Standard Magic System or Magic Points

What Magic System do you use for your D&D Game?

  • Standard System

    Votes: 48 76.2%
  • Magic Point System

    Votes: 6 9.5%
  • Other System

    Votes: 9 14.3%

I will be using this system I think when I run part two of my campaign:

Wizards no longer need to memorize individual spells, they instead cast like Sorcerers do now in the standards system. Meta magic works the same it just raises the level the spell slot needs to be pulled from. Clerics follow the same systems as wizards but they need to keep domains slot separate (no regular spells in the domain slot). Where I am concerned in the spontaneous cast. I have not come up with a good idea for this yet.

Sorcerers use the point buy system like Psions, I have not done the math yet (I have lots of time before the game) but the base idea is that they add up the slots. For example a 3rd level slot is worth 3 spell points. And then spells cost as many spell points as it's spell level. I may 1 to this if this turns out to be too powerful.

This system may not be too balanced, but that isn’t the biggest concern in my group, as we have no power gamers, we actually have anti power gamers! And I think the system helps minimize the book keeping for Clerics and Wizards.
 

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A derivitave of Magic Points

I do a magic 'point' system like this:

1) The number of spells you can cast per day is the same as the total number of spells you can cast.

2) You can use any 'higher' spell slot as a lower spell of a type that you have currently memorised.

3) You can use LVLx2 worth of lower 'spelllevels' to cast any higher spell and there is a temporary condrain.

---

8 1st level + 5 2nd level spells -> 1 9th level.

A 9th can be used as a fireball if fireball is memorised, but not 3 fireballs. This means that if he uses his last memorised fireball, s/he cant use that 9th level spell as a fireball because fireball has been used.

---

Justification:

Its not too powerfull, since you're not converting points at a rate of 3fireballs per 1 9th level spell.

Its flexible since you have that option in a tight spot.

I still require mage's to memorise their spells.

In addition, I give a mage an option to specialize in any non-plus-buff non-damage dealing spell every 4 levels @ 4 or more levels lower allowing them to cast it without memorising (they must spend a spell to cast it).

(@ 5th level they can specialize in 1st level cantrip, @ 10th or 12th level they can specialize in fly, etc)

-Tim

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Edit : The player had to 'have' the spell 4 levels ago and be able to cast it 4 levels ago.
So if the player is 10th (hasnt chosen what to specialize), then gets Fly, even though its a 3rd level spell, and he wouldve been able to cast it at 6th, he hasnt had the spell for 4 levels, so cant specialize in it.

-Tim
 
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I've actually been wanting to use a point-based magic system; I like the feel better and it makes a lot more sense in my world, I think. But, I agree that it's way out of balance. I like some of Trix's ideas. Anybody else have any good point-based magic systems you'd like to share?
 

Avatar_V said:
I've actually been wanting to use a point-based magic system; I like the feel better and it makes a lot more sense in my world, I think. But, I agree that it's way out of balance. I like some of Trix's ideas. Anybody else have any good point-based magic systems you'd like to share?

Get the Psionic Handbook and also If Thoughts Could Kill. With those two books together you've got almost everything you need to run wizards using the point system for psionics, including a retooling of the standard PHB spells to work better in a point system.

I like Sov Stone magic myself though. It's basically a skill based system.
 

You left out the most common result, "All Three"

Wizards use "Fire and Forget", psions use magic points, and Sorcerors use something else.
 

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