I'm trying to summize what I understand: if I am making a mistake please correct.
1) An individual spell cannot contain two words from the
same group.
2) You use 1 target word and any effect words
3) You must choose this variant as soon as could gain spells.
4) You can't use spell now, but still count for spell trigger items.
5) Prepared must prepare words in advance; spontaneous as spontaneous
6) Components:
minimum 2, max 4.
Total cost can't be greater than points for a spell of that level.
7) Effect word: save counts for both effects if it has more than 1 effect word
8) Casting standard action as normal.
9) Start with all target word even if higher level than you can use.
10) Wizard pay no cost to scribe, but 1 page each in spellbook.
11) Effect words are like spells known (Sorceror uses same table)
12) word of power point cost: 0th : 3, previous cost +2 (up to 2nd), previous +3 (3rd to 5th), previous +4 (6th to 9th)
Example effect word:
Mage armor effect: called Force shield, less duration
Wait, Force armor is basically Force Shield but better in everyway. Seems like you'd dump Force Shield after gaining firce armor.
These seem like the same spell but repeated. Seems it would make more sense to make 1 there that can be augmented (put more points in it) to be better than make 4 separeate ones.
But than again vancian never was simple.
Anyhoo:
So fireball recreated at 5th level caster: 16 points available
Let me try chosen as 1st will be Fire Blast (6/8)+ then Medium Blast (5) + then Cramp (2/3). Since both meduim blast and fire blast are 3rd level you can choose which is first word.
Cost: 6+ 5+ 3=14 so we are good.
So it can make a fireball that damages and 1/2s speed for 1 turn (reflex 1/2 damage/negate speed reduction).
I'm also trying to figure this thing out. It seems that by just listing a flat duration, that arcane casters are getting the bat taken to them.
1st level spell: 5 total points allowed.
Personal: 0/0
Single 0/0
Force Shield (armor) 5 points allowed: cost 4.
Looks good except- 1 minute a level instead of 1 hour a level. Basically means no sane wizard or sorc is taking this power word- I agree with you on that.
at 5th level it goes to 10 minutes a level, a +5 bonus (since you are 5th level minimum to cast it) and has 10 points to spend- only 7 of which are on the spell. that gives you 3 points to spend on some other effect.
it Has to be personal and single (both of which are free).. Except that combining effect words limits you to the worse duration and there are no other useful 10 minute/level durations.
Basically- you are spending a 3rd level spell slot for less than a 3rd level spell. (and still not getting a full day out of it like you do with mage armor- even though this does have a better bonus and it increases with level).
So: 3rd level "power word spell" for +5 armor bonus that lasts 50 minutes, compared to the "normal" +4 for *five hours*.
It really only seems worth it for clerics since it not only lets them add it to existing armor (+2) but also makes their normal armor into a force effect. Thats not a bad deal for the duration.. but for wizards? Ouch. A definite candidate for "Versatile Wordcaster" feat (as per page 3 of the PDF).
Lets go for another iconic spell:
Burning hands. level 1.
1d4/level of fire damage in a 15 foot cone.
Burning Word (gotta have some name for it, eh?)
Level 1, points to spend: 5
Burning Flash (Fire)
1d4/level (max 5d4) for 3 points.
Small Cone (10 feet) for 2 points
Almost identical to the original ( just 5 feet fewer on the cone).
Sounds sorta bad- except that as you continue to level up you can "level up" the area of effect as well. This one has no target restriction so for the exact same cost you can make it a 20 foot line or make it "mass burning flash" to effect 1 target/level of caster within 30 feet. Not a bad deal.
it seems that the ones with fixed "targets" get the worst bang for the buck because you are basically stuck doing whatever it says. Taking a power word effect that has no such restriction is really giving you 12 spells for the price of one. (11, not counting personal.. unless you really want to set yourself on fire, or whatever).
One more:
Lightning Bolt:
3rd level, 1d6/level (max 10d6)
120foot line,
Word of Lightning:
3rd level, 10 points to spend.
Lightning Blast, 7 points, 1d6 max 10.
range: Medium Line (60 feet). cost 3.
Left over: 1.
(note: large line of 120ft costs 5 more points. Can't afford it yet).
Looks like the same "thing" as with burning hands. you have a lesser range in exchange for basically being able to turn that "blast" into any area you want. Those same 3 points spent net you a 60 foot line, a small (10 foot) cone, or a 10 foot burst- or the ability to use it as "mass" which basically just lets you single out targets 1/level within 30 feet. Not bad.
So, why did I do all this?
Because I want to know if I'm doing it right. Did I miss something? Is there some "rule" I'm ignoring or over looking or breaking?
-S