One Pool to Rule Them All
Resonance, Hero Points, and Spell Points (and channel energy points) are replaced by one pool. For the sake of clarity here, lets call them reserve points.
- The base pool is equal to key ability mod (min 1) + level.
- Newly acquired powers increase the size of the pool. This could be either by the amount the power costs to cast, double that, or be specifically set and stated for each power in its description.
- A 10 minute or hour rest could replenish some portion of the pool. If this is implemented the base pool could be smaller like key ability mod + ½ level.
- Class abilities or feats could provide other ways to replenish the pool, ala the swashbuckler in 1e.
Magic Items
Consumables (ie potions and scrolls) do not use reserve points by default.
- You can increase the power of them by spending reserve points. For example, 1 reserve point could heighten the spell or power effect from the consumable to character level/2 spell level.
- No double dipping. Either an item uses reserve points or it has its own charges that never replenish. Outside of potions and scrolls, this should be sparingly used for iconic items like items containing wishes, necklace of fireballs, helm of brilliance, sovereign glue, etc.
Wands and Staves allow the user to spend reserve points to cast the spells they contain.
- Wands contain one spell or power. Staves contain more than one that may cost different reserve point amounts. They do not require an investment just to be usable.
- Spells would be auto heightened to the user’s level/2 or the minimum level of the spell, whichever is greater.
- Alternatively or in addition, spellcasters with the spell on their spell list can use a spell slot to activate the spell instead.
Items that confer a constant effect have a reserve point cost daily to be activated.
- Minor or utility items would not cost reserve points to activate (like a bag of holding or everburning torch)
- Item cost could scale with item level or potency for weapons. Alternatively, they could cost more or less reserve points based on item level vs character level. For example, any item 5 levels lower than your character level no longer requires a point to activate for the day. Items cost an extra point to activate for every 5 levels they exceed your level.
- Permanent effects from, for example, a permanency spell also reduce the character’s reserve pool to keep them activated the same way an item conferring that effect would.
- Staves that confer constant effects (like potency) would have a reserve point cost to activate those effects separate from point costs to cast spells from them.
Powers
Cantrips have a lot of design overlap with powers. Cantrips should be treated as a subset of powers and also cost reserve points for more powerful effects.
- This also implies that cantrips that cost reserve points will increase your reserve pool on days you prepare them.
- Powers/Cantrips will cost 0-2 reserve points.
Utility or flavor cantrips and powers would cost 0 reserve points (like prestidigitation, light, etc).
- Standard powers and cantrips that auto heighten to level/2 cost 1 point in most cases.
Hero Point Powers are now special universal powers that all PCs and important NPCs have access to from level 1.
- Auto stabilize should have a cost that scales with level to make it rare and epic. For example, half level or quarter level reserve points or the rest of the character’s points, whichever is less.
- Rerolling a d20 costs 2 points.
- Gaining an action could still cost 3 points. If the design goal is to make this more epic and rare, it could also be priced like auto stabilize above.
- If more non cleric healing is desired, there could be an optional power for those campaigns which allows PCs to heal hit points in exchange for reserve points. For example, 2 reserve points heals 1d4 per 2 character levels HP (self only).
