I was thinking about replacing spell slots with magic potential charges. It would work like this:
Spellcasters do not gain spell slots. Instead, they gain a pool of magic potential charges. They gain a charge for each spell level of each spell slot they would otherwise gain at their current level (a level 1 sorcerer would have 3 charges,while a level 20 sorcerer would have 270 charges.) Each spell uses a number of charges equal to it's level. Their spells known is unaltered.
Spellcasters with limited 0-level spells gain an additional charge for each spell slot they would otherwise gain at their current level, but each spell they prepare costs an additional charge, consumed as a part of preparing the spell.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
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I would direct you to Spheres of Power, which does something incredibly similar to your idea.
I would direct you to Spheres of Power, which does something incredibly similar to your idea.
Great, thanks!
Spheres of Power is nothing like that idea. Spheres of power has most spells take no "charge" at all.
Closest I can think of to what you have described is Psionics or the optional-spell points system from 3.5e's Unearthed Arcana book.
Okay, fine. The concept is similar, if not the implementation.
Spheres of Power is nothing like that idea. Spheres of power has most spells take no "charge" at all.
Closest I can think of to what you have described is Psionics or the optional-spell points system from 3.5e's Unearthed Arcana book.
Yeah. I think I'll go with the spell point system. Thanks.
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I think there was similar spell point system in 2.x Skills & Powers series. It tried to balance things out by making the math a little more non-linear.
The spell point cost of a spell was the square of its level, and the number of points you got was the sum of the square of the spell levels you could normal cast. Little more cumbersome of the math, but more balanced as a handful of third levels spells being traded in for a ninth wasn't really balanced.
You might want to look how the Arduin Grimoire did it, or, if you have lots of old stuff, Spellcaster's Bible. Nutshells, both gave you a number of spell points. Arduin let you pre assign spell points to memorize spells as you see fit, and even leave some unassigned for some real-time adjustments. Spellcaster's Bible gave you spell's memorized per day as per the tables, but you had to spend mana to cast them and they weren't forgotten when cast.
The problem is that spells aren't built like that. There isn't really a numerical relationship between spell levels where you can create a balanced spell point system. The best way you can accomplish this is to keep the spell point pool the same, but reduce the cost of each spell level as you level up such that the highest spell level always costs the same amount of points.
if you want a spell point system, you're likely better off just going with Dreamscarred Press's Psionics and reflavoring it as magic. That's an entire magic system designed around having a spell point pool, and much more balanced for it.
Cyrad,
OP is asking for suggestions on homebrewing a spell point system.
There are MANY good ways you can do this. Saying he shouldn't do that and should just go with an existing more limited system is less than helpful. Everyone does not have to be on the same page. I LIKE the Psionics system, but it doesn't seem to be what he wants.
ADD, your idea of a static pool, and reducing the costs of lower level spell's is interesting. Are you suggesting that the lowest level spell's start becoming free? That could be interesting, but potentially overpowering. The game is an arms race enough as it is.
Cyrad,
OP is asking for suggestions on homebrewing a spell point system.
There are MANY good ways you can do this. Saying he shouldn't do that and should just go with an existing more limited system is less than helpful. Everyone does not have to be on the same page. I LIKE the Psionics system, but it doesn't seem to be what he wants.ADD, your idea of a static pool, and reducing the costs of lower level spell's is interesting. Are you suggesting that the lowest level spell's start becoming free? That could be interesting, but potentially overpowering. The game is an arms race enough as it is.
Designing an entire magic system has a really big scope that would likely end up really unbalanced. That's why I suggest looking at psionics first.
The system I proposed would ensure that low level spells always have a cost.
Cyrad,
OP is asking for suggestions on homebrewing a spell point system.
There are MANY good ways you can do this. Saying he shouldn't do that and should just go with an existing more limited system is less than helpful. Everyone does not have to be on the same page. I LIKE the Psionics system, but it doesn't seem to be what he wants.ADD, your idea of a static pool, and reducing the costs of lower level spell's is interesting. Are you suggesting that the lowest level spell's start becoming free? That could be interesting, but potentially overpowering. The game is an arms race enough as it is.
It is interesting. I would make spells free eventually. At the higher levels, the lowest rank of spells become inconsequential in power; the action economy rules the choice of what to cast, and the highest spell level usually wins.