alt.Sorcerer... drastic

[Capellan]

By 2nd level, a character will have earned 900 GP and 1,000 XP. A spell which costs 100 GP (11% of your earnings for the level) or 4 XP (0.4% of your earnings), which would you cast?

Even at the highest levels, this holds true, although less so: from 19th to 20th, you earn 180,000 GP and 19,000 XP. A spell which costs 2,000 GP (1.1% of your earnings) or 80 XP (0.42% of your earnings)?

The one that cost gold. No question.

Why? Because gold can be sucked out of the party as a whole ("you want me to cast identify, you help to pay"). XP can only come from me.

If you divide the GP cost four ways (assuming a 'typical' party), it's suddenly 2.75% vs 0.4% at low levels (still a break for the sorcerer) moving to 0.275% vs 0.42% at high levels (a penalty for the sorcerer).

If it's that big an issue though, just make the XP cost higher ... 1/10th instead of 1/25th.

 

[seasong]

The one that cost gold. No question.

Why? Because gold can be sucked out of the party as a whole ("you want me to cast identify, you help to pay"). XP can only come from me.

True. I still don't much like it, though - the spells that have GP costs were balanced with that in mind. XP acrues at a different rate, and follows different rules. To be sure, I would have to go back through and re-cost them with XP, and I don't wanna .

 

[Talix]

True. I still don't much like it, though - the spells that have GP costs were balanced with that in mind. XP acrues at a different rate, and follows different rules. To be sure, I would have to go back through and re-cost them with XP, and I don't wanna .

True, or you could just play through it and screw balance.

Consider this alt. sorcorer Yoinked. Thanks!

 

[seasong]

A glimpse into my normal, non-D&D campaigns:

Character creation looks like this: "Okay, here's the setting (blah blah blah). I want your characters to be very competent, but not 'action hero' competent; maybe League of Extraordinary Gentlemen comic competent. So decide what you're good at, and how good, and then show me the character sheet."

There's a little back and forth, and discussion of what's reasonable for the mage, but that's pretty much it. The players decide the stats, and we go with that.

On the other hand, half the fun in D&D is the balancing aspect .