and I think adopting the Arcana Evolved spellcasting system adds some flexibility to spellcasting without bogging it down with a point based system.
The World of WarCraft Roleplaying Game (2nd ed.)
does not use the magic system from Monte Cook's Arcana Evolved, nor does it's system really resemble AE's at all.
Differences:
WoW: Distinguishes between Arcane and Divine magic by having seperate spell lists, the two spellcasting classes both cast up to 9th level spells from their respective lists.
AE: Has one spell list divided between simple, complex, and exotic spells. All casters can cast 0th-7th level simple spells, but only the Greenbond and Magister are "full casters" who gain 8th, 9th, and even 10th level spells.
WoW: Spells take 1 minute per spell-level, per spell to prepare.
AE: It takes a caster 1 hour to prep all his spells for the day.
WoW: It takes 8 hours of rest to change spells prepared, which likewise allows you to regain your spellslots per day.
AE: It takes one hour of rest to re-prepare spells, but regaining spent spellslots still takes 8 hours.
WoW: Has specific path lists for Mage, Warlock, Necromancer, Druid, Priest, and Shaman.
AE: All casters have access to simple spells. Each class gains access to additional spells based on complexity or descriptor, but the base list remains the same, and any caster with the right feats can cast any spell of the levels she has access to.
WoW: Spellcraft ranks can grant you additional spells per day.
AE: Spellcraft has no effect on your ability to cast or learn spells.
WoW: Your spells prepared and spells per day table are the same.
AE: Has seperate tables for spells prepared and spell slots per day, like the D&D Sorceror's Known and Slots table.
WoW: Casters who gain a level do not have any understanding of the new spells available to them until they take the time to seek out a trainer or find access to a spellbook from which to copy/learn new spells from. It costs gold to do so, and in the case of the arcanist, they must scribe new spells into their spellbook.
AE: When your spellcaster gains a level, he also gains an intuitive understanding of the magic available to him, and adds all spells of the appropriate complexity and/or descriptors to his repertoire, with no cost of time or money.
WoW: Spells generally work exactly like the SRD versions.
AE: Every spell has a heightened and diminished version, a slightly more powerful version that uses a spellslot one level higher, and a slightly less powerful version when cast as one level lower. AE 's core book does not contain equivalent spells for Magic Missile, Wish, Cure X Wounds, etc., and all spell conversions are significantly altered. (Magic Missile is a touch attack, Wish has a heightened 10th level version that reads the caster's intent, Spells that cure damage either drain the caster by inflicting 1/2 the damage healed to subdual, or else leave scars, and all classes can cast healing spells)
I'm not sure where you got your information, but it's in error. Don't worry, happens to everybody. I myself had heard the hype about the WoWd20 books and hoped to see something like AE's excellent magic system implemented, and was brutally disappointed when I bought the new core book. If my above post seems antagonistic, it's because I'm annoyed that I had the same misconception, and was let down, not because you honestly just didn't know they weren't the same.
Robert "Really Dislikes the WoWd20 Casting System" Ranting
