Maginomicon
2013-05-17, 07:47 PM
Comprehensive Spell Points Tables
The Spell Points system was initially introduced in Unearthed Arcana and was included in the OGC (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/magic/spellPoints.htm). However, it only included the core spellcasting classes in its table of spell point progressions. As a result, anyone that wanted to play a non-OGC spellcasting class with spell points would have to eyeball the calculations for their spell point progression (assuming the GM allowed Spell Points at all).
Luckily, someone figured out how WotC did their calculations:
I'm going to try this again...and maybe this time I'll remember to include the important elements like nouns and such...
To calculate the spell points for minor spell casters such as paladins and rangers, use the following procedure:
1) Multiply the character's 1st level spells per day by 1.
2) Multiply the character's 2nd level spells per day by 3.
3) Multiply the character's 3rd level spells per day by 5.
4) Multiply the character's 4th level spells per day by 7.
5) Add these totals together.
For bards (and possibly other classes that can cast up to 6th level spells) use the following procedure:
1) Multiply the character's 1st level spells per day by 1.
2) Multiply the character's 2nd level spells per day by 3 (counting 0 spells per day as 1 spell per day).
3) Multiply the character's 3rd level spells per day by 5 (counting 0 spells per day as 1 spell per day).
4) Multiply the character's 4th level spells per day by 7 (counting 0 spells per day as 1 spell per day).
5) Multiply the character's 5th level spells per day by 9 (counting 0 spells per day as 1 spell per day).
6) Multiply the character's 6th level spells per day by 11 (counting 0 spells per day as 1 spell per day).
7) Add these totals together.
For wizards, clerics, and druids they used the following procedure for class levels 1 through 9 (remember not to include additional spells for domains or specialization):
1) Multiply the character's 1st level spells per day by 2.
2) Multiply the character's 2nd level spells per day by 3 (if the character can cast more than 1 2nd level spell, subtract 1 spell point from this total).
3) Multiply the character's 3rd level spells per day by 5.
4) Multiply the character's 4th level spells per day by 7 (if the character can cast more than 1 4th level spell, subtract 1 spell point from this total).
5) Multiply the character's 5th level spells per day by 9.
6) Add these totals together.
7) For each level above 9th add 16 to the previous level's total to get the current level's total.
For sorcerers, they used the procedure for wizards and priests but added an additional amount of spell points equal to (2X the character's highest spell level) -1 to the total.
For non-OGC spontaneous casters whose spell slot layout doesn't match up with the bard or sorcerer, use the wizard method, but the kicker described above should instead be a nerf of the same amount.
I hope that clears it up...and don't ask why I bothered to figure it out in the first place....
I've manually checked the methods given above (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AojdoKCdOXqNdHh3MDFUVDVRS0xBcTMteUNLSEZ3V Gc&usp=sharing) (if you're the kind of person that would insist I "show my work", click the tabs at the bottom of the page at that link) and made some corrections and additions in red such that the results matched the OGC and were fair.
Anyway, so I've spent the last couple of hours crunching the numbers. The following is a comprehensive set of tables of the spell point progressions of every spellcasting class in D&D 3.5 that I could get my hands on, including...
Bard (OGC)
Standard Cleric (OGC)
Standard Druid (OGC)
Paladin (OGC)
Ranger (OGC)
Sorcerer (OGC)
Wizard (OGC)
Spontaneous Cleric (OGC)
Spontaneous Druid (OGC)
Archivist (Heroes of Horror)
Artificer "Infusion Points" (Eberron Campaign Setting)
Beguiler (Player's Handbook II)
Death Master (Dragon Compendium)
Dread Necromancer (Heroes of Horror)
Duskblade (Player's Handbook II)
Favored Soul (Complete Divine)
Healer (Miniatures Handbook)
Hexblade (Complete Warrior)
Jester (Dragon Compendium)
Mystic Ranger (OGC and Dragon Magazine #336 page 105)
Nightstalker (Races of Ansalon)
Savant (Dragon Compendium)
Sha'ir (Dragon Compendium)
Shaman (oriental) (Oriental Adventures)
Shugenja (Complete Divine)
Sohei (Oriental Adventures)
Generic Spellcaster (OGC)
Spellthief (Complete Adventurer)
Trickster Spellthief (Complete Adventurer and Dragon Magazine #353 page 85)
Spirit Shaman (Complete Divine)
Urban Druid (Dragon Compendium)
Warmage (Complete Arcane)
Wu Jen (Complete Arcane)
Bard-Type includes the Bard, Jester, Nightstalker, and Trickster Spellthief.
