Spontaneous Druids & Clerics?

[Schattenbach]

The variant option for them is there ... how does it actually affect these classes (and their roles and general responsibilities in the world as they no longer have rather free access to some of the ritual-like stuff and such they usually do or are expected to use as far as society is concerned)? Furthermore, how does it affect them (balance wise) if spontaneous casters use the spell point system (while prepared casters - i.e. wizards, wu je, archivists, healers, etc - still do their things just as usual)?

Has someone some helpful advice (or story to share about how this worked out for them when it was used in some game)?

Thanks in advance.

[Troacctid]

Biggest downsides are the loss of downtime spell access, reduced capacity for long-term buffs, and losing access to Sanctified spells. Upsides are an extra spell slot per level, plus the usual upsides of not having to prepare spells in advance. Personally, I like the freedom of spontaneous casting, but in this case it's generally not worth what you have to give up.

[Komatik]

The Cleric list at least is also pretty built around prep - lots of nice, but narrow and rarely applicable spells. Druid probably works out better.

[Palanan]

Originally Posted by Schattenbach
The variant option for them is there ...

Out of curiosity, where are these variants to be found? Is this Dragon material?

[Zaq]

It's in Unearthed Arcana. It also happens to be available on the SRD. (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/spontaneousDivineCasters.htm)