Psionics - Arcana Evolved - Magic

[glass]

Were I to undertake such an endeavour, my methodology would be thus: First, break everything down into specialty/sphere. (I, like Morrus, like the color wheel of MtG more than the Necromancer/Transmuter/etc) Then break out the specialty into core important precepts. Then go to the lowest "level" that precept can be, and make the basic spell. Make it scalable by either level, or spell points. I think I prefer the spell points option. This will obviously nix spontaneous casters, but I think they are redundant anyway, and spell slots have always bugged me, as has memorization.

Looks like I thinking was not quite as in sync as I first thought. I quite like slot based systems (they seem easier to balance), and I really like spell preparation (for wizards- I wouldn't care if it went away for divine casters).

BTW, the 2e Players Option:Spells & Magic had an interesting spell point system, where the caster could choose to spend his points on 'fixed magicks', which were standard memorised spells, or 'free magicks' which cost more points but could be used to cast any spell of that level. Nice system, if a little complex.

For Example, Necromancy/Black would have Animate Dead, at level 3. It would Animate X dead at level 3, and then with additional spell points, it would raise more dead, raise dead with turn resistance and whatever else variables that seem appropriate. Do I have time to undertake this herculean task? I dont know. Nobody is paying me to do it, so probably not. But it seems like a great idea. If I ever DM a home campaign and have spell users, I may start em out at level 1 and work it up as they level.

I was thinking more in terms of taking the existing spell list and merging closely related spells (starting with the most obvious, CxW, SM, SNA). The advantage being, IMO, it's less work to start with, and its a lot easier to incorporate spells from other sources (especially AE and CBoEM, which already have +1 and -1 scaling in the form of heightened and diminished effects).

I'm still interested in how yours turns out though, to keep us posted if you ever do have the time to so it, and I'll do the same if I ever get my version figured out.


glass.