Bromleys DS magic system variant - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Bromleys DS magic system variant

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
zombiegleemax
Sep 12, 2003 3:08:52 As nobody seems to notice my post on Quarions thread, I ll post it here and I am keen to learn your thoughts about it.

My modified DS magic system

Here is more fodder for the ongoing discussions on how to handle arcane magic on Athas and how to tempt preservers to defile

I was not satisfied with the official rules with respect to my campaing. Quarions system was more the like I was looking for but far too complicated for my players. So I melted both systems together and came to the following idea. I will playtest it a while and will give you feedback how it was responded to.

The general ideas are:
a) Defilers are more powerfull than Preservers
b) A Preserver should constantly be tempted as this will be a major roleplaying aspect for this character class
c) The rule mechanic should put the temptation to the player and not back to the mechanic, i.e. by letting a random roll decide wheather or not a mage defiles

Rule Summary

Energy must be gathered from the soil and plants. To do so, the wizard must make a concentration skill roll (the idea is not to introduce a new skill and forcing the player to divide his skillpoints between this skill and his concentration skill). The player makes the roll as a free action. He could concentrate more rounds before casting the spell as partial actions. Each round of concentration before the round where the spell actually is cast lowers the DC to cast the spell by 1.

The DC to gather enough energy to cast a spell is
10 + spell level + terrain mod - number of preceding concentration rounds

Terrain Modifiers are
Terrain__________DC mod
Devoid__________Energy gathering not possible
Desolate__________+10
Barren__________+5
Infertile__________0
Fertile__________-5
Abundant__________-10
Tree of Life__________-15

The Preserver rolls his concentration check and willingly ignores any result that exceeds the minimum DC to cast the designated spell in the given environment. E.G. a Preserver with Concentration +8 wants to cast Fireball (3rd level) in a city (Infertile). His DC is 10 + 3 + 0 = 13. If he concentrates one additional round, the DC lowers to 12.
He rolls a 12 for a total of 20, 8 more than neccessary. He can cast the spell.

A Defiler can trade in any result his roll exceeds the given DC to purchase metamagic feats as of the following table:

Cost__________Metamagic (Defiler only)
2__________Enlarge Spell
2__________Heighten Spell
4__________Extend Spell
6__________Empower Spell
8__________maximise Spell

If the Preserver of the above example was a Defiler, he could use the result of 20 (remember: 8 points more than neccessary to cast that spell) to either maximise his fireball (8), or enlarge (2) and extend (4) it.

However, a Defiler defiles even when only amking the DC! A Preserver is free to use his skill roll to defile, but than he is subject to the taint rule.

As an additional rule, all creatures near to a Defiler suffer penalties if he casts a spell. The radius is defined by the terrain type (Desolate 100ft, Barren 30ft, anything better than Barren 5ft). The effect is -1 on attacks, damage, saves and initiative. Plant creatures suffer an additional 2 points of damage per spell level cast.
The reason for the extended circle in wastelands is that the energy must be sucked from a far wider space than in fertile areas so the effect is noticable at a greater distance.

Spell Save DC and Spellcaster Level Checks
As of DS3

Somatic Concealment
As of DS3
#2
xlorepdarkhelm_dup
Sep 12, 2003 11:21:41 Unfortunately, the problem is that the Athas.org team is looking for a system that Defilers and Preservers are the same class (and thus, are balanced to each other, neither is more powerful than the other), and that the Athasian Wizard class is balanced to the standard PHB Wizard class.
#3
zombiegleemax
Sep 12, 2003 16:11:42 Simplistically speaking... How about a "defiling" version of a spell costing as one spell level lower than it is normally(preserving). That would definitely create a viable reason to want to defile if you are in a tight spot. ie "i wish i had another fireball but im all out of 3rd level spells". Of course it would not allow you to cast spells higher in level than what you would normally be able to.

I doesn't take in to account casting time differences or damage to plants but would help explain why there are so few preservers.

With some additional guidlines it might be a relatively simple way to handle it. Some sort of Difiling "counter" like darkside points in Star Wars should go with it.
#4
zombiegleemax
Sep 12, 2003 20:44:11 If you just want to make it more powerfull and keep it simple, you could (as i suggested in this tread http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=70770&perpage=30&pagenumber=5]click
Just make it empower the spell, thats a lot less complicated then the options you suggest and "about" the same effect: It makes the spell more powerfull.
and use the starwars darkside system for example.
Anyway, just read it... maybe you can use something from it

Greets
R.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax Sep 12, 2003 3:08:52	As nobody seems to notice my post on Quarions thread, I ll post it here and I am keen to learn your thoughts about it. My modified DS magic system Here is more fodder for the ongoing discussions on how to handle arcane magic on Athas and how to tempt preservers to defile I was not satisfied with the official rules with respect to my campaing. Quarions system was more the like I was looking for but far too complicated for my players. So I melted both systems together and came to the following idea. I will playtest it a while and will give you feedback how it was responded to. The general ideas are: a) Defilers are more powerfull than Preservers b) A Preserver should constantly be tempted as this will be a major roleplaying aspect for this character class c) The rule mechanic should put the temptation to the player and not back to the mechanic, i.e. by letting a random roll decide wheather or not a mage defiles Rule Summary Energy must be gathered from the soil and plants. To do so, the wizard must make a concentration skill roll (the idea is not to introduce a new skill and forcing the player to divide his skillpoints between this skill and his concentration skill). The player makes the roll as a free action. He could concentrate more rounds before casting the spell as partial actions. Each round of concentration before the round where the spell actually is cast lowers the DC to cast the spell by 1. The DC to gather enough energy to cast a spell is 10 + spell level + terrain mod - number of preceding concentration rounds Terrain Modifiers are Terrain__________DC mod Devoid__________Energy gathering not possible Desolate__________+10 Barren__________+5 Infertile__________0 Fertile__________-5 Abundant__________-10 Tree of Life__________-15 The Preserver rolls his concentration check and willingly ignores any result that exceeds the minimum DC to cast the designated spell in the given environment. E.G. a Preserver with Concentration +8 wants to cast Fireball (3rd level) in a city (Infertile). His DC is 10 + 3 + 0 = 13. If he concentrates one additional round, the DC lowers to 12. He rolls a 12 for a total of 20, 8 more than neccessary. He can cast