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I really don't like the casting system - not the spell level or casting time or anything like that, just the fact that for, say, a first level wizard you can cast 2 first level spells and you're spent. Further, it took you eight hours to properly prepare those two spells. The party's wizard may as well head back to the inn and get drunk for all the good they'll be after the fact. If they charged by the hour for their services, they wouldn't earn much, as be basically useless after. That's why I always said you get your actual ability score modifier, not just one extra spell for having a mod between +1 and +4. I mean sure, I get that hedge wizards are nothing to write ballards about (written by that inn's local entertainment, who sings a jaunty jig about how the mighty, awe-inspiring, terrifyingly powerful wizard cast two magic missiles and then headed back home because clearly his work here was done).

(Speaking of wizards and bards, don't the pair seem more suited to npc's than adventurers?)

Anyway, I was unable to sleep last night and had this kind of thing stuck on my mind (for a few months now). I've written up ideas for cool-down (ala world of warcraft, dragon age), recharge (my own idea), and mana. Let me know what you think.

General: should these apply to per-day class and race abilities? (ie: Turn Undead, Smite Evil, Bard Song, Barbarian Rage&hellip

 

 

Cool-down

 

This system allows wizards, clerics, druids and the like to cast spells more often than their current, extremely limited, amount per day. Further, it allows them to do so spontaneously (in the cleric and druid’s case all spells), like sorcerers. It evens the playing field for Vancian (prepare-fire-forget) casters who have to prepare spells ahead of time, need prior notice of the obstacles ahead, and 8 hours rest to prepare for casting a single spell, once – if they don’t have the spell at hand, they have to find somewhere safe to prepare, distraction-free and danger-free, and still their casting options are severely limited at low levels.

Having a spell cool-down system allows continuous casting, although wizards and the like do still have to wait while the spell they just cast recharges.

With a cool-down, casters can cast a spell, wait a bit then cast it again. They can choose to cast a different spell, if they have spells per day left. You still use up spells per day. What this allows is flexibility in spell choice, not in actual casting limits.

The cool-down amount is very simple: basically, the time it takes to actually cast the spell – free, single or full-round (or more); plus a number of rounds equal to the spell level. So, if wizard casts Magic Missile, they have to wait one round to cast it again. A spell like Antipathy, however, which takes an hour to cast, requires the wizard to wait 1 hour + 8 rounds for an 8^th-level spell. Arcane Eye which takes ten minutes requires a ten minute wait + another 4 rounds as it is a 4^th-level spell.

In all other respects, spell-casting is as written: spells per day remain the same, as do spells known and bonuses to Intelligence, Wisdom and Charisma affecting potency and number of spells, etc. All components must be observed, except with metamagic feats. Material components must still be in the caster’s possession, and are used up in the casting. Bards and Sorcerers follow this rule as well, but otherwise retain all their class-specific benefits such as Bard Song, weapon and armour proficiencies, skill allocation, etc.

Spell Mastery: the feat Spell Mastery is altered; instead of some spells being spontaneous whereas the rest are prepared, the wizard can now choose a specific spell, such as Fireball, and be able to cast it a number of times per day equal to their Intelligence modifier, without affecting their spells per day quota. That one spell is independent of their repertoire, although they have to rest to regain use of that particular spell.

Cool-down doesn’t apply just to spells, it also applies to class features. Daily abilities count as spells under this system; the character must wait a period equal to the action it took to activate the ability, plus half of the relevant class level, rounded down. For example, a 5^th level paladin can use Smite Evil twice per day, waiting two rounds and being able to use the ability as per usual.

Action Points, if used, can either allow an additional use of a class ability or spell or to negate the wait time, but not both, unless the character can use two action points per round.

• Spells-per-day remains unaffected, as does Spells Known where applicable – you’re still spent if you use up all your spells
• No prep or slots needed; all casters are spontaneous
• Cool-down time (in rounds) = casting time + spell level (- ½ Con Mod?)
• Intelligence still affects aspects like spells known, DCs, learning ability, etc
• Bards, Sorcerers etc?

 

Recharge

If cool-down seems too drastic, perhaps recharge is more appropriate for some campaigns.

With meditation, prayer, study, practice or the like, characters can prepare for an hour to regain some casting ability or use of class abilities.

A wizard can study a few key spells in their book. A cleric can pray for particular spells in the field. A paladin can regain their Smite Evil attempts.

This one hour does not constitute proper rest, and does not restore hit points, nor does it remove ability damage, as per a full 8 hours sleep. However, it does allow a character to regain some of their special powers.

In short, one hour’s focus in this manner restores 1d6+1 spell slots (any level, character’s choice), or 1d4+1 per-day abilities such as Smite Evil or Wild Shape, etc.

