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Help: Getting rid of spell slots
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<blockquote data-quote="pdzoch" data-source="post: 6971785" data-attributes="member: 80982"><p>First, I think the spell slot system is fine. I tend equate the spell slots to mana (or mana chunks) that explain the spell casting in a way that seems rational to me. That said, I do like the idea of a simpler formula system that does not require looking at charts and tables. Being an old grognard, I love charts and tables, but I do make mistakes and have often discovered after the adventure that a player was a spell slot short or a spell slot excess. All things considered, those minor errors did not break the game or affect anyone's enjoyment of the game.</p><p></p><p>I took the question as a challenge to my thinking and crafted my stab at the simplest spell formula I could manage. It is probably broke, but it was a worthwhile exercise. </p><p></p><p>Spell cost is Spell Level == Spell Point. So, 1st Level spell cost 1 spell point. Cantrips are free. Domain and specialization schools are half cost, rounded down. So a third level necromancy spell for a necromancer is cost one spell point.</p><p></p><p>Spell Points per level is Class Level *4. So At first level, a wizard has 4 spell points. At 20th level, the wizard has 80 spell points. This formula does create a stronger spell pool for young wizards and slightly weaker wizards are higher level. 2nd Level wizard is the largest difference resulting is almost three times the spell casting power in comparison to current RAW spell slots.</p><p></p><p>One additional rule to prevent overspending of spell points (a limiting factor). Any spell cast costing 1/2 class level or more will result in one level of exhaustion. So the additional spell power at lower level is mitigated by exhaustion effects. It also imposes limiting affects for new spell level until the character levels sufficiently to master the spell level. So a 18th level and lower wizard will suffer exhaustion every time she casts a 9th level spell. How much exhaustion is she willing to endure? How many spell points is she willing to spend? By the time she reaches 19th and 20th level, she has a mastery of the spell level and can cast as many as she has spell points for. Likewise, a 4th level wizard (with 16 points) can cast 16 1st level spells without effort. BUT, casting a 2nd level spell will apply exhaustion, though he has enough points/mana to cast 8 2nd level spells. Most wizards will assume risk an accept a level or two of exhaustion, but will probably not overdo it until they have mastered those spell levels.</p><p></p><p>Chart below shows equivalence of my point system formula compared to the points.</p><p></p><p> [TABLE="class: grid, width: 800, align: center"]</p><p>[TR]</p><p>[TD]Spell Slot by Spell Level PHB</p><p>[/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD]Spell Points Converted [/TD]</p><p>[TD]Spell Points[/TD]</p><p>[/TR]</p><p>[TR]</p><p>[TD]Class Level/Spell Level[/TD]</p><p>[TD]1[/TD]</p><p>[TD]2[/TD]</p><p>[TD]3[/TD]</p><p>[TD]4[/TD]</p><p>[TD]5[/TD]</p><p>[TD]6[/TD]</p><p>[TD]7[/TD]</p><p>[TD]8[/TD]</p><p>[TD]9[/TD]</p><p>[TD]by PHB Spell Slot</p><p>[/TD]</p><p>[TD]by