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General Tabletop Discussion
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
New spellcasting mechanic and base class
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<blockquote data-quote="Spatzimaus" data-source="post: 1337515" data-attributes="member: 3051"><p>It's a nice idea. But, I don't think it'll work well as written; I have a few fundamental criticisms:</p><p></p><p>1> It should be a Prestige Class aimed at Wizards, not a core class. No core caster classes stack for purposes of level-dependent spell effects, and yet you want this to stack with a Wizard. Plus, they have the same HD, BAB, saves, class skills, and key attribute. It's bad enough that Wizard and Sorcerer are so alike.</p><p>2> You've only got 13 Incantations and they can select up to 10 by the time you're done. That's just a bit too limiting, I'd say; not very much room for individuality. Either add a bunch more (right now you're skewed towards Evocations and buffs, how about some divinations?), or reduce the rate they get them.</p><p>3> You spend all that gold scribing low-level spells in your book, but you quickly (5 levels later) reach a point where you can't cast those spells any more without using metamagic, AND with only a half-dozen spell slots that wouldn't be smart.</p><p>4> It's just WAY too few spell slots. You'll never have more than a 10 spell slots total. High-level Wizards have 40 spells before counting INT bonus. Now, when comparing the highest two or three spell levels you'll be comparable, but all those low-level spell slots aren't useless.</p><p>5> Casters need cantrips. Read Magic, especially, is somewhat critical for a class that needs to use scrolls to learn new spells, and your class can't use it past level 5 without metamagic. Low-level utility spells in general are important to everyone but a pure blaster.</p><p></p><p>Which leads to the big one:</p><p>6> The Incantations themselves just seem so WEAK. I understand that the concept is you're casting one every round, but it's still just so little effect... take Flame Blast, for example. Let's say I'm a 10th-level Incantor. Okay, I can make a ranged touch attack to do 10 points of fire damage. On the other hand, I can cast a Fireball that does ~35 (save half) fire damage to everyone in the area with no attack roll needed. I understand the concept of a fall-back option, but the difference is so great that I'll never WANT to use the Incantations, I'll simply be forced to use them once my "real" magic runs out, effectively replacing only the low-level spells I rarely used.</p><p>The buffing ones, on the other hand, only last a round, so you can't have more than one up (and that's assuming you didn't target someone else), while a Wizard can have multiple buffs on at the same time. So, again, the group will prefer to depend on long-duration bonuses from other casters' spells, only using yours as a last resort.</p><p></p><p>Anyway, if you made it a 5-level PrC that removed your low-level spell slots in exchange for one unlimited-use ability, sort of like the Archmage does, it'd be great, but I'd still say you need to improve the Incantations themselves.</p><p></p><p>How about this:</p><p>Incantor is a 5-level PrC requiring the Spell Thematics feat (the one where you pick one "trademark" spell at each level) and the ability to prepare 3rd-level spells. Spellcasting progression continues.</p><p>At each level in the PrC, you lose the ability to cast the entire Xth level of spells altogether. So, at level 1 you lose all your 1st-level spells, at level 2 you lose your 2nd-level spells, etc.</p><p>However, you gain the ability to cast the level X spell chosen with Spell Thematics as a Spell-Like Ability, an unlimited number of times per day. So, at level 1 you might now get unlimited Magic Missiles, at level 2 unlimited Endurance, and so on.</p><p>(You might not WANT to take all five levels; taking the third level to get unlimited Fireballs is nice, but losing Haste and Fly? You'll also never lose the ability to use cantrips.)</p><p></p><p>Anyway, just a thought.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Spatzimaus, post: 1337515, member: 3051"] It's a nice idea. But, I don't think it'll work well as written; I have a few fundamental criticisms: 1> It should be a Prestige Class aimed at Wizards, not a core class. No core caster classes stack for purposes of level-dependent spell effects, and yet you want this to stack with a Wizard. Plus, they have the same HD, BAB, saves, class skills, and key attribute. It's bad enough that Wizard and Sorcerer are so alike. 2> You've only got 13 Incantations and they can select up to 10 by the time you're done. That's just a bit too limiting, I'd say; not very much room for individuality. Either add a bunch more (right now you're skewed towards Evocations and buffs, how about some divinations?), or reduce the rate they get them. 3> You spend all that gold scribing low-level spells in your book, but you quickly (5 levels later) reach a point where you can't cast those spells any more without using metamagic, AND with only a half-dozen spell slots that wouldn't be smart. 4> It's just WAY too few spell slots. You'll never have more than a 10 spell slots total. High-level Wizards have 40 spells before counting INT bonus. Now, when comparing the highest two or three spell levels you'll be comparable, but all those low-level spell slots aren't useless. 5> Casters need cantrips. Read Magic, especially, is somewhat critical for a class that needs to use scrolls to learn new spells, and your class can't use it past level 5 without metamagic. Low-level utility spells in general are important to everyone but a pure blaster. Which leads to the big one: 6> The Incantations themselves just seem so WEAK. I understand that the concept is you're casting one every round, but it's still just so little effect... take Flame Blast, for example. Let's say I'm a 10th-level Incantor. Okay, I can make a ranged touch attack to do 10 points of fire damage. On the other hand, I can cast a Fireball that does ~35 (save half) fire damage to everyone in the area with no attack roll needed. I understand the concept of a fall-back option, but the difference is so great that I'll never WANT to use the Incantations, I'll simply be forced to use them once my "real" magic runs out, effectively replacing only the low-level spells I rarely used. The buffing ones, on the other hand, only last a round, so you can't have more than one up (and that's assuming you didn't target someone else), while a Wizard can have multiple buffs on at the same time. So, again, the group will prefer to depend on long-duration bonuses from other casters' spells, only using yours as a last resort. Anyway, if you made it a 5-level PrC that removed your low-level spell slots in exchange for one unlimited-use ability, sort of like the Archmage does, it'd be great, but I'd still say you need to improve the Incantations themselves. How about this: Incantor is a 5-level PrC requiring the Spell Thematics feat (the one where you pick one "trademark" spell at each level) and the ability to prepare 3rd-level spells. Spellcasting progression continues. At each level in the PrC, you lose the ability to cast the entire Xth level of spells altogether. So, at level 1 you lose all your 1st-level spells, at level 2 you lose your 2nd-level spells, etc. However, you gain the ability to cast the level X spell chosen with Spell Thematics as a Spell-Like Ability, an unlimited number of times per day. So, at level 1 you might now get unlimited Magic Missiles, at level 2 unlimited Endurance, and so on. (You might not WANT to take all five levels; taking the third level to get unlimited Fireballs is nice, but losing Haste and Fly? You'll also never lose the ability to use cantrips.) Anyway, just a thought. [/QUOTE]
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