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Message: <blockquote data-quote="JohnSnow" data-source="post: 3481525" data-attributes="member: 32164">The thing is, that doesn't have to be. You can have a caster who wants lots of Raw Power and can cast fireball repeatedly, fight after fight (an evoker specialist, fire mage, or whatever...)Or you can have a caster for whom fireball is a tricky spell. Sure, maybe he can whip out a little 3d6 fireburst every fight, but throwing that big expansive, room-filling blast whipes him out. For him, fireball is complex.Take a look at the Warlock's Eldritch Blast. It's a ranged touch attack - one target.His invocations let him shape it into a burst. What if he only got so many of those a day? Now he's choosing between versatility and power. The player who likes the wizard type can play the character for whom those blast spells are a rare occurrence. Or who can only shapeshift once a day. But a character who wants to be able to do one or the other all the time can pull it off.I'm not sure if I'm making any sense...Part of the attraction (to me) of some spells taking more actions to cast is that those spells would only be worth throwing in longer, tougher fights. So if amping up to throw your Fireball takes you four rounds, you're not gonna bother with it in a fight that's likely to be over in three. You will, however, use it when you need to get rid of the BBEG.I actually think it's important to try to write the system to address your friend's primary concern. To whit:You might give the option of having certain spells prepped and ready, with others taking you more time. So if you thought to prep a knock spell, it's useful if you encounter a door you need to pass in a hurry. Or polymorph other...It's almost a floating pool of power. That's a neat theory. That is a potentially nice part of the Book of Nine Swords system. That you can have some, but not all, of your powers prepped.We'd have to break it down magical effect by magical effect. I can see the "fun" in having the right utility spell ready. Or in deciding that you don't have the right "stuff" for an invisibility spell handy, but you can achieve a similar effect by becoming a mouse.Consumable components, maybe? A limit to the number of types of a different spell your body can handle in a day without ill effect.I'd hate to see a system where the caster had the same power to use all the time. Booorrr-ing. Like someone said, if your only tool is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a nail.Charmed comes to mind. The sisters have their powers which they can use all the time, but if they need utility spells, they've got the Book of Shadows. Perhaps a bad example, but the idea's sound.</blockquote>

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