An alternate view of Spell Preperation

[LoneWolf23]

All right, I know everyone's tired of the idea of Wizards Memorizing, then forgetting the spells they cast from their spellbooks. And so am I. But rather then dump Spell Preperation, I simply have a better explanation for it, gleamed from authentic spellcasting practices by real world "mages" (aka the neo-pagans).

My reasoning is this: casting a spell in battle isn't really the act of casting the actual spell, it's just using it.

The -Real- casting occurs back when the wizard spends about an hour or less to prepare them. The "Preperation" isn't just the wizard sitting with his open spellbook, reading and memorizing the spell in his mind. It's the wizard sitting with his open spellbook, having traced a magic circle on the ground in which he places his material components, calling out ancient Names of Power and beseeching mysterious entities of magic to empower him with the ability to use the requested spells, which they then become able to use at any time during the day...

In short, Spell Preperation becomes Ritual Magic, rather then rote memorisation. Which makes much better sense to me. This idea works perfectly for Divine Spellcasters as well, since they're supposed to be using rituals to call out to their divine patrons for help, after all.

Any opinions?

 

[Tsyr]

That explanation has been around almost as long as vancian, and it's just as tired and old.

The explanation isn't the problem for me. It's the mechanics. No amount of rationalizing bad mechanics is going to make me like them.

 

[the Jester]

This is very similar to the 3e explanation of spell prep; basically you cast everything except the last few gestures and the last word or two at prep time. The 'spellcasting' that triggers the spell is just finishing up the last bit.

(Reminds me of Merlin's system in the second Amber chronicles, actually.)

 

[Turjan]

Hehe, we have already seen D&D 3.5 by now, and still the 2E explanation of spellcasting hasn't vanished from people's minds...

 

[Deadguy]

This is very similar to the 3e explanation of spell prep; basically you cast everything except the last few gestures and the last word or two at prep time. The 'spellcasting' that triggers the spell is just finishing up the last bit.

(Reminds me of Merlin's system in the second Amber chronicles, actually.)

Indeed, I have heard the system as posited in 3.X as being 'Zelazneyan' rather than Vancian. The distinction is a subtle one, but unlike Tsyr I prefer the feel of the approach to the 'burned out mind'. That said, I would rather take it the next step, and adopt Monte's approach in Arcana Unearthed: you have a certain number of spells of each level prepared, but you can cast any combination of them with your available slots. It reminds me a little (only a little, mind) of the system used in Earthdawn.

 

[Umbran]

No amount of rationalizing bad mechanics is going to make me like them.

Hm. The proof is in the pudding. It seems to have worked for some million and more people for a couple of decades now. Can't be as bad as all that.

 

[Tsyr]

Hm. The proof is in the pudding. It seems to have worked for some million and more people for a couple of decades now. Can't be as bad as all that.

And yet look on here at polls about the topic and see how many people dislike it.

Just because it's successfull doesn't make it good... Look at McDonalds, Britney Spears, and reality TV...

 

[Chroma]

Look at McDonalds, Britney Spears, and reality TV...

Is there some new show that combines all three that I'm not aware of?!?!? Which network?

 

[Umbran]

And yet look on here at polls about the topic and see how many people dislike it.

Yeah, look at how many. No more than a few hundred even answer the polls, when the research shows over a million D&D gamers. Not exactly a compelling sample.

Just because it's successfull doesn't make it good... Look at McDonalds, Britney Spears, and reality TV...

Ah, but Britney and Reality TV haven't been popular for decades. The only one on that list that might compare is Micky D's.

So, let's look at it - is McDonalds good in the sense that it's a taste sensation that can't be beat? No. But, is it good in the sense that it keeps one's belly full for only a couple of bucks when you've only got a half-hour lunch break? Yes. McDonalds is good at what it does - feed huge numbers of people quickly and inexpensively. What it does may not be prety, but it does this so well that many folks think of it as "comfort food".

Is Vancian magic the most artful magic system I've ever seen? No. That title would go to White Wolf's Mage, in my book. But that system was designed for a RPG in which every PC is a Mage. It is also the most abusable system I've ever seen, it is very strongly tied to a particular campaign world metaphysic, the number of details an individual player has to remember fill a book, and many people have great difficulties trying to grok how the system works.

Vancian magic is easy to learn, easy to use, pretty simple to balance in a game with many character types who use few or no spells, open to tweaking for individual DM whims. It does it's job - high adventure fantasy gaming in a wide variety of worlds - pretty darned well.

Simply put - artistry is not everything.

 

[BSF]

By the argument of a sample vs the number of gamers, even if everyone on ENWorld responded to a poll 100% the same way, it would still be a small fraction. At best, you could call it a sampling and try to extrapolate the "percentage". But, that is non-productive.

The current standard of magic is such a tired concept that I don't even notice the polls "Same old, same old", much less respond to them. The only reason I use it right now is because the spontaneous casters have created a way for the system to be relevant. Now, it has become more an issue of balance. I used to use a spell point system, but I haven't put any thought on how I would make that useful to Sorcerors and Bards (And Shamen from Green Ronin) with the current edition. I like the differences between the Wizard and the Sorceror. It seems like there has to be a mechanical difference to really keep their flavor and I have been too lazy to come up with one myself.

LoneWolf's explanation changes none of the mechanics and just creates a different flavor. Well, except that I always envisioned Quicken Spell to work that way... But, the mechanic is clumsy and no amount of flavor makes it less clumsy. However, the mechanic works in a way that keeps everyone generally happy and playing the game.