Post by David on Aug 2, 2005 12:26:19 GMT -5
Howdy folks,
Okay, this is a topic that's been wrattling around my brain for a long while now. It was given new life during our drive home from the Lake.
Basically, I've never been overly fond of the Dnd magic system. I think it doesn't map well to fantasy novels or folklore nor does it promote creativity for spell-casters. Over the users, I've made MANY minor tweaks in order to make it compatible with the original rules, yet consistent with literary "reality". This is POTENTIALLY one more such tweak...
Years ago (21+) I started allowing wizards to have a pseudo-manna system. Instead of knowing precisely prepared spells (per the rule books), they are allowed slots for spells of each level. Thus, for instance, a 7th lvl mage has four 1st lvl slots, three 2nd, two 3rd, and one 4th. What this means is that said wizard can learn four DIFFERENT 1st level spells and cast them in any conbination. For instance, the wizard could have magic missile, sleep, charm person, and detect magic but cast four sleeps or two sleeps and two detect magics or whatever. In general, I think this is an excellent band-aid, but I'd like to move a little farther...
How do you explain wizards, whether high or low level, who know DOZENS of lesser (1st or 2nd lvl) spells on the fly? There's got to be a way to create wizards like Hermione Granger or Elric. Other than falling back to a manna-like system (à la Tunnels and Trolls or Fantasy Trip or *yuck* Arms Law), I think you're stuck. Until now...
I would like to propose a new skill. Call it "spell repetoire". It comes in two flavors too.
For the first level (one non-weapon?) the mage may have one additional spell slot for any ONE spell level he/she can cast. So, our 7th lvl mage could have an extra 4th or an extra 1st. Now, this is NOT an additional spell, but rather an additional spell slot. So, say the mage takes this for 1st lvl spells, then in addition to magic missile, sleep, charm person, and detect magic he could also take feather fall or whatever. The slot may be changed each time the wizard changes his spells for the day.
For the second level (one weapon?), the mage may take up to 1/2 his level is additional spell levels (round up) of spell slots. Thus, our 7th lvl example-wizard could take an additional four levels of spell slots. That could be either one 4th lvl spell or two 2nds or four 1sts. Suddenly, wizards who know lots of minor spells become do-able!
So, honestly, what do you think? Remember, at NO POINT does this wizard gain any additional spell castings per day, only a broader selection of what spell to use (a little bit more like clerics, actually).
Let me know,
Thanks,
David
Okay, this is a topic that's been wrattling around my brain for a long while now. It was given new life during our drive home from the Lake.
Basically, I've never been overly fond of the Dnd magic system. I think it doesn't map well to fantasy novels or folklore nor does it promote creativity for spell-casters. Over the users, I've made MANY minor tweaks in order to make it compatible with the original rules, yet consistent with literary "reality". This is POTENTIALLY one more such tweak...
Years ago (21+) I started allowing wizards to have a pseudo-manna system. Instead of knowing precisely prepared spells (per the rule books), they are allowed slots for spells of each level. Thus, for instance, a 7th lvl mage has four 1st lvl slots, three 2nd, two 3rd, and one 4th. What this means is that said wizard can learn four DIFFERENT 1st level spells and cast them in any conbination. For instance, the wizard could have magic missile, sleep, charm person, and detect magic but cast four sleeps or two sleeps and two detect magics or whatever. In general, I think this is an excellent band-aid, but I'd like to move a little farther...
How do you explain wizards, whether high or low level, who know DOZENS of lesser (1st or 2nd lvl) spells on the fly? There's got to be a way to create wizards like Hermione Granger or Elric. Other than falling back to a manna-like system (à la Tunnels and Trolls or Fantasy Trip or *yuck* Arms Law), I think you're stuck. Until now...
I would like to propose a new skill. Call it "spell repetoire". It comes in two flavors too.
For the first level (one non-weapon?) the mage may have one additional spell slot for any ONE spell level he/she can cast. So, our 7th lvl mage could have an extra 4th or an extra 1st. Now, this is NOT an additional spell, but rather an additional spell slot. So, say the mage takes this for 1st lvl spells, then in addition to magic missile, sleep, charm person, and detect magic he could also take feather fall or whatever. The slot may be changed each time the wizard changes his spells for the day.
For the second level (one weapon?), the mage may take up to 1/2 his level is additional spell levels (round up) of spell slots. Thus, our 7th lvl example-wizard could take an additional four levels of spell slots. That could be either one 4th lvl spell or two 2nds or four 1sts. Suddenly, wizards who know lots of minor spells become do-able!
So, honestly, what do you think? Remember, at NO POINT does this wizard gain any additional spell castings per day, only a broader selection of what spell to use (a little bit more like clerics, actually).
Let me know,
Thanks,
David
Because...honestly....Darya doesn't always know when she needs her "curl" or "make-up" cantrip...it would be great if she could just have it "on her" so to speak 