UA Spontaneous Divine Casting: How does it stack up?

[Pants]

I've been thinking of using the spontaneous divine casting in my game instead of the normal druid and cleric rules, but I want to know how they stack up. I know that some are already using them, so how well do the cleric and druid do with a restricted list and spontaneous casting?

 

[Silveras]

I have not been using the UA variants directly, but I have been using Green Ronin's Shaman class from the Shaman's Handbook, a spontaneous divine caster.

What you wind up with is VERY focused characters. They can call upon a few abilities, but can use them often. Choosing between a protective spell or an offensive spell can be tough sometimes, but I think in combination with other variants (like the Reserve Points, so that healing is less of an issue) it can work well.

I, too, have toyed with the idea of making all Divine casters in my world spontaneous (and making all Arcane casters use preparation, to separate the two types of magic thematically). The big stumbling block I have right now is this: Corrupted and Sanctified spells (from the Book of Vile Darkness and the Book of Exalted Deeds) are off-limits to spontaneous casters. I *think* this is because they are a little "too good" to be used without forethought, and/or would be a problem with the limited spell selection spontaneous casters have. Until I sort that part out, I am not implementing the change.

 

[drdevoid]

Having tested it only on Clerics, I'd say it's somewhat underpowered. Spontaneous variant druids actually get more spells than their core counterparts, so the tradeoff might be worth it for them.

If a PC cleric doesn't have Healing as one his domains, it's virtually pointless, IMHO. One's spell selection is severly limited by needing to learn cure spells and it takes quite a while to have a decent number of known spells. Plus the spontaneous cleric has the same number of spells per day, the only difference being that he has no domain slot which is "locked".

I'm not sure of a fix for it, I do like the idea and it's not too far off.

You could rule it that the Cleric only had to take 1 of the domain spells (his theological bent, if you will) when he gains a new spell level and could choose a different spell with the 2nd known spell.

Or that the Domain spell lists are simply spells he could learn, not spells he has to learn (particularly spells he has to learn before any others and cannot later swap out.) I think that would go too far in the other direction, though.

 

[hong]

I'd think that spontaneous casting basically puts clerics/druids in the same boat as sorcs: you pick a schtick, and stick to it. If your schtick is one that sees a lot of use, you can be enormously powerful. If it doesn't see use, you won't be.

The healing spells thing can be good or bad. On the bad side, if you actually want to play a medic, that cuts down on your ability to do other stuff. On the good side, if you _don't_ want to play a medic, you can't be forced into that role (inadvertently or otherwise).

 

[Silveras]

I'd think that spontaneous casting basically puts clerics/druids in the same boat as sorcs: you pick a schtick, and stick to it. If your schtick is one that sees a lot of use, you can be enormously powerful. If it doesn't see use, you won't be.

The healing spells thing can be good or bad. On the bad side, if you actually want to play a medic, that cuts down on your ability to do other stuff. On the good side, if you _don't_ want to play a medic, you can't be forced into that role (inadvertently or otherwise).

Correct. That's why I mentioned using it WITH variants that make healing magic less necessary.

 

[ElectricDragon]

How about a combination. GIVE the cleric their Domain spell(s) at each spell level and don't count domain spells against spells known. GIVE the clerics an extra spell each spell level that must be a domain spell and MAKE the cleric pray for this spell in preparation each day. All other spells follow the spontaneous caster rules. Domain spells are direct from their deity and must be approved/petitioned for each day. Spontaneous spells are powered by their deity but chosen by the cleric and are not as direct a link.

This is how I play it. Of course, this is with my own divine caster class (not cleric, which still exist IMC); but it should work in that context also.

This is my 2 coppers.

Ciao
Dave

 

[Pants]

Looking over the UA divine spontaneous casting rule, it seems that Clerics automatically learn their domain spells when they gain a new spell level. Druids automatically know 'summon nature's ally' in addition to the other spells they pick.

I'm leaning more and more towards using this variant, it helps make Domain selection important (which I always though kinda sucked sometimes before) and helps to distinguish clerics of different deities.

 

[drdevoid]

While it does help make Domain selection more important, one really irritating point is the overlapping spell lists. Worse, there are levels where your two domain spells might not be useful at all.

I'd think the variant to use for emphasizing domains is the Spontaneous Domain Casting variant in lieu of Spontaneous Healing standard.