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<blockquote data-quote="Khayman" data-source="post: 1441420" data-attributes="member: 17051">That might logically preclude NPCs over 12th level in the broader campaign world. Doesn't that go against some FR bylaw or something..?&nbsp;&nbsp; <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f609.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=";)" title="Wink&nbsp; &nbsp; ;)"&nbsp; data-smilie="2"data-shortname=";)" />Kyramus' suggestion about scrapping the automatic spells for levelling up is elegant. The suggestions by others regarding incantations also add a nice, codified, Buffy-esque feel to magic. More ideas as to how to limit spellslinging:&nbsp;&nbsp; 1) Employ social restrictions in the game that make spellcasting risky. This could be along the lines of Ars Magica, in which a magus who flagrantly uses/abuses his power in front of mundanes becomes the focus of a literal witch hunt. Or, for that matter, make it so all spellcasters have to be eunuchs. Some players might, er, balk at that.&nbsp;&nbsp; 2) Use the non-spellcasting variants of Ranger &amp; Paladin from UA. There are a number of homebrew Bard variants online that are spell-free, as well --- check them carefully to ensure game balance.&nbsp;&nbsp; 3) Require the use of a prerequisite feat to allow spellcasting. We do so in one historic campaign but everyone's human and gets that pesky bonus feat, so we don't have too many qualms about it. Yes, this penalizes characters. To offset it somewhat, we allow characters with &quot;the gift&quot; a bonus ability --- you could give them +2 on their saves versus all magic, or the ability to detect magic 1/day. Strictly speaking, this limits overall character power rather than spellcasting.&nbsp;&nbsp; 4) Make spellcasting classes prestige classes. Make the prerequisites low (i.e., 3rd+ level character, 5 ranks in a class skill, must know a member of that class).&nbsp; Just bear in mind that limiting access to magic alters healing. If casters are rare, then you should beef up the Healing skill or allow more herbal/alchemical healing.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Khayman, post: 1441420, member: 17051"] That might logically preclude NPCs over 12th level in the broader campaign world. Doesn't that go against some FR bylaw or something..? ;) Kyramus' suggestion about scrapping the automatic spells for levelling up is elegant. The suggestions by others regarding incantations also add a nice, codified, Buffy-esque feel to magic. More ideas as to how to limit spellslinging: 1) [U]Employ social restrictions in the game that make spellcasting risky.[/U] This could be along the lines of Ars Magica, in which a magus who flagrantly uses/abuses his power in front of mundanes becomes the focus of a literal witch hunt. Or, for that matter, make it so all spellcasters have to be eunuchs. Some players might, er, balk at that. 2) [U]Use the non-spellcasting variants of Ranger & Paladin from UA.[/U] There are a number of homebrew Bard variants online that are spell-free, as well --- check them carefully to ensure game balance. 3) [U]Require the use of a prerequisite feat to allow spellcasting.[/U] We do so in one historic campaign but everyone's human and gets that pesky bonus feat, so we don't have too many qualms about it. Yes, this penalizes characters. To offset it somewhat, we allow characters with "the gift" a bonus ability --- you could give them +2 on their saves versus all magic, or the ability to [I]detect magic[/I] 1/day. Strictly speaking, this limits overall character power rather than spellcasting. 4) [U]Make spellcasting classes prestige classes. [/U]Make the prerequisites low (i.e., 3rd+ level character, 5 ranks in a class skill, must know a member of that class). Just bear in mind that limiting access to magic alters healing. If casters are rare, then you should beef up the Healing skill or allow more herbal/alchemical healing. [/QUOTE]

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