Vancian Magic?

[fba827]

"I cast altar boys."

Heh. your quote made me think of ...

Warning: the item in the spoiler block is slightly crude humor, probably rated pg-13 for language and topic. (nothing worse than you'd hear in a junior high school anyway)...

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http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ARAwp-lvI6c
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We now return you to the thread topic.

 

[The Sword 88]

Maybe. Can't say if there are many others that read up on the Old Testament Prophets.

Some of us are. Isn't that Elisha?

 

[darkadelphia]

(OT)Though if you have truly studied the prophets, you'll know that the king james version obfuscates the true intent of the passage--this was no band of young children, but a terrifying mob of thugs mocking the prophet for his status as a wise man of God. "Go up thou Bald Head" was mocking the ascension of Elijah and threatening to do just that--send Elisha after his mentor.(/OT)

I bet Elisha's spells weren't vancian.

 

[lutecius]

Actually, I beleive there's been hints as to how EVERYTHING is Vanican now.

Per day/ Per encounter/ At will
2/1/1

Looks very much like

1st / 2nd / 3rd
2/1/1

If i got everything right, now you have both (day/encounter AND level slots) but yes every class is Vancian now.

Or at least, they all have what I hate the most in Vancian, wtf situations like when you have enough juice to cast your most powerful earthshaking spell but cannot squeeze a simple low level one out because you've already used that particular slot.

This is counterintuitive enough when you're talking about spells, but hey, you can always try to convince yourself that magic just works like that. I find it completely absurd when it comes to physical action (don't want to have the whole simulation/narration debate all over again, but I just can't grok strikes and manoeuvres being treated like ammo)

It may be a bit more palatable if you can pick on the fly which known power you use for each slot, "3e sorcerer style", so you can use the same power twice if need be, or if there is some mechanic to convert slots into less powerful ones, without having them prepared so beforehand.

But I'm not holding my breath. The wizard at ddx specifically had to chose his daily from his spellbook in advance.
So yes, there are a few at will spells now, but this is hardly reducing Vancian casting, they really copped out on this one :\

 

[Fanaelialae]

IMO, the Vancian magic has been almost eliminated from 4e (unless you're talking about the rituals that have been introduced, which seem somewhat similar to Vancian rituals in that anyone can use them provided they have the Ritual Casting feat).

Powers are rated according to the level you can first obtain them at (1-30). Characters now get a certain number of at-will, per-encounter, and daily powers based on their level. They can change these powers when they level (and possibly with retraining- not sure on that one) but not from day to day.

The only exception to this is the wizard, who memorizes one or more daily spells from the list of in his spellbook each morning (this is, IMO, the only truly Vancian magic left in the game).