Spontaneous Spell Recovery

[Radamanthius]

Is it just me or does it seem odd that spontaneous casters have to sleep to regain their spells and that there is no graduated method for this?

Don't get me wrong, it's simple and does work, just curious if it's been discussed for change.

Possible solution:
Treat each spell / day on a point based scale. 1st level is one point, 2nd is two, etc.

Let's say we've got a 4th level sorcerer, we'll call him Salem. He has 6 1st and 3 2nd lvl spells which would be 12 points. Over an 8 hr rest he would recover all spells, thus 12 points. Let's say the party has been traveling lightly after a fight where he used 3 1st lvl spells and 2 2nd level spells (7 points). After four hours of traveling he has recovered 6 points (half the normal) and can elect, before they know what kind of trouble they might get into, to gain back some spells equivalent to what he gained from the easy travel.

Cumbersome perhaps but a little better than sleep, fight, heal, sleep, fght, rinse, lather, repeat.

Thoughts? (talk amongst yourselves)

[Matrixryu]

I've pondered allowing characters to gain back their spells through methods other than sleeping. The problem is that in order to balance this, you would also have to decrease their current spell limit so that they can't just go around casting their most powerful spells all the time.

[LazarX]

If there is anything that's guaranteed to bring on a "15 minute day" syndrome it's a mechanic like this. Nova.... rest up... nova....rest up... rinse and repeat.

I personally don't see why sorcerers should be exempt from recovering the drain that magic puts on the body. Yes it's abstracted, but it's an abstract that works well for game purposes.

[Radamanthius]

Matrixryu wrote:

I've pondered allowing characters to gain back their spells through methods other than sleeping. The problem is that in order to balance this, you would also have to decrease their current spell limit so that they can't just go around casting their most powerful spells all the time.

The point system could mitigate that some, but perhaps having more of a sliding scale could do that:

1 hr: 5%, 2 hr: 10%, 3 hr: 25%, 4 hr: 40%, etc.

It does get abstract/complex but that's what spreadsheets & calculators are for right?

Or an abacus for those that ban electronic devices during gaming.

[Matrixryu]

You'd also want to make sure that the rate that spells regenerate at increases as levels are gained. Otherwise, spellcasters would be a lot more powerful at low levels than at high levels. Though, if you use a percentage system, then you won't have to worry I guess.

[Lvl 12 Procrastinator]

Hmm, how about...30 mins rest (not necessarily sleep) per spell level you want to regain. So if I sleep for an hour and a half, I can get back one 3rd level spell, or a 2nd level spell and a 1st level spell, or three 1st level spells.

Full night's sleep returns everything automatically. Sleeping half a night you'd follow the rules above.

House rules are fun.

[Lvl 12 Procrastinator]

Matrixryu wrote:

You'd also want to make sure that the rate that spells regenerate at increases as levels are gained. Otherwise, spellcasters would be a lot more powerful at low levels than at high levels. Though, if you use a percentage system, then you won't have to worry I guess.

I like this too. Applied to my 30 minutes/spell level rule, you could up that to 2 spell levels/30 minutes at level 4, 3 at level 8, etc. I don't have time to compare this against the progression charts. It should never be at a rate to allow full restoration of spells without a full night's sleep.

[Serisan]

Radamanthius wrote:

Is it just me or does it seem odd that spontaneous casters have to sleep to regain their spells and that there is no graduated method for this?

Don't get me wrong, it's simple and does work, just curious if it's been discussed for change.

Possible solution:
Treat each spell / day on a point based scale. 1st level is one point, 2nd is two, etc.

Let's say we've got a 4th level sorcerer, we'll call him Salem. He has 6 1st and 3 2nd lvl spells which would be 12 points. Over an 8 hr rest he would recover all spells, thus 12 points. Let's say the party has been traveling lightly after a fight where he used 3 1st lvl spells and 2 2nd level spells (7 points). After four hours of traveling he has recovered 6 points (half the normal) and can elect, before they know what kind of trouble they might get into, to gain back some spells equivalent to what he gained from the easy travel.

Cumbersome perhaps but a little better than sleep, fight, heal, sleep, fght, rinse, lather, repeat.

Thoughts? (talk amongst yourselves)

There is a graduated method for this. It's called Ring of Sustenance. You can buy one at level 3 or 4 following standard WBL.

[Hama]

Yes, but you still have to get 8 hours of uninterrupted rest in order to refresh your spells. And you can only do it once in a 24 hour period.

[Austin Morgan]

I've quite recently been pleased with the Recharge Magic variant. Follow the rules to the letter, and it actually prevents nova-ing.

[Radamanthius]

Serisan wrote:

Radamanthius wrote:

Is it just me or does it seem odd that spontaneous casters have to sleep to regain their spells and that there is no graduated method for this?

Don't get me wrong, it's simple and does work, just curious if it's been discussed for change.

Possible solution:
Treat each spell / day on a point based scale. 1st level is one point, 2nd is two, etc.

Let's say we've got a 4th level sorcerer, we'll call him Salem. He has 6 1st and 3 2nd lvl spells which would be 12 points. Over an 8 hr rest he would recover all spells, thus 12 points. Let's say the party has been traveling lightly after a fight where he used 3 1st lvl spells and 2 2nd level spells (7 points). After four hours of traveling he has recovered 6 points (half the normal) and can elect, before they know what kind of trouble they might get into, to gain back some spells equivalent to what he gained from the easy travel.

Cumbersome perhaps but a little better than sleep, fight, heal, sleep, fght, rinse, lather, repeat.

Thoughts? (talk amongst yourselves)

There is a graduated method for this. It's called Ring of Sustenance. You can buy one at level 3 or 4 following standard WBL.

Oh good. Now I just have to find a merchant in the middle of the dark and supposedly abandoned dungeon who happens to have one. I'll see if the DM will allow me to check for wandering merchants or perhaps summon one who can price gouge me since demand is high and supply is limited in that area.

While I appreciate the sentiment (despite the sarcasm) it misses the point of a more overarching solution.

[Lvl 12 Procrastinator]

Radamanthius wrote:

Oh good. Now I just have to find a merchant in the middle of the dark and supposedly abandoned dungeon who happens to have one. I'll see if the DM will allow me to check for wandering merchants or perhaps summon one who can price gouge me since demand is high and supply is limited in that area.

The oracle is having a vision: you will soon be finding a Rod of Summon Merchant.

He will be a mean negotiator.

[Radamanthius]

Lvl 12 Procrastinator wrote:

Radamanthius wrote:

Oh good. Now I just have to find a merchant in the middle of the dark and supposedly abandoned dungeon who happens to have one. I'll see if the DM will allow me to check for wandering merchants or perhaps summon one who can price gouge me since demand is high and supply is limited in that area.

The oracle is having a vision: you will soon be finding a Rod of Summon Merchant.

He will be a mean negotiator.

Does mean = ?

a) average
b) angry
c) has a high DC to budge from starting price
d) combination of the above

[Lvl 12 Procrastinator]

Radamanthius wrote:

Lvl 12 Procrastinator wrote:

The oracle is having a vision: you will soon be finding a Rod of Summon Merchant.

He will be a mean negotiator.

Does mean = ?

a) average
b) angry
c) has a high DC to budge from starting price
d) combination of the above

I meant (c), he will not be a pushover.

What race should be be? Should I start a new thread?