D&D 5E What Magic System do you prefer?

[TerraDave]

There is also spells/powers that work on a check, instead of using a slot (though the check can be combined with points or fatigue).

But 5E is also good.

 

[Ralif Redhammer]

As much as I want to say old-school Vancian, I think what 5e’s got going is pretty awesome. That a spellcaster always at least has something is great, especially at lower levels.

 

[ccs]

The basic 5e style suits me well enough as both player & DM concerning how PCs do it.
(as the DM ALL my casters have always been spontaneous casters. I'll stick within lv/class/theme limits - but I'm not wasting time pre-selecting spells)
(as a player? I'm just lazy. I have no interest in fiddling with mana points etc. Just tell me if you want me to do it old or new school style)

In all other editions I use a similar house-rule when I DM.
*Divine casters are spontaneous casters. As long as they have the required material components & are in good standing with their patrons then they can cast a spell.
*Arcane casters have to select their spells each day. But I've never yet - in 30some years of DMing - asked to see an arcane casters chosen list for the day....

The only thing I dislike about the 5e cantrips is the amount of damage some of them do.

 

[TwoSix]

Well, this is what I've currently hacked together for my Beyond the Wall game using a 5e chassis. Important point here is that I'm using variant healing rules, with a 6hr short rest and a 72 hr long rest.

1) Three classes, Warrior, Rogue, Mage. Only the Mage can cast.
2) No cantrips. However, the class does get invocations, some of which mimic non-damaging cantrips or groups of cantrips.
3) Standard 5e full-caster progression of spell slots, recovered on long rest.
4) Arcane Recovery once per short rest, recovering a number of slots equal to your level. (At level 5, can recover a 3 and a 2, or 5 1s, or anything in between).
5) No spell list. Mages can only cast spells they've acquired during their adventures.

 

[The Grassy Gnoll]

I like the 5e system but I do think that having offensive combat cantrips is a little questionable. Cantrips to me are more concerned with the making easier of life. Prestidigitation, Light, Knock, those sorts of things. Spamming cantrips every round IS a wee bit dull.

 

[Nytmare]

Although I'm a fan of the 5E system, what I'd really love is something that could replicate D&D spells, but that was born of a system akin to Mage: The Ascension.

 

[Tony Vargas]

Could someone explain the practical distinction between the Old School Vancian and the 3.5 Vancian please?

The former only had cantrips as an option later in the ed, while 3e had slots for cantrips, and, perhaps this is semantic, but old-School you 'memorized' and 'forgot' spells, while in 3e you 'prepared' them by casting most of the spell in advance, then triggering it with the last few syllables of the incantation to cast it. Mechanically they were virtually the same, of course, but the fluff was very different - and intertwined with the mechanics.

As it relates to the actual casting of spells, I prefer if the caster makes some kind of check related to her skill at using magic to cast her spells and to determine how potent or effective the spells are.

Darn, completely forgot about those sorts of variants.

 

[Sunseeker]

I actually really like the spell-points system, but this is probably because it is more familiar to me as being a video-gamer as well, reminds me of typical "mana" or "energy" system. That aside, I find tracking one pool of points to be simpler than tracking spell slots. I don't think everyone should use them, but I think the system "fits" better for Sorcerers and other "innate" magical types, since they're working conceptually more on the idea of drawing from internal power, than a carefully structured spellbook.

 

[Mouseferatu]

On a practical level, I like the current neo-Vancian system. I've never been a fan of spell points, and 5E's system is easily the most playable and most flexible of the various Vancian variants. (Say that ten times fast.)

But I have to admit, on a purely personal level, I kind of miss old-school Vancian. I liked being forced to find creative ways to use spells when I was out of obvious choices. Obviously, that relies on having a DM willing to accept out-of-the-box spell use, and it's not good for what most players want, so I'm not suggesting D&D go back to it. There's just a part of me that mourns the loss of that experience.

 

[Kite474]

Im a big fan of point systems. However the spells have to be designed around said system so its not the best for 5e. That said still love it to death. As for me and my players slots were alwyas a pain in the ass in 3.F. 5e's version works alot to alleviate this though amd its pretty good.