Drain-based Magic System (a la Shadowrun)

[Radiating Gnome]

One last thing: Be careful also about allowing casters to drop the caster level of their spells to reduce drain/resist drain DCs. This has subtle and unpleasant effects on the balance of the existing spells, particularly by making those that aren't caster-level dependent more powerful.

A good point, but this is exactly the sort of flavor I was looking for. It's going to have a very different feel -- spellcaster would be able to cast low level spells all day long. Saving for half rather than just one will cut down a lot on that, but still, I like the idea of giving a spellcaster the choice of risking very little drain to take his time to do something, or suffereing a lot of drain if he wants to hit his enemies hard right away.

-rg

 

[Jeph]

Actually, the forumla was 10+ Sl + CL, so the DC for a 9th level spell would be 39.

For a 20th level caster, that's not exactly a cakewalk.

Um, sorry, but is it just me or is this actually rediculously easy for a Faithful 20?

so, you have 23 ranks, at least +5 from ability scores. That alone is just about a 50/50 chance, and most characters will have at least + 10 to their primary stat by then.

Then, add in the possability of Skill Focus and Greater Skill Focus, and the bonus might look like thes:

+23 rank
+10 ability
+4 Greater Skill Focus

+37 total, succeeds on a 2 or greater. Easy as pie.

 

[Radiating Gnome]

I did go on to say that it was too easy as a skill check, even without the greater skill focus, etc. I'm leaning towards a revision that would require a will save, and only save for half drain. That would make the test a little tougher (although not really the end of the world) and at half drain, there is still a reasonable cost for casting spells at very high levels.

-rg

 

[Zaruthustran]

Interesting system, but is it as much fun as the current slot system? Is it as easy to understand?

Meaning, I guess, are you proposing this as something that should be a replacement for the current magic system, or as a king of optional rule for advanced players?

-z

 

[Radiating Gnome]

Good question.

I don't think it would work as an alternative in a game that also uses the slot-based magic system. I haven't tried it, but it seems like the balance would shift -- this system looks like it would tend to reward spellcasters that multiclass a bit (a mage/figther would have a lot more hit points to cast spells with), rather than the way the main system rewards those who stick to a single class faithfully. Add to that the idea that these sorts of spellcasters need to make a roll to cast their spell, rather than just casting it, and a few other features of this system, and it seems like it would be so different from the existing system that it would be hard to balance, unless it were the only sort of spellcasting available in the game.

It is a bit more complicated than the current sorcerer's slot system, admittedly, but I tried to limit the complexity wherever possible -- using existing skills and saves to cast spells and resist drain, etc.

-rg

 

[Malin Genie]

How about using ability damage (Str or Con) rather than subdual damage?