Sorcerer Variant

[Superglucose]

Let me know what you think of the balance on this, is it too powerful? Not powerful enough? does it give up too much, too little? Thanks!

Sorcerer Variant: Rapid Caster
Sorcerers can choose to forgo their Familiar special ability in order to
become better at casting spells quickly. Such “Rapid Casters” are
capable of casting spells as free actions a limited number of times per
day. This counts towards their limit of one Quickened spell per turn,
even though they do not actually use the Quicken Spell Metamagic
feat.
Loses: Rapid casters do not have the Familiar ability.
Gains: Rapid casters can cast a limited number of spells as if they
were cast using the Quicken Spell feat, but without the usual
spontaneous casting restrictions on using Metamagic feats. These
spells are cast as Quickened spells even if the character does not have
the Quicken Spell feat. They can Quicken one 0th-level spell for every
odd sorcerer level, and up to a total number of spell levels worth of
spells equal to half their sorcerer level, in a day. They must still
expend regular spell slots to cast these spells, this ability only allows
they to Quicken some of these castings for free.
* Example: A 10th-level sorcerer can cast up to five 0th-level
spells a day as Quickened spells. They also have five spell levels of
other sorcerer spells they can Quicken; which can be used for one 5thlevel
spell, five 1st-level spells, or any mixture of spell levels totaling
no more than five.

[Kroy]

Heres it is in legible format:

Sorcerer Variant: Rapid Caster
Sorcerers can choose to forgo their Familiar special ability in order to become better at casting spells quickly. Such “Rapid Casters” are capable of casting spells as free actions a limited number of times per day. This counts towards their limit of one Quickened spell per turn, even though they do not actually use the Quicken Spell Metamagic feat.

Loses: Rapid casters do not have the Familiar ability.
Gains: Rapid casters can cast a limited number of spells as if they were cast using the Quicken Spell feat, but without the usual spontaneous casting restrictions on using Metamagic feats. These spells are cast as Quickened spells even if the character does not have the Quicken Spell feat. They can Quicken one 0th-level spell for every odd sorcerer level, and up to a total number of spell levels worth of spells equal to half their sorcerer level, in a day. They must still expend regular spell slots to cast these spells, this ability only allows they to Quicken some of these castings for free.

* Example: A 10th-level sorcerer can cast up to five 0th-level spells a day as Quickened spells. They also have five spell levels of other sorcerer spells they can Quicken; which can be used for one 5thlevel spell, five 1st-level spells, or any mixture of spell levels totaling no more than five.

This variant is a lot more powerful than a familiar, but it doesn't seem overpowered. Compared to a wizard at least.

[ShneekeyTheLost]

To be honest, I'm not liking it.

Better idea would be to use the PhB II variant which trades in familiar to be able to cast metamagic without time penalty, and handwave the # of uses.

The variant I had took it a step further: Bloodlines. Basically, choose a bloodline. Each bloodline grants you one bonus spell known per spell level (pre-defined based on bloodline, similar to Domain), plus special abilities at 1st, 5th, 10th, 15th, and 20th.