When a spell caster casts a spell he sets the caster level, the minimum being the minimum caster level for that spell level and the maximum being your class level, casting a spell costs a number of spell points equal to the spell's decided caster level.
Casters that prepare spells will still use their base spells per day for their number of spells prepared, they just need to prepare a spell once like a cantrip.
Domain spells once prepared can be cast with spell points.
Base Daily spell point allotment, will be based on the spell point value of each spell slot, but most likely at a reduced value.
When a spell caster casts a spell he sets the caster level, the minimum being the minimum caster level for that spell level and the maximum being your class level, casting a spell costs a number of spell points equal to the spell's decided caster level.
Casters that prepare spells will still use their base spells per day for their number of spells prepared, they just need to prepare a spell once like a cantrip.
Domain spells once prepared can be cast with spell points.
Base Daily spell point allotment, will be based on the spell point value of each spell slot, but most likely at a reduced value.
This sounds very similar to the spell point system that I came up with. So far it has worked out for my group although it is a good idea to adjust the amount of spell points they receive. The way that I did this was to say that at each spell caster level they gained half (rounded up) of their primary spell casting attribute bonus plus half (rounded down) each new spell slot gain by the spell level. So a 6th level spell slot gained would equal to 3 spell points. So far it has worked out just fine and while it does provide flexibility it also sets limits.
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I completely removed all semblance of a "slot" progression from my spell point system. In mine you get (casting level + attribute)^2 points. If you take a feat you can increase your effective casting level by 2 for the purpose of points, and do so as much as you want.
The spells cost (spell level * caster level) points. You can lower the caster level to save points, but this lowers all variables based on it (except concentration). Cantrips count as spell level "one half" and thus can have a cost of 0 if and only if they are cast at caster level 1.
I'm starting the first play-test campaign on it this week, actually.
Oh, and there's no such thing as prepared casters in my variant. All casters act as spontaneous, but with a feat you can cast from your spell book, though it takes a lot of time. Also, all casters either receive the the aforementioned feat or the "expanded spell points" feat for free at first level.
There are all sorts of other little rules to go along with what I've mentioned (such as replacing bonus spell slots with bonus spells known), but I've noted the gist of it.
My note about spell points is that regardless of the setup you either have to (A) remove the auto-scaling nature of the spells or (B) force the caster to pay more for the scaled effect. If you allow the spells to scale but don't increase the cost you end up with very wonky cost systems.
Interesting consequence of my spell point system: Spell resistant creatures are a real <expletive deleted> for spell-casters as they have to spend loads of spell points to try to pierce the SR (by casting at maximum caster level), instead of casting everything at minimum or at the point of the most efficient cost to effect ratio. This means it shouldn't take a <expletive deleted> anti-magic field to mess up a mage really badly.
Other note: My spell-point system is hard-coupled with a "true magic" system in which there is only one spell list and each class is just a different approach to the same list. This means you can't multi-class to gain two spell-point pools, as the classes stack into one casting level.
This sounds very similar to the spell point system that I came up with. So far it has worked out for my group although it is a good idea to adjust the amount of spell points they receive. The way that I did this was to say that at each spell caster level they gained half (rounded up) of their primary spell casting attribute bonus plus half (rounded down) each new spell slot gain by the spell level. So a 6th level spell slot gained would equal to 3 spell points. So far it has worked out just fine and while it does provide flexibility it also sets limits.When a spell caster casts a spell he sets the caster level, the minimum being the minimum caster level for that spell level and the maximum being your class level, casting a spell costs a number of spell points equal to the spell's decided caster level.
Casters that prepare spells will still use their base spells per day for their number of spells prepared, they just need to prepare a spell once like a cantrip.
Domain spells once prepared can be cast with spell points.
Base Daily spell point allotment, will be based on the spell point value of each spell slot, but most likely at a reduced value.
i was just thinking base spell points equal to a spell slots level, while bonus spell points are determined by multiplying your key casting modifier times the highest level spell you can cast
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This sounds very similar to the spell point system that I came up with. So far it has worked out for my group although it is a good idea to adjust the amount of spell points they receive. The way that I did this was to say that at each spell caster level they gained half (rounded up) of their primary spell casting attribute bonus plus half (rounded down) each new spell slot gain by the spell level. So a 6th level spell slot gained would equal to 3 spell points. So far it has worked out just fine and while it does provide flexibility it also sets limits.
This also sounds something like an old 1st ed spell point variant I used to play, shortly after 1st ed came out. At first level you get a number of points equal to your spell casting attribute, gaining half the attribute every succeeding level (alternating round up/round down). The catch was that spells varied in cost with type--divinations cost 2 points/spell level, defenses and miscellaneous spells cost 3 points/spell level, and offensive spells (including any spell used to adversely affect an unwilling target) cost 5 points/spell level. The average first-level magic-user would be able to cast three Sleep spells/day, which gave them a bit more low-level capabilities. The crossover point depended on INT, but somewhere around 12th level on average a Vancian magic-user had more castable spell levels. (Of course, they lacked the flexibility of the spell point system, so no one traded.)