an MP system.... ?

[Evenglare]

So, I'm trying to make a conversion for Final Fantasy over to 4th edition rules. Making new classes, powers, etc etc. (I know that people dont like converting final fantasy to a tabletop format, but I'm doing it anyway for fun, an excercise in creativity and because I can.) Getting further along in the process I have begun to notice that I am stripping down the system to it's bear essentials and building up from there.

One thing that eludes me is how to make a power system based on MP. Ideally I want it to still hold true that you can use so many powers per day , and power per encounter. So I want my MP to scale with this in mind. First to generate a mana pool , I have followed closely to HP , being that I assign a number to the class and then add your MAG (int) Score. So for example, I have a summoner that has a MAG score of 18 and then I add the static number , in this case 7, and I wind up with 25 MP.

Now for level 1, this isnt so bad. I need the ability to use one daily power... daily, and the encounter powers more often. My initial gut was to go with a cost of 6 (5+LV) for encounter powers, and a cost of 11 (10+LV) for dailies. This would allow me to use 4 encounter powers, or 2 encounter powers and a daily , or 2 dailies. As I write this, It occurs to me that I need to bring down the encounter cost. Perhaps 2+LV? Anyway, the part I am stuck on is scaling.

If my Summoner gains 7 mp at level 2 this gives me a total of 32 MP. Now Im wondering if the spell cost should scale linearly (as above ) , or some other way...

I want to balance this with repect to martial classes, which would still work as it does in 4th edition. The bonus to this system is that it makes mages much more versatile without being over powered. (If anything they are under powered if one wants to cast dailies several times in a row eating up mp).

So anyway, what's your take on it ?

Again I am aware that this may be stupid , or whatever, but whether or not it is a good idea to convert final fantasy to table top does not pertain to my post.

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

There's already a psionic power point system in 4e you might want to check out. Personally I don't like it, but it might suit your needs. It's in the PH3.

Recall that Final Fantasy doesn't use "dailies" as such. You can (with enough tents) rest almost anywhere, but sometimes you have to do numerous encounters without rests. Of course, you can walk around with tons of MP restore potions and have numerous ways of recovering hit points. I don't think it's possible or worthwhile to have a system that's so similar to what Final Fantasy has. You can go with an approximation.

PH3's system only gives power points for encounter powers, but for something closer to FF, you could have a "separate" power point pool for "daily" powers, like Ultima. You could still only dish it out a few times per day, but you'd have more flexibility than even a wizard in how you're using your "daily" powers.

 

[Herobizkit]

Um, have you ever checked out the Final Fantasy Tactics series of games? They basically SCREAM 4e tabletop.

 

[Evenglare]

Um, have you ever checked out the Final Fantasy Tactics series of games? They basically SCREAM 4e tabletop.

hahah, this is actually the spark that influenced the idea !

Admittedly , this game will probably take the form of it's own rpg, with the basis of 4th editions rule set. Power and spell management will most certainly be different.

 

[Crowsion]

Here is what i thought of:

Each power has a mana cost like you asked.
All powers are At-Will, although they are not all At-Will strength; they have a relative cost to their power.
Each additional and replaced power per Utility/encounter/Daily column increases the cost by 2.

The mana pool is the sum of the 3 highest Encounter and Daily power costs,
Plus the sum of all the Utility, Path, and Destiny power costs.
You get your entire mana pool back after each short rest.

An obvious problem is that one could spam "Dailies" every encounter. My solution is that after you cast one it reduces your maximum mana by the cost, this is called mana burn. Only an extended rest can relieve mana burn.

I would avoid increasing the mana pool based on a stat, this is something 4e shies away from (only a few classes do this, ie the paladin's lay on hands ability). In a mana based system this could lead to an ambiguous amount of extra powers.

Bonus, I already did the math for you, adding up the mana pool for every level with the cost of each power type, also based on their level.

 

[Evenglare]

I noticed you do not actually have any at will powers, even though you suggest they all be at will. Is this intentional? It's a fantastic idea, and I do like where this is going. The only reason I wanted a mana pool is to have it along side HP. I wanted to start and level with my INT + x/level . Whatever x is for each class. I was thinking on having the spells be at wills with a cost, and then having "dailies" be something akin to limit breaks. I'm still fiddling with it, but I do appreciate your input. I'll let you know how it goes !

 

[Crowsion]

Oh, i forgot to mention that the system would also have 2 "At-Wills" just like every other class. These would have no mana cost (so you have something to fall back on once you've spent all your mana, or you spent a reasonable amount of mana where its dangerous to continue because it means you will run short in the encounters to come).

As for your limit break idea: an actual Daily power, in the traditional sense, could be given to the characters, in addition to their other powers, but they can only use it after they have reached a milestone, and hell, it will get better the more milestones they get before using it (interesting mechanic to encourage the players to continue fighting).

 

[Evenglare]

Ohhh yeah, Limit break on milestones... I like it !

 

[Crowsion]

Check out this guys FF d20 system, I think it's really clever.

Final Fantasy d20 | Obsidian Portal