Help with Grim Tales Magic

[DwelleroftheDeep]

I have recently gotten around to reading the magic section of my Grim Tales book but I was unable to find the answer to a few crucial issues. I'm probably just not looking hard enough so if anyone could point me to where the following issues are addressed:

-Caster Level for spell effects: Is this just your magical adept level or is something else added?

-Spell Burn: Do you take spell burn damage from every spell, or just failed spells?

 

[ValhallaGH]

By the book, your caster level is only equal to your magical adept level. However, it's been recommended by the designers that you use an alternative minimum of either the D&D caster level for a given spell or the spell level. So Fireball has a minimum of either 5d6 or 3d6, respectively, making it almost worth all the trouble required to be able to cast it.

Spell burn comes from all spells cast, successes and failures. This is clarified in the example on page 130/131.

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

By the book, your caster level is only equal to your magical adept level. However, it's been recommended by the designers that you use an alternative minimum of either the D&D caster level for a given spell or the spell level.

Actually I always recommend the spell level. I'm not sure if I ever recommended the D&D minimum; I may have. Even if so, use the spell level.

So Fireball has a minimum of either 5d6 or 3d6, respectively, making it almost worth all the trouble required to be able to cast it.

Even at 3d6 it's certainly worth it to cast it. What else do you have in your arsenal that does 3d6 damage to every target in a 20' radius?

Dynamite?

Fireball is utterly devastating in any low-magic game, even at only 3d6.

 

[Henry]

Fireball is utterly devastating in any low-magic game, even at only 3d6.

Not to mention Massive damage saves to most everyone in a 20 foot radius...

 

[DwelleroftheDeep]

Thanks a lot for the help guys. I think I'll go with the spell level + your caster level; how does that sound?

I'm not sure about spell burn this way, but I'll give it a try before saying I don't want it this way.

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

Thanks a lot for the help guys. I think I'll go with the spell level + your caster level; how does that sound?

Too powerful.

I'm not sure about spell burn this way, but I'll give it a try before saying I don't want it this way.

It sounds like the first thing you need to do is decide how much magic you want in your game, and then tweak the mechanics to suit that.