I am messing around with magic casting and use in OSR games.I am looking for a way to make magic more accessible and flexible so as to appeal to those who do not care for the old Vancian method. I am sure this is a well traveled path but I am trying to come up with an idea I like and one that my players may find acceptable. Additionally I want to put together a system that does not break the existing system or cause too much of a rewrite of existing rules.
In this we will use magic points - spell points for magic-users and faith points for clerics - to determine how much magic can be cast. This greatly adds to the amount of casting that can be completed. So, I needed to balance this out with a failure ability. Now, some people will not like forcing the mage to make a check to cast, but seeing as a fighter must roll to succeed at their primary ability (that of swinging sharp things at fleshy things), I do not see a problem with this.
One thing I really like about this is allows us to use all the existing spell lists. No need to rewrite the billion spells out there that more creative people than I have created.
Casting Magic
Magic-Users and Illusionists begin play with Spell Points equal to their INT (plus any modified due to INT and WIS) plus their class level. Casters can never cast a spell of a higher level than their current level unless utilizing a scroll or reading directly from a spell book (see below). A spell requires as many Spell Points to cast as it's level. All castings require a check using their caster's Saving Throw versus Spells or Spell-like Devices. Following their roll, the caster may opt to use additional Spell Points to ensure success at a cost of one Spell Point per +1 on their roll.
For example, Bob has 10 Spell Points and is casting a 3rd level spell. The spell will cost him 3 Spell Points to cast. He rolls his Saving Throw but fails with a roll of 12. Realizing that with just two additional Spell Points he could make a successful casting, Bob spends the two points for a total die roll of 14. Bob now has five Spell Points remaining.
Cleric's Prayers
Clerics utilize the same system but their spell points are called Faith Points. Initial Faith Points are equal to the cleric's WIS score (plus any modifiers due to INT and WIS) plus their current level. Clerics will utilize the Save versus Spells or Spell-like Devices for all attempted Prayers.
Magic-User Cantrips
Any magic-user may attempt to use magic to bend reality in small ways such as creating a small flame like a match or candle, flip a lock on a door or move a small object such as a pencil or paper without spending a Spell Point or casting a proper spell. To do this they must make a successful Saving Throw versus Spells or Spell-like Devices. If they fail the roll they may still successfully cast the cantrip but it will cost them one Spell Point. Clerics cannot perform cantrips.
Using Scrolls
A magic-user can cast a spell by reading a spell from a scroll or tome. These castings do not cost the caster Spell Points though casting the written spell to fade. The caster must still roll the Saving Throw to cast the spell successfully and the cast may opt to add additional Spell/Faith Points to
Learning Spells and Prayers
Magic-Users and Illusionists begin play knowing a number of spells equal to one half their INT score. Clerics begin play knowing a number of prayers equal to one half their WIS score. There is no roll to see if they are successful in learning this initial magic. Judges may randomly determine spells/prayer or allow the player to pick.
Additional Spells and Prayers may be learned during play as characters are exposed to them, through witnessing others cast them, learning from others, books or scrolls. To see if the character is able to learn a spell they must make a successful ability check, Magic-Users will use INT while Clerics will use their WIS score. Rolling the score or lower results in the character learning the spell or prayer well enough to attempt it at a later time.
Now, My Thoughts & The Ugly Math Behind It
First, let's look at how the current system and how it handles magic. Based on the work of Jack Vance the gist of it focuses on a set number of spells, broken down by level, that a caster has access to
per day. I know many who hate this system and the apparent weakness of the magic-user class. I do not fully agree but that is an argument for another day.
Here is the cleric's normal casting ability.
And now the magic-user's ability.
Now, for discussion on my magic system, we will need the Cleric saving throws
and the Magic-user's saving throws.
Now a few assumptions. We will assume the Magic-User and Cleric have average ability of 12 in INT and WIS, thus at first level they would each have 13 Spell/Faith Points. Below we have the spell/faith points on the left and on the right the saving throws they will need to successfully cast their spell/prayer.
Now, some will say "Damn! That first level magic-user can now cast thirteen first level spells! Shitzie!" and that is true, however given that to cast each they must also now make a successful Saving Throw - roll a 14 or above on a d20 - about 1/3 of the time. Hypothetically speaking, some of these castings will fail and the player may opt to add spell/faith points to ensure those castings succeed. Doing so would lower their total and reduce the number of points available for additional castings.
At first glance this seriously increases a cast's power but looking a little ore in depth, I do not think it really does. For example, let's look at the tenth level Magic-User. They can cast a total of 14 spells, three 1st level, three 2nd, three 3rd, three 4th level and just two 5th level spells.
Compare this with my system. Immediately we can see they have access to much more powerful spells, all the way to the 9th level. Clearly this is way more powerful, yes? Not exactly. If the Magic-user opts to cast just one of those 9th level spells, they find they are suddenly down to just about one half their total spell/faith points! A few 5th level spells and the caster would find them almost completely wiped out of magic points. So merely casting three or four high level spells would exhaust a caster's ability. I like this as it marries up nicely with the perception found in literature that just a few powerful spells can kick a caster's butt.
Here the use of the Saving Throw - an already existing system within the
rules - is used to counter and control the excessive casting. This system allows you to use an existing mechanic to control the otherwise overpowering ability of the casters. Some racial groups would likely get a modifier to this check - I can easily see an elf getting a bonus to their roll when casting magic and likely a gnome as well.
One thing I have not stipulated yet is how magic points are refreshed. I have deliberately focused on getting the application of the system first, to get it right at the outset. At this point I am leaning towards something along the lines of either requiring a rest in the case of a magic-user, much like the established rules, and a solid share of prayer or ceremony for the cleric.
Well, there you go. What do you think about it?
