Casting as a skill, not class feature. (3.X)

[LordErebus12]

No, I'd say you're assuming more optimization than you give credit for. That +27 was a strict minimum, based on functional limits (ability score of 10+spell level to learn/cast), so we set the base bar there, distant but doable on a 17-20 roll. Anything higher IS optimized to at least a small degree. If the player wants to optimize it, they can, and can be rewarded, but I don't think taking 10 is included in the assumptions, nor is aid another or items. Those would be optimization strategies, not base play assumptions. (taking them into account for an upper ceiling is advisable, but again, don't assume they're included in the optimization floor.)

Redwarlock is right, we built it to allow non-optimized characters at least a chance, lol.

[LordErebus12]

cleric is up, except for its cure mass/inflict mass abilities.

[Silvernale]

I recommend reading The Black Company d20. It uses skill based magic, with spells that are lesser versions of epic seeds. You learn a spell, like fire manipulation, and at base DC you can do 1d4 fire damage by touch. Then you can "augment" the effect by increasing the DC. The skills work like this:
Magic Use - to cast spells
Ghost Sound - to make minor phantom sounds
Detect Magic - this is no longer a spell
Resistance - used for resisting magic

Oh yeah, casting spells takes HP based on the power of the spell, and this drain is reduced by your magic power.

[LordErebus12]

I recommend reading The Black Company d20. It uses skill based magic, with spells that are lesser versions of epic seeds. You learn a spell, like fire manipulation, and at base DC you can do 1d4 fire damage by touch. Then you can "augment" the effect by increasing the DC. The skills work like this:
Magic Use - to cast spells
Ghost Sound - to make minor phantom sounds
Detect Magic - this is no longer a spell
Resistance - used for resisting magic

Oh yeah, casting spells takes HP based on the power of the spell, and this drain is reduced by your magic power.

is there an srd?

[Silvernale]

is there an srd?

I don't know what SRD is

[Khatoblepas]

This looks interesting, but I have a few questions.

-) How does 0/0 Base attack bonus progression work in this system for spellcasting (Survivor, Warhulk)? A Commoner 1/Survivor 5 could easily have +0 BAB. Does this give them all the spells? Related: Commoners are now full casters.

-) Due to the way you calculate caster level based on base attack bonus, all prestige classes now grant caster levels, with stuff like Eldritch Knight making it worse for a gish to exist, but buffing the likes of Arcane Duelist and Eunuch Warlock to high heavens. Caster classes that previously lost caster levels now have full caster levels, and gish classes that didn't now destroy your casting.

-) How does this work with racial hit die? If it takes it into account, how do you account for, say, the Famine Spirit walking around with 9th level spells?

-) How does it interact with racial spellcasting?

[LordErebus12]

I don't know what SRD is

System Reference Document, such as d20srd.org or dndsrd.net for 3.5

This looks interesting, but I have a few questions.

-) How does 0/0 Base attack bonus progression work in this system for spellcasting (Survivor, Warhulk)? A Commoner 1/Survivor 5 could easily have +0 BAB. Does this give them all the spells? Related: Commoners are now full casters.

-) Due to the way you calculate caster level based on base attack bonus, all prestige classes now grant caster levels, with stuff like Eldritch Knight making it worse for a gish to exist, but buffing the likes of Arcane Duelist and Eunuch Warlock to high heavens. Caster classes that previously lost caster levels now have full caster levels, and gish classes that didn't now destroy your casting.

-) How does this work with racial hit die? If it takes it into account, how do you account for, say, the Famine Spirit walking around with 9th level spells?

-) How does it interact with racial spellcasting?

• Sadly, warhulk would be unable to improve its ability to cast spells, as it would not progress via Base Attack Bonus. Ive never agreed with the Warhulk, feeling it completely broken. Typically, I wouldnt allow it run in a normal game, let alone with this rule variant.
  
• perhaps Prestiege classes do not advance spell progression via base attack...? with levels that grant "+1 level of existing spellcasting class" stacking with the total? Honestly, Prestige classes didn't even come into the equation until you mentioned them, so i dont have any ideas on this.
  
• im not familiar with the famine spirit, so id be a poor judge of how it affects it. i would say that, since spellcraft is required to cast, and cannot be used untrained, that unless a creature has taken ranks, it cannot cast.
  
• not sure...

[LordErebus12]

This looks interesting, but I have a few questions.

-) Due to the way you calculate caster level based on base attack bonus, all prestige classes now grant caster levels, with stuff like Eldritch Knight making it worse for a gish to exist, but buffing the likes of Arcane Duelist and Eunuch Warlock to high heavens. Caster classes that previously lost caster levels now have full caster levels, and gish classes that didn't now destroy your casting.

I added a section to the first post about PrCs, Redwarlock came up with it.

It might take a little work on the DM/Player part to adjust the PrC slightly to make sense, using the governing rule.

[LordErebus12]

-) How does it interact with racial spellcasting?

It doesn't. They do not function any differently than normal.

[Silvernale]

I've only found a 2 page pdf summarizing their magic rules aside from the actual game book. I don't know if it is allowed to post on here.

[LordErebus12]

I've only found a 2 page pdf summarizing their magic rules aside from the actual game book. I don't know if it is allowed to post on here.

you could send it via a personal message if you want.