Spell Points For Sorcerers?

[Strill]

In the opinion of our group, Sorcerers are the weakest full casters in the game. Instead of the Arcane Recovery or Natural Recovery or Combat Wild Shape or Channel Divinity features that give other casters bonus spell slots and abilities on a short rest, they get Metamagic. And while the Twinned Spell metamagic is exceptionally powerful, the other metamagics are somewhat mediocre, and Sorcerers don't bring much else to the table. The closest class to the Sorcerer is the Bard, and the Sorcerer's non-spell class features are quite lacking compared to the wide variety of powerful goodies goodies a Bard gets.

Therefore we've decided to allow Sorcerers, and Sorcerers specifically, to use the Spell Point system. Sorcerers in 3.5 were distinguished by their flexible spell casting, so it makes sense to us that spell points are a good fit for Sorcerers in 5e. It also puts less of a strain on a Sorcerer's spell selection, since they're no longer obligated to learn spells of each spell level to avoid waste.

[Corey]

How is this significantly different from letting them turn spell slots into sorcery points and back to spell slots?

I guess it could be simpler if you gave them one big pool of points and let them knock themselves out, no actions (except for the actual spell casting) required.

[Strill]

How is this significantly different from letting them turn spell slots into sorcery points and back to spell slots?It doesn't waste half the value of the spell slot. Normally converting between slots and sorcery points and back is inefficient. You waste one or two sorcery points with each conversion. We see this as unnecessarily punishing.

[SharkForce]

i think metamagic is a bit stronger than you give it credit for. careful spell is great for save-or-suck AoEs (especially ones that create a zone of unpleasantness). subtle spell isn't directly powerful, but it makes a variety of enchantments no longer garbage. quicken spell can give you cantrip damage that is competitive with or slightly better than a warlock (or much better than a warlock if you splash a couple of warlock levels), and works well with spells that you concentrate on and spend an action to activate, such as eyebite or sunbeam (that is, you can cast a quickened fireball and fire off a sunbeam in the same round, so long as this isn't the round you cast sunbeam. you can also quicken sunbeam and get two rays in a single round, one for casting and one from your regular action, for that matter).

most of the others are admittedly not that impressive, i suppose.

that said, i still agree sorcerers are the weakest full caster class. kryx has some houserules aimed at helping them out if you check his sig.

[Starsinger]

Do note that using spell points, you can only cast a single 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th level spell per day.

[SharkForce]

Do note that using spell points, you can only cast a single 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th level spell per day.

this is true. it is actually a minor nerf at level 19 and 20.

[DivisibleByZero]

this is true. it is actually a minor nerf at level 19 and 20.

It's not a nerf. It's a trade. You're becoming extremely more versatile in exchange for a bit of power. You still get 6th through 9th level spells, you just get one less of 6th and 7th.
That's a fair trade. It makes it equivalent to a warlock's casting. Using the spell point system, every caster can basically create the slots to cast like a warlock if he or she wishes.
That he or she can instead choose to create the slots at level level needed at the moment is what gives the versatility.
It's not a nerf in any way.

[Kryx]

i still agree sorcerers are the weakest full caster class. kryx has some houserules aimed at helping them out if you check his sig.
http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?427376-Wizards-vs-Sorcerer-Spell-List&p=19527945#post19527945 if you want a direct link and the responses to the houserules.