What would the ideal d20 magic system be like?

[JVisgaitis]

I know there is another thread on what people's favorite magic systems are. I don't really want to thread jack, so I started my own. I'm starting on a new product and I want to know what your ideal magic system would entail. I would like both crunch and fluff responses. Also, should this system be in addition to the coreset, or be a replacement for it (or both)?

 

[diaglo]

the magic dies with the caster. or stops too when the caster is knocked unconscious. so all the concentrate spells... but the caster doesn't need to concentrate.

 

[arscott]

no vance. either spellpoints or skill checks. Categorized in such a way that I can easily create custom spell lists. maybe something like the 2nd ed Clerical spheres.
Something where a high-level caster isn't limited to 4 or 6 cantrips-level effects.

 

[Dakkareth]

An expanded version of the Black Company CS magic system - you can create almost any effect, if you have the right feats and a high enough skill modifier. So incredible flexible . I'm saying expanded version, because the system as is stays quite close to the Black Company books, which is of course the intention, so alternative uses of some talents have to be resolved with ad hoc modifiers. It does come very close to what I'd call the perfect system for me, though .

 

[MetalBard]

The Arcana Unearthed/Evolved system is pretty close to what I'd call "ideal" spellcasting for d20/D&D. For all RPG systems, I think Mage: The Ascension, 2nd Edition had the best magic system - very freeform, but once you got used to it, it offered both flexibility and ease of resolution.

 

[A'koss]

Spellpoint or skill check magic. No Save or Die/Nerf magic. I would rather see wizards allowed to cast more magic that was weaker overall than the power curve that currently exists. Iron Lore has piqued my interest with their difficult to control skill based magic. I also like their idea that story-breaking magic is taken out of the game - flight, teleport, powerful divinations...

 

[Pyrex]

I second the motion for something like M:tA. Paradox doesn't fit with the standard fantasy motif, so it'd have to be replace with something else. Possibly a Shadowrun-like drain system where casting more powerful spells causes non-lethal damage.

 

[Halcyon]

I agree. Magic as it stands (both spells and items) tends to dominate any standard D&D game beyond low levels.

 

[JVisgaitis]

Do you find that freeform magic systems are more difficult for a DM to handle? Also, would you rather this be the sole solution for magic or would you rather see magic broken up into arcane, divine, and psionic?

 

[swrushing]

A magic system is heart and soul to a fantasy world/campaign. Just like there are many ideas for great worlds, and no one of them "ideal", there are as many or more magic systems designed to fit them, not an ideal one for them all.

So my notion of "an ideal magic system" would have to be "for this particular setting" and would be the one that fully integrates with the setting and creates the feel and flavor of the history established for that specific world.

unless, of course, your notion is that all games should be the same, the one way, the "right way", in which case, you might well find one "ideal" magic system.