Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Endarire Apr 17, 2008 22:41:52	My group was greatly in favor of trying spell points with some slight modifications this campaign, and I wanted to know what warnings y'all have. I realize this allows prepared casters to cast spontaneously and allows all casters to cast more often, which is why I added the below rules. What warnings are appropriate to me as DM in terms of challenge? Each caster is seemingly treated as at least 1 level higher in terms of power. Summary: Spell points are like 3.5's psi points. Details -A caster must spend more SP to cast spells at a higher level. For example, a wizard5 could cast magic missile at CL3 if he spent 3SP and CL5 if he spent 5SP. Spells can't, however, be cast at a CL lower than the normal CL needed to cast the spell. The wizard5 could cast fireball at CL5, but not CL4. -You can spend no more SP to cast one spell than you have caster levels in that class. A wizard5 could spend no more than 5SP to cast 1 spell, but could cast fireball and haste, swift in the same round if he had the SP. -Metamagic feats are applied spontaneously and require more spell points. (Each spell level increase is +2SP.) A wizard5 could apply Empower Spell to a magic missile, but MM would be cast at CL1, for a total of (d4+1 x 1.5) damage and 5SP.
#2 wih Apr 17, 2008 23:38:01	You will need some way to make spontaneous casters useful again, as you'll be giving their one benefit to the prepared casters. My personal opinion would be making prepared casters have to prepare the metamagic feat on the spell when they pick their spells, while the spontaneous casters can add them on the fly.
#3 tsuyoshikentsu Apr 18, 2008 1:13:19	You will need some way to make spontaneous casters useful again, as you'll be giving their one benefit to the prepared casters. My personal opinion would be making prepared casters have to prepare the metamagic feat on the spell when they pick their spells, while the spontaneous casters can add them on the fly. C'est ne pas vrei. Prepared casters can only cast from a list of spells they prepare -- think Spirit Shaman. Spontaneous casters can cast off their whole list.
#4 mplindustries Apr 18, 2008 1:29:50	You will need some way to make spontaneous casters useful again, as you'll be giving their one benefit to the prepared casters. You could probably just give sorcerer's Wild Surge. Spell points and power points seem to be virtually identical, especially with your altered rules.
#5 alienfrombeyond Apr 18, 2008 2:44:34	Details -A caster must spend more SP to cast spells at a higher level. For example, a wizard5 could cast magic missile at CL3 if he spent 3SP and CL5 if he spent 5SP. Spells can't, however, be cast at a CL lower than the normal CL needed to cast the spell. The wizard5 could cast fireball at CL5, but not CL4. -You can spend no more SP to cast one spell than you have caster levels in that class. A wizard5 could spend no more than 5SP to cast 1 spell, but could cast fireball and haste, swift in the same round if he had the SP. -Metamagic feats are applied spontaneously and require more spell points. (Each spell level increase is +2SP.) A wizard5 could apply Empower Spell to a magic missile, but MM would be cast at CL1, for a total of (d4+1 x 1.5) damage and 5SP. Jeez, under those rules there's absolutely no reason not to only spend your points on higher level spells. At least the original way it works only makes you spend extra SP for spells whose damage is based on caster level. Not to mention you'll be getting higher DCs out of the process. Or you could just play a Psionic character.