Wizard variant idea/question

tecnowraith · Jul 15, 2007

Could there be a way to do a Wizard variant or alternate class feature where you need a your spellbook to cast but don't have to prepare ahead of time or memorizing anymore and still keeping it balance enough to play?

I do not mind the playing a wizard and carrying a spellbook around on adventures but I never liked preparing and memorizing the spells ahead of time.

Jack99 · Jul 15, 2007

Sounds like spell points system from UA would suit you well.

irdeggman · Jul 15, 2007

You have to remember that casting a spell from a spellbook no longer works.

3.5 has the spellbook being more of a series of formulas that you have to "prepare" what you are doing is much more akin to making them like scrolls. So I would say no - not in WotC world that is, maybe third party or alternate magic systems.

Sounds like you really want to play a sorcerer with more spells known to me.

Felix · Jul 15, 2007

Play a Sorcerer who has a "spellbook" with all of his Spells Known which subs as the material/somatic components for his spells.

rgard · Jul 15, 2007

Felix said:
Play a Sorcerer who has a "spellbook" with all of his Spells Known which subs as the material/somatic components for his spells.

I like that. Could be a class feature variant for Sorcerer. Maybe in place of taking a familiar?

Thanks,
Rich

Felix · Jul 15, 2007

rgard said:
I like that. Could be a class feature variant for Sorcerer. Maybe in place of taking a familiar?

Thanks,
Rich

Most DMs I've seen don't pay attention to sorc's material components or act as if they have Eschew Components. I don't think it's worth giving up the familiar for a benefit most get anyways. The real trade for the familiar is the Metamagic Master or somesuch from PHBII. That's the real prize.

Nellisir · Jul 15, 2007

I switched my group over to an Arcana Evolved variant, wherein you prepare a list of spells (like a wizard or cleric), but can then cast freely from that list (like a sorcerer) until you run out of spells slots of that level. To counterbalance, you can consider the spellbook an arcane focus similar to a holy symbol, and rule no spellbook = no casting, or you can impose a caster level penalty for not having the spellbook (say, -2 caster levels).

rgard · Jul 15, 2007

Felix said:
Most DMs I've seen don't pay attention to sorc's material components or act as if they have Eschew Components. I don't think it's worth giving up the familiar for a benefit most get anyways. The real trade for the familiar is the Metamagic Master or somesuch from PHBII. That's the real prize.

Agreed, but you did say somatic too! That was actually what I keyed on. You are right about Eschew Components being mostly free, but substituting somatic really sweetens the pot for the familiar trade.

thanks,
Rich

Felix · Jul 16, 2007

rgard said:
Agreed, but you did say somatic too! That was actually what I keyed on. You are right about Eschew Components being mostly free, but substituting somatic really sweetens the pot for the familiar trade.

thanks,
Rich

Aye, Somatic too. But only if you have your book out and turned to the right page. Takes a hand to do that, eh?

tecnowraith · Jul 17, 2007

I guess this the whole thing is I dislike the Vancian magic system and I'm used to systems like WOD Mage, Runequest and Nephilim RPG.

Wizard variant idea/question

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