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Message: <blockquote data-quote="vturlough" data-source="post: 290396" data-attributes="member: 3268">Scale?I have always liked some sort of point or mana system compared to memorizing.  Just me.What about this?Spells learned and prime attribute, as Ace posted.  Spell costs = (Spell level + 1) ^ 2 (squared)0 = 11 = 42 = 93 = 164 = 25etc.Points per level = (level + Att mod) ^ 2The problem is that the number of points gets very big, very quick!  Also, with points, does this mean that metamagic can be done as soon as they have enough points?  Can't figure that out.  I do think that as soon as they can cast it based on points for that "level", they can learn it.  No "hindrance" based on level to learn a spell.  What this does is allow the smarter mages to figure out higher levels spells faster, which makes sense.  For example, a 5th level mage with an INT of 20 has (5 + 5)^2 = 100 points.  This means that he could attempt a 9th level spell!  Okay, how about this?  they can attempt any spells but spells that cost more than ((level + 1) / 2 + 1) ^ 2 would have a chance to backfire, causing damage to the caster.  So, our 5th level mage can only cast spells that cost ((5 + 1) / 2 + 1) ^ 2 = 16 points.  Anything higher than that, might cause a problem.  Another example is this:  A quickened spell, four levels higher, would make a magic missile go from 4 points to 36 points!  That seems to be a reasonable trade.  Except that an 8th level caster (with an 18 INT) has (8 + 4)^2 = 144 points!  Maybe this has to be raw ability, measured by pure attribute.  So, only level bonuses (and maybe inherent for the books) count in the equation?  So, no enhancement bonuses count in figuring out spells points.  Also, this does open up items, as in psionics, that store magical energy to give to a caster.  It could also set up pockets of energy that a caster could "siphon" off to power his spells.  Hmm.  Most of this was off the top of my head but perhaps it gets us going someplace?  This is also probably getting too complicated but to make a change like this would require *some* complication.  turlough</blockquote>

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