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5 months ago ::
Dec 30, 2012 - 10:36PM
#11
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Date Joined:
Oct 16, 2009
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A simple caster is really easy. I mean, really easy. Give them a pool of "arcane damage dice" and a list of maneuver-like spells. Tada, done.
Hey, look, it's my sorcerer idea again!
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5 months ago ::
Dec 30, 2012 - 10:52PM
#12
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Date Joined:
Sep 26, 2001
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Well, later-4e already had the Elemental Sorcerer, it was about as simple as the Knight or Thief (not quite as simplistic as the Slayer), so like every problem 5e is struggling with...  Seriously, though, a simple caster can't be that difficult in concept or design. A 'blaster,' a Warlock or Warmage like class with an 'Eldritch Blast' or 'Mana Bolt' and perhaps a "Mana Shield" or "Dispel" ability, as well. He just spams away, getting more dice as he levels, just like the guy with the big sword. The difficult part is the same problem D&D (except 4e, of course) has always had with non-casters: making them a worthwhile and contributing alongside the complicated casters.
Love 4e? Concerned about its future? Join the Old Guard of 4e"You want The Tooth? You can't handle The Tooth!" - Dahlver-Nar. "If magic is unrestrained in the campaign, D&D quickly degenerates into a weird wizard show where players get bored quickly" - E. Gary Gygax
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5 months ago ::
Dec 31, 2012 - 4:55AM
#13
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A simple caster is really easy. I mean, really easy. Give them a pool of "arcane damage dice" and a list of maneuver-like spells. Tada, done.
This is what I'd mostly like to see.
In other words, something VERY similar to the Warlock in 3.5.
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5 months ago ::
Dec 31, 2012 - 5:28AM
#14
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Date Joined:
Aug 13, 2004
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And a healer is also simple to do. Healing magic don't have to be regular spells, 4th edition showed it.
"They are making it clear that when modern design and common sense come into conflict with tradition, tradition wins." - thecasualoblivion
"Vancian isn't broken, you just have to set your game to the wizard's clock!" - Oxybe
"In many ways, making a new edition of D&D is alot like trying to sell a car to the Amish." - Dwarfslayer
"Encounters are the heart of the AD&D game" - PHB AD&D 2nd edition.
"you shouldn't even bother trying to become like me." - Gary Gygax (Elfcrusher confirmed)
"Feel free to claim I said anything you like. How's someone going to call you out on it? Are they going to be all like, 'I know all of the things that Gary said, and that's not one of them?'"
- Gary Gygax
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5 months ago ::
Dec 31, 2012 - 5:38AM
#15
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Just give them utility powers to offset simple magical damage dice
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5 months ago ::
Dec 31, 2012 - 5:52AM
#16
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Date Joined:
Apr 10, 2006
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I would love to see an atwill caster that each has a scaleing at will attack (not just eldritch blast, but 2-4 diffrent options) and 2-3 at will powers that dont scale over the cource of the first 10 levels... but also gain spell ritual casting... infact the more I think about it the more charmed works
Before posting, ask yourself WWWS: What Would Wrecan Say?
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5 months ago ::
Dec 31, 2012 - 6:48AM
#17
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Date Joined:
Jul 18, 2007
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For simple caster classes, I woukd turn magic into what it is from elder scrolls. You have to wield magic in a hand, have to take time to swap spells, and the vast majority of spells are element based combat magic.
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5 months ago ::
Dec 31, 2012 - 6:57AM
#18
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Date Joined:
Mar 26, 2007
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So, blasty-type with rituals seems to be popular.
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5 months ago ::
Dec 31, 2012 - 7:16AM
#19
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Date Joined:
Aug 31, 2008
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I don't consider Damage Dice plus Maneuvers to be inherently simple. It can certainly be played that way: just put all your dice into damage every round. But even at level 1, a fighter has three choices: parry, damage, or maneuver. By level 11, he has 6 dice and 7 maneuvers (including damage and parry). When you think about it, that is a lot of complexity.
So to me, complexity doesn't directly relate to at-will or daily powers. It comes down to choices that you make during the game. A simple character is one with few choices to make: a fighter who always uses his dice for the same thing, for example.
What this means is that we already have a simple caster: the wizard. All you have to do is make sure to prepare damaging spells and cast them with every slot you have. You don't even have to prepare your full number of spells if you don't want to; just as a fighter can choose to ignore his other maneuvers.
Because all the damage spells deal increased damage with higher slots, you could even make a VERY simple caster who only uses one spell (in addition to at-wills).
You are certainly giving up the versatility that comes with being a wizard, but so is the fighter who decides to always use his dice for the same thing every round.
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5 months ago ::
Dec 31, 2012 - 7:22AM
#20
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Date Joined:
Nov 21, 2009
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I don't consider Damage Dice plus Maneuvers to be inherently simple. It can certainly be played that way: just put all your dice into damage every round. But even at level 1, a fighter has three choices: parry, damage, or maneuver. By level 11, he has 6 dice and 7 maneuvers (including damage and parry). When you think about it, that is a lot of complexity.
So to me, complexity doesn't directly relate to at-will or daily powers. It comes down to choices that you make during the game. A simple character is one with few choices to make: a fighter who always uses his dice for the same thing, for example.
What this means is that we already have a simple caster: the wizard. All you have to do is make sure to prepare damaging spells and cast them with every slot you have. You don't even have to prepare your full number of spells if you don't want to; just as a fighter can choose to ignore his other maneuvers.
Because all the damage spells deal increased damage with higher slots, you could even make a VERY simple caster who only uses one spell (in addition to at-wills).
You are certainly giving up the versatility that comes with being a wizard, but so is the fighter who decides to always use his dice for the same thing every round.
This can work, but the presentation will be important. In the PHB, you need to show players how to use the simple version of each class.
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