Now, a fairly recurring theme in most fantasy is magic is as much belief as it is the reality of the world in question. Magic is varied, but most falls under the umbrella of casting your hands around making magical symbols and speaking arcane formulae. I've put up my hand to be GM after the Kingmaker Campaign ends, and would like to try my hand at a slightly altered Pathfinder Campaign, specifically the parts that seem to always cause derailment and/or shenanigans. Magic, in other words.
Now while I like the concept of the Truenamer Class, it seems rather limiting. Instead, taking concepts from Psionics, Sorcerer and Wizard classes, making the class having access to a pool of 'Power Words', grouped into 'Least' (cantrips) Lesser (1st to 3rd), Power Words (normal) (4th to 5th) Greater (6th to 7th) and Penultimate (8th to 9th) level. Ultimately, Power Words are interchangeable in terms of level, but the combining of the words is what truly decides their final 'level'. For example, casting a 'Normal' Power Word Spell means a 4th or 5th level spell, meaning the caster can use 4 or 5 different Power Words to create a spell effect of their own design. On the other hand, certain Words, such as 'Empower', 'Enlarge', 'Maximise' should correspond to certain 'levels' of Power Words, to avoid players getting their hands on some of the more powerful Metamagic 'Power Words' right off the bat.
The theme I am going for is not so much that Power Words are spells, but rather, Spellcasters can combine these words differently every time they are cast to create new effects, meaning that even with a limited spell selection, a Caster can still add a great variety of tricks to their particular bag. To combat 'Blaster Syndrome', any caster also has a limited number of times per day they can use the Power Words without risking critical damage to themselves, similar to the Power Point System from the Psionics. Arcane casters start with 10 points, 'Divine' casters start with 5, to compensate for their greater physical abilities.
For example, a 1st level 'Mage' would have 5 Least Power Words, plus two Lesser Power Words plus a number equal to her Intelligence Modifier. The Mage also has a number of Points equal to 10 + her Constitution Modifier (only permanent bonuses, not temporary ones). Least Power Words can be used without penalty, but any other level drains points from the Power Point table.
Casting a Power Word drains one point, and the more Power Words used, the faster the Power Points are drained, at a cost of 2 Power Points per additional Power Word used. So if the Mage wanted to cast a fire spell with a broad area of effect, combining the Power Words for 'Fire' and 'Burst'. If the Mage can beat the Spellcraft check to shape the Words to suit her need, she can choose to create a burst of fire, dealing 1d8 Fire Damage + her Intelligence Modifier in a 5 foor radius anywhere within 10 feet of her position. I'd base the Spellcraft check on a DC 10+ the number of Power Words used.
Same mage, some levels later, we'll say level 10, decides she wants to cast a similar spell as a 'Normal' Power Word Spell. She has the ability to string the Power Words together in groups of 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 words, and is faced with a vicious Troll. The Mage combines the words for 'Fire' 'Empowered', 'Lingering', 'Ranged' and 'Wall', creating a Wall of Fire that remains for a number of rounds equal 5+the amount she beat the Spellcraft check by. The 'Fire' Power Word deals a base damage of 1d8 damage, but the 'Empowered' adds 50% as much damage to the final effect, not including the bonus from a high Ability Score for her Intelligence. The 'Ranged' Power Word allows for the Mage to place the effect anywhere within 20 feet per point of Intelligence Bonus that is within sight of her location, as opposed to 5 feet as per normal under the rules I am currently thinking up.
I know this is a rambling and chaotic post, but if you can understand it (and I do apologise, should not be posting this late at night, not with a screaming headache and the neighbours having more screaming matches to disrupt my concentration) and don't mind, would you please post some ideas, critique or any oversights I've missed? Any and all help is greatly appreciated.
Um... Isn't this just more easily done by the 'Words of Power' system coming out in Ultimate Magic on wednsday?
Wouldn't know, haven't seen it yet, but thank you for the heads up, I'll hold off and buy that instead.