MY Spell Point System

[Sado]

I know, another spell point system. I don't know if this is already doable with the current rules in the PHB or in Unearthed Arcana, I'm a little rusty on all the nuances of the magic system. It seems similar to stuff I've seen, but you tell me. Here goes.

Instead of spells per day in each level, you get a number of points (based on the default spells per day). Spells are worth 1 point per level-level 0 are worth 1 point, level 1 are worth 2, etc, up to level 9 worth 10 points.

So if a first level caster gets 4 level 0 spells per day and 2 level 1 spells, he has 8 points per day (1 pt for each level 0 spell and 2 pts for each level 1 spell). He still has to prepare them ahead of time like normal (and still has to rest to get any points back, but has more flexibility in which spells he prepares. He can prepare 8 level 0 spells, or 4 level 1 spells, or 2 level 0 and 3 level 1, whatever. It increases flexibility, especially at higher levels (at the cost of power), while still keeping some of the normal limits.

And if he doesn't get a full night's rest, he may only get some of his points back.

Will this work? Any problems? I know it's nothing terribly innovative, just wondered how it would work in play.

 

[The Great Bear King]

Sounds like a good idea.

 

[Nonlethal Force]

System sounds worthy of at least a playtest.

But a question for you - The Expanded Psionics Handbook already has a point system in place. It is a little different than yours in the quantity of costs per level, but it runs the same as what you describe. If you really want to go with a point system, why not just adopt the system used in the XPH for your casters instead of inventing your own?

 

[Vrecknidj]

The real question is whether, for example, a 3rd level spell is really worth 80% of a 4th level spell (4 pts / 5 pts). In the existing system, a caster can always use a 4th level slot to memorize or cast a 3rd level spell. In your system, in effect, a caster can use a 4th level slot to cast a 3rd level spell and a 1st level spell. So, is one 4th level spell worth a fireball and a magic missile?

If yes, and if this answer also applies across the board to other spells of other levels, then your system might work just fine. And, with that rest issue, you could have a character gain so many points per hour of rest, instead of so many points per night.

Let's say you have a 7th level wizard with 16 Int (4/5/4/3/1), this is 43 points. In the normal system, it takes 8 hours of rest to get those spells back. Maybe you want to say that he gets 6 points back for every hour of rest. If the wizard casts a couple of 2nd level spells (6 points), he can go rest at the inn for an hour and get those spells back. If he casts two fireballs and a 4th level spell, he needs to regain 13 points, and that will take three hours of rest.

Dave

 

[Sado]

The real question is whether, for example, a 3rd level spell is really worth 80% of a 4th level spell (4 pts / 5 pts). In the existing system, a caster can always use a 4th level slot to memorize or cast a 3rd level spell. In your system, in effect, a caster can use a 4th level slot to cast a 3rd level spell and a 1st level spell. So, is one 4th level spell worth a fireball and a magic missile?

If yes, and if this answer also applies across the board to other spells of other levels, then your system might work just fine. And, with that rest issue, you could have a character gain so many points per hour of rest, instead of so many points per night.

Let's say you have a 7th level wizard with 16 Int (4/5/4/3/1), this is 43 points. In the normal system, it takes 8 hours of rest to get those spells back. Maybe you want to say that he gets 6 points back for every hour of rest. If the wizard casts a couple of 2nd level spells (6 points), he can go rest at the inn for an hour and get those spells back. If he casts two fireballs and a 4th level spell, he needs to regain 13 points, and that will take three hours of rest.

Dave

I actually had that in mind, that you could regain some of your points even if you don't get a full night's sleep.

My reasoning is that the "points" represent your mental/psychic capacity, and it makes sense (to me) that you should be able to divide that capacity up however you want. Of course, like you said, it depends on how much value you place on any particular spell or level.

 

[Nonlethal Force]

Well, there is something to be said about a full rest, too. I know the case can be made that if you are mentally drained, taking a few hours off and relaxing can bring you back fresh. And that is very true. But, there is a reason we also need to sleep in 6-8 hour blocks of time, too. The brain must go through REM sleep to completely recharge.

So, here's what I would say. A player can only use partial rest to regain spellpoints up to 1/2 of their normal total. If the player wants to raise his/her spellpoints the rest of the way, they need to allow their brain to fully recharge - I.E. a full rest.

That will keep the players honest, and respect their resting periods. But in the end, this is a houserule ... so do what makes sense to you.

 

[Vrecknidj]

Well, there is something to be said about a full rest, too. I know the case can be made that if you are mentally drained, taking a few hours off and relaxing can bring you back fresh. And that is very true. But, there is a reason we also need to sleep in 6-8 hour blocks of time, too. The brain must go through REM sleep to completely recharge.

So, here's what I would say. A player can only use partial rest to regain spellpoints up to 1/2 of their normal total. If the player wants to raise his/her spellpoints the rest of the way, they need to allow their brain to fully recharge - I.E. a full rest.

That will keep the players honest, and respect their resting periods. But in the end, this is a houserule ... so do what makes sense to you.

Good compromise with the 1/2 restoration from not having a full-night's sleep. On the other hand, with both this system and the official one, a DM can screw a wizard by waking him up after 7 hours of sleep--which, as many players will tell you, ain't fair. (Especially those players who themselves go to work everyday after 6 or so hours of sleep.) A DM I know fixes this by requiring a Concentration check while memorizing spells (basically, the DC is based on the spell level, so that most of the low-level spells are guaranteed to succeed with a Take 10). If you don't get a full night's sleep, you have to Concentrate harder to memorize things. And harder things are harder to memorize. Something like this could be incorporated here too.

Dave

 

[Nonlethal Force]

Good compromise with the 1/2 restoration from not having a full-night's sleep. On the other hand, with both this system and the official one, a DM can screw a wizard by waking him up after 7 hours of sleep--which, as many players will tell you, ain't fair.

Aye, t'ain't fair at all - if used frequently. I think it is a fair tactic if used seldom, you know, just to force the players out of their adventuring routine. But DM's that do this to intentionally screw with their players, well, that isn't fair. In the end, it comes down to knowing your DM. With me as a DM, this system will work - because in the end I am not out to screw with the players. I want to play, have fun, and enjoy character development - and maybe hack 'n' slash in between character development. But I know there are DMs out there who intentionally try to screw with their players ... and under them my suggestion has 'potential abuse" written all over it.