The default bonus spell progression is that you get one slot of each level of spell up to a level equal to your spellcasting ability modifier, and then one additional slot for every four points of bonus above that.
So, if you have a score of 12 you get one 1st level spell. With a score of 20, you get two 1st level spells and one spell of each level up to 5th. With a score of 30, you get three spells per level up to 2nd, two spells per level up to 6th, and one bonus spell up to 10th.
What I'm thinking is that instead of getting multiple bonus spells for every eight points of ability score, you get a number of bonus spells equal to your ability modifier divided by the spell level. Thus you would have more spells up to 3rd, an equal number of 4th, and fewer spells of 5th level and up.
For instance, with a score of 12 you'd get one 1st level. With a score of 20, you'd get one 1st level, two 2nd level, and one each up to 5th. With a score of 30, you'd get ten 1st level, five 2nd level, three 3rd level, two each at 4th and 5th level, and one each up to 10th. You wouldn't get a second bonus 6th level spell until your spellcasting ability reached 34.
Any thoughts?
The default bonus spell progression is that you get one slot of each level of spell up to a level equal to your spellcasting ability modifier, and then one additional slot for every four points of bonus above that.
So, if you have a score of 12 you get one 1st level spell. With a score of 20, you get two 1st level spells and one spell of each level up to 5th. With a score of 30, you get three spells per level up to 2nd, two spells per level up to 6th, and one bonus spell up to 10th.
What I'm thinking is that instead of getting multiple bonus spells for every eight points of ability score, you get a number of bonus spells equal to your ability modifier divided by the spell level. Thus you would have more spells up to 3rd, an equal number of 4th, and fewer spells of 5th level and up.
For instance, with a score of 12 you'd get one 1st level. With a score of 20, you'd get one 1st level, two 2nd level, and one each up to 5th. With a score of 30, you'd get ten 1st level, five 2nd level, three 3rd level, two each at 4th and 5th level, and one each up to 10th. You wouldn't get a second bonus 6th level spell until your spellcasting ability reached 34.
Any thoughts?
I'm under the impression that a spell slot is approximately as good as two spell slots two levels lower (this has been reinforced for me by Ultimate Magic's words of power and arcane discoveries). As such... your proposal would make spellcasters waaaaay more powerful. I think?
It's a neat idea, though. I've always wished for more lower-level slots!
It makes low level spellcasters more powerful, no doubt about it. But the power tapers off as they gain in levels; extra 1st level spell slots are trivial when you're throwing 6th and 7th level spells. Admittedly, the penalty doesn't come into play until very high level play, when characters have 9th level spells and ability scores in the 30s.
I actually think the psionics system is much more elegant; bonus power points are an expression of the formula (ability modifier * level * 0.5), which can be used for any combination of low level and high level powers.