From: sgibson@cs1.uct.ac.za (S GIBSON)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
Subject: Re: A Viable spell point system.
Date: 16 Oct 92 07:37:33 GMT
Organization: Computer Science Department, University of Cape Town

In article <1992Oct12.174809.59636@cc.usu.edu> slgmj@cc.usu.edu writes:
>Path: casper.cs.uct.ac.za!shrike.und.ac.za!psgrain!charnel!olivea!spool.mu.edu!caen!hellgate.utah.edu!cc.usu.edu!slgmj
>From: slgmj@cc.usu.edu
>Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
>Subject: A Viable spell point system.
>Message-ID: <1992Oct12.174809.59636@cc.usu.edu>
>Date: 12 Oct 92 23:48:09 GMT
>Organization: Utah State University
>Lines: 99
>One DM of mine actually had an awesome system for spell points. it not only 
> helped expand a mage's usefulness and flexibility, it also gave them a boost
> at low levels and kept them from becoming GODS at higher levels.
>
>  The system works like this:
>
>    For every level of experience, the mage gets spell points equal to:
>
>	INT/10
>       + 1d10/10
>       + 1.0 (For straight class mages only)
>
>       + 1.0 (for wild mages only)
>
>     This gives more intelligent mages an advantage and also gives straight
>  mages (referring to class, not prerference :-)  ) an advantage of 
>  greater power than bards or multi-class mages.  
>
>   Now, as for the spells-you-practice-more-than-others:
>
>	Consult the Spell Progression table in the PHB. However many spells 
>   the table says the mage can memorize each day, is the number of 
>   profficient spells he/she has. (i.e. at first level, he/she is really good
>   at 1 1st level spell; at third level, he/she is really good at 2 1st level
>   spells and 1 2nd level spell)    
>
>	The point cost to cast a spell is equal to 
>
>	   1 X the level of the spell IF it is a profficient spell.
>	   2 X the level of the spell for all others.
>
>	(Rings of Wizardry HALVE all point costs for the levels they cover)
>
>
>   EXAMPLES:   
>
>	Kerron is a 1st level mage with an INT of 16.  His profficient spell
>       		is Magic Missile.   At first level he has 2.8 spell points.
>	 
>		16/10   =   1.6
> (d10 roll of 2) 2/10   =    .2
> (Bonus for Mage)       =   1.0
>===================================
>  total points at 1st   =   2.8
>
>	Now, every day, Kerron can cast
>		A: His profficient spell twice. (1 point each time)
>		B: Any other first level spell once (2 spell points)
>
>
>	If Kerron goes up 1 level, he recieves:
>
>		1 more profficient spell
>		2.6 more spell points (his INT/10 + bonus for a straight mage)
>		and 1d10/10 more spell points.
>
>
>Oops: forgot one rule:  A MAGE CAN ONLY CAST SPELLS OF A LEVEL ALLOWED TO
>	HIM/HER BY THE SPELL PROGRESSION CHART IN THE PHB!!!
>
>  As you can see, this system slows down a mages climb in power once they
>      reach higher levels.   For example:
>
>	Syndactyly Sabertooth is a Mage of 9th level.  He has an INT of 18
>	   and is a straight class mage.  He has been very lucky with his 
>	   d10 rolls (aren't PC's always???)  and has scored: 9,7,5,8,10,9,6,4,
> 	   and 10.  His spell points at 9th level = 32.0
>
>		INT/10   1.8 X 9 = 16.2
>	 	(D10 rolls)      =  6.8
>		1pt / level      =  9.0
>         =====================================
>		total at 9th     = 32.0
>
>	At 9th level he can cast 5th level spells. His profficient 5th level 
> 		spell costs 5 spell points to cast. However, his NONPROFFICIENT
>		5th level spells cost 10 points to cast! 
>	Since he can only gain 2.9-3.8 points per level, he won't be 
>		all-powerful by the time he hits tenth or so. Make no mistake
>		though... a ninth level MU is nothing to mess with!
>
>
> IMHO, this is the most reasonable system I've come across yet for mages. It
>	gives the flexibility to use their entire reptoire of spells instead
>	of having to memorize all the combat spells they can "Just in case..."
>	and not being of any use except in a fight.  It also makes first level
>	MU's a bit more survivable. (Up to 3 spells a day) Since it takes
>	8 hours of rest to completely recover all spell points (like in an 
>	already mentioned system) it still forces the mage to get their rest
>	time in. 
>
>  This system is the BrainChild of Chellie R (Tillotson) Young, and I claim
>    no credit for its creation.
>
>
>							- Rick Mowery
>							  SLGMJ@CC.USU.EDU
>
>	
Has anybody played Might & Magic ? 

This will show up the huge flaws in the spell point system, at high levels 
you can merrily cast dozens of Fireballs, Lightning bolts and other such 
offensive spells .... to what avail?

I played M&M until my characters were lvl 100 or so, this meant that there 
were no monsters that could stand up to ONE of my characters (my magic-user).
I could merrily waltz into a room containing 10 dragons and wipe them out in 
as many rounds (using only my magic-user) using consecutive meteor-swarm 
spells....

This system seems reasonable, but it takes the planning out of a mage's 
spell choice ... my group has tried many different systems of magic and we 
came to the conclusion that the origional system is good enogh for me (only 
my humble oppionion).

Shaun

"Anything given can be taken away ..." - DM
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