Post by Finarvyn on Oct 17, 2011 9:41:44 GMT -6
I've been playtesting a spell point system that I really like. One problem with spell points is that characters tend to get too many spells. (I don't mind them not memorizing a special list, so getting to adjust "on the fly" is okay for me. It may be another disadvantage to my system for some folks.)
Basically, spell casters have to track three numbers:
1. Total spells they can cast
2. Maximum spell level they can cast
3. Total spell points they can cast
HOW DO I CALCULATE TOTAL SPELLS?
Just add 'em up.
HOW DO I DETERMINE MAXIMUM SPELL LEVEL I CAN CAST?
Just look at the chart.
HOW DO I CALCULATE SPELL POINTS?
Basically 1 SP per spell level, so a 5th level spell costs 5 SP to cast. When I tried this with C&C I had to account for 0th level Cantrips so I made the cost spell level +1 (0th level = 1, 5th level = 6, etc). This means that you may have to recalculate based on the rules set, but I just look at the spell chart and do the math.
EXAMPLE, PLEASE!
Suppose a character has a spell line that reads 4/2/1. (4 1st, 2 2nd, 1 3rd level spell.) Toal number of spells is 4+2+1=7. Maximum spell level is 3. Spell points is (4*1)+(2*2)+(1*3)=11.
Cast until you run out of any of the three.
This means the spell caster could start with 3rd level spells (3 SP each) but after the 3rd would no longer have enought points for a 4th unless he dropped to a 2nd level spell. If he wanted to cast a bunch of 1st level spells (1 SP each) he could cast 7 then he would be out of spells even if he had SP remaining.
Anyway, try it and tell me what you think. It's simpler than it sounds and I've had great luck with it!
Basically, spell casters have to track three numbers:
1. Total spells they can cast
2. Maximum spell level they can cast
3. Total spell points they can cast
HOW DO I CALCULATE TOTAL SPELLS?
Just add 'em up.
HOW DO I DETERMINE MAXIMUM SPELL LEVEL I CAN CAST?
Just look at the chart.
HOW DO I CALCULATE SPELL POINTS?
Basically 1 SP per spell level, so a 5th level spell costs 5 SP to cast. When I tried this with C&C I had to account for 0th level Cantrips so I made the cost spell level +1 (0th level = 1, 5th level = 6, etc). This means that you may have to recalculate based on the rules set, but I just look at the spell chart and do the math.
EXAMPLE, PLEASE!
Suppose a character has a spell line that reads 4/2/1. (4 1st, 2 2nd, 1 3rd level spell.) Toal number of spells is 4+2+1=7. Maximum spell level is 3. Spell points is (4*1)+(2*2)+(1*3)=11.
Cast until you run out of any of the three.
This means the spell caster could start with 3rd level spells (3 SP each) but after the 3rd would no longer have enought points for a 4th unless he dropped to a 2nd level spell. If he wanted to cast a bunch of 1st level spells (1 SP each) he could cast 7 then he would be out of spells even if he had SP remaining.
Anyway, try it and tell me what you think. It's simpler than it sounds and I've had great luck with it!
