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Author Topic: 3.5 Rebuild Poll Part 26  (Read 1615 times)

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bhu

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3.5 Rebuild Poll Part 26
« on: November 05, 2009, 08:57:16 AM »
If you were rebuilding 3.5, would you keep Vancian magic?
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RobbyPants

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Re: 3.5 Rebuild Poll Part 26
« Reply #1 on: November 05, 2009, 09:26:21 AM »
Ultimately, I voted for Vancian.  I prefer spell points, but that's not because I see anything inherntly wrong with Vancian casting, but rather that I don't find it intuitive.  If I were making a game for me, I'd go with spell points.  

Thinking of this as "rebuilding 3.5" (changing as little as possible), I'd keep the vancian system, although I might lean for a casting method much closer to the beguiler/dread necromancer/warmage for all casters (narrowly focused spell list, you know all spells on your list, you spontaneously cast as a sorcerer off of that list).
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veekie

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Re: 3.5 Rebuild Poll Part 26
« Reply #2 on: November 05, 2009, 10:27:25 AM »
Ultimately, I see Vancian as a dead end, too rigid for simulating most magic systems used in most fantasy settings. Perhaps Vancian like the Spirit Shaman is acceptable(e.g. select spells to prepare, you can cast them spontanously from your prepared list), as is the sorceror/beguiler style, but Vancian as wizards and clerics do sticks in my craw.
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j0lt

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Re: 3.5 Rebuild Poll Part 26
« Reply #3 on: November 05, 2009, 10:53:33 AM »
Neither Vancian casting, nor spell points really do it for me.  I haven't quite figured out an alternate system yet, but I've got bits and pieces of it floating around in my head.  Just gotta wait until the pieces float together in the right arrangement and then I'll have it!  :p

For lower-magic campaigns, Urban Arcana (d20 Modern) has a great system called Incantations, which feels a lot more like the spells you see in movies, or read about in books.  I quite like it!
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Midnight_v

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Re: 3.5 Rebuild Poll Part 26
« Reply #4 on: November 05, 2009, 11:08:41 AM »
They've tried a lot of magic systems...

There no real reason to get rid of vancian casting and make everyone learn something new.
It wouldn't seem like D&D without it, I guess. . .

Now... the POWER of these spells??? Thats gotta fix. . .
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dman11235

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Re: 3.5 Rebuild Poll Part 26
« Reply #5 on: November 05, 2009, 05:07:13 PM »
As long as the spells are recovered on a /day basis, then the system will fail in some way.

If it's /encounter, then it will work quite well.  This goes for both spell points and vancian.  And I'm sure there are multiple other nifty mechanics that can be used.

Also, a small amount of /day can work.  I created a system that has mostly at will abilities, and then a pool refreshed on a daily basis that gave the powers a little more oomph.  But the system is viable without using those points.
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RobbyPants

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Re: 3.5 Rebuild Poll Part 26
« Reply #6 on: November 05, 2009, 05:19:04 PM »
Good point on per-day.
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My balancing 3.5 compendium
Elemental mage test game

Quotes
[spoiler]
Quote from: Cafiend
It is a shame stupidity isn't painful.
Quote from: StormKnight
Totally true.  Historians believe that most past civilizations would have endured for centuries longer if they had successfully determined Batman's alignment.
Quote from: Grand Theft Otto
Why are so many posts on the board the equivalent of " Dear Dr. Crotch, I keep punching myself in the crotch, and my groin hurts... what should I do? How can I make my groin stop hurting?"
Quote from: CryoSilver
I suggest carving "Don't be a dick" into him with a knife.  A dull, rusty knife.  A dull, rusty, bent, flaming knife.
Quote from: Seerow
Fluffy: It's over Steve! I've got the high ground!
Steve: You underestimate my power!
Fluffy: Don't try it, Steve!
Steve: *charges*
Fluffy: *three critical strikes*
Steve: ****
Quote from: claypigeons
I don't even stat out commoners. Commoner = corpse that just isn't a zombie. Yet.
Quote from: CryoSilver
When I think "Old Testament Boots of Peace" I think of a paladin curb-stomping an orc and screaming "Your death brings peace to this land!"
Quote from: Orville_Oaksong
Buy a small country. Or Pelor. Both are good investments.
[/spoiler]
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