Altair_the_Vexed
2010-05-09, 02:46 PM
EDITED: to account for suggestions and advice below.
I'm thinking about making a sorcerer-based version of the generic Spellcaster (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/genericClasses.htm#spellcaster) class, to replace the wizard and sorcerer, for a game setting I'm working on.
Being based on the sorcerer, it will have the same spells per day (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/classes/sorcererWizard.htm#sorcerer)as that class (where Unearthed Arcana's has marginally less).
However, I'd like to allow for some greater versatility in spells used. That has to come at the expense of blasting power - spells per day. With that intent, I've invented this feat to allow players to select the more versatile option of an academic caster over the raw power of the undisciplined caster.
The Feats:
Spellbook
You can tap into the myriad options of arcane writings on a daily basis.
Prerequisite: Ability to cast Read Magic as a known spell.
Benefit:
At the same time that you refresh your spells for the coming day, you may give up one or more spells per day of any level you can cast (leaving a minimum of 1 spell per day of each level you can cast), up to 3rd level spells. In exchange, you may learn an equal number of spells of the same level or levels from a spellbook, taking 15 minutes per spell thus learned. These spells now count as part of your list of known spells, for that day only.
Normal:
You may only cast spells from your list of known spells.
Improved Spellbook
Your understanding of arcane writing increases to encompass more advanced magic.
Prerequisite: Ability to cast Read Magic as a known spell, ability to cast 4th level spells, Spellbook feat.
Benefit:
At the same time that you refresh your spells for the coming day, you may give up one or more spells per day of any level you can cast (leaving a minimum of 1 spell per day of each level you can cast), up to 6th level spells. In exchange, you may learn an equal number of spells of the same level or levels from a spellbook, taking 30 minutes per spell thus learned. These spells now count as part of your list of known spells, for that day only.
Normal:
You may only cast spells from your list of known spells.
Greater Spellbook
You are a master of arcane lore, able to transform the most obscure written theory into magical practice.
Prerequisite: Ability to cast Read Magic as a known spell, ability to cast 7th level spells, Spellbook and Improved Spellbook feats.
Benefit:
At the same time that you refresh your spells for the coming day, you may give up one or more spells per day of any level you can cast (leaving a minimum of 1 spell per day of each level you can cast), up to 9th level spells. In exchange, you may learn an equal number of spells of the same level or levels from a spellbook, taking 1 hour per spell thus learned. These spells now count as part of your list of known spells, for that day only.
Normal:
You may only cast spells from your list of known spells....
The fluffy idea behind this is to have casters who know a few spells off the top of their heads, but have the ability to look up and learn new ones as the occasion dictates.
I think this reflects more of the fantasy literature out there than the Vancian magic system that D&D normally has.
We're used to wizards and witches in fiction being able to cast a bunch of spells without needing to re-learn them, and we're used to those same casters being able to look up new spells in a book and add them to their repertoire.
I must stress, though: this is a feat for a game where the only casters are UA generic Spellcasters, who get the same spell progression as Sorcerers. This is not for use in a regular, all-caster-classes-are-available game.
Normal SRD rules for spellbooks apply.
With all that in mind, and the comments below: do these feats look good?
Are they useful?
Are they too useful, and broken?
Are they underpowered, and unlikely to be taken by anyone with a well-developed sense of optimising?
I'm thinking about making a sorcerer-based version of the generic Spellcaster (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/genericClasses.htm#spellcaster) class, to replace the wizard and sorcerer, for a game setting I'm working on.
Being based on the sorcerer, it will have the same spells per day (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/classes/sorcererWizard.htm#sorcerer)as that class (where Unearthed Arcana's has marginally less).
However, I'd like to allow for some greater versatility in spells used. That has to come at the expense of blasting power - spells per day. With that intent, I've invented this feat to allow players to select the more versatile option of an academic caster over the raw power of the undisciplined caster.
The Feats:
Spellbook
You can tap into the myriad options of arcane writings on a daily basis.
Prerequisite: Ability to cast Read Magic as a known spell.
Benefit:
At the same time that you refresh your spells for the coming day, you may give up one or more spells per day of any level you can cast (leaving a minimum of 1 spell per day of each level you can cast), up to 3rd level spells. In exchange, you may learn an equal number of spells of the same level or levels from a spellbook, taking 15 minutes per spell thus learned. These spells now count as part of your list of known spells, for that day only.
Normal:
You may only cast spells from your list of known spells.
Improved Spellbook
Your understanding of arcane writing increases to encompass more advanced magic.
Prerequisite: Ability to cast Read Magic as a known spell, ability to cast 4th level spells, Spellbook feat.
Benefit:
At the same time that you refresh your spells for the coming day, you may give up one or more spells per day of any level you can cast (leaving a minimum of 1 spell per day of each level you can cast), up to 6th level spells. In exchange, you may learn an equal number of spells of the same level or levels from a spellbook, taking 30 minutes per spell thus learned. These spells now count as part of your list of known spells, for that day only.
Normal:
You may only cast spells from your list of known spells.
Greater Spellbook
You are a master of arcane lore, able to transform the most obscure written theory into magical practice.
Prerequisite: Ability to cast Read Magic as a known spell, ability to cast 7th level spells, Spellbook and Improved Spellbook feats.
Benefit:
At the same time that you refresh your spells for the coming day, you may give up one or more spells per day of any level you can cast (leaving a minimum of 1 spell per day of each level you can cast), up to 9th level spells. In exchange, you may learn an equal number of spells of the same level or levels from a spellbook, taking 1 hour per spell thus learned. These spells now count as part of your list of known spells, for that day only.
Normal:
You may only cast spells from your list of known spells....
The fluffy idea behind this is to have casters who know a few spells off the top of their heads, but have the ability to look up and learn new ones as the occasion dictates.
I think this reflects more of the fantasy literature out there than the Vancian magic system that D&D normally has.
We're used to wizards and witches in fiction being able to cast a bunch of spells without needing to re-learn them, and we're used to those same casters being able to look up new spells in a book and add them to their repertoire.
I must stress, though: this is a feat for a game where the only casters are UA generic Spellcasters, who get the same spell progression as Sorcerers. This is not for use in a regular, all-caster-classes-are-available game.
Normal SRD rules for spellbooks apply.
With all that in mind, and the comments below: do these feats look good?
Are they useful?
Are they too useful, and broken?
Are they underpowered, and unlikely to be taken by anyone with a well-developed sense of optimising?