20 spell levels instead of 9?

[Griffith Dragonlake]

From the article, “Development Doesn’t Like Much, part II”

Chris Perkins, Design Manager
9 Levels Ain’t Enough: Chris designed his own 20-level spell system, splitting the existing 9 levels of spells into 20 levels. This does a couple of things for his world -- it generally slows down the sometimes overwhelming power of spellcasters, and emphasizes which spellcasters are good at what (cure light wounds is still level 1 for clerics but is level 2 for druids in his variant system).

Sean K. Reynolds had mentioned doing the same thing for his campaigns.

Does anyone have access to this list from Chris or Sean? Or do they have their own?

And do you think this will make its way into 4th Edition?

Inquiring minds want to know….

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

Maybe, maybe not. Sounds complicated. But at least the word "level" makes more sense this way.

 

[JustKim]

I liked the idea when I first read it, but now I don't think it's very good. 20 levels of spells are 20 spell levels to keep track of, each with its own spell slots, and unless you changed the way spell slots and bonus spells work, spellcasters end up with a lot more spells. If you do change the way everything works, then what have you done.. delayed access to meteor swarm for 1-2 levels? It doesn't matter very much.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I think it has merit, but like Kim says, it's not really there yet as an idea. I'd love to see Magic Missile and Sleep, for instance, pushed up a bit in spell level, but the nine level system isn't granular enough to put it in the exact right spot.

I think the 20 level system would work better with spontaneous casters or a spell point system.

 

[Mouseferatu]

I agree that transforming the system, as it stands now, into a 20-spell-level system opens up as many problems as it solves.

However, a system designed that way from the ground-up would be easy enough to use, and make far more sense than what we've got now. I hope to see such a thing incorporated into 4E.

 

[Qwillion]

Well in Arcana Evolved you could say you have 27 levels.

1-9 and common, uncommon and exotic spells

 

[Destil]

I've tried building this system a few times, myself, after reading this but I'm always discouraged before I make it more than half way. I'll take a look and see if I have one of the drafts when I get home today. My big sticking point is usually ho to do bonus spells for high ability score / domain / school specialization (1/level for a specialized wizard is a LOT for instance, most likely alternate domain specialization rules are needed).

 

[blargney the second]

I'd like to see access to spells tied to skill rank prerequisites. It would have the nice side effect of making the spell levels more granular.
-blarg

 

[Vrecknidj]

I've mentioned this idea at least 3 times in the past. I'm a fan of the idea (obviously), so long as it's worked out correctly.

Nicely, it solves the "problem" of epic spells. If we have a 21+ level system addendum, then it can incorporate spells of 21+ level as well.

Dave

 

[RangerWickett]

If things are done that way, you might as well make spells more like psionics, so there are base spells that scale as you make them higher level.

Or like Elements of Magic, where you just build your own spells.