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<blockquote data-quote="Greg at FFG" data-source="post: 413059" data-attributes="member: 2866">Re: Will save to resist drainThis is harder to abuse than a skill check, but the open-ended nature of 3E is still going to cause problems. I guess it depends how scalable you want the system to be. Do you want high- to epic-level casters to be able to cast 9th-level spells all day with negligible cost? In your system, a spellcaster can cast a 9th-level spell at caster level 20 for 1 point of subdual damage if he makes a DC 29 Will save. That's going to be automatic for epic-level casters. If you're okay with that, or these levels aren't a concern for you, this can probably be a workable system.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. In general, for offensive spells, this emphasizes save or ****ed spells over direct damage spells. A sleep spell is just as good at caster level 1 as it is at caster level 20. If you can cast it repeatedly for 1 point of damage, there's often no reason to cast that higher caster level magic missile or whatever. This issue also shows up with cure spells: just cast cure light wounds repeatedly at caster level 1 rather than ever casting a cure moderate (SL 2, CL 3), cure serious (SL 3, CL 5), etc.GregFFG</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Greg at FFG, post: 413059, member: 2866"] Re: Will save to resist drain This is harder to abuse than a skill check, but the open-ended nature of 3E is still going to cause problems. I guess it depends how scalable you want the system to be. Do you want high- to epic-level casters to be able to cast 9th-level spells all day with negligible cost? In your system, a spellcaster can cast a 9th-level spell at caster level 20 for 1 point of subdual damage if he makes a DC 29 Will save. That's going to be automatic for epic-level casters. If you're okay with that, or these levels aren't a concern for you, this can probably be a workable system. 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. In general, for offensive spells, this emphasizes save or ****ed spells over direct damage spells. A sleep spell is just as good at caster level 1 as it is at caster level 20. If you can cast it repeatedly for 1 point of damage, there's often no reason to cast that higher caster level magic missile or whatever. This issue also shows up with cure spells: just cast cure light wounds repeatedly at caster level 1 rather than ever casting a cure moderate (SL 2, CL 3), cure serious (SL 3, CL 5), etc. Greg FFG [/QUOTE]

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