D&D General It's Magic, You Know

[Indagare Nogitsune]

Let's say we could no longer use Vancian Magic (I'm sure there are homebrews like this). What sort of spell system might folks see replacing it and why?

For me I tend to like spell points and something like Ars Magica where a person can combine an "act" with something to be acted on. "Create Water" "Create Fire", etc. I think it allows for a lot of useful spell creation without having to memorize particular spells nor explain why someone has to continuously relearn them.

 

[payn]

I like DCC, check, potency, corruption, and burn!

 

[GMMichael]

I'm not sure D&D even uses Vancian magic now! The more I read the 5e spell slot system is the less sense it makes. With the slots "expanding" and the wizards that "prepare" spells just to cast whatever they want? Madness.

Anyway, spells could draw on Spell Points like damage draws on Hit Points. And if a spell description would describe its effect minimally, then PCs could make their own spell effects.

Spell effect: target can't move.
PC flavor: hold person, petrify, confusion, rope-prison, etc.

 

[Stormonu]

I kinda like Chronicles of Ramlar that used a Roll to Cast, with the difficulty based on the parameters of the spell. In that system, if you failed to cast the spell you couldn't cast it again for an amount of time equal to the spell's normal duration. So, for example, if you had intended to cast a Fly spell that would have lasted an hour, if you failed you couldn't retry casting it for another hour.

I'd push for players to prebuild "recipes" that had a discount on the DC to cast. A player could still try something creative when needed, but "known" spells would be more reliable and help speed that sort of speed up spellcasting in most cases.

 

[Xeviat]

My intent is to replace levels 1-5 spells with MP that recover on a short rest and then have full casters get additional long rest spell slots for their high level spells. Kinda like Warlock, but with the spell levels spread out like a half-caster (so level 5 would have up to 2nd level spells on short rest mp, but a 3rd level slot or two per long rest).

 

[Vaalingrade]

Big fan of spell points here.

Spell points plus RADICALLY reworking each spell.

But anything short of having the player eat glass or cast from HP to cast a spell in character would be preferable to prep-casting to me.

 

[Horwath]

Spell points with memorized/prepared spells.

I would even turn feat/ancestry spells per rest usage into spell points.

 

[I'm A Banana]

There is no such thing as a class that casts magic. All spells are in magic items.

Wizards are just artificers. Wands, spellbooks, scrolls, runes.

Warlocks don't cast spells, they have their familiars cast spells (different familiars, different spells).

Sorcerers are living potions. They shed blood.

Clerics prepare potions and have holy relics.

Druids just know how to talk to animals and plants and fire and lightning (it's a language, not a magic). Maybe they grow some magical fruits or flowers for a few effects.

 

[TwoSix]

I would have less classes overall.

I'd have a healer class, with a mechanic similar to "lay on hands" (level * X healing), and some utility functions, much like warlock invocations.

And I'd have a "mage", which is roughly like a sage/artificer, with cantrip type abilities, and some divinations and magical know-how.

All other magic would be awarded through play, like magic items. Godly boons, pacts with spirits, lost grimoires with rituals, etc.

 

[GnomeWorks]

I'd have a healer class, with a mechanic similar to "lay on hands" (level * X healing)

Pairing this (with X = 10) with "you can cast any spell with a casting time of 1 action you know that heals hit points as a bonus action" at 5th level has worked out astoundingly well with my group.