Response to Psionics Nerf (Move from inappropriate placement in House Rules thread)

[irdeggman]

Okay, I think the problem here is that you have totally misunderstood how this system works.

It doesn't matter if the DM throws 1 encounter at the party a day, or 15, the casters/manifesters (prepared casters included) will always have 1/4 of their spells/power points at the beginning of an encounter.

They can never be out of spells/power points in a latter encounter.

One of the benefits of this system is that let's say the characters are exploring some mines or what have you and they decide to camp because the casters have used up all of their spells for the day, and then in the middle of the night they are ambushed. Well, all the wizard or psion or whatever could basically do is stand there with his schlong in his hand. With this system they may not be able to cast six 8th level spells in a row, but at least they can cast spells every encounter.

Well that makes things really bad IMO.

Since if there are 6 encounters in a day then the psions/spellcasters have 6/4 or 150% of their daily maximum. Do fighters likewise start every encounter with 1/4 of thier hit points? How about turn undead attempts? And so on. . .

This type of system causes great problems. I could at least understand an across the board limit of "spending" per encounter but what this does is potentially increase the resources available for a day for some classes but not for others.

 

[Baby Samurai]

Since if there are 6 encounters in a day then the psions/spellcasters have 6/4 or 150% of their daily maximum.

I would eventually like to get away from slots or points, and go for something ala ToB, or maybe the Force (Saga).

Almost every aspect of this game has evolved and moved on, except for the overpowered, antiquated, pseudo-Vancian, Gygxian magic/spell system.

It's almost a direct cut & paste from 1st/2nd edition.

 

[KarinsDad]

Well that makes things really bad IMO.

Since if there are 6 encounters in a day then the psions/spellcasters have 6/4 or 150% of their daily maximum. Do fighters likewise start every encounter with 1/4 of thier hit points? How about turn undead attempts? And so on. . .

This type of system causes great problems. I could at least understand an across the board limit of "spending" per encounter but what this does is potentially increase the resources available for a day for some classes but not for others.

Agreed.

One problem is healing between encounters. Is everyone healed up completely including blindness and disease and level drains, etc.?

 

[Arkhandus]

Almost every aspect of this game has evolved and moved on, except for the overpowered, antiquated, pseudo-Vancian, Gygxian magic/spell system.

Evolved and moved on, or strayed and become terribly, boringly generic like most other RPG systems? :\

Honestly, it's not like there aren't enough scads of point-based or skill-based magic systems around that you can't just use one of them if you're so opposed to D&D's more unique magic system.

 

[Baby Samurai]

to D&D's more unique magic system.

What, is "unique" Latin for Gary’s crap system?

I would just like a magic system that comes close to representing any of the magic systems I've read about in the mass amounts of fantasy novels I've read.

 

[Baby Samurai]

Do fighters likewise start every encounter with 1/4 of thier hit points?

This type of system causes great problems. I could at least understand an across the board limit of "spending" per encounter but what this does is potentially increase the resources available for a day for some classes but not for others.

No, it works out ala ToB.

 

[Arkhandus]

If your fighters don't recover their hit points after each battle, then you are mucking with the balance. The only advantage warriors have is consistency; they can fight just as well, or nearly as well, all the time, every time. But their hit points do diminish as they get wounded.

But if a mage is constantly refreshing their supply of awesome (excuse me, their supply of mass destruction; that is, I mean, their supply of vast utility magic; excuse me, I mean their supply of powerful tricks and buffs and debuffs; etc.....), the warriors are gonna suck. And be really boring. Unless the only warriors are Tome of Battle martial adepts.

 

[irdeggman]

What, is "unique" Latin for Gary’s crap system?

I would just like a magic system that comes close to representing any of the magic systems I've read about in the mass amounts of fantasy novels I've read.

Like say the present system for psionics, only expanded to include magic as well?

 

[Baby Samurai]

Unless the only warriors are Tome of Battle martial adepts.

Now we're cooking with oil.

Well, as 4th edition is coming out next year, I'm sure they will clean up the cut & paste from 1st/2nd edition magic/spell system.

 

[Baby Samurai]

Like say the present system for psionics, only expanded to include magic as well?

While I do dig psionics, you still have the problem of becoming a schmuck with a quarterstaff because you used up all of your pp for the day.

Basically, I think the per day paradigm just doesn't really work out, and looks like WotC, form most of their latest material (ToB, Incarnum, binders, warlocks, truenamers, factotum etc) are leaning towards a per encounter paradigm.