Vancian Magic - Yes or No?

[Nightfall]

Nothing wrong with the current system so long as you leave room for options like AU's spell system, Midnight's and I guess Dawnforge as well.

 

[Nifft]

I really like the "Variant Vancian" found in MC's AU.

I like the "mana-point" system found in Midnight.

I also like Psionics, though it could use some work.

I don't mind the standard Vancian model -- it's sure easy to use in combat, too.

-- N, liker of options

 

[Nightfall]

I really like the "Variant Vancian" found in MC's AU.

I like the "mana-point" system found in Midnight.

I also like Psionics, though it could use some work.

I don't mind the standard Vancian model -- it's sure easy to use in combat, too.

-- N, liker of options

Well put Nifft! Options are FAR better than restrictions.

 

[francisca]

I voted yes, and momentarily broke the tie.

It doesn't bother me that much anymore. Used to really annoy the heck out of me, but after trying a couple of other systems, I realized that I was just trading one set of flaws for another, and in the end it was a push. So, having no other opinion on the matter, to me, Vancian magic should stay in the core system, right where it always has.

With d20 and OGL, there really isn't much room to gripe anymore, you can go pick from at least half a dozen well thought out systems and replace it wholesale. But like I said in the 4E thread, I think a spell-point based system will be presented as an alternate, if not equal, system for magic.

 

[Nightfall]

I voted yes, and momentarily broke the tie.

Funny it looks like its still tied to me...40 to 40.

 

[Turjan]

Hmm, I suppose my nick gives away what I voted for .

I think the system is flexible enough. AU presents a very interesting option on the system.

 

[Nightfall]

Hmm, I suppose my nick gives away what I voted for .

I think the system is flexible enough. AU presents a very interesting option on the system.

And you help swing the votes back to the side of LIGHT! Thanks Tur.

 

[ciaran00]

Vancian magic is so stupid, *I* would cheat in a game that forced me to pick my spells in advance. My players and I use spell points. Leaves us more time to play the game (imagine the freedom involved in adding a spellcaster or two to a random encounter). The last time I was in a game with vancian magic it used to take 15-minute chunks between events as players rearranged their massive selections of spells.

It's an unnecessary holdover from 2nd edition that they were too lazy to fix.

ciaran

 

[Oni]

I'd like to see it go. Too much implied setting in it, I would like something more generic.

 

[Turjan]

It's an unnecessary holdover from 2nd edition that they were too lazy to fix.

Well, whether you like the system or not, this statement is definitely not true. As others already noted, the necessity to prepare spells in advance is part of the game balance. Wizards have the possibility to choose from lots of cool spells. If they were able to use them whenever they wanted, they'd be vastly overpowered . Look at the sorcerer if you want to know what happens when the system is opened up. I don't see many players choosing that class. An open system, if balanced, tends to be much more boring most of the time