• Studying, praying, practicing etc for one hour restores your spellcasting, but not your health, ability damage, etc.
• Possibly only a portion, ie: your relevant ability (Int for Wizards)

 

Mana Points

MP cost = spell level x 4

Max MP = class level x ability modifier x 4

 

Spell Level	MP cost
1	4
2	8
3	12
4	16
5	20
6	24
7	28
8	32
9	36

 

	Maximum MP
Class Level	Relevant Ability Modifier
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
1	4	8	12	16	20	24	28	32	36	40
2	8	16	24	32	40	48	56	64	72	80
3	12	24	36	48	60	72	84	96	108	120
4	16	32	48	64	80	96	112	128	144	160
5	20	40	60	80	100	120	140	160	180	200
6	24	48	72	96	120	144	168	192	216	240
7	28	56	84	112	140	168	196	224	252	280
8	32	64	96	128	160	192	224	256	288	320
9	36	72	108	144	180	216	252	288	324	360
10	40	80	120	160	200	240	280	320	360	400
11	44	88	132	176	220	264	308	352	396	440
12	48	96	144	192	240	288	336	384	432	480
13	52	104	156	208	260	312	364	416	468	520
14	56	112	168	224	280	336	392	448	504	560
15	60	120	180	240	300	360	420	480	540	600
16	64	128	192	256	320	384	448	512	576	640
17	68	136	204	272	340	408	476	544	612	680
18	72	144	216	288	360	432	504	576	648	720
19	76	152	228	304	380	456	532	608	684	760
20	80	160	240	320	400	480	560	640	720	800
21	84	168	252	336	420	504	588	672	756	840
22	88	176	264	352	440	528	616	704	792	880
23	92	184	276	368	460	552	644	736	828	920
24	96	192	288	384	480	576	672	768	864	960
25	100	200	300	400	500	600	700	800	900	1000
26	104	208	312	416	520	624	728	832	936	1040
27	108	216	324	432	540	648	756	864	972	1080
28	112	224	336	448	560	672	784	896	1008	1120
29	116	232	348	464	580	696	812	928	1044	1160
30	120	240	360	480	600	720	840	960	1080	1200

 

Converting to a mana system has it’s own issues: if mana is involved, how does one replenish it? Rest, for one. Otherwise, one needs spells, which should probably be limited to divine in nature. Then there’s potions – how does one get around using MP to regain MP? EXP sacrifice? I think I saw on this forum somwhere, an idea for mana potions and the crafting thereof...

 

I really don't like the casting system - not the spell level or casting time or anything like that, just the fact that for, say, a first level wizard you can cast 2 first level spells and you're spent. Further, it took you eight hours to properly prepare those two spells. The party's wizard may as well head back to the inn and get drunk for all the good they'll be after the fact. If they charged by the hour for their services, they wouldn't earn much, as be basically useless after. That's why I always said you get your actual ability score modifier, not just one extra spell for having a mod between +1 and +4. I mean sure, I get that hedge wizards are nothing to write ballards about (written by that inn's local entertainment, who sings a jaunty jig about how the mighty, awe-inspiring, terrifyingly powerful wizard cast two magic missiles and then headed back home because clearly his work here was done).
(Speaking of wizards and bards, don't the pair seem more suited to npc's than adventurers?)
Anyway, I was unable to sleep last night and had this kind of thing stuck on my mind (for a few months now). I've written up ideas for cool-down (ala world of warcraft, dragon age), recharge (my own idea), and mana. Let me know what you think.

Disclaimers:  I haven't read through your concepts for a few reasons.  First is I don't believe they are anything new that hasn't been written at least once in the past ten years.  Secondly, there's so much there and the formatting isn't all that great (too much space) so it wouldn't make an easy or enjoyable read.  The last that I have some other thoughts based on your premise.

The vatican spellcasting system had been part of DnDd from the begining up until 4e.  There have been various changes suggested over the year but almost all of them will just serve to power up what are already DnD's "power" characters.  I believe 4e did away with the "old style" spellcasting but basically makes everyone a 'spellcaster' even if what they do isn't called spellcasting.

I'd also say that 3.5 may already have some "solutions" to your issues.  I'm not all that familiar with it but Psionics is really just a different take on magic that uses alternative rules.  The later 3.5 books also include something called 'Reserve Feats' which give a spellcaster an ability that is usable every round with that abilities power based on a qualifying uncast spell.  I could also point out that spellcasters may not be able to physically cast spells every round for an hour but they can also make use of many relatively low cost magic items (scrolls and wands) that immitate spells they could otherwise cast.

Now my finishing thoughts are that you need to re-evaluate a spellcaster's performance.  You're looking at low levels and I'll admit that a Wizard throwing out two MM spells and then being done for they day is weak.  The problem there is that you are looking at very poor spell usage.  During that encounter he could have instead cast a single Sleep spell and just won the entire encounter for everyone and still had a spell left for a second encounter.  That lowly Wizard 1 may also get so few spell that he's only good for an encounter but what about the Fighter or Barbarian who takes one good hit and is now on the verge of death?  You see their encounter duration isn't so great either when they start expending resource such as hit points.  It may also seem surprising but in practice spellcasters rarely run out of spells unless they really throw out spells just to burn through them because spellcasters can just end encounters and it is a common practice to rest and restore that ability when they're running low.

Maybe you've heard about the "one hour adventuring day" which is basically a group that gets rested up, goes out, has their spellcasters blow through their daily spells, and then goes back and rests until the casters are recharged again.  I blame that situation on DMs who cater to that style of play and on players who always want to "go nova" every encounter.  Although it may mean more work for the DM and more restraint from the PCs I think it is possible to get in a full day of adventuring provided the DM doesn't constantly throw challenging (EL=eAPL) or harder encounters at the players; this should give the "weaker but consistant" characters more time to shine while a spellcaster learn to hold off unless needed.  Most systems that try altering the spellcasting system want to make adventuring all day easier but they rarely want to reduce the spellcaster's power during any single encounter; the net effect is that spellcasters are always stronger and you take away the one possible advantage that non-casters had.