Wizard-Type includes the Wizard, Standard Cleric, Standard Druid, Death Master, Shaman (oriental), Urban Druid, and Wu Jen.
Paladin-Type includes the Paladin, Ranger, Hexblade, Sohei, and Spellthief.
Sorcerer-Type includes the Sorcerer, Spontaneous Cleric, Spontaneous Druid, Beguiler, Dread Necromancer, Favored Soul, Shugenja, and Warmage.
Level
Bard-Type
Wizard-Type
Paladin-Type
Sorcerer-Type
1
2
3
2
0
4
5
3
1
7
8
4
5
11
0
14
5
6
16
0
19
6
9
24
1
29
7
14
33
1
37
8
17
44
1
51
9
22
56
1
63
10
29
75
4
81
11
34
88
4
97
12
41
104
9
115
13
50
120
9
131
14
57
136
10
149
15
67
152
17
165
16
81
168
20
183
17
95
184
25
199
18
113
200
26
217
19
133
216
41
233
20
144
232
48
249
Artificers don't have "Spell Points", but instead have "Infusion Points".
Level
Archivist
Artificer (Infusion Points)
Mystic Ranger
Duskblade
Healer
1
4
2
2
6
2
6
3
1
3
8
3
11
6
2
4
16
4
16
9
5
5
19
5
26
17
8
11
36
6
34
22
14
15
41
7
49
22
19
21
64
8
61
34
29
25
71
9
82
41
37
35
105
10
98
41
51
44
121
11
114
50
63
54
137
12
130
59
70
62
153
13
146
66
84
77
169
14
162
87
85
89
185
15
178
101
92
103
201
16
194
106
92
118
217
17
210
124
104
137
233
18
226
133
104
153
249
19
242
144
109
179
265
20
258
144
109
200
281
Savant has two columns here because it has separate Spell Point pools for its arcane spells and divine spells.
The calculations for the Sha'ir, Spellcaster, and Spirit Shaman all use the "spontaneous nerf" I added to the methods quote at the top of this post.
Level
Savant (arcane)
Savant (divine)
Sha'ir
Spellcaster
Spirit Shaman
1
3
3
3
2
5
5
5
3
6
7
10
4
13
12
15
5
0
16
15
26
6
0
29
28
36
7
1
36
36
52
8
1
54
52
67
9
1
64
67
90
10
1
1
80
81
106
11
4
1
94
97
120
12
4
1
110
111
136
13
9
1
124
127
150
14
9
4
140
141
166
15
10
4
154
157
180
16
17
9
170
171
196
17
20
9
184
187
210
18
25
10
200
201
226
19
26
17
216
217
242
20
41
20
232
233
258
My Reasoning for each Class
Spontaneous Druid has the same spell slots as a Standard Druid, but is a spontaneous caster, so it's essentially-identical to the Sorcerer.
Spontaneous Cleric has the same spell slots as a Standard Cleric, but is a spontaneous caster, so it's essentially-identical to the Sorcerer.
Archivist was calculated using the Wizard method.
Artificer Infusion Points were calculated using the Bard method.
Beguiler has a near-identical spell slot layout to the Sorcerer.
Death Master has an identical spell slot layout to the Wizard.
Dread Necromancer has an identical spell slot layout to the Sorcerer.
Duskblade was calculated using the Paladin method because Duskblades get access to a new spell level every ~4 levels.
Favored Soul has an identical spell slot layout to the Sorcerer.
Jester has an identical spell slot layout to the Bard.
Healer was calculated using the Cleric method.
Hexblade has an identical spell slot layout to the Paladin.
Savant (both lists) was calculated using the Ranger method because Rangers get access to a new spell level every ~4 levels.
