What's your favorite spell system?

[Danyael]

I have been creating a magic system based on skills, and then found in this forum that people actually favor D&D's system (what they don't like is the way the "spell slots" vanish when casting spells, but most like that spells are pre-generated).

So, the fundamental question is, what is your personal favorite? Don't go and compare two systems, just tell me which one you favor and how is it.

My system was starting to look like ARS MAGICA in that you use a technique on a subject (which was very different that in the mentioned system) and nothing else. (No formulaic or ritual spells as a matter of fact). Thoughts?

 

[Psion]

3.5 Psionics. Power points and augmentation are fun features, but it retains the power scheme so remains balanced with the core.

I also prefer the slot system over most pretenders. It's pretty easy to use, and provides you with a lot of options and powers while limiting that power enough that the wizard does not become the sole preferable character type of the game.

Among tries at "flexible spell system", Elements of Magic: Revised rates highly, because it also tries to balance against existing level assumptions. I like EoM:Mythic Earth less because it's a bit more vague, though it does have some good magic flavor. I also don't particularly care for the skill-based aspect of EoM:ME.

 

[DonTadow]

I have been creating a magic system based on skills, and then found in this forum that people actually favor D&D's system (what they don't like is the way the "spell slots" vanish when casting spells, but most like that spells are pre-generated).

So, the fundamental question is, what is your personal favorite? Don't go and compare two systems, just tell me which one you favor and how is it.

My system was starting to look like ARS MAGICA in that you use a technique on a subject (which was very different that in the mentioned system) and nothing else. (No formulaic or ritual spells as a matter of fact). Thoughts?

I am a big fan of Elements of Magic: Mythic Earth, Elements of Magic Revised and the Spellweaver system. All of the mcan be found at rpgnow. Mythic earth and the spellweaver system are skill based magic systems. I combined them to allow players to both make their own spells and use the ones from the book.

 

[Giltonio_Santos]

3.5 Psionics. Power points and augmentation are fun features, but it retains the power scheme so remains balanced with the core.

I second that. Psionics are already balanced within the system, and have a degree of freedom for the caster that the magic system in the core rules fail to achieve. Besides, the Wilder just seems to be a much better sorcerer than the sorcerer.

 

[Huw]

My system was starting to look like ARS MAGICA in that you use a technique on a subject (which was very different that in the mentioned system) and nothing else. (No formulaic or ritual spells as a matter of fact). Thoughts?

Ars Magica ties with Earthdawn for being my favourite magic system. Runequest has my favourite low-level magic system.

 

[sjmiller]

For me, I am rather fond of the system used in SPI's DragonQuest (later owned by TSR). Experience is spent learning individual spells, which have a percentage chance of being cast correctly. Casting spells causes Fatigue loss. Try and cast too many spells, or too powerful spells, and you can rish the spell backfiring or you could just pass out.

Oh, and the spells are divided into schools, and you only learn the spells in your school.

It's really quite simple, elegant, and models itself well to classic fantasy fiction.

 

[Umbran]

So, the fundamental question is, what is your personal favorite? Don't go and compare two systems, just tell me which one you favor and how is it.

Well, technically we might have to note the difference between a "spell system" and a "magic system", which are perhaps not the same thing. I'll stick to the more general idea...

My absolute favorite magic system is that seen in Mage: The Ascension, from White Wolf. I have been told it is very similar to Ars Magica, but not having played that game or read the rules, I cannot speak to the point.

 

[diaglo]

D&D. i :heart: the Vancian system

 

[Jon Potter]

So, the fundamental question is, what is your personal favorite? Don't go and compare two systems, just tell me which one you favor and how is it.

I quite enjoy the magic system in Grim Tales. It uses all the same D&D spells (or really any spells you want) but doesn't use slots at all. Once you know a spell you can cast it as often as you want. Of course, you probably don't want to cast it all that often since there's a risk of taking ability score damage via "Spell Burn".

It's an elegant system for magic that always makes me think of Conan or Cthulhu. And when is that not a good thing?

 

[Voadam]

Always useable. No resource allocation distractions, just cool powers you can use. So Warlock/Dragon Adept style or similar to the soulknife class abilities from the XPH/Psionics portion of the 3.5 srd. The psionic focus is a very neat mechanic with easy to track resource management basically useable on a per encounter basis.