Angel Tarragon
Dawn Dragon
Other: Arcana Evolved.
Your favorite alternate D&D magic system?
- Thread starter jdrakeh
- Start date
Angel Tarragon
Dawn Dragon
I am really looking forward to getting my hands on the Advanced Player's Guide simply to check out the skill based magic rules therein.
EyeontheMountain
First Post
Psionics, which I notice was not on the poll for some unknown reason, considering it is the probably the biggest.
Personally, I'm a fan of spell points systems.
Angel Tarragon
Dawn Dragon
That option to combine both is in Unearthed Arcana (vitalizing variant).Mycanid said:
Plane Sailing
Astral Admin - Mwahahaha!
A variant that used to be seen a lot during the 70's, but I never see now is 'klutz factor' systems - a %age chance of spell failure, increasing with each recasting. If the spell fails there is a same %age chance of a backfire.
FWIW I considered allowing a metamagic klutz factor system, whereby metamagic could be applied on the fly, but there was a 10% chance per missed spell level that it failed, and a like chance of backfire.
e.g. attempting to extend a spell on the fly with no increase in spell level was a 10% chance of failure (followed by a 10% chance of backfire). Attempting to quicken and maximise a spell on the fly would be a 70% chance of failure (followed by a 70% chance of backfire). Depending upon the campaign a backfire could range from opposite spell results, to target the wrong target, to damage like a scroll backfire, to have a demon appear to claim your soul. It was quite configurable
My favourite alternate magic system is probably Call of Cthulhu d20 - I'd love to run a fantasy adventure where that was the magic (learn each spell individually, casting a spell costs you sanity and/or ability damage).
I rather liked the flavour of the Sovereign Stone d20 magic though, especially with the concept of excess heat generated by magic use meaning that most magic users wear skimpy clothes under a big robe that can be removed quickly when you need to cast!
Cheers
FWIW I considered allowing a metamagic klutz factor system, whereby metamagic could be applied on the fly, but there was a 10% chance per missed spell level that it failed, and a like chance of backfire.
e.g. attempting to extend a spell on the fly with no increase in spell level was a 10% chance of failure (followed by a 10% chance of backfire). Attempting to quicken and maximise a spell on the fly would be a 70% chance of failure (followed by a 70% chance of backfire). Depending upon the campaign a backfire could range from opposite spell results, to target the wrong target, to damage like a scroll backfire, to have a demon appear to claim your soul. It was quite configurable
My favourite alternate magic system is probably Call of Cthulhu d20 - I'd love to run a fantasy adventure where that was the magic (learn each spell individually, casting a spell costs you sanity and/or ability damage).
I rather liked the flavour of the Sovereign Stone d20 magic though, especially with the concept of excess heat generated by magic use meaning that most magic users wear skimpy clothes under a big robe that can be removed quickly when you need to cast!
Cheers
Plane Sailing
Astral Admin - Mwahahaha!
Iron Heroes is a truly horrible system, by the way. You might have got a little more mileage if you'd included Arcana Evolved/Unearthed, with its readied spells, slot weaving and varied feats to modify spells.
lukelightning
First Post
Arcana Unearthed/Evolved. I think it has everything I like in a spell system.
I also really like the Warhammer FRP magic system. Cast as much as you want...but with uncertainty and risk. I don't think it's suitable for most D&D worlds, though.
I am beginning to loathe spell points/mana systems. They normally give so many power points or whatever that you might as well say "you can cast whatever spell you want as much as you want" and often have abuses such as "overchannelling" and stuff like that.
I also really like the Warhammer FRP magic system. Cast as much as you want...but with uncertainty and risk. I don't think it's suitable for most D&D worlds, though.
I am beginning to loathe spell points/mana systems. They normally give so many power points or whatever that you might as well say "you can cast whatever spell you want as much as you want" and often have abuses such as "overchannelling" and stuff like that.