Mystic Ranger was calculated using the Bard method (despite only having up to 5th-level spells).
Nightstalker has an identical spell slot layout to the Bard.
Sha'ir was calculated using the Sorcerer method but the kicker is a nerf instead.
Shaman (oriental) has an identical spell slot layout to the Cleric.
Shugenja has an identical spell slot layout to the Sorcerer.
Sohei has an identical spell slot layout to the Paladin.
Spellcaster was calculated using the Sorcerer method but the kicker is a nerf instead.
Spellthief has an identical spell slot layout to the Paladin.
Trickster Spellthief has an identical spell slot layout to the Bard.
Spirit Shaman was calculated using the Sorcerer method but the kicker is a nerf instead.
Urban Druid has an identical spell slot layout to the Druid.
Warmage has a near-identical spell slot layout to the Sorcerer.
Wu Jen has an identical spell slot layout to the Wizard.
Bonus Spell Points
For convenience, here's the bonus spell points table so you don't have to cross-reference it in the OGC while you're looking at this page:
To determine your number of bonus spell points gained from a high ability score, first find the row for the character’s ability score. Use whichever ability score would normally award bonus spells for the character’s class (Wisdom for clerics and druids, Intelligence for wizards, and so forth).
Next, find the column for the highest level of spell the character is capable of casting based on his class level (even if he doesn’t have a high enough ability score to cast spells of that level). At the point where the row and column intersect, you find the bonus spell points the character gains. This value can change each time his ability score undergoes a permanent change (such from an ability score increase due to character level or one from a wish spell) and each time his level changes.
Score
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
12-13
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
14-15
1
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
16-17
1
4
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
18-19
1
4
9
16
16
16
16
16
16
20-21
2
5
10
17
26
26
26
26
26
22-23
2
8
13
20
29
40
40
40
40
24-25
2
8
18
25
34
45
58
58
58
26-27
2
8
18
32
41
52
65
80
80
28-29
3
9
19
33
51
62
75
90
107
30-31
3
12
22
36
54
76
89
104
121
32-33
3
12
24
38
56
78
104
119
136
34-35
3
12
27
48
66
88
114
144
161
36-37
4
13
28
49
76
98
124
154
188
38-39
4
16
31
52
77
110
136
166
200
40-41
4
16
36
57
84
117
156
186
220
42-43
4
16
36
64
91
124
163
208
242
44-45
5
17
37
65
101
134
173
218
269
46-47
5
20
40
68
104
148
187
232
283
48-49
5
20
45
73
109
153
205
250
301
50-51
5
20
45
80
116
160
212
272
323
Regardless of these findings, the Spell Points system as-written is thoroughly broken. As-written it's ambiguous, blatantly favors prepared-type casters, royally screws-over spontaneous-type casters, and generally makes spellcasting even more hopelessly overpowered compared to mundanes.
I mean, it's great if you want to run an all-casters game (and there's ways to run an all-caster party well), but otherwise Spell Points as-is don't help all that much. Then again, it's worth noting that many videogame RPGs dating back to the SNES era ran all-caster parties in some fashion even if some of the characters were initially mundane-flavored such as Crono (Chrono Trigger) or Bartz (Final Fantasy 5). It's not an entirely-foreign concept to have a party like that, especially if you include the martial spellcasters and are careful to limit the power-creep non-martial casters live for.
Personally, in my regular game I run, I've implemented a blanket change to the Spell Points system by making specific edits to the "Regaining Spell Points" and "Vitalizing" sections such that they actually make sense and give pure-spontaneous casters an edge again. Additionally, I added a new mechanic called "Spell Point Burn" that helps reign-in over-spending your Spell Points while at the same time allowing the creation of "Mana Potions". However, in response to those changes I've had to make small alterations to the psionics rules and the meldshaping rules, and I've had to allow pure-mundanes to gestalt by default to help bring spellcasters-in-general back into their former uneasy balance... so it got really complicated really fast. On the flip-side though, all encounters the party faces now start at "APL+2" and "all-day buffs" (such as Mage Armor) recover their Spell Point cost so fast that they've unintentionally become dedicated all-day buffs without need for "persisting" tricks. Take from that what you will. :smallannoyed:
The Spell Points system was initially introduced in Unearthed Arcana and was included in the OGC (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/magic/spellPoints.htm). However, it only included the core spellcasting classes in its table of spell point progressions. As a result, anyone that wanted to play a non-OGC spellcasting class with spell points would have to eyeball the calculations for their spell point progression (assuming the GM allowed Spell Points at all).
