[Epic] Allowing Spellcraft DC 0 Epic Spells...

[DerianCypher]

but don't wizards and clerics have to prepare their epic spells, just like their normal spells?

 

[Dakkareth]

The idea that a powerful spellcaster can, on the spur of the moment create a spell effect is very appealing to me. It is ‘invented’ at the time that it is needed – a truly spontaneous, impromptu spell of enormous power. The Wizard (or Druid, or whatever) simply channels the magical energy, focuses his Will, and makes it happen. For me, this is a compelling archetype which is impossible to resist.

I very much agree agree here. (Heh, I'm actually trying to create a system where all spells are spontaneously made, although it isn't past the 'basic idea' status, yet).


Of course one would have to make a rule, that such a DC 0 spell doesn't have to be prepared or the whole spontaneity is gone again.


Besides the cool feeling of creating a spell tailored to a situation on the fly, there is of course the big advantage, that it requires no XP to create, which would normally prevent a character from creating more than a few spells.

Perhaps one could make the basic seeds be available as spells to every epic wizard? So even without spending tens of thousands of XP a newly epic wizard could have something to cast with his epic slots ...

 

[Olive]

I like the spell personally. I'm not particularly au fait with the epci spell system, but it doesn't seem unbalanced to me. And the idea of a caster spontaneously summoning that kind of energy is interesting to me.

 

[Savage Wombat]

I am completely in agreement with the people who say not to allow "spells on the fly" because of the player time involved.

I can say this because I've played Champions. Ask any Champions player about a Variable Power Pool, and how obnoxious it can be. And disruptive to the game, if the GM isn't quick on his feet. (Fortunately, my GM was.)

The idea of a DC 0 spell is a great one - but I'd still want the player, or the GM, to write them up outside of game time before using them.

 

[grodog]

Hey Sep, have you taken a look at the magic from Ars Magica before?

The game is designed from the ground-up to handle spontaneous magic, as cast by folks like Merlin, Solomon, Circe, etc.---Ars Magica defines epic magic for me. You can download a copy of the entire 4th edition rules from Atlas Games for free (via RPGnow at http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=774&src=FreeArsMagica)

A d20 rules conversion appears over at http://www.users.qwest.net/~jordanerik/Gaming/ArM/index.htm. While I haven't made the time to delve deeply into this page yet, it looks pretty good....

 

[Olive]

A d20 rules conversion appears over at http://www.users.qwest.net/~jordanerik/Gaming/ArM/index.htm. While I haven't made the time to delve deeply into this page yet, it looks pretty good....

One recent Ars Magica product has dual d20/Ars Magica stats. Don't know what it's like, but it might be worth checking out? I think it's called The black monks of glastonbury and is about demon worshipping monks.

 

[grodog]

I haven't had a chance to check that out yet, Olive, but have been meaning to do so. Thanks for the reminder!

 

[Joshua Randall]

Bang, we're both dead?

Mitigating factors: 42d6 Backlash (-42 DC); burn 4500 xp (-45 DC).

So the caster takes an average of 147 points of damage. That's a lot - likely enough to kill many sorcerers or wizards outright (unless they have hugely buffed Con or crazy-lucky hit point rolls). And to add insult to injury, when the caster gets true resurrected, he's still down 4500 xp. Heh.

 

[grodog]

bump?

 

[Kerrick]

but don't wizards and clerics have to prepare their epic spells, just like their normal spells?

No. Once you research an epic spell, it's a part of you, like a sorcerer's spells - you can prepare it at will.

Perhaps one could make the basic seeds be available as spells to every epic wizard? So even without spending tens of thousands of XP a newly epic wizard could have something to cast with his epic slots ...

You can cast the epic seeds as spells in their most basic form using the DCs listed - look at ruin for a good example.