I recommend trying the spellpoint system from Super Genius Games; "Houserule Handbook: Spellpoints". It was designed specifically for Pathfinder and has two expansions to the original. It is designed to fit in without major problems and does so quite well. Needless to say it's available on Paizo in PDF format. There is, as yet, no print version although that is a possibility in the future.
I love plugging this. It's written for 3.5, so it needs some adaptation.
I simply use "Modular" Spell Slots... I never like Spellpoints and such.
Another vote for the Super Genius Games Spellpoints 3 part (so far) system, I just played with it this weekend as a one-off for a GM who was interested. I also recommend the HypertextD20 system. Both work well and free up players to get better solutions in game.
I simply use "Modular" Spell Slots... I never like Spellpoints and such.
What do you mean?
Using a second level spell slot to prepare two first level spells (and so on)?
Dot for later.
Using a second level spell slot to prepare two first level spells (and so on)?
Actually that is exactly it...
On another thread I broke it down completely.
I will try to dig it up again.
I love the d20 Call of Cthulu magic system. Everybody can learn spells, but you may not want to. If you don't want to use the sanity system, replacing sanity costs with hp works, given the lack of cure spells.
This does mean no caster classes unless there's a spell less variant, and the best casters will be insane primitives (barbarians) or dedicated ascetics (martial artist monks).
Just need to apply appropriate skill checks to learning spells, or possibly instead consolidate the monster and magic ID knowledges to Lore, and maybe then consolidate the mudane knowledges to Knowledge.
...I also love the d20 Black Company magic system, but it's terribly complicated...
No experience with the spell point systems. Too close to psionics and their supernova potential for me.
I use a Modular Spell Slot system. Meaning you have a Spell Slot Pool that you Prepare from or Cast From.
For each level of spell available you take (Number of Spell Slots)*(Level of Spell Slots)=Total Spell Slots from that column. Then you add all available columns and do the same with your Bonus Spells. Specialized Wizards figure their School Slots Separate from their normal Spell Slots.
You can take a 5th level slot and break it into:
- 1 3rd Level Slot & 2 1st Level Slots
- 1 3rd Level Slot & 1 2nd Level Slots
- 5 1st Level Slots
ETC.
or take 3 1st level slots to form 1 3rd level slot.
Using this System a Ranger 20 has 33 Base Spell Slots before their Bonus Spell Slots from High Wisdom.
I find it keeps the Split Slot Feat Viable while still allowing a Caster to be a bit more powerful. My players and myself like it because we can use lower level spells without feeling like we wasted the slot.