Let's redo the Wizard class(Community Project)

[The Kender]

I've tried a few times before to make Wizard Varients. Does everybody agree that Preparing Spells is not the way to go, and the Sorcerer is just terrible? I mean, can they be better. I'm also thinking, we need to have one class.

So, instead of posting another version that nobody will like, why don't we all work together and make one? I'll keep an updated version below.
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The Wizard
Hit Dice:
Skill Points:
Class Skills:
BAB:
Fort:
Ref:
Will:

Spells:
Info goes here

 

[murlynd]

Hey,

I am not too sure about the Wizard changes, but I have always said to each his own.

As far as the Sorcerer goes, have you seen the variant in the Book of Eldritch Might 2? (Not to plug Monte)

But I agree that the Sorc was a little off in my opinion and his version is pretty sweet. I recommend checking it out.

Brian

 

[ThenHeCame]

Should we try and get a genreal idea where Arcane magic comes from? Or should we leave that up to DMs?

What exactly are we trying to do? Make a wizard class with flavour? Or try to re-work mechanicly?

 

[gamecat]

You cannot fix what isn't broken. Please, try and do something useful, such as the *shudder* ranger.

 

[Crothian]

You cannot fix what isn't broken. Please, try and do something useful, such as the *shudder* ranger.

Everything is broken except the Ranger. At this point I just think people are jumping on the "Ranger Stinks" Bandwagon.

But onto the Wizard thing. Well, if you want a traditinonal wizard I'd go with:

D4 HD
Worst BAB
Bad Fort and Reflex, and Good Will
Skills: 2+ Int per level
Skills: Alchemy, Concentration,Decipher Script, All knowledges, Scry, Speak Language, Spellcraft

The Skills reflect the fact that Wizards are actually schooled and book learned

Spells: I really like the mix of prepare/spontanious. You prepare a number of spells that you have per day and can cast them spontaniously so many times per day. THis Allows the Wizard to still learn spells and cast spontaniously to an extent at the same time.

I'd keep the Familiars and the Bonus fgeats as is.

 

[JDRay]

Spells: I really like the mix of prepare/spontanious. You prepare a number of spells that you have per day and can cast them spontaniously so many times per day. THis Allows the Wizard to still learn spells and cast spontaniously to an extent at the same time.

FWIW, I agree. In the genre, spontaneous casting seems to be basic to the idea of a magic-user. I just can't see Gandalf getting up each morning and saying, "Hmmm... Am I going to need three fireballs today? I'd better make it four." And from DragonLance, Raistlin cast spells past his normal limit, to the point that it affected him physically. He never recovered from that. Both characters have been known to learn new spells by reading spellbooks, though.

I think I would do something like alter the Sorcerer so that he could change what spells he knows by studying a spellbook. That way, he wouldn't have to have access to a spellbook every morning, but wouldn't be stuck with some limited list either. I would increase the number of spells known and decrease the number castable per day for balance.

Thoughts?

 

[Crothian]

That Rastlin comment reminded me of something. Have you guys seen the Over Channeling rules in WoT? It's the ability to cast spells after you have run out. Let's see how badly this copies and pastes.

Overcasting: This is the ability to cast spells after you have used your spells. This is a full round action. This is done one of two ways. You can try to cast cantrips, 1st and 2nd level spells even after you have used all of you allotted spells per day. Or you can use a lower level spell slot to cast a higher-level spell. Both attempt require a concentration check. A failed check means the spell did not happen and you need to make a fortitude saving throw.

Over Casting Attempt Concentration DC Fortitude DC
Cast Cantrips with no slots left 15 15
Cast 1st level spell with no slots left 21 25
Cast 2nd level spell with no slots left 27 35
Cast Spell one level higher then slot* 21 15+ Spell level
Cast Spell two levels higher then slot* 27 25+ Spell Level
Cast Spell three levels higher then slot* 33 35+ Spell Level

*If the wizard is trying to cast a level of spell he usually does not have access to the concentration and fortitude check is increased by five per additional spell level. For instance if a 5th level mage was using his 3rd level spell slot to try to cast a fifth level spell his checks would be ten higher.

On a failed concentration check, the wizard must make a fortitude saving throw. If the fail saves use the following table to see what happens. The table is based off of how bad the save was missed by. On a successful saving throw nothing happens except the failure of the spell. All penalties are cumulative.
DC Missed by Result
1-5 You suffer fatigue and severe headache. You have a –1 to all attacks, saves, attributes, and skill checks until you rest for a least six hours.
6-10 As above except the penalty is –2. You also suffer 1d6 damage and cannot try to over cast until you rest for six hours.
11-15 As above except the penalty is –3. You take 2d6 damage and cannot try to over cast until you get six hours of rest and twenty-four hours have passed.
16-20 As above but penalties are –4. The damage is 3d6 and you cannot overcast for 48 hours.
21-25 As above but penalties are –5. The damage is 4d6 and you cannot overcast for two weeks.
26+ As above but penalties are –6. You suffer 6d6 damage and cannot overcast.

 

[Shirt Guy John]

I just can't see Gandalf getting up each morning and saying, "Hmmm... Am I going to need three fireballs today? I'd better make it four."

I know this is way off topic, but Gandalf is hardly a good example of the D&D wizard class. In Tolkien's books, wizards are a type of creature in their own right, not an occupation. If you hadn't noticed, they also don't throw spells around anywhere NEAR how often the wizards in D&D do.

Just thought I'd point that out.

 

[Eternalknight]

If you want a look at an alternate arcane casting system, take a look here and click on optional rules on the left. There you will find a an alternate spellcasting system for download.

 

[Cymsdale]

I've actually worked on a "Mage" class which I planned to use alongside the wizard and the sorcerer. However, the ideas for the class might be something you could consider for a wizard revision.

What I did was I used a mix of the current wizards, a sorcerer, and the psion.

The class would have a limited amount of spell points per day (this is not an attempt to move everything towards a spell point system, it works very well within the current system). The class would have a spell book like the wizard, with the opportunity to "know" every spell. The mage could prepare a limited number of spells of each level per day, to act as a "spell pool" in a sense.

In other words, the class could have the ability to spontaneously cast from a limited selection of spells, which can be modified on a day-by-day basis. The class would get the versatility of the wizard, the spontaneity of the sorcerer, and would be balanced out by a lower number of possible castings per day.

The class I am creating goes into much more detail, but if you feel like revising the wizard, perhaps this is a route you could try.

I wish you luck.