What magic system that uses some form of power points (e.g. casting spell x costs 3 points) is your favorite?

[Spellslinging Sellsword]

What magic system that uses some form of power points (e.g. casting spell x costs 3 points) is your favorite?

Edited to make it more clear what I'm talking about.

 

[John Dallman]

Ritual Path Magic, from the GURPS Thaumatology supplement of the same title. It takes some practice to use it for improvised castings without hogging the spotlight, but it's effective and flavour-filled.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

It’s not a good answer, but…

HERO, because I can mix & match magic systems as much as I want to. That allows for a lot of flexibility in character design & developed over time.

 

[Theory of Games]

Barbarians of Lemuria lets players create their own spells, which is great IMO.

 

[grimmgoose]

Generally speaking, I like points over slots. I think Savage Worlds does a good job with it.

There's flexibility in what you cast, how you cast it. A fireball isn't always a 20-ft radius sphere that does 8d6 damage. Not only do trappings differentiate everybody's spells (allowing for near-limitless customization), but a desperate spellcaster can pour several points into increasing the radius, damage, putting Armor Piercing on it (and, if I've chosen it as a signature spell, I get even more doodads to throw on it).

(It's also roll-to-cast, which I prefer).

 

[sevenbastard]

I home brewed a spell point system for divine caster. Over simplefied Each one has thier own list of spells and they cost a diffrent dice based on of it is easier or harder for your god to grant. Spell point varry with each casting.

I used it in my OSR style homebrew game 10 years ago. And posted some of them on Drivethrurpg for free. Then I got swept up in 5e and haven't used my homebrew system since.

DriveThruRPG

www.drivethrurpg.com

 

[Eyes of Nine]

Freebooters on the Frontier v2 (beta) Wizard spellcasting move.

Power represents your ability to manipulate arcane energy. Your power is equal to your current level +INT (minimum 1). Each time you Cast a Spell, you start with full power and must decide how to distribute that power across that spell’s four variables: effect, range, area of effect, duration

The effect column includes both a descriptive tag and suggested numerical modifier or number of dice (i.e., a moderate effect costs 2 power and might be used to create a +2 to a move roll, +2 armor, or 2d6 worth of damage). But spell effects are not limited to numbers! Use your imagination and work with the Judge to determine a spell’s effect level.

 

[dbm]

This list already has two of my favourites - GURPS Ritual Path Magic and Savage Worlds.

To give a shout out to something at the opposite end of the spectrum - Rolemaster’s magic still holds a place in my heart. Over 200 different spell lists, with spell levels up to 75 (IIRC) when you get all the expansions in play. Three different types of magic and more classes than you can shake a stick at.

It’s one of my favourite class / level systems and doesn’t deserve the bad rep it has for the tables, especially now that everyone could easily print out the attack table and crit table for their main attack.

 

[Joanna Geist]

You can use a power as often as you like (once per round or multiple times with penalties), or you can limit it with Charges / Recharge to reduce its cost.

 

[Ath'kethin]

My vote goes to the magic system from DCC RPG. It's very simple but has tons of potential results for each spell, and keeps things unpredictable. It's also an excellent mechanical representation of how using magic can be extremely dangerous.