Players’ Option: Spells and Magic (Wizard spellpoint conversion only)

Converted by: Esti (smccrory@mindspring.com)

Last updated: August, 2000 (Version 1.0)

Contents:
Introduction
Section 1: Basic spellpoint system
Section 2: Channeller system
Section 3: Warlock/Witch system
Section 4: Preserver/Defiler system
Section 5: Alienist/Summoner system
Author's Notes

Introduction

The 2nd Edition book "Player’s Option: Spells and Magic" gave players and DMs a more flexible way to select spells for their characters, without totally abandoning the "fire and forget" system. Since 3e has a slightly different way of handling magic, here are a few notes for translating the S&M spellpoint system for a 3e Wizard (not Bard or Sorcerer, or any other class that might handle Arcane magic). This system is currently unplaytested. This document converts, in essence, the first part of Chapter 6.

This document assumes you have S&M. Those who do not have S&M may or may not be able to grasp the basics of this system.

Section 1: The basic spellpoint system

In many ways, the system is unchanged from 2e to 3e, with a few exceptions. On the 3e end, the Wizard can choose not to prepare all his spells in the morning. In the S&M spellpoint system, this is covered by the concept of free spell slots. A DM should possibly consider dropping the ability not to prepare spells. Metamagic feats should be calculated at the point cost of the final level, and all spells affected by metamagic feats can be cast as long as you have a free spell slot at the desired level. To balance this, and to bring such a non-prepared spell into existence on the fly, such a spell should have the Sorcerer/Bard penalty for doing metamagic on the fly.

The 2e spellpoint system, in return, has to make several adjustments to more accurately reflect 3e. 0-level spells cost 1 spell point and are no longer ‘free magiks’. A ‘free magik’ now costs 2 spell points. Spellcasters can attempt to learn spells above the level that they can normally cast by passing a spellcraft DC of 15 + (spell level x2) + 1 for spells one level above and 15 + (spell level x2) + 3 for two levels above.

A Wizard’s spell chart is different than the 2e Mage’s, so I have recalculated the spellpoints per level below. (Numbers in parentheses are the points specialists add for their extra spells. These points can only be used for spells in their specialty.)

Table 1: Points/Level

Level	Points
1	7(+4)
2	12 (+4)
3	18 (+10)
4	28 (+10)
5	38 (+20)
6	54 (+20)
7	73 (+35)
8	98 (+35)
9	126 (+57)
10	163 (+57)
11	203 (+87)
12	255 (+87)
13	310 (+127)
14	380 (+127)
15	452 (+177)
16	542 (+177)
17	632 (+237)
18	742 (+237)
19	842 (+237)
20	952 (+237)

In addition, 3e Wizards get bonus spells for Intelligence, much like Clerics did in 2e. These additional spellpoints are added to the Wizard’s or Specialist’s total.

Table 2: Bonus Wizard Spells

Int/Level	1 - 2	3 - 4	5 - 6	7 - 8	9 - 10	11 - 12	13 - 14	15 - 16	17 - 18	19 - 20
12-13	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4
14-15	4	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	10
16-17	4	10	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20
18-19	4	10	20	35	35	35	35	35	35	35
20-21	8	14	24	39	61	61	61	61	61	61
22-23	8	20	30	45	67	97	97	97	97	97
24-25	8	20	40	55	77	107	147	147	147	147
26-27	8	20	40	70	92	122	162	212	212	212

For those unfamiliar with the Clerical version of the S&M spellpoint system, you cross-reference your intelligence (rows) with the columns (Wizard level).

Please note that a spellcaster requires 8 hours to regain all of his/her spellpoints, which ties in with the 3e rule of casters not getting their full spell potential in the morning if they have to cast at night. Also, a spellcaster may hold spells from the previous day or abandon them, as per the 3e PH.

Section 2: Channeller system

The Channeller system requires few changes. The most notable is that a 0-level spell should be read as a Cantrip (Moderate for 1-2, Light for 3-6, none 7+). Also, renumber the spell fatigue table to adjust for Wizards gaining 6th level spells at 11, 7th level at 7th, and so on. A spellcaster must save vs. Fortitude to recover, with a light or moderate fatigue requiring one minute, heavily 10 minutes, and severely requiring one hour. In addition, a mortally fatigued character must make fortitude save or die. Otherwise follow the system in the book except where superceded by the basic system in this document.

Section 3: Warlocks/Witches system

The warlock must make a Will save to avoid tumbling down a level. Otherwise all the rules in S&M apply except those superceded by this document in the basic system.

Section 4: Preserver/Defiler system

Currently, this is unchanged from the S&M version, with the exception of those rules changed in the basic system in this document.

Section 5: Alienist/Summoner system

A 0-level spell gives a 1% chance of causing insanity (4% if the chance to learn succeeds). Most of the saves should be Will saves. Otherwise, follow S&M and the basic spellpoints section of this document.

Author’s Notes:

At this point, this conversion is still in its early form. My experience is with the basic and Channeller systems and not the other systems in the S&M book, which explains the brevity of those three. It should also be noted that I’ve only used the S&M system as a player, not a DM.

My personal house rule would be to include an extra spellpoint or two for extra 0-level spells. Since this is a straight conversion, I did not add them in here. If you are considering that rule, look at the 1st-level bonus spells and add that number of spellpoints.

In order to avoid calculating spellpoints forever, I ended my list at level 20 and an Int of 27 (20 original Int + 2 for Venerable +5 for ability adjustments). Those wishing to calculate higher levels and Ints are welcome to do so.

If you are interested in my other 3e conversions, my RPG page can be found at: http://www36.pair.com/smccrory/rpg/index.html

This document can be redistributed free of charge provided it is not changed and my name and email address remain with it. This document is Copyright 2000 by Selma McCrory (aka Esti). Comments are welcome at smccrory@mindspring.com.