Luckily, someone figured out how WotC did their calculations:
I'm going to try this again...and maybe this time I'll remember to include the important elements like nouns and such...
To calculate the spell points for minor spell casters such as paladins and rangers, use the following procedure:
1) Multiply the character's 1st level spells per day by 1.
2) Multiply the character's 2nd level spells per day by 3.
3) Multiply the character's 3rd level spells per day by 5.
4) Multiply the character's 4th level spells per day by 7.
5) Add these totals together.
For bards (and possibly other classes that can cast up to 6th level spells) use the following procedure:
1) Multiply the character's 1st level spells per day by 1.
2) Multiply the character's 2nd level spells per day by 3 (counting 0 spells per day as 1 spell per day).
3) Multiply the character's 3rd level spells per day by 5 (counting 0 spells per day as 1 spell per day).
4) Multiply the character's 4th level spells per day by 7 (counting 0 spells per day as 1 spell per day).
5) Multiply the character's 5th level spells per day by 9 (counting 0 spells per day as 1 spell per day).
6) Multiply the character's 6th level spells per day by 11 (counting 0 spells per day as 1 spell per day).
7) Add these totals together.
For wizards, clerics, and druids they used the following procedure for class levels 1 through 9 (remember not to include additional spells for domains or specialization):
1) Multiply the character's 1st level spells per day by 2.
2) Multiply the character's 2nd level spells per day by 3 (if the character can cast more than 1 2nd level spell, subtract 1 spell point from this total).
3) Multiply the character's 3rd level spells per day by 5.
4) Multiply the character's 4th level spells per day by 7 (if the character can cast more than 1 4th level spell, subtract 1 spell point from this total).
5) Multiply the character's 5th level spells per day by 9.
6) Add these totals together.
7) For each level above 9th add 16 to the previous level's total to get the current level's total.
For sorcerers, they used the procedure for wizards and priests but added an additional amount of spell points equal to (2X the character's highest spell level) -1 to the total.
For non-OGC spontaneous casters whose spell slot layout doesn't match up with the bard or sorcerer, use the wizard method, but the kicker described above should instead be a nerf of the same amount.
I hope that clears it up...and don't ask why I bothered to figure it out in the first place....
I've manually checked the methods given above (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AojdoKCdOXqNdHh3MDFUVDVRS0xBcTMteUNLSEZ3V Gc&usp=sharing) (if you're the kind of person that would insist I "show my work", click the tabs at the bottom of the page at that link) and made some corrections and additions in red such that the results matched the OGC and were fair.
Anyway, so I've spent the last couple of hours crunching the numbers. The following is a comprehensive set of tables of the spell point progressions of every spellcasting class in D&D 3.5 that I could get my hands on, including...
Bard (OGC)
Standard Cleric (OGC)
Standard Druid (OGC)
Paladin (OGC)
Ranger (OGC)
Sorcerer (OGC)
Wizard (OGC)
Spontaneous Cleric (OGC)
Spontaneous Druid (OGC)
Archivist (Heroes of Horror)
Artificer "Infusion Points" (Eberron Campaign Setting)
Beguiler (Player's Handbook II)
Death Master (Dragon Compendium)
Dread Necromancer (Heroes of Horror)
Duskblade (Player's Handbook II)
Favored Soul (Complete Divine)
Healer (Miniatures Handbook)
Hexblade (Complete Warrior)
Jester (Dragon Compendium)
Mystic Ranger (OGC and Dragon Magazine #336 page 105)
Nightstalker (Races of Ansalon)
Savant (Dragon Compendium)
Sha'ir (Dragon Compendium)
Shaman (oriental) (Oriental Adventures)
Shugenja (Complete Divine)
Sohei (Oriental Adventures)
Generic Spellcaster (OGC)
Spellthief (Complete Adventurer)
Trickster Spellthief (Complete Adventurer and Dragon Magazine #353 page 85)
Spirit Shaman (Complete Divine)
Urban Druid (Dragon Compendium)
Warmage (Complete Arcane)
Wu Jen (Complete Arcane)
Bard-Type includes the Bard, Jester, Nightstalker, and Trickster Spellthief.
