Magic system concept - extremely vancian

[Anabstercorian]

Dungeons and dragons magic is not quite like that of Jack Vance. In Jack Vance's novels, magic was 'memorized', yes, but there were never dozens of spells in the mind of a single wizard.

What if you started off with one spell per day at 1st level and ended with at most 7 at 18th level? What if your spells per day were not just finite but _extremely_ limited?

I'm envisioning mages as walking nuclear armaments, relying on the deterrent value of their magic more than actually using their magic. Can you teleport across the country? Sure. But doing so deprives you of a spell you might need to prevent a rival from assassinating you. Can you drop a Magic Missile on that orc? Sure. But you could have stuck a Fireball in that spell slot and let your minions handle the dross. Could you drop a fireball on those orcs? Sure, but why not use your sword, and save the spell slot for a Disintigrate?

I'm not sure what to go for here. I envision six-shot miracles, who do their killing with their swords and use magic only at the most advantageous times.

Naturally, if I did this to the existing classes they'd suck. I think this could be an interesting class concept, though...

 

[FireLance]

About a year ago, I had the idea for a new magic-using base class that could use its abilities over and over again, and also had a small number of spell slots that gradually migrated up in level. My old thread is here.

Since then, WotC has come up with the Warlock (in Complete Arcane) to fill the niche of the spellcaster that can use his magical abilities over and over again. It is much cooler than what I originally came up with, and I would recommend that anyone who wants such a character go and check it out.

It would be interesting to delve into the other aspect of that class, i.e. the magic-user who has a very small number of very powerful abilities.

However, I from a gaming perspective, balancing the ability to do incredible things a few times per day with reduced effectiveness the rest of the time results in a character that is boring to play most of the time, and overwhelmingly powerful whenever it does use its abilities. This was the design philosophy behind the original D&D magic user (at low levels, at least) and I for one would not want to revisit that.

Also, I would not want to step on the toes of the wizard. The character should not be able to do anything that a wizard of the same level is able to do.

How about something like the following: Medium BAB, Good Fortitude and Will saves, proficient with simple and martial weapons and light and medium armor, has a single spell slot that he can fill with a wizard spell up to half his class level (9th level maximum). When that spell is expended, he can fill it again by meditating for 1 minute. However, to prevent over-the-top stacking of spell effects, his spells have an absolute duration of 1 minute, even if it normally has a longer duration or if affected by the Extend Spell metamagic feat or similar effects.

Essentially, this character will be able to unleash a powerful spell effect once per encounter, but has to rely on his mundane abilities after that.

 

[Anabstercorian]

That is basically exactly what I was thinking.

 

[Someone]

Essentially, this character will be able to unleash a powerful spell effect once per encounter, but has to rely on his mundane abilities after that.

May I direct you to this thread?

 

[Turanil]

I am trying to come up with a radically different system that seem to be close to what you want. The only thing it is intended for d20 Moder / d20 Past / Grim Tales, rather than modifying D&D 3.5. Otherwise it uses normal spells. If you are interested in giving it a look and comment, it is located in this thread (post 5 and 6).

 

[Terath Ninir]

Keep in mind, as you do this, that the Vancian spells were supposed to be extremely powerful. Sure, a caster who has only three spells is kind of weak. But if they're all 6th level, with added metamagic, he becomes a lot scarier.