I'm reading the rules and find them very complex.
So here is the request for an algorithm or block diagram to describe the procedure.For example:
1. Select an available spell level and find spell budget.
2. Pick a TARGET word. Add the cost.
3. Pick EFFECT words. Observe restrictions. Add costs.Regards,
Ruemere
I think, even with this complexety and flexibbility, most people, especially wizards, will went to their "standard" spells (maybe a acidball instead of a fireball, but still the same mechanic)
I also find this system very complex and suggest everyone who use it, to prepare some "word-spells" before the play, so you don't have to adapt on the fly.
Maybe some +/- at casting time etc. would be nice.
e.g.
Word X
School conjuration; Level bard 6, cleric 6, druid 6,
sorcerer/wizard 6
Cost 13; Duration 1 round/level Cating Time: +1 step
Saving Throw none; Spell resistance no
Word: Reduce Effekt
School universal; Level all 2
Cost 4; Duration see text Casting Time -1 step
Saving Throw see text; Spell resistance see text
Reduce all dice rolls by one step (e.g. 1d8 > 16d6)
(These are only blank examples!)
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Well if it gets popular enough and enough support perhaps a special forum or something could be set up where people could post some pre-built spells. We already have a topic dedicated to seeing what spells we can make up perhaps when it's released in full, a topic or forum will be dedicated to people messing with the system.
What I think would be handy is a website where you can enter in all the words and spell levels you have available, and it would match you to a database of pre-cooked spells you can cast on the fly or prepare.
Basically, people could put spells together and put them on the site, and they go into this big database, which can be accessed by others and filtered for what they can use.
What I think would be handy is a website where you can enter in all the words and spell levels you have available, and it would match you to a database of pre-cooked spells you can cast on the fly or prepare.
THAT would be a cool thing to have, and I'll suggest it to Gary!
What I think would be handy is a website where you can enter in all the words and spell levels you have available, and it would match you to a database of pre-cooked spells you can cast on the fly or prepare.THAT would be a cool thing to have, and I'll suggest it to Gary!
That would rock super hard. Particularly if it included a tool for building spells to go into the database (that checked them for legality, of course).
It would also be awesome to be able to output the spells in card form for easy printing and cutting out.
If you guys don't make this, I might. :P
If you need to stop the game in order for the wizard to mull over particulars of a spell, in addition to typical tactical thinking and spell list browsing, you need to acknowledge the possibility of 4 folks getting upset with wizard player taking more time.
Mmmh, I think you're wrong, remember Wizards still have to prepare their spell list in the morning, they pick spell already prepared with words later... ;)
And sorcerers will have only a small amount of words available... So not much time spent on thinking here too... :p
I don't think time is going to be a big issue with this system...
ruemere wrote:
If you need to stop the game in order for the wizard to mull over particulars of a spell, in addition to typical tactical thinking and spell list browsing, you need to acknowledge the possibility of 4 folks getting upset with wizard player taking more time.Mmmh, I think you're wrong, remember Wizards still have to prepare their spell list in the morning, they pick spell already prepared with words later... ;)
And sorcerers will have only a small amount of words available... So not much time spent on thinking here too... :pI don't think time is going to be a big issue with this system...
i mentioned this on one of the sticky threads but i'll say it again here, i used to play a lot of hero system and had a few guys in my group use variable power pools (effectively the same thing, just with bunches of powers instead of words) and it canslow the game down if you have a spontaneous caster who needs to write new spells all the time and waits until their turn to do so.
as a gm i would require that even a spontaneous caster have a list of pre-made spells ready to go before the game. then it's only a matter of switching this for that when it comes time to kick some ass!
i also mentioned that there are people who - while playing a simple fighter - take FOREVER to take their turn. so in a sense it depends on the player, and the gm to know his players.
I guess that gets back to the core issue, a Good Player will have his or her action ready when his turn comes up.
Back when I played a higher level Psychic Warrior in 3.5 I had almost half a sheet of pre-calculated combat moves. Everything from the use of focus on feats, to variation Power Point expenditure on augmentations. This is no different for many other classes. It is often a good idea to fill your out space on the character sheet like a NPC stat block and included the variations on attack/powers the character is most likely to employ in common situations.
Although like Spell Cards, Word Cards would not be a bad thing to have as well. The original pre-computer algorithm matching system :D.
I guess that gets back to the core issue, a Good Player will have his or her action ready when his turn comes up.
i couldnt agree with you more on all accounts, and i'm sure when the whole shebang comes out there will be a web app or three to figure all this out on the fly... or even an iphone/android app (now wouldnt that be something? :P ) but yes, a properly pencil & paper prepared player would be the best way to do this.
Director of Game Design
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It should be noted that ease and speed of use is one of those things that is hard for us to gauge in the "Lab" as it were. This is why we playtest. Especially with a system like this, it is not as simple as it looks, but whether or not that translates to problems at the table is something we need to study.
I look forward to seeing more playtest feedback on this topic.
Jason Bulmahn
Lead Designer
Paizo Publishing
It should be noted that ease and speed of use is one of those things that is hard for us to gauge in the "Lab" as it were. This is why we playtest. Especially with a system like this, it is not as simple as it looks, but whether or not that translates to problems at the table is something we need to study.
I look forward to seeing more playtest feedback on this topic.
Jason Bulmahn
Lead Designer
Paizo Publishing
Seems to me the words of power system would be great as a small program. Just have drop down menu's for levels, effects, ranges and have all the restrictions auto hanlded.
Spellmaking on the fly would be immensley easier.
