D&D 3E/3.5 How to run spells in 3.5 OGL/Pathfinder

[degasvegas]

Hi there, my names Dan, and I plan to run a Pathfinder game quite soon. My first foray into running an actual tabletop game was 4e, but I've been playing D&D computer games since '89.

My question is this: How do you play monsters that can cast spells? How do you manage all those spells? Should I memorize every single spell in the book? Or just keep the Pathfinder book handy and just flip pages furiously to each spell? It seems daunting when you play a monster(s) that can cast many spells.

Thanks
-Dan

 

[concerro]

Hi there, my names Dan, and I plan to run a Pathfinder game quite soon. My first foray into running an actual tabletop game was 4e, but I've been playing D&D computer games since '89.

My question is this: How do you play monsters that can cast spells? How do you manage all those spells? Should I memorize every single spell in the book? Or just keep the Pathfinder book handy and just flip pages furiously to each spell? It seems daunting when you play a monster(s) that can cast many spells.

Thanks
-Dan

Is it a monster with spell-like abilities or actual spells that is causing you trouble?
Do you have a specific example?

 

[Mojo_Rat]

I would look at what a monster can do ahead of time with spells and come up with a strategy to follow then make sure you know whatbhe spells for the strategy do. with practice you can remember also shorthand range and duration lists help

 

[Jhaelen]

My question is this: How do you play monsters that can cast spells? How do you manage all those spells? Should I memorize every single spell in the book? Or just keep the Pathfinder book handy and just flip pages furiously to each spell? It seems daunting when you play a monster(s) that can cast many spells.

Myself I include all the relevant details in the stat block. However, this means creating the statblocks is a lot of work - and you get truly 'monstrous' stat blocks that cover a whole page.

There's a reason why high-level npcs take me several hours to create while everyone else keeps telling me it couldn't possibly take longer than a couple of minutes

And even using these stat-blocks actually deciding what the monsters are going to do round after round still takes quite long - one of the reasons why our combats tend to take several hours each...

 

[Walking Dad]

For combat encounters, think what spells the monster will have cast before combat. Make a second stat block with these adjustments.

Now try to evaluate how long the combat will last.

If the monster only casts buff spells before combat, you don't need to know what it's other spells do.

If it fights primarily with spells, check the highest remaining spells and choose as many as you think the combat will last (in rounds). Ignore the rest.

BTW, spontaneous casters are easier to run, as you can just spam 2 or 3 different spells.

 

[El Mahdi]

Quite honestly, I've found that in a typical combat encounter, I'll almost never use every spell or ability an NPC/Monster has available. So, I've learned to just use the Keep It Simple technique, which for me means: only track/prepare what you're actually going to need or use.

• Become familiar with all of the basic combat spells (the ones your players are probably using also).
• Pick another 2 or 3 Cool or Different spells for your NPC/Monster to use.
• And as said before, work in buff spells to his stat block (that way you're not worrying about casting them during combats, and tracking possibly won't be a problem as the combats may not last long enough to matter).

And when all else fails, just wing it.

 

[Perram]

I made a free web application to help with exactly this issue:

Perram's Spellbook - http://www.thegm.org/

It lets you print spell cards that you can customize to your liking and use at the table instead of having to flip through the books. I've got all the spells in the Core Rulebook and the APG loaded in, as well as spells from over a dozen other Paizo books. (You can select which ones to use or not use.)

And... I also take requests for new features. Right now I'm really wanting to add more card art for the background choices, for instance, and could use ideas.

Anyway, I made it for the community to use, and it is and always will be free.

 

[El Mahdi]

I made a free web application to help with exactly this issue:

Perram's Spellbook - http://www.themgm.org/

Very Cool...but I think the link should be theGM.org - Home to Perram's Spellbook.

 

[Scott DeWar]

Very nice. I was only going to suggest making a word document listing the spells and monster info, keep it on your computer, scroll to what effect you want. When a spell is used, highlight/backspace and it is gone. Save that info if the monster needs to come back the same day. If you copy / paste from the srd pdf and only use it for personal use, then you should be ok.

 

[neofax]

Do you DM with any technology at the table? If so, I would use either PC-Gen/GM-Gen or Herolab. They both allow you to preload the NPC's and PC's. Then you can cast the spells and add the buff's and such directly in the program. It also allows you to see what the spell does directly in both programs. If not, use Perrams system as it is quite good especially if you are used to using WotC 4E Character Builder to run your game.