Formula[/TD]</p><p>[/TR]</p><p>[TR]</p><p>[TD]1[/TD]</p><p>[TD]2[/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD]2[/TD]</p><p>[TD]4[/TD]</p><p>[/TR]</p><p>[TR]</p><p>[TD]2[/TD]</p><p>[TD]3[/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD]3[/TD]</p><p>[TD]8[/TD]</p><p>[/TR]</p><p>[TR]</p><p>[TD]3[/TD]</p><p>[TD]4[/TD]</p><p>[TD]2[/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD]8[/TD]</p><p>[TD]12[/TD]</p><p>[/TR]</p><p>[TR]</p><p>[TD]4[/TD]</p><p>[TD]4[/TD]</p><p>[TD]3[/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD]10[/TD]</p><p>[TD]16[/TD]</p><p>[/TR]</p><p>[TR]</p><p>[TD]5[/TD]</p><p>[TD]4[/TD]</p><p>[TD]3[/TD]</p><p>[TD]2[/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD]16[/TD]</p><p>[TD]20[/TD]</p><p>[/TR]</p><p>[TR]</p><p>[TD]6[/TD]</p><p>[TD]4[/TD]</p><p>[TD]3[/TD]</p><p>[TD]3[/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD]19[/TD]</p><p>[TD]24[/TD]</p><p>[/TR]</p><p>[TR]</p><p>[TD]7[/TD]</p><p>[TD]4[/TD]</p><p>[TD]3[/TD]</p><p>[TD]3[/TD]</p><p>[TD]1[/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD]23[/TD]</p><p>[TD]28[/TD]</p><p>[/TR]</p><p>[TR]</p><p>[TD]8[/TD]</p><p>[TD]4[/TD]</p><p>[TD]3[/TD]</p><p>[TD]3[/TD]</p><p>[TD]2[/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD]27[/TD]</p><p>[TD]32[/TD]</p><p>[/TR]</p><p>[TR]</p><p>[TD]9[/TD]</p><p>[TD]4[/TD]</p><p>[TD]3[/TD]</p><p>[TD]3[/TD]</p><p>[TD]3[/TD]</p><p>[TD]1[/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD]36[/TD]</p><p>[TD]36[/TD]</p><p>[/TR]</p><p>[TR]</p><p>[TD]10[/TD]</p><p>[TD]4[/TD]</p><p>[TD]3[/TD]</p><p>[TD]3[/TD]</p><p>[TD]3[/TD]</p><p>[TD]2[/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD]41[/TD]</p><p>[TD]40[/TD]</p><p>[/TR]</p><p>[TR]</p><p>[TD]11[/TD]</p><p>[TD]4[/TD]</p><p>[TD]3[/TD]</p><p>[TD]3[/TD]</p><p>[TD]3[/TD]</p><p>[TD]2[/TD]</p><p>[TD]1[/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD]47[/TD]</p><p>[TD]44[/TD]</p><p>[/TR]</p><p>[TR]</p><p>[TD]12[/TD]</p><p>[TD]4[/TD]</p><p>[TD]3[/TD]</p><p>[TD]3[/TD]</p><p>[TD]3[/TD]</p><p>[TD]2[/TD]</p><p>[TD]1[/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD]47[/TD]</p><p>[TD]48[/TD]</p><p>[/TR]</p><p>[TR]</p><p>[TD]13[/TD]</p><p>[TD]4[/TD]</p><p>[TD]3[/TD]</p><p>[TD]3[/TD]</p><p>[TD]3[/TD]</p><p>[TD]2[/TD]</p><p>[TD]1[/TD]</p><p>[TD]1[/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD]54[/TD]</p><p>[TD]52[/TD]</p><p>[/TR]</p><p>[TR]</p><p>[TD]14[/TD]</p><p>[TD]4[/TD]</p><p>[TD]3[/TD]</p><p>[TD]3[/TD]</p><p>[TD]3[/TD]</p><p>[TD]2[/TD]</p><p>[TD]1[/TD]</p><p>[TD]1[/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD]54[/TD]</p><p>[TD]56[/TD]</p><p>[/TR]</p><p>[TR]</p><p>[TD]15[/TD]</p><p>[TD]4[/TD]</p><p>[TD]3[/TD]</p><p>[TD]3[/TD]</p><p>[TD]3[/TD]</p><p>[TD]2[/TD]</p><p>[TD]1[/TD]</p><p>[TD]1[/TD]</p><p>[TD]1[/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD]62[/TD]</p><p>[TD]60[/TD]</p><p>[/TR]</p><p>[TR]</p><p>[TD]16[/TD]</p><p>[TD]4[/TD]</p><p>[TD]3[/TD]</p><p>[TD]3[/TD]</p><p>[TD]3[/TD]</p><p>[TD]2[/TD]</p><p>[TD]1[/TD]</p><p>[TD]1[/TD]</p><p>[TD]1[/TD]</p><p>[TD][/TD]</p><p>[TD]62[/TD]</p><p>[TD]64[/TD]</p><p>[/TR]</p><p>[TR]</p><p>[TD]17[/TD]</p><p>[TD]4[/TD]</p><p>[TD]3[/TD]</p><p>[TD]3[/TD]</p><p>[TD]3[/TD]</p><p>[TD]2[/TD]</p><p>[TD]1[/TD]</p><p>[TD]1[/TD]</p><p>[TD]1[/TD]</p><p>[TD]1[/TD]</p><p>[TD]71[/TD]</p><p>[TD]68[/TD]</p><p>[/TR]</p><p>[TR]</p><p>[TD]18[/TD]</p><p>[TD]4[/TD]</p><p>[TD]3[/TD]</p><p>[TD]3[/TD]</p><p>[TD]3[/TD]</p><p>[TD]3[/TD]</p><p>[TD]1[/TD]</p><p>[TD]1[/TD]</p><p>[TD]1[/TD]</p><p>[TD]1[/TD]</p><p>[TD]76[/TD]</p><p>[TD]72[/TD]</p><p>[/TR]</p><p>[TR]</p><p>[TD]19[/TD]</p><p>[TD]4[/TD]</p><p>[TD]3[/TD]</p><p>[TD]3[/TD]</p><p>[TD]3[/TD]</p><p>[TD]3[/TD]</p><p>[TD]2[/TD]</p><p>[TD]1[/TD]</p><p>[TD]1[/TD]</p><p>[TD]1[/TD]</p><p>[TD]82[/TD]</p><p>[TD]76[/TD]</p><p>[/TR]</p><p>[TR]</p><p>[TD]20[/TD]</p><p>[TD]4[/TD]</p><p>[TD]3[/TD]</p><p>[TD]3[/TD]</p><p>[TD]3[/TD]</p><p>[TD]3[/TD]</p><p>[TD]2[/TD]</p><p>[TD]2[/TD]</p><p>[TD]1[/TD]</p><p>[TD]1[/TD]</p><p>[TD]89[/TD]</p><p>[TD]80[/TD]</p><p>[/TR]</p><p>[/TABLE]</p><p></p><p></p><p>For your consideration. I think the simplicity meets the OP request (only one formula to know so no charts to reference), and the exhaustion rule addresses the limitation issue question from the OP.