Rituals - how i would like to see them revised

[ren1999]

I'm afraid I disagree with the DMG on all counts mentioned here. One of the reasons I prefer to run a sandbox-style game is so that I can reward clever thinking by the players.

That's why I don't like the idea that rituals and spells are different. A clever player can use rituals in an encounter, so why won't the Dungeon Master accommodate that?

 

[the Jester]

Each ritual gets a power source associated with it. You can only cast it, if it matches your power source (either through your class, race, or through a multiclass feat, or you need to have at least one power from the same power source that is of at least the level of the ritual.)

This would completely destroy what makes rituals cool in the first place.

Having to take a feat (and have training in the right skill) is a perfectly fine cost imho. Giving everyone free ritual casting, even partially, is both a significant power-up for the classes that don't have it and a nerf for those that already do. It's also completely unthematic for many pcs.

No sir, I don't like it.

That said, in a game with a very spirit-connected, mystical kind of setting, it could work.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

Of course, those that already have it should be compensated appropriately. Martial should get no access to rituals, but martial practises instead...

I wouldn´t mind those having the feat gaining access to all rituals.

The division in different subclasses of rituals is already there:

- bard rituals
- rituals
- martial practises

 

[the Jester]

Like I said, in a settting with the right feel it could work- it sort of reminds me of a game that I considered (but never got to) running in 3e where everyone would be a student at a college of magic, so everyone would play a gestalt wizard.

 

[Saeviomagy]

Of course, those that already have it should be compensated appropriately. Martial should get no access to rituals, but martial practises instead...

The problem with this is that most martial practises are stinking piles of garbage that only serve to limit the options of those who don't have them. Most of the things that martial practises allow you to do are things that I would let someone with the skill in question do anyway. The small number that don't fall into that category end up being "why would you ever NOT perform that practise".

All in all they just serve to make non-combat interactions more difficult and complex without actually adding anything to the game, while rituals usually allow you to do something that would never be considered possible without them.

I wouldn´t mind those having the feat gaining access to all rituals.

The division in different subclasses of rituals is already there:

- bard rituals
- rituals
- martial practises

I for one HATE the split that was introduced when "bard only" rituals came into being. It makes the mistake, once again, that your class defines everything about how your character functions, and at the same time adds another point of combat/noncombat power differentiation.