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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Sammael" data-source="post: 1729710" data-attributes="member: 4475">Arcane spell failure (ASF) is an aberrant mechanic that does not comply with the basic philosophy of the d20 system (roll d20, add modifier, check against the DC; higher is better). Thus, I have decided to eliminate it from my games.Now, there is no particular mechanical or balancing reason why sorcerers and wizards shouldn't be able to cast spells in armor (when clerics have always been able to do the same thing), but it adds some flavor, so I am not going to do away with it completely. Instead, I propose the following solution:Arcane Spells and ArmorArcane spells with somatic (S) components often require complicated gestures that are difficult to perform while wearing armor. The heavier and more encumbering the armor is, the more difficult it is to cast such spells. Thus, casting arcane spells in armor requires the caster to make a DC 5 Dexterity check. Failure on this check indicates that the spell is miscast with no effect.Armor check penalty of armor and shields applies to this check. If the caster is nonproficient with armor he is wearing, he takes a -4 nonproficiency penalty on the check.        d20 + Dexterity modifier [-total armor check penalty] [-nonproficiency penalty]If the caster’s total check modifier is +4 or greater, the check automatically succeeds.Armored ArcanaYou are adept at casting arcane spells while wearing armor.Prerequisites: Ability to cast arcane spells, Armor Proficiency (any).Benefit: Your get a +4 bonus on Dexterity checks made to cast arcane spells while wearing armor.Special: You may take this feat multiple times. Its effects are cumulative.Why a Dex check instead of Concentration or Spellcraft? Well, because armored casters should be likely to actually fail this check every once in a while. Furthermore, it increases the value of Dexterity for arcane casters (it is currently not as important as Constitution), which encourages them to think more about their character concept when assigning stats. It also helps reinforce the elven fighter/wizard stereotype (an elf's chance of falure is 5% less than a human's because of the racial +2 to Dex).</blockquote>

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