Wizard-Type includes the Wizard, Standard Cleric, Standard Druid, Death Master, Shaman (oriental), Urban Druid, and Wu Jen.
Paladin-Type includes the Paladin, Ranger, Hexblade, Sohei, and Spellthief.
Sorcerer-Type includes the Sorcerer, Spontaneous Cleric, Spontaneous Druid, Beguiler, Dread Necromancer, Favored Soul, Shugenja, and Warmage.
Level
Bard-Type
Wizard-Type
Paladin-Type
Sorcerer-Type
1
2
3
2
0
4
5
3
1
7
8
4
5
11
0
14
5
6
16
0
19
6
9
24
1
29
7
14
33
1
37
8
17
44
1
51
9
22
56
1
63
10
29
75
4
81
11
34
88
4
97
12
41
104
9
115
13
50
120
9
131
14
57
136
10
149
15
67
152
17
165
16
81
168
20
183
17
95
184
25
199
18
113
200
26
217
19
133
216
41
233
20
144
232
48
249
Artificers don't have "Spell Points", but instead have "Infusion Points".
Level
Archivist
Artificer (Infusion Points)
Mystic Ranger
Duskblade
Healer
1
4
2
2
6
2
6
3
1
3
8
3
11
6
2
4
16
4
16
9
5
5
19
5
26
17
8
11
36
6
34
22
14
15
41
7
49
22
19
21
64
8
61
34
29
25
71
9
82
41
37
35
105
10
98
41
51
44
121
11
114
50
63
54
137
12
130
59
70
62
153
13
146
66
84
77
169
14
162
87
85
89
185
15
178
101
92
103
201
16
194
106
92
118
217
17
210
124
104
137
233
18
226
133
104
153
249
19
242
144
109
179
265
20
258
144
109
200
281
Savant has two columns here because it has separate Spell Point pools for its arcane spells and divine spells.
The calculations for the Sha'ir, Spellcaster, and Spirit Shaman all use the "spontaneous nerf" I added to the methods quote at the top of this post.
Level
Savant (arcane)
Savant (divine)
Sha'ir
Spellcaster
Spirit Shaman
1
3
3
3
2
5
5
5
3
6
7
10
4
13
12
15
5
0
16
15
26
6
0
29
28
36
7
1
36
36
52
8
1
54
52
67
9
1
64
67
90
10
1
1
80
81
106
11
4
1
94
97
120
12
4
1
110
111
136
13
9
1
124
127
150
14
9
4
140
141
166
15
10
4
154
157
180
16
17
9
170
171
196
17
20
9
184
187
210
18
25
10
200
201
226
19
26
17
216
217
242
20
41
20
232
233
258
My Reasoning for each Class
Spontaneous Druid has the same spell slots as a Standard Druid, but is a spontaneous caster, so it's essentially-identical to the Sorcerer.
Spontaneous Cleric has the same spell slots as a Standard Cleric, but is a spontaneous caster, so it's essentially-identical to the Sorcerer.
Archivist was calculated using the Wizard method.
Artificer Infusion Points were calculated using the Bard method.
Beguiler has a near-identical spell slot layout to the Sorcerer.
Death Master has an identical spell slot layout to the Wizard.
Dread Necromancer has an identical spell slot layout to the Sorcerer.
Duskblade was calculated using the Paladin method because Duskblades get access to a new spell level every ~4 levels.
Favored Soul has an identical spell slot layout to the Sorcerer.
Jester has an identical spell slot layout to the Bard.
Healer was calculated using the Cleric method.
Hexblade has an identical spell slot layout to the Paladin.
Savant (both lists) was calculated using the Ranger method because Rangers get access to a new spell level every ~4 levels.
Mystic Ranger was calculated using the Bard method (despite only having up to 5th-level spells).
