Community

Why I like 5th Age Magic

In my previous post, I suggested looking to Dragonlance 5th Age for an alternative point-based magic system. The reasons I like this system are threefold:

1) To me, it feels more like fantasy literature. There isn't a pre-defined list of spells or powers... The mage thinks up the spell effect they desire, spends their mana and attempts to cast the spell (with largers spells being more difficult than lesser spells).

2) A mage can spend more or less of their mana from their spell point pool depending on the situation. As noted, larger spell effects are more difficult to cast. Adding a little illumination to the tip of your staff is easier than blasting a large group of opponents with a blinding light.

3) A mage can make up new spells as needed. Because the mechanic

...

It's hard to know where WotC will be taking magic in the next incarnation of D&D, but from some of the discussions, one might infer something similar to 4th Edition's powers will make the cut as well as a Vancian-like system as a variant module (fire-and-forget spells similar to first, second and third edition D&D). 

I'd like to suggest an alternative magic system from a flavor of D&D that not many people have experienced -- Dragonlance 5th Age. DL5A was based on the diceless SAGA Rules System (not related to the "Saga Edition" of the Star Wars RPG rules). DL5A used a playing card mechanic with stats in the 1 - 10 range. Magic was based on spell points which equalled the square of your appropriate stat (i.e. - somewhere between 36 to 81 points for a spell caster of above average Reason...