Spontaneous Druid Caster?

[Cam Banks]

The Miniatures Handbook has a divine magic class that casts spells spontaniously--The Favored Soul. May be worth checking out.

One of the players in my Dragonlance campaign is playing a Favored Soul of Habbakuk, the NG ranger god. I've told him to choose his spells known from the druid list instead of the cleric list, and it looks as if it will work out very well indeed.

Cheers,
Cam

 

[Remathilis]

Thanks again for all the replies.

I think I might check out either the Shaman or the Witch books, both seem to be in the vein I'm looking in.

a bit more background, for those who care.

The world once was full of magic, but magic died out many years ago. Technology has taken its place (steampunk/Final Fantasy style). However, magic has begun to return the world, wielded by those pure of heart and spirit. It cannot be "taught" by neither spellbook nor scripture, it is a part of those who may use it.

Fighters, monks, barbarians, and rogue see no changes. Bards remain unchanged also.

Paladins and rangers have a spells known list (extrapolated from the assassin's spells known list, then stretched over 16 levels). No other changes.

Sorcerers use intelligence for spells, not charisma. They have access to all knowledge skills.

Mystics (Dragonlance) are used as the divine caster unchanged.

Shaman, witch, or a hybrid-druid class fills the niche of nature caster.

Cleric, Druid, Wizard classes (as written) are not available.

I'm considering opening some Oriental Adventure's classes in as well, specifically the samurai and shukenja (but not the shaman or wu-jen, for reasons outlined above.) Sohei might, if I limit its spells ala pal/rang.

The reason is to inspire a different feel for magic and make it more personal/innate, as well as slightly "lower" magic (thanks to limited spells known.)

 

[Pramas]

Thanks again for all the replies.

I think I might check out either the Shaman or the Witch books, both seem to be in the vein I'm looking in.

If you like those books, you might also want to check out Bow & Blade: A Guidebook to Wood Elves. It includes new spells for both the shaman and witch.

 

[Nifft]

General Advice: figure out which spells are actually class features just hiding in spell form (like Animal Friendship was in 3.0e), and make them into non-spell class features.

Possible examples:

- Awaken
- Hallow/Unhallow
- The crop-improving version of Plant Growth
- Atonement
- Commune with Nature
- Reincarnate
- (Greater) Scrying

These are spells that you won't cast very often, but are an important part of the class. See if you can find others, as these came from just a quick glance at the PHB.

Anyway, make them class features, and put some sort of non-spell cost to them. Awaken's XP component is just fine as-is, so make it a class feature usable once per week starting at 9th level. XP costs could handle most of them, but Reincarnate should have some sort of expensive GP component, and Commune with Nautre should be totally free, but take some time.

-- N

 

[Remathilis]

General Advice: figure out which spells are actually class features just hiding in spell form (like Animal Friendship was in 3.0e), and make them into non-spell class features.

Possible examples:

- Awaken
- Hallow/Unhallow
- The crop-improving version of Plant Growth
- Atonement
- Commune with Nature
- Reincarnate
- (Greater) Scrying

These are spells that you won't cast very often, but are an important part of the class. See if you can find others, as these came from just a quick glance at the PHB.

Anyway, make them class features, and put some sort of non-spell cost to them. Awaken's XP component is just fine as-is, so make it a class feature usable once per week starting at 9th level. XP costs could handle most of them, but Reincarnate should have some sort of expensive GP component, and Commune with Nautre should be totally free, but take some time.

-- N

You bring up an excellent point. I think I'll slip in Awaken, and maybe a commune with nature ritual as class abilities.

I've been tinkering with the idea of drawing off nature/ley lines to improve spellcasting. Basically, once per day, they could raise the DC of a single spell. Anyone have a good idea of a cap for this ability and a rate of advancement?

 

[Remathilis]

If you like those books, you might also want to check out Bow & Blade: A Guidebook to Wood Elves. It includes new spells for both the shaman and witch.

Thanks Chris.

Any hope of a "sample" rules selection to make a new life-long customer?

Thought I'd try at least...

 

[Jeph]

I've been tinkering with the idea of drawing off nature/ley lines to improve spellcasting. Basically, once per day, they could raise the DC of a single spell. Anyone have a good idea of a cap for this ability and a rate of advancement?

Usable 3 + Wis modifier times per day. In order to use it, make a Caster Level check, applying your Wisdom modifier to the roll. The DC of the check is based off of the proximity to a ley line, or the strength of that line. (I'm thinking 25 far off, 20 nearby, 15 at one, 10 at a major junction). If you succeed at the check, the spell gains a +1 bonus to the DC, +1 per 5 full points by which your check exceeds the DC.

Alternatively, add +2 to the DC of a single spell once per day per three levels.

 

[I'm A Banana]

Indeed, the easiest way is to keep druids with the same spells per day, but give them spells known. If you keep the spells/day, then they could even have that '1' slot at a higher level than they can cast for metamagic.

 

[Remathilis]

Usable 3 + Wis modifier times per day. In order to use it, make a Caster Level check, applying your Wisdom modifier to the roll. The DC of the check is based off of the proximity to a ley line, or the strength of that line. (I'm thinking 25 far off, 20 nearby, 15 at one, 10 at a major junction). If you succeed at the check, the spell gains a +1 bonus to the DC, +1 per 5 full points by which your check exceeds the DC.

Alternatively, add +2 to the DC of a single spell once per day per three levels.

Awesome!

I think I'll have a workable version up and running in a day. I just need some time to type it all up...