Mixing AU/ 3.5 Magic Classes in a Campaign

[Belen]

Has anyone run both the AU and PHB magic systems in one game? My next campaign will use both systems, although the casters cannot multiclass between systems and spells will not translate from one system to another.

If you have allowed both AU and 3.5 casters and classes in a campaign, then how did it work?

 

[ForceUser]

I have only allowed the Mage Blade class into my 3.5 game, and what I did was convert him to the bard spells known and spells per day, but he uses the wizard/sorcerer spell list. He loses 7th level spells but picks up access to lots of spells that in AU he'd have had to spend feats to gain (Complex Spell, Exotic Spell). I think it's a fair tradeoff.

 

[^Graff]

I don't see how the two classes could possible be balanced. Magister, being the best parts of Wizard and Sorcerer, would be the best caster in the game. Who in their right mind would want to play a Sorcerer or Wizard when a magister gives them bonus feats, spontaneous casting, and spell preparation?

I suppose that if the magisters represented some ancient society that had recently returned (like Shade Enclave), or were from a more advanced society (the planes), it could work, but there would be no reason, crunchwise or fluffwise, that wizards and sorcerers would exist.

 

[Inconsequenti-AL]

Nearly but not exactly...

I'm running all AU magic for the PCs IMC. Certain beasties or NPCs still use core magic - it's for things from 'other realms' at the moment. PCs are too low level to have met them yet.

IMO, AU compares well to core magic - generally a bit more flexible and a bit less powerful. Which is fine. Very good call on the multiclassing - I'd also make sure the 'magic' feats don't cross over from one system to the other. That would make a fearful mess.

I guess a few items could also be a problem - rings of spell storing spring to mind. Not sure how item creation compares as well - unsure on prices - but again, AU would seem more flexible there?

 

[Wombat]

While I have not tried to mix the two yet, I would think that I would box out the two systems in a single world -- Group A has access to PHB magic, Group B has access to AU magic. Wizards and Sorcerers cannot learn the spells known by Magisters and Greenbonds and vice versa. The AU classes do have the advantage of flexibility, but they have both a more limited spell list, generally less powerful spells, and highly limited access to the spells actually on the list (Exotic Spell Feat, anyone?).

So I think it could be done, but it might be an odd fit. Then again, I don't think it would be any weirder than having psionics and magic in the same world, which many people already run.

 

[Inconsequenti-AL]

I don't see how the two classes could possible be balanced. Magister, being the best parts of Wizard and Sorcerer, would be the best caster in the game. Who in their right mind would want to play a Sorcerer or Wizard when a magister gives them bonus feats, spontaneous casting, and spell preparation?

I suppose that if the magisters represented some ancient society that had recently returned (like Shade Enclave), or were from a more advanced society (the planes), it could work, but there would be no reason, crunchwise or fluffwise, that wizards and sorcerers would exist.

IMO, they're a bit closer to balancing than that. The magister may be more flexible but the 'core' spells the sorceror and wizard are using are generally more powerful. The sorceror will also have a lot more spells #day to throw about than the Magister.

Lets have a Magic Missile party? AU has to stay outside and kick it's Mudball around in the garden.

 

[Zoatebix]

There's more ways to get an exotic spell than the exotic spell feat - if you're a Magister and you take one of the many feats that expand your spell list you get all of the exotic spells that fit whatever descriptor your feat grants (yay for Magisters knowing all complex spelss!). Sure some obviously powerful stuff like Invoked Apolcalypse have no descriptors - but you'd better spend a feat if you want to cast that thing! Yikes!
-g

 

[Belen]

I appreciate the advice. Keep it coming!

 

[Varianor Abroad]

Has anyone run both the AU and PHB magic systems in one game? My next campaign will use both systems, although the casters cannot multiclass between systems and spells will not translate from one system to another.

If you have allowed both AU and 3.5 casters and classes in a campaign, then how did it work?

Works fine so far for me. I let someone use one book or the other, no mixing of the two. So far I have players asking me to convert their PH spellcasters over to AU. Still working on that.

 

[AdvntrGuy]

AU DM Screen and Player's Guide

The AU Player's Guide put out by Monte has 7 pages of info on balancing/converting AU with Core. It's pretty good and recommends you keep a couple of his mechanics to balance standard classes with AU classes. Worth picking up for sure.