What's wrong with the UA spell points system?

[AbeTheGnome]

I'm toying with the idea of using the Psion and Wilder classes in my next campaign, but allowing them to cast arcane spells instead of manifesting psionic powers. Mainly, I really like the mechanics behind these classes. Maximum powers known, power points, and augmentation are good concepts, I believe.

However, the list of psionic powers is very limited, in contrast to the list of arcane spells that can be drawn from any number of sources. Now, I was going to use the UA spell points system for augmentation for these classes, because it's a system that applies to all spells in basically the same way, whereas the XPH system uses augmentations for each particular power.

I've heard from several people that the UA spell points system is broken, however. Aside from the cool effects that can be produced by augmenting some powers, however, I see little difference between the UA and XPH system in regards to increasing damage die, etc. Can anyone explain to me the fundamental differences between the XPH and UA systems for augmentation? Can anyone tell me why, exactly, the UA system is broken? Remember, we're not talking about wizards here, who can prepare whichever spells they want and cast until they're out of points, we're talking about a class with a limited amount of spells known.

I found this effect of augmentation in the descriptions of several damage-dealing psionic powers:

For every additional power point you spend, this power’s damage increases by one die (d6). For each extra two dice of damage, this power’s save DC increases by 1.

Perhaps this could be implemented into the UA spell points system?

 

[Thanee]

The big problem is scaling. That's why they added Augmentation to the psionics system.

With the UA system, spells still scale to full degree, as long as they do not deal dice of damage (which is only a small fraction of all spells; the problem you are facing, and why you probably do not see the difference is, that you only look at damage-dealing spells, while you need to look at all of them).

That means, you only spend the basic amount of points to power a spell, the rest (the part that falls under Augmentation in the psionics system) comes for free.

And that is a very bad thing.


Also, the UA system makes spontaneous casting completely obsolete, as prepared casters are vastly more powerful in there with their huge spell selection and added flexibility. A wizard is easily twice as powerful as a sorcerer there (as opposed to about equal, or marginally better). Though that part is not really important for you, apparantly.

Bye
Thanee

 

[AbeTheGnome]

So what if I incorporated a spell point per caster level augmentation system?

 

[AbeTheGnome]

On closer inspection, many of the powers in the XPH have factors that are determined by manifester level, regardless of power point expenditure. Specifically, range and duration are two of the most common. So, apparently, if spell scaling is a problem in the UA system, it's also a problem in the XPH system. Perhaps using an effective caster level based on point expenditure is the answer? Spell and power-specific augmentations could still be available, as approved by a DM, but I'm beginning to think that all numeric variables of a spell/power should be based on point expenditure.

 

[Sithobi1]

Range and duration are far less important than whether a Shield of Faith grants a +2 deflection bonus...or a +5.

 

[AbeTheGnome]

Range and duration are far less important than whether a Shield of Faith grants a +2 deflection bonus...or a +5.

Couldn't you spend 18 spell points and gain +5 deflection for 18 minutes?

 

[PallidPatience]

If you're level 18.

 

[AbeTheGnome]

If you're level 18.

That's when you'd be able to gain the benefit of +5 deflection from shield of faith in the standard system.

 

[Thanee]

It's not easy to balance... when you have to spend 18 points on a Shield of Faith, these points are a bit of a waste, while spending only 1 is way too few.

The easiest to get something remotely useful is probably to have caster level scale for everything but the spell's effect, and have that scale with additional SP spent (up to your caster level), as you said. Then give out a few more SP, but not too many more.

Bye
Thanee

 

[bestone]

Whats wrong with it? well they did a halfass job......what do you expect?

Its KINDA like the psionic system, only it probably took 2mins to figure out, and underwent 0 playtesting *like all things new from wizards*