Would You Give Wizards Unlimited Lower Level Spells?

[StreamOfTheSky]

I like the idea of unlimited 0-level spells, but not too much beyond that.

I like the idea of Sorcerers getting unlimited 0-level spells.

 

[Warbringer]

Running out of spells isn't a problem, its a feature

I didn't say it was a problem. I was just posting to answer the op. Your answer I take it is 'No'

I ran a campaign last year that used the x/times a day unto unlimited and worked well. Now to be fair, all spell use required a spellcasting check, and each use of magic in a given hour increased the DC by 1.

It certainly played differently, but it stayed balanced.

So yeah, I'd give characetrs unlimted spells (which I think 1st unlimted kicked in at 9th at the absolute earliest (and cost 2 feats), but to AllisterH's point, they have to be balanced.

Also, the ability to use a spell unlimited doesn't chage the flavor of the game. To be honest, they only get used against mooks.

Is it better; nope. It was just different

 

[Steel_Wind]

There's been a lot of talk about 15th level and 21st level wizards and unlimited spells.

Honestly now - in your typical game session: Would it have any discernable impact upon the game if a 7th level wizard had unlimited 1st level spells?

If you are inclined to say yes - does the answer remain the same for a 9th level Wizard having unlimited first level spells?

For my part, while I can easily envisage a scenario where that would be unbalancing , for the large majority (indeed, VAST majority) of adventures run for a party of 7th or 9th level adventurers, my guess is that it would have essentially no impact upon the adventure.

I'm not so sure that's true with second level spells. But first? Yeah. I'm inclined to think that it's not a game breaker at all.

The problems emerge more when you think what a determined NPC wizard might do with unlimited charm person and so forth.

But PCs? Nah. Not a problem.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Another potential solution (for the problem that doesn't exist) is to create a simpler path to high-level casters getting low-level spells as spell-like abilities... perhaps switching out a single spell of X level for three 0-level spells as Spell-like abilities usable at will.

 

[Gez]

I already give them a number of bonus cantrips per day equal to their caster level (so that a level 20 wizard can cast 24 cantrips in a day). Far from unlimited, but at least it makes it so that accomplished wizards can afford to toss read magic and prestidigitation around willy-nilly, making them more, well, wizardish.

 

[RFisher]

I dunno, really. I'm on the fence about this.

Couldn't hurt to try. Just make it clear up front that you reserve the right to pull any cantrip from the unlimited-use-list if it ends up being a problem.

 

[Felon]

Wizards can already do this better (especially with celerity and arcane fusion type spells).

Neither of those will have wizards burning out faster.

Wizards can't cast arcane fusion. Sorcerer-only. Even if they could cast it, arcane fusion only uses its own slot up, not those of the spells that are fused.

Celerity costs you a future round of action, so it's just robbing Peter to pay Paul.

Late catch, but I had to go look up arcane fusion just because of the rave reviews I've heard. Thought I'd share my findings.

 

[IanB]

The Shadowcaster in Tome of Magic basically does this sort of mechanic; it is generally considered to be pretty underpowered as written but you could use it as a baseline for designing your own new wizard.

 

[Anson Caralya]

Going back to 3E, the Innate Spell feat gave you a spell usable at will as a spell like ability at the cost of a slot eight levels higher, so your 18th level wiz or sorc could have a 1st level spell as an at will ability and you could dream of epic level clerics with at will heal and other things. Apparently someone thought it was overpowered, as it's been changed at least once and is now (I think, if PGtF is the latest place it's been published) the ability to use the spell as a spell -like ability three times a day for the cost of a slot of the same level.