Alternate Divine Spellcasting

[Eternalknight]

Alternate Divine Spellcasting Rules

Firstly, divine spells are now called prayers. This is simply a name change.

In order to use a prayer, a divine character must make what's called a "Faith check". at DC 20 + the level of the prayer. A Faith check is made by rolling a d20, adding the characters's caster level and Wisdom modifier. If this roll is successful, the prayer works. If this roll fails, so does the prayer. If the roll fails by 15 or more, or if the roll is a natural 1, your deity is agitated by you bothering him or her. Roll a d0 and consult this chart:

1-8 No effect

9-12 Can't cast spells for the next hour

13-15 Can't cast spells for the next four hours

16-17 Can't cast spells the next 12 hours

18 Can't cast spells for the next day

19 Can't cast spells for the next week

20 Can't cast spells for the next month.



Important Notes

Divine characters can use any number of prayers a day. The risk is agitating their diety.

They can use prayers of a higher level per day than their spell progression tables in the Players Handbook says. However, the DC for these prayers in 20 + twice the level of the prayer, and if they fail by any amount (not 15 or more, ANY amount), they must roll on the chart above.

If trying to use a domain prayer, the DC is 15 + the level of the prayer.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

Though I would never use these rules, 2 positive things:
1) The Name Change is a great idea. The same should be done with the bard`s spells (name might be song or notes)
2) The difference between regular and doman spells is fine.

The rest, well... Unless you explain that you have playtested it and the results are the same as with the current rules, without giving to much or to less benefits, I don`t think it will work...

Mustrum Ridcully

 

[Eternalknight]

I haven't playtested it yet, and on reflection I am starting to think it is too powerful.. Why do you think it won't work?

 

[Steven McRownt]

I feel that you're on the right way... I do like it, and i am very interested. I don't know if it's too powerful, perhaps i will ask my cleric to test it, but at first glance it's seem balanced enough.

If you're thinking as something more "clerical" for the cleric class, we use to call divine spells "miracles", and each sessions (or adventure or campaign...it depends) i assign the spell list from the cleric can choose to "memorize"/"Pray for" (if there were two, even of the same god, they had two lists).... i have explained that on a similiar thread, today, so if u'r interested just go finding it!!!!!


Steven McRownt

 

[Eternalknight]

Bump

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

It remembers me of the Torg Casting System for Clerics/Priests.
You can try as often as you want, but if you don`t take the DC of the prayer/ritual/miracle, you can no longer cast it. But there was a ritual (that worked like any other miracle for clerics) with which you could restore the faith and the prayer.

Okay, how about this:
Make a Cleric Level Check, add your Wisdom Modifier

DC is 20 + Prayer/Miracle Level. This kind of check is from now on referred as "praying" check
If you fail the Check, you can`t cast the Prayer/Miracle again. You must atone by praying for a number of minutes equal to the spell level. Make a praying check for the spell. If you succeed, you regain access to the spell. If you fail, you may have another try the next day.


A second version:
The first time the "base" spell casters (cleric, druid, wizard) can cast certain spell is when their caster level equals (Spell Level x 2)-1, the spontanous spell caster sorcerer uses Spell Level x 2 = caster level.
So, a good DC without to much math would be 10+(Spell Level x 2).
If you fail the check, you can no longer cast spells from that level for this day. (With increasing level, the chances for success grow)
Once every 24 hours you must pray to your good for at least 1 hour to regain any spells.

Something for Domains or Spontaneous Casting from Cure Spells: You may take 10 when you try to cast a spell from your domain or a Cure Spell (Good Cleric) or Inflict Spell (Evil Cleric)

Mustrum Ridcully

 

[Crothian]

I think it's to hard at early levels and too easy at high levels.

1st level character with 16 wis has a 25% of successfully casting a 0th level spell.

A twentieth level characters needs only a 24 wisdom to fail on anything other then a nat 1.

So, you'll have lower level clerics wasting their time trying to cast things, and high level preists casting spells left and right because their chances for failure are minimal.

 

[whatisitgoodfor]

YOu might want to look at Trigger Power from the PsiHB.

 

[Steven McRownt]

I think it's to hard at early levels and too easy at high levels.

1st level character with 16 wis has a 25% of successfully casting a 0th level spell.

A twentieth level characters needs only a 24 wisdom to fail on anything other then a nat 1.

So, you'll have lower level clerics wasting their time trying to cast things, and high level preists casting spells left and right because their chances for failure are minimal.

Good point, Crothian, i didn't realized it. You're right, and there couldn't be no explanation to have a rule for limiting the casting of high level clerics: that will be persecution!

Steven McRownt