Heretic Apostate
First Post
Okay, here are my thoughts on some house rules. Please feel free to tear them to pieces. 
Keep in mind, these are not thought out, and are just random trains of thought.
Spellcasting:
I want my spellcasters to be able to cast on the fly. I therefore go with the rule that the spells per level is the number of spells that can be held, and the number of slots at that level. Thus, a 1st-level wizard would have (for the sake of argument, I don't have my books with me) 4 0th-level slots and 4 1st-level slots. The 0th-level slots, I'd rule, could be used for any cantrip (in the case of wizards). The wizard would select four 1st-level spells. The wizard could then, on the fly, select among those 1st-level spells. Here's the kicker, however: The bonus spell slots could not be used to "prepare" more spells. Thus, this wizard may be have 2 bonus 1st-level spells, but would still have only 4 spells prepared. This doesn't seem to be too powerful to me. After all, you don't tell a fighter, "Pick two weapons to use today. If you come to a situation where you need another weapon, tough luck." If the wizard needs more spells to cast than that, they can prepare scrolls or wands. If they need more spells to choose among, they can take Spell Mastery, which spells are always available, above and beyond what's prepared.
For clerics, I'd use the same method. However, Domain spells are also prepared above and beyond, as well as the four heal/wound spells.
To balance this, I'd make Spell books and Prayer books a requirement. If you don't have time to prepare for the day, you lose everything above 0th-level (and domain spells, and spell mastery, but not heal/wound spells--this would make the Healing Domain redundant, I think). If that's too harsh, what would be an alternative that would make carrying around a spellbook or prayer book still needful?
Paladins:
I'm not sure if I'd keep Paladins as a core class, but if I did, I'd offer them alternatives to mounts. How about something like "bind sword spirit," that creates a sentient weapon? This could take the place of the mount, and get similar bonuses (I'll have to work this out...). Maybe make it only possible for a lawful or holy blade. Give it some minor powers. Stuff like that. (I've also been considering "Summon Hound" and "Summon Raptor" as alternatives to "Summon Mount.")
Familiars:
Instead of making Summon Familiar a given, how about turning it into a feat. Then wizards (and, of course, sorcerors, if you use 'em) could choose between a metamagic feat or summon familiar. If at some future time the wizard wanted a familiar, they'd have to actually go and spend a feat. If they want a greater familiar, they'd already have to have a familiar.
Okay, that's enough rambling for today.
Keep in mind, these are not thought out, and are just random trains of thought.Spellcasting:
I want my spellcasters to be able to cast on the fly. I therefore go with the rule that the spells per level is the number of spells that can be held, and the number of slots at that level. Thus, a 1st-level wizard would have (for the sake of argument, I don't have my books with me) 4 0th-level slots and 4 1st-level slots. The 0th-level slots, I'd rule, could be used for any cantrip (in the case of wizards). The wizard would select four 1st-level spells. The wizard could then, on the fly, select among those 1st-level spells. Here's the kicker, however: The bonus spell slots could not be used to "prepare" more spells. Thus, this wizard may be have 2 bonus 1st-level spells, but would still have only 4 spells prepared. This doesn't seem to be too powerful to me. After all, you don't tell a fighter, "Pick two weapons to use today. If you come to a situation where you need another weapon, tough luck." If the wizard needs more spells to cast than that, they can prepare scrolls or wands. If they need more spells to choose among, they can take Spell Mastery, which spells are always available, above and beyond what's prepared.
For clerics, I'd use the same method. However, Domain spells are also prepared above and beyond, as well as the four heal/wound spells.
To balance this, I'd make Spell books and Prayer books a requirement. If you don't have time to prepare for the day, you lose everything above 0th-level (and domain spells, and spell mastery, but not heal/wound spells--this would make the Healing Domain redundant, I think). If that's too harsh, what would be an alternative that would make carrying around a spellbook or prayer book still needful?
Paladins:
I'm not sure if I'd keep Paladins as a core class, but if I did, I'd offer them alternatives to mounts. How about something like "bind sword spirit," that creates a sentient weapon? This could take the place of the mount, and get similar bonuses (I'll have to work this out...). Maybe make it only possible for a lawful or holy blade. Give it some minor powers. Stuff like that. (I've also been considering "Summon Hound" and "Summon Raptor" as alternatives to "Summon Mount.")
Familiars:
Instead of making Summon Familiar a given, how about turning it into a feat. Then wizards (and, of course, sorcerors, if you use 'em) could choose between a metamagic feat or summon familiar. If at some future time the wizard wanted a familiar, they'd have to actually go and spend a feat. If they want a greater familiar, they'd already have to have a familiar.
Okay, that's enough rambling for today.
to make a magic system the best available in town, but eveybody else will complain. If you're happy with your system, go ahead and stop hearing us everybody on it; or look at the other variants and pick what you think the best is.