Nightstalker has an identical spell slot layout to the Bard.
Sha'ir was calculated using the Sorcerer method but the kicker is a nerf instead.
Shaman (oriental) has an identical spell slot layout to the Cleric.
Shugenja has an identical spell slot layout to the Sorcerer.
Sohei has an identical spell slot layout to the Paladin.
Spellcaster was calculated using the Sorcerer method but the kicker is a nerf instead.
Spellthief has an identical spell slot layout to the Paladin.
Trickster Spellthief has an identical spell slot layout to the Bard.
Spirit Shaman was calculated using the Sorcerer method but the kicker is a nerf instead.
Urban Druid has an identical spell slot layout to the Druid.
Warmage has a near-identical spell slot layout to the Sorcerer.
Wu Jen has an identical spell slot layout to the Wizard.
Bonus Spell Points
For convenience, here's the bonus spell points table so you don't have to cross-reference it in the OGC while you're looking at this page:
To determine your number of bonus spell points gained from a high ability score, first find the row for the character’s ability score. Use whichever ability score would normally award bonus spells for the character’s class (Wisdom for clerics and druids, Intelligence for wizards, and so forth).
Next, find the column for the highest level of spell the character is capable of casting based on his class level (even if he doesn’t have a high enough ability score to cast spells of that level). At the point where the row and column intersect, you find the bonus spell points the character gains. This value can change each time his ability score undergoes a permanent change (such from an ability score increase due to character level or one from a wish spell) and each time his level changes.
Score
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
12-13
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
14-15
1
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
16-17
1
4
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
18-19
1
4
9
16
16
16
16
16
16
20-21
2
5
10
17
26
26
26
26
26
22-23
2
8
13
20
29
40
40
40
40
24-25
2
8
18
25
34
45
58
58
58
26-27
2
8
18
32
41
52
65
80
80
28-29
3
9
19
33
51
62
75
90
107
30-31
3
12
22
36
54
76
89
104
121
32-33
3
12
24
38
56
78
104
119
136
34-35
3
12
27
48
66
88
114
144
161
36-37
4
13
28
49
76
98
124
154
188
38-39
4
16
31
52
77
110
136
166
200
40-41
4
16
36
57
84
117
156
186
220
42-43
4
16
36
64
91
124
163
208
242
44-45
5
17
37
65
101
134
173
218
269
46-47
5
20
40
68
104
148
187
232
283
48-49
5
20
45
73
109
153
205
250
301
50-51
5
20
45
80
116
160
212
272
323
Regardless of these findings, the Spell Points system as-written is thoroughly broken. As-written it's ambiguous, blatantly favors prepared-type casters, royally screws-over spontaneous-type casters, and generally makes spellcasting even more hopelessly overpowered compared to mundanes.
I mean, it's great if you want to run an all-casters game (and there's ways to run an all-caster party well), but otherwise Spell Points as-is don't help all that much. Then again, it's worth noting that many videogame RPGs dating back to the SNES era ran all-caster parties in some fashion even if some of the characters were initially mundane-flavored such as Crono (Chrono Trigger) or Bartz (Final Fantasy 5). It's not an entirely-foreign concept to have a party like that, especially if you include the martial spellcasters and are careful to limit the power-creep non-martial casters live for.
Personally, in my regular game I run, I've implemented a blanket change to the Spell Points system by making specific edits to the "Regaining Spell Points" and "Vitalizing" sections such that they actually make sense and give pure-spontaneous casters an edge again. Additionally, I added a new mechanic called "Spell Point Burn" that helps reign-in over-spending your Spell Points while at the same time allowing the creation of "Mana Potions". However, in response to those changes I've had to make small alterations to the psionics rules and the meldshaping rules, and I've had to allow pure-mundanes to gestalt by default to help bring spellcasters-in-general back into their former uneasy balance... so it got really complicated really fast. On the flip-side though, all encounters the party faces now start at "APL+2" and "all-day buffs" (such as Mage Armor) recover their Spell Point cost so fast that they've unintentionally become dedicated all-day buffs without need for "persisting" tricks. Take from that what you will. :smallannoyed: