Here's an idea that may streamline spellcasting AND fix multiclass casters.
I noticed that all three of Clerics, Druids and Wizards had the exact same spell progression chart. I'm not sure if this was done intentionally for future Alpha changes or what, but it gave me the following idea:
Make all full spellcasters use the same chart for spell slots per day.
So when you gain a level of any of the caster classes, you gain one "caster level" for spells per day. Think of it as your magical limitations expanding. It doesn't matter if it's from a divine or arcane source, your magical capabilities are increased by one level.
The spells you are capable of knowing or memorizing are then based on your class levels. So a Wizard 5, Cleric 5 will have 10th level caster slots, but know only 3rd level spells in each class. You know more lower level spells, giving up higher level spells in functionality, but keep higher level slots.
Then, give all spellcasters the Heighten Spell feat automatically (or rather, make it a normal function of casting spells). This means a multiclass caster can always use those higher level spells at the higher level power, just with lower level spell options.
Essentially, the strength of the spell is based on the slot being used, not necessarily the spell itself. This is pretty much like changing the spell slot system to work similar to the way Psionics handle Power Points and Manifester levels.
To do this properly though, the Sorcerer would need to have his spell slots changed. This will cause two things to happen.
- Less spells per day
- Faster progression than before
Also, if you multiclass sorcerer with a memorization class, you'd have to decide to leave slots free for Sorcerer spellcasts or not. Spontaneous casting of cures or summonings would work similar (only cleric or druid spells, etc).
To offset the reduction to the base Sorcerer, adding additional spells per day tied specifically to the Bloodlines (similar to spell like abilities granted from Domains and Schools) would be good. This further reinforces Bloodlines as a major feature of the Sorcerer base class, and becomes something they'll lose if they multiclass or prestige out of it.
Backward compatibility would be as retained as the skill system for Alpha 2. We are still using slots, spells still function the same way as before. The only change being a more unified system that makes multiclassing spellcasting as transparent between casters as BAB is for physical classes.
I don't see why sorcerer needs to be changed.
Right now, there are three spell charts:
Spontaneous Caster (Sorcerer, possibly bard)
Full Caster (Cleric, Druid, Wizard)
Half Caster (Paladin, should be Ranger)
(Might also be a spontaneous half-caster for bard)
I'd also like to see some manner of FX balance that explains how the extra low-level spells help balance the multi-classed caster. For that matter, I'd like to know how spells stack up against BAB.
Obviously, the multi-classed fighter-type continues to gain BAB, and the multi-classed FX type gains no upper level FX. The incentive is stronger for fighter-types to multiclass than for FX types. Clearly, giving full caster levels isn't the answer. But aside from this, the issue is covered in other threads.
I'm willing to wait to see if Paizo even bothers to address the issue before stepping in. There are multiple answers, some of which are better than others, but none of which stands up as the optimal (dominant on all points) solution.
More spells per day is the "trade off" that makes sorcerers not awful compared to wizards. Wizards can potentially learn every spell in the game, whereas sorcerers have a very limited list of spells known. To counterbalance this, the sorcerer doesn't need to prepare spells, and can cast more spells per day.
If the sorcerer and wizard spells per day were the same, this would make the lacking versatility of the sorcerer less plausible. If you only know one spell of your highest level, and you can't cast it any more times than the wizard who can choose a different spell each day from the same list - as the situation requires it - then you aren't doing so well for yourself.
This is a neat idea, but problematic. What to do about bards, rangers, paladins, assassins, and other classes with non-standard spell progressions?
Now, I am the first to agree that multiclassed spellcasters need to be fixed. But my suggestion is that all caster levels stack among all classes, and that caster level be used to set spell DC, not spell level. You can read more about that on my blog and at this thread.
See, there has to be a trade off. I don;t think that multiclassed casters should get access to high level spell slots. That's what single class casters have going for them. A multi-class caster should have lots of effective low level spells. A single-class caster should be the only one with access to the most amazing and potent high level spells. IMNSHO.
See, there has to be a trade off. I don;t think that multiclassed casters should get access to high level spell slots. That's what single class casters have going for them. A multi-class caster should have lots of effective low level spells. A single-class caster should be the only one with access to the most amazing and potent high level spells. IMNSHO.
But the thing is, they DON'T get access to the "amazing and potent high level spells".
A 10th level Wizard, 10th level Cleric in the proposed system with have 9th level spell slots, but only 5th level spells. That's Cloudkill and Cone of Cold... not Wish, Timestop or Meteor Swarm.
They have 9th level slots, so they aren't gimped out of taking the Archmage class or Heirophant class, but the best they can do with those slots is put a Heightened Spell or Metamagic spell. This means they can have the 9th level spell DCs and the same amount of spells per day, so you can build an encounter the same for a single classed caster vs a multiclass caster.
This is a neat idea, but problematic. What to do about bards, rangers, paladins, assassins, and other classes with non-standard spell progressions?
This would be the next step, extending it towards the non-full caster (or even non-casters).
Since spell slots are separated from spells known and magical ability, you can give spells per day at a rate that is appropriate for the half casters (this would take some tweaking and deciding if you want to be exactly like 3.5e spells levels or just limit spells known to match them).
Non-casters could also gain spell slots per day. Spell slots are just a mental capacity thing, not training from skill (which is what spells known should be). A Fighter still gains a +6 Will save by 20th level, so why couldn't his mind have some gained spell capacity. He can't use them without training, but they'd still be there.
Something like a caster level every 3rd level (6th, 9th, 12th, 15th, and 18th) would give 6 caster levels by 20th. That's 3rd level spell slots at 20th level.
Access to spells would require multiclassing with a real caster, or possibly a Feat chain, etc.
Since Paladins and Rangers gain access to real spells eventually, you could do a slightly accelerated rate. They'll start at 3rd, 6th, and 9th, but then every 2 levels thereafter would bring us to 8 caster levels by 19th (which is 4th level spells, same as a regular Paladin/Ranger).
Spells known could be delayed to be exactly like the 3.5e Paladin/Ranger (cantrips at 3rd, then 1st at 4th, 2nd at 9th, 3rd at 13th, and 4th at 17th.
Bards would need 12 caster levels. So start with 1 caster per level at 1st through 4th, and then again every 2 levels thereafter. Spell levels known would be delayed similar to the Paladin.
.
This is all off the top of my head right at the moment, and could probably use some tweaking to make right, but you see what I mean.
Some examples to show that the system is robust.
.
Say you take 19 Fighter levels and gain your 6 caster levels. Then you take 1 level of Wizard and suddenly have access to 4th level spell slots. "Oh no!" you might think, that's a crazy amount of power from one level of wizard!
Not so. You still only have access to Cantrips and 1st level spells. You'll automatically get only a couple spells, but could research or loot more.. but you are still capped at 1st level spells.
Basically, the spell slots are giving you 10 spells per day to put towards your 1st level spells.
.
A 10th level Fighter and 10th level Wizard would have access to 7th level spell slots (13th level caster). However, you still only have 5th level spells for known spells. Your 10 Fighter levels bump you up a bit, just like you'll be gaining a +3 Will Save bonus from your Fighter levels, but you are still limited by your spells known.
.
Basically, multiclassing your spells won't completely gimp your character, just like multiclassing won't gimp your BAB totalling, or your Saves.