|
I
agree that spell casters get tediously predictable, but rather
then
relying on the old standbys I've allowed my spell casters to
cast any
spell they can concieve. These spell casters, like priests,
psyonicists, wizards etc, know magic. They don't know quite
how it
works, but they know what they need to do to get a particular
effect.
Sorta like using Algebra. You create the formula, and the desired
effect should work.
Here's
how it works:
1. Player describs the spell
2. GM Assigns a base "Effect" value to it from 1-5
where 1 is mundane
and easily percieved as Tech or slight of hand, where 5 cannot
be
explained other than Magical or godly.
3. Add modifiers for Range, Target Area, and Damage (healed
or
caused). Duration is based on the character's Consentration.
They can
only concentrate on one spell per Intelligence Modifier (min
of 1).
Direct damage spells cannot be maintained (like fireballs).
For each
spell maintained, the caster suffers a -1 penatly to all skill
checks
including attacks, magic, saves, etc.
4. Subtract the total spell value from the character's Magic
Points
(calculated from the spells/day table).
Range = Touch 0, Visual
+2, Mental +4
Area = 1 target or 5' area +0, 2 or 10' area +1, 3-4 or 20'
area +3
etc.
Damage = d4/lvl +1, d6/lvl +2, d8/lvl +3 etc.
The effect: if a player
wants to use a book spell, fine, use the book
example, but if the player wants to cast an unusual spell, they
are
given the freedom to describe what they expect the spell to
do, but
the GM has control on how difficult it is.
This is just a rough
explanation of the system, but it works well in
game and is fairly balanced. Each GM would need to experiment
with
the system to get a feel for the power levels and player
expectations, but its proven to be more consistent than the
book
spells.
This sytem also opens
up avenues for Casting Beyond your Limits by
draining Constitution and Strength once the magic points are
gone. So
far we've had great success with low level spell casters who
had only
a couple book spells being able to entertain crowds, clean themselves
after wallowing through the sewers, mend wounds, and so on.
The
system can further be modified by limiting a caster's spell
types.
Like all spells must be alteration, so the character can't cast
a
fireball from thin air, but they could alter a torch to explode
into
a fireball.
Its an idea that has
worked for me.
|