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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Psion" data-source="post: 457620" data-attributes="member: 172">I have tried a variety of systems over the years, both as variants and houserules of D&D, and other published and unpublished systems.First off, I find spell point system require on-the-fly accounting, often a lot. Sure, slots may seem inprecise, but in the end they convey similar results to spell point systems in actual play with a lot less accounting.Second, many point based and spontaneous systems rely on deliberately or otherwise making mages more powerful than other characters, or make mages unapealing by making the scope of their powers very limited. Vancian is one of the few solutions that, IMO, produces mages that have impressive power and are balanced along other character types.Third, many players ARE NOT cut out for spontaneous spell making. Picking spells from a list puts little pressure on the players to come up with their own compelling effects... a laundry list of compelling effects can be had with pre-designated spells, and the spell list is relatively easy to extend and regulate, while spontaneous effects can be difficult to ajudicate on the fly.Fourth, Vancian magic has great flavor, IMO (read Vance sometime). I find the "magic battery" model very... unmagical and modern in tone.</blockquote>