Non-Vancian or Modular magic systems

[fruitbane]

Does anyone have any nice non-Vancian, or even better, modular house magic systems they use with D&D 3.x or older? I've been rolling some ideas around in my head but I'd also like to see what others have come up with.

I'm thinking point based, where damage is 1 point per d6 of various types, certain effects are 1-3 points, and points are assigned to various durations and ranges. What are you all doing for this?

 

[Theo R Cwithin]

There's a spellpoint based system presented in Unearthed Arcana. You might take a look at that, if you haven't already.

 

[Hawken]

Revised Elements of Magic may be what you're looking for.

 

[fruitbane]

I've read a little of those. I think what I'm looking more for is some OGL/free system something like True Sorcery or a superpowers construction system, only for spells. You know, 1 spell level for d6 fire damage, another 1 spell level for 50 ft range, that sort of thing. I've got some ideas in my head but I'm having trouble getting my head around the variety needed in spell effects.

 

[Kerrick]

I'd start with a list of basic effects - range, duration, targets - and base those off existing spells. After that, you should have a good enough grasp of the system to be able to guesstimate values for other things.

Here's an alternate epic spell system I made. It's level-based instead of skill-based; I start with a base spell(s), then add factors, which increase the level. It doesn't work as well for basic spells, but it might give you some ideas.

 

[Hawken]

You know, 1 spell level for d6 fire damage, another 1 spell level for 50 ft range, that sort of thing.

Maybe you need to re-check Elements of Magic because that's exactly what they do. You get X amount of spell points per level. Spells have a basic formula of 1d6 damage (if it is a damage inflicting spell), range of touch, area of effect is 1 target, duration is--I don't remember. You spend points modifying (customizing) the spell; increasing range, AoE, excluding targets from being affected, increasing damage dice. Plus they've worked the metamagic feats into their system pretty smoothly.

Normally, I don't like recommending products (mostly since I don't get paid for the advertising), but this system is one of the best alternate magic systems I've seen. Even if its not EXACTLY what you're looking for, it seems close enough to what you've asked for that if you did check it out, it might help you figure out what it is exactly that you are looking for.

 

[fruitbane]

Ah! A spear through my heart! I am, yet again, being told to go out and spend money! Maybe I will, we'll see. Until then I'll keep puttering away with what I have.

 

[ValhallaGH]

Ah! A spear through my heart! I am, yet again, being told to go out and spend money! Maybe I will, we'll see. Until then I'll keep puttering away with what I have.

You never specified "free".

Seriously, though, Hawken's correct about Revised EoM doing pretty much exactly what you want.
True Sorcery uses skill checks and non-lethal damage to "balance" their magic system. You have to be extremely careful house ruling TS, since changing a factor or two can radically alter the power of casters.
The Spell Points variant from Unearthed Arcana is basically applying the 3.5 Expanded Psionics model to the Player's Handbook spells, without the massive rewrite of spell descriptions that that task would require.
Speaking of, the 3.5 Psionics Rules may be exactly what you want. Some new flavor would be required but the system works pretty well.


Good luck.

 

[garrowolf]

D20 Nexus Magic System

I created a non vancian magic system that is very versatile. It uses a series of skills for each kind of magic. Each power is rolled as any other skill. It allows you to do a certain set of things with that power. Then there is a list of feats for each power that expand that power and are sort of like spells.

So instead of having a bunch of unrelated spells you have a pyromancer, or an enchanter, or a shadow mage. You can also learn sorcery which allows you to learn some feats of other powers but you will not be as good with them as someone with that power. Having a power also makes you resistant to that kind of damage. If you are a pyromancer then what is the point of someone throwing fire at you?
Psionics is merged into the system just as another of the powers in the list.

Oh and it's Free!
Check it out
Nexus D20 Wiki

 

[shadow]

I would also like to recommend Green Ronin's True Sorcery. Although it takes a lot more paperwork, the flexibility it offers is a nice change from the Vancian magic system.