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="pdzoch, post: 6971785, member: 80982"] First, I think the spell slot system is fine. I tend equate the spell slots to mana (or mana chunks) that explain the spell casting in a way that seems rational to me. That said, I do like the idea of a simpler formula system that does not require looking at charts and tables. Being an old grognard, I love charts and tables, but I do make mistakes and have often discovered after the adventure that a player was a spell slot short or a spell slot excess. All things considered, those minor errors did not break the game or affect anyone's enjoyment of the game. I took the question as a challenge to my thinking and crafted my stab at the simplest spell formula I could manage. It is probably broke, but it was a worthwhile exercise. Spell cost is Spell Level == Spell Point. So, 1st Level spell cost 1 spell point. Cantrips are free. Domain and specialization schools are half cost, rounded down. So a third level necromancy spell for a necromancer is cost one spell point. Spell Points per level is Class Level *4. So At first level, a wizard has 4 spell points. At 20th level, the wizard has 80 spell points. This formula does create a stronger spell pool for young wizards and slightly weaker wizards are higher level. 2nd Level wizard is the largest difference resulting is almost three times the spell casting power in comparison to current RAW spell slots. One additional rule to prevent overspending of spell points (a limiting factor). Any spell cast costing 1/2 class level or more will result in one level of exhaustion. So the additional spell power at lower level is mitigated by exhaustion effects. It also imposes limiting affects for new spell level until the character levels sufficiently to master the spell level. So a 18th level and lower wizard will suffer exhaustion every time she casts a 9th level spell. How much exhaustion is she willing to endure? How many spell points is she willing to spend? By the time she reaches 19th and 20th level, she has a mastery of the spell level and can cast as many as she has spell points for. Likewise, a 4th level wizard (with 16 points) can cast 16 1st level spells without effort. BUT, casting a 2nd level spell will apply exhaustion, though he has enough points/mana to cast 8 2nd level spells. Most wizards will assume risk an accept a level or two of exhaustion, but will probably not overdo it until they have mastered those spell levels. Chart below shows equivalence of my point system formula compared to the points. [TABLE="class: grid, width: 800, align: center"] [TR] [TD]Spell Slot by Spell Level PHB [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD]Spell Points Converted [/TD] [TD]Spell Points[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Class Level/Spell Level[/TD] [TD]1[/TD] [TD]2[/TD] [TD]3[/TD] [TD]4[/TD] [TD]5[/TD] [TD]6[/TD] [TD]7[/TD] [TD]8[/TD] [TD]9[/TD] [TD]by PHB Spell Slot [/TD] [TD]by Formula[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]1[/TD] [TD]2[/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD]2[/TD] [TD]4[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]2[/TD] [TD]3[/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD]3[/TD] [TD]8[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]3[/TD] [TD]4[/TD] [TD]2[/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD]8[/TD] [TD]12[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]4[/TD] [TD]4[/TD] [TD]3[/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD]10[/TD] [TD]16[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]5[/TD] [TD]4[/TD] [TD]3[/TD] [TD]2[/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD]16[/TD] [TD]20[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]6[/TD] [TD]4[/TD] [TD]3[/TD] [TD]3[/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD]19[/TD] [TD]24[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]7[/TD] [TD]4[/TD] [TD]3[/TD] [TD]3[/TD] [TD]1[/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD]23[/TD] [TD]28[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]8[/TD] [TD]4[/TD] [TD]3[/TD] [TD]3[/TD] [TD]2[/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD]27[/TD] [TD]32[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]9[/TD] [TD]4[/TD] [TD]3[/TD] [TD]3[/TD] [TD]3[/TD] [TD]1[/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD]36[/TD] [TD]36[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]10[/TD] [TD]4[/TD] [TD]3[/TD] [TD]3[/TD] [TD]3[/TD] [TD]2[/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD]41[/TD] [TD]40[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]11[/TD] [TD]4[/TD] [TD]3[/TD] [TD]3[/TD] [TD]3[/TD] [TD]2[/TD] [TD]1[/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD]47[/TD] [TD]44[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]12[/TD] [TD]4[/TD] [TD]3[/TD] [TD]3[/TD] [TD]3[/TD] [TD]2[/TD] [TD]1[/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD]47[/TD] [TD]48[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]13[/TD] [TD]4[/TD] [TD]3[/TD] [TD]3[/TD] [TD]3[/TD] [TD]2[/TD] [TD]1[/TD] [TD]1[/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD]54[/TD] [TD]52[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]14[/TD] [TD]4[/TD] [TD]3[/TD] [TD]3[/TD] [TD]3[/TD] [TD]2[/TD] [TD]1[/TD] [TD]1[/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD]54[/TD] [TD]56[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]15[/TD] [TD]4[/TD] [TD]3[/TD] [TD]3[/TD] [TD]3[/TD] [TD]2[/TD] [TD]1[/TD] [TD]1[/TD] [TD]1[/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD]62[/TD] [TD]60[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]16[/TD] [TD]4[/TD] [TD]3[/TD] [TD]3[/TD] [TD]3[/TD] [TD]2[/TD] [TD]1[/TD] [TD]1[/TD] [TD]1[/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD]62[/TD] [TD]64[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]17[/TD] [TD]4[/TD] [TD]3[/TD] [TD]3[/TD] [TD]3[/TD] [TD]2[/TD] [TD]1[/TD] [TD]1[/TD] [TD]1[/TD] [TD]1[/TD] [TD]71[/TD] [TD]68[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]18[/TD] [TD]4[/TD] [TD]3[/TD] [TD]3[/TD] [TD]3[/TD] [TD]3[/TD] [TD]1[/TD] [TD]1[/TD] [TD]1[/TD] [TD]1[/TD] [TD]76[/TD] [TD]72[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]19[/TD] [TD]4[/TD] [TD]3[/TD] [TD]3[/TD] [TD]3[/TD] [TD]3[/TD] [TD]2[/TD] [TD]1[/TD] [TD]1[/TD] [TD]1[/TD] [TD]82[/TD] [TD]76[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]20[/TD] [TD]4[/TD] [TD]3[/TD] [TD]3[/TD] [TD]3[/TD] [TD]3[/TD] [TD]2[/TD] [TD]2[/TD] [TD]1[/TD] [TD]1[/TD] [TD]89[/TD] [TD]80[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] For your consideration. I think the simplicity meets the OP request (only one formula to know so no charts to reference), and the exhaustion rule addresses the limitation issue question from the OP. [/QUOTE]
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