a neat idea. It breathes a lot of life back into the Spellbook class feature, which is already pretty stale.
#4
ff6shadow
Sep 12, 2008 23:59:52 I like it.
#5
jaxgaret
Sep 13, 2008 1:44:34 Sounds good to me, but there should be some drawback involved.
#6
el_tommo
Sep 13, 2008 2:34:46 I think it definitely adds something to the wizard, but definitely not enough to mess up your game, or really require a drawback. If it's more fun for your players, you should keep with it. I'll be doing this in the game I'm putting together.
#7
Tenzhi
Sep 13, 2008 2:44:02 Sounds good to me. I might think allow the wizard in my party to do that and see how it goes.
#8
willfuqua
Sep 13, 2008 6:22:52 I think it's a great idea. I'm going to try it out in my group as well. I think the girl playing the wizard will love it, especially since she took the expanded Spellbook feat.
#9
themormegil
Sep 13, 2008 7:18:41 Could be good... but what about making it an alternate class feature, that limits your daily options by one (hence working at first only on utilities, and on dailies w/ Expanded Spellbook?)
#10
Zuggster
Sep 13, 2008 7:55:27 Or at least a Feat or two attached to it.

Spontaneous SpellCasting

Prereq - Spellbook Usage

You do not need to prepare your spells* at the beginning of the day.

* = If this is still overpowered, you could make it into a Daily version and a Utility Version.

That way the Wizard is giving up something for it, and others don't feel they're getting something that could be perceived as overpowered.
#11
SYB
Sep 13, 2008 10:26:33 How do you handle a wizard who has Expeditious Retreat and Shield as utility powers? One is an encounter power and one is a daily power.

Other than that hurdle, I like the idea, mostly because I feel that the spellbook class feature really doesn't mean much (from my play experience using it).

-SYB
#12
ff6shadow
Sep 13, 2008 10:41:49 Once he uses the daily, he can't use the slot anymore? BUt he can use the encounter and keep it open every encounter.
#13
pyromancer999
Sep 13, 2008 11:17:02 The point of choosing ahead of time is meant to balance the class feature. otherwise, the wizard may become incredibly more powerful than the rest of the party.
#14
kuonji
Sep 13, 2008 12:43:51
The point of choosing ahead of time is meant to balance the class feature. otherwise, the wizard may become incredibly more powerful than the rest of the party.

I don't know about incredibly more powerful, but I don't see why the wizard gets to have different options available all the time where every other class just gets the one option. Personally, I think it's nice that the wizard gets a choice at all from having a spellbook. No other class has the option to choose between powers on a daily basis and there are plenty of times I wish I could prepare a different exploit with my paladin, especially in the utility department.

I don't like it, but that's just my opinion.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 spaceshot Sep 12, 2008 18:16:16	I am trying out a rule in my group where wizards don't have to prepare spells their daily or utility spells. They just cast what they want when they want (basically like a sorcerer). I did this, first of all, because there is no sorcerer in the game. Second, I have found that wizards I play or DM often just keep picking one spell to prepare every day. Sure, sometimes you get info on what you might face, but it really has to be obvious (oh we might face some creatures that are vulnerable to cold, okay that is some guidance). No matter what, you end up in situations where you kick yourself, and that doesn't seem fun for me or my players. It's not like I am allowing extra uses. For example, if you are a level 1 wizard and you chose Sleep and Freezing Cloud, you still only pick one and when it's used that is your Level 1 Daily spell for the day. What do you think are the implications of this long term? Is anyone else doing something similar?
#2 aluman Sep 12, 2008 20:42:16	Allowing them to choose as they cast, will raise the effectivness of Spellbook class feature and the feat tied to it. how much is hard to say, it dependso n the GM in question.
#3 xeorsos Sep 12, 2008 23:38:03	While I can't honestly say if it's overpowered, I will say it's a neat idea. It breathes a lot of life back into the Spellbook class feature, which is already pretty stale.
#4 ff6shadow Sep 12, 2008 23:59:52	I like it.
#5 jaxgaret Sep 13, 2008 1:44:34	Sounds good to me, but there should be some drawback involved.
#6 el_tommo Sep 13, 2008 2:34:46	I think it definitely adds something to the wizard, but definitely not enough to mess up your game, or really require a drawback. If it's more fun for your players, you should keep with it. I'll be doing this in the game I'm putting together.
#7 Tenzhi Sep 13, 2008 2:44:02	Sounds good to me. I might think allow the wizard in my party to do that and see how it goes.
#8 willfuqua Sep 13, 2008 6:22:52	I think it's a great idea. I'm going to try it out in my group as well. I think the girl playing the wizard will love it, especially since she took the expanded Spellbook feat.
#9 themormegil Sep 13, 2008 7:18:41	Could be good... but what about making it an alternate class feature, that limits your daily options by one (hence working at first only on utilities, and on dailies w/ Expanded Spellbook?)
#10 Zuggster Sep 13, 2008 7:55:27	Or at least a Feat or two attached to it. Spontaneous SpellCasting Prereq - Spellbook Usage You do not need to prepare your spells* at the beginning of the day. * = If this is still overpowered, you could make it into a Daily version and a Utility Version. That way the Wizard is giving up something for it, and others don't feel they're getting something that could be perceived as overpowered.
#11 SYB Sep 13, 2008 10:26:33	How do you handle a wizard who has Expeditious Retreat and Shield as utility powers? One is an encounter power and one is a daily power. Other than that hurdle, I like the idea, mostly because I feel that the spellbook class feature really doesn't mean much (from my play experience using it). -SYB
#12 ff6shadow Sep 13, 2008 10:41:49	Once he uses the daily, he can't use the slot anymore? BUt he can use the encounter and keep it open every encounter.
#13 pyromancer999 Sep 13, 2008 11:17:02	The point of choosing ahead of time is meant to balance the class feature. otherwise, the wizard may become incredibly more powerful than the rest of the party.
#14 kuonji Sep 13, 2008 12:43:51	The point of choosing ahead of time is meant to balance the class feature. otherwise, the wizard may become incredibly more powerful than the rest of the party. I don't know about incredibly more powerful, but I don't see why the wizard gets to have different options available all the time where every other class just gets the one option. Personally, I think it's nice that the wizard gets a choice at all from having a spellbook. No other class has the option to choose between powers on a daily basis and there are plenty of times I wish I could prepare a different exploit with my paladin, especially in the utility department. I don't like it, but that's just my opinion.