How do I get more low level spell slots?

[Corwin of Amber]

Other options:

A raging Barbarian. It's not as obvious, but with the lower AC you'll probably get hit more in a given combat, so you're effectively trading health for power. Felt quite painfully when the rage goes away and takes the extra hp with it. Or you can use the PH2 variant ("Berserker Strength"?), instead of times/day and control over when you rage, you instead simply go into and stay in rage whenever your current hp is equal or less than 5 x Barbarian level. Now, this super duper sucks for many reasons: 1) It's nice to control when you rage; 2) the threshold is based on barb level rather than character level, so you can't multiclass at all; 3) 5 hp per level is a dangerously low threshold considering you have d12 + (a likely pretty good) con mod per level; 4) the way 3E works, you're much better off hitting hard and hitting early, getting your big melee boost a few rounds into a fight is very subpar.
But maybe your friend would like the mechanics. If the DM is nice, you could ask him to boost the threshold to at least 6 per level, and base it on character level or something.

Another option is Crusader, who has a delayed damage pool and gets an attack and damage boost from it being filled. Much later on, Greater Divine Surge maneuver is a VERY drastic example of trading health (Con score!) for power.

Those were actually some of my first considerations. I ended up going for a Wilder since it has the most control over how its sacrifice works. I'm also considering Reckless Offense and/or Lady's Gambit to simulate Rage via feats.

 

[Aluvial]

Actually, this is exactly how all Arcana Evolved casters work. You are able to take 1 spell level, and turn it into 2 levels of the next lower level.

You can also "weave" spells, and you take 3 spells of a lower level, to make one of a higher level.

The trick is that once you "split" a magic spell into lower levels, you cannot split it again. This means you have to keep track of which magic has been made into lower levels (the danger being, if you split a 5th level spell, that is 2 4th, which then would be 4 3rd, then 8 2nd. They only allow magic of a certain level to be split once).

So, a caster wants to cast a 3rd level spell but is out of slots. They could take a 4th level spell and turn it into 2 3rd level spells, or they could take some variation of lower level spells and weave them together for a 3rd level spell, for instance, 3 1st (which make a 2nd level) and 2 other 2nd levels (those 3 2nd levels make one 3rd level).

The Arcana Evolved system also allows casters to cast spells Heightened, and Diminished. This allows you to cast your spell, but with the cost of one level higher or lower. Each spell has (usually) a specific Heightened and Diminished effect.

Since you are playing with spell slots, you cast like a Sorcerer, and know spells like a Cleric. You get a certain number to prepare each day, and a certain number of slots (both based on the Ability modifier). This allows for a VERY versatile system.

Aluvial

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

I think AE also has a feat to hurt yourself to give your spells more power, doesn't it?

 

[Corwin of Amber]

So, where can I find Arcana Evolved and can it be used in a game where some casters use the normal methods?