mroozee
2008-12-30, 05:31 PM
My gaming group prefers 3.5E to 4E but recognizes that primary spell casters are broken. We are experimenting with "simple" proposed fixes to 3.5E and hope to find a way to keep it playable in the mid to high levels while maintaining the overall D&D feel. We will start out in a low-magic campaign with just the PHB, DMG, and MM and build out from there. Note: we are trying to balance characters to roughly the power level of the Fighter, though individual levels may vary and roles will certainly be different... in any case, the Fighter is our rule-of-thumb.
With that in mind, I'd appreciate any thoughts on the following fix for the Wizard class:
Slow down spell casting.
Immediate --> Free
Free --> Standard
Standard --> Round
Round --> 1 Minute
1 Minute --> 10 Minutes
10 Minutes --> 1 Hour
1 Hour --> 1 Day
The vast majority of spells require a Standard Action to cast; moving this to a Round changes their strategy significantly. It becomes easier to disrupt a spell caster as they must wait until just before their next turn to launch most of their spells. Monster summoning now takes 1 minute so for practical purposes, this will only happen before combat. Move and cast strategies would have to be rethought as well. Contingency may become the most valuable spell in the book.
As part of a party, however, the Wizard still wields considerable power. Scrolls and wands would be necessities, but in a low-magic campaign, the caster will probably end up making these himself.
Some individual spells may need to be exceptions. Teleport, for example, has always been a problem in our campaigns and will be restricted. Feather fall as a free action is pretty weak and counterspelling doesn't make much sense if it takes a full round to cast.
So, what do you guys think?
With that in mind, I'd appreciate any thoughts on the following fix for the Wizard class:
Slow down spell casting.
Immediate --> Free
Free --> Standard
Standard --> Round
Round --> 1 Minute
1 Minute --> 10 Minutes
10 Minutes --> 1 Hour
1 Hour --> 1 Day
The vast majority of spells require a Standard Action to cast; moving this to a Round changes their strategy significantly. It becomes easier to disrupt a spell caster as they must wait until just before their next turn to launch most of their spells. Monster summoning now takes 1 minute so for practical purposes, this will only happen before combat. Move and cast strategies would have to be rethought as well. Contingency may become the most valuable spell in the book.
As part of a party, however, the Wizard still wields considerable power. Scrolls and wands would be necessities, but in a low-magic campaign, the caster will probably end up making these himself.
Some individual spells may need to be exceptions. Teleport, for example, has always been a problem in our campaigns and will be restricted. Feather fall as a free action is pretty weak and counterspelling doesn't make much sense if it takes a full round to cast.
So, what do you guys think?