D&D 4E The 4E Magic System

[Nathan P. Mahney]

There's no point in having a Magic Missile spell if a caster can throw Eldritch Blast at will, IYKWIM.

I would agree, except for the one unique feature of the Magic Missile - it always hits. I'm hoping they keep it separate from the Eldritch Blast or whatever the wizard's at-will power is going top be called.

 

[hong]

"I eldritch blast the darkness" doesn't have the same ring as "I magic missile the darkness".

 

[Lanefan]

"I eldritch blast the darkness" doesn't have the same ring as "I magic missile the darkness".

Actually, to me it has a better ring to it. Magic missile has over time come to imply a small but unerring ping for a few points damage. Eldritch blast, just by the name and ignoring any other knowledge, implies something that can take out a small building.

"I magic missile the darkness". Ping.
"I eldritch blast the darkness". Kaboom!

Lanefan

 

[FireLance]

Mark me down as another one who thinks level-linked spell slots will be a thing of the past. Instead, spellcasters will just have a small number of generic spell slots which can be filled with any spell they know. The main limitation, then (as in Bo9S) will be on the number of spells of each level that the spellcaster knows.

With respect to how spells improve with caster level, I can see two possibilities. First (as in Bo9S), there could be various versions of the same spell, and a spellcaster will have the option to replace his spells known as he gains levels. So, at 5th level, a spellcaster might be able to learn a lesser fireball spell that deals 5d6 damage, and upgrade it at 10th level for a fireball spell that deals 10d6 damage. The other possibility is to simply have the spell scale indefinitely, so that a fireball from a 25th level spellcaster deals 25d6 damage. My preference is for the second option, as it would cut down on spells that are simply numerically improved versions of each other.

 

[BartD]

I'm not sure if this is any different form what the previous posters have said, but

I strongly believe wizards will still be able to learn *lots* of per-day spells.
And other classes may be able to learn a similar number of per-day powers.

I also believe that with at-will spells/powers and per-encounter spells/powers, the wizard will not be able to prepare/silo very many per-day spells. The number really depends on the power level, but I think it will be a lot less than one per level (even though that would be a simple figure), given that 80% power will not be per-day spells.

So there are two 'pools' of powers (known and available) of three types (at-will, per-encounter, per-day). It would seem neat if all the at-will powers were always available (shouldn't have to choose between detect magic and arcane blast), the per-encounter powers are chosen from a level-limited subset (as maneuvers in Bo9S) while the few per-day powers can be prepared from a potentially infinite list.

This should be able to work for all classes: While the wizard studies the Fireball spell in his notes, the fighter practices the mighty Leaping Downstrike power, which he plans to employ against the hobgoblin chief they hope to confront that day.

 

[SSquirrel]

"I eldritch blast the darkness" doesn't have the same ring as "I magic missile the darkness".

Very true. Except the line is "I attack the darkness" heh.

 

[HeavenShallBurn]

The other possibility is to simply have the spell scale indefinitely, so that a fireball from a 25th level spellcaster deals 25d6 damage. My preference is for the second option, as it would cut down on spells that are simply numerically improved versions of each other.

That's essentially what I did in an experiment and I liked it a lot more than the other option. Honestly I think many of the existing spells are redundant and could use pruning back to smaller numbers of more flexible ones. (Not all mind you, but some just scream for it). Like the Summon spells for example.

 

[Jhaelen]

I would agree, except for the one unique feature of the Magic Missile - it always hits.

To be honest, I'd like to see all spells that are currently 'always hit' gone.