So I can't take credit for this idea but I'd like to share it with the general pop...
So I played (very briefly) in a game with a few modifications to the core rules to satisfy the plot/world. One of them affected casters.
Every time any caster cast any spell (not including canned magic such as scrolls) the caster took nonlethal damage equal to the spell level. I thought this was a very clever way to control casting, and increase the value of divine casters over arcane as their 'mana pool' could be self refilling, whereas the arcane caster is dependent on others for that.
This does a few things, one it makes the squishies squishier, as they were in a way meant to be, two it restricts nova, three it makes casters a bit less sad as now con is a primary instead of secondary stat as it determines how much they can reasonably cast before they are in serious danger. They actually become more con dependent than a barb.
Any who we didn't get to play past lvl 1 due to real life, so I don't know how it would have held up, but by my calculations my wizard could cast most of his spells without healing per day even at lvl 20 or so. Granted I started with a con of 16 and toughness, but still. Of ourse you never cast all your spells in one fight at really high levels, combat just never lasts that long, so I don't think I'd really be in danger.
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I think casters are generally restricted enough by not having shiny pieces of metal taped to their chest, spiffy pointy sticks and expensive trips to the "MagicMart" for reagents to also add on hp loss as a mechanic.
Most casters don't use weapons and armor, some really bamf spells cost expensive spell reagents and if you open your mouth to say anything latin-y withing 5 feet of something angry, that guy gets to smack you across the face.
Try adding it to the Barbarian every time he swings that motorcycle sized sword and claim its because of muscle strain or the archer after their 40th arrow in the turn because the string has worn the skin on their hands and see how fair of a mechanic that would be.
It's such a small amount of damage that I doubt it would make much difference.
I used a variant of the forced march rules instead:
For every spell you cast, a Constitution check (DC 10, +2 per spell level is required. If the check fails, the character takes 1d6 points of nonlethal damage. A character who takes any nonlethal damage from casting a spell becomes fatigued. Eliminating the nonlethal damage also eliminates the fatigue. It's possible for a character to fall unconcious by pushing himself too hard.
A character that is already fatigued fails a constitution check he becomes exhausted instead.
Notes (as we played them):
- Endurance gives a +4 bonus on the constitution check.
- Taking 10 or 20 is an option.
- SLA's do require a check but get a +4 bonus
- Spellfocus can grant a +2 bonus instead of a DC increase, or +4 for greater spellfocus.
- spontaneous casters get a +2 bonus for all their spells known.
EDIT: We dont usually play with these rules, it was an experimental campaign outside of my usual gaming circle.
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idea for a chassis.
Energy Meter and Strain:
caster has an Energy Meter = Highest Spell Slot x Ability Score Modifier
each spell they cast produces and amount of Strain equal to the spell's level, which accumulates
Strain has no game effect until it exceeds the caster's Energy Meter
Strain can be removed with 10 or so minutes of rest
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idea for a chassis.
Energy Meter and Strain:
caster has an Energy Meter = Highest Spell Slot x Ability Score Modifier
each spell they cast produces and amount of Strain equal to the spell's level, which accumulates
Strain has no game effect until it exceeds the caster's Energy Meter
Strain can be removed with 10 or so minutes of rest
I like this idea, but it would take some tweaking, or it does no real good at throttling casters and their ability to "nova".
For instance, a 20th level wizard with an 30 Int would be able to cast four each 9th and 8th level spells and three 7th level spells before needing to worry about strain.
Maybe make the cost in strain equal to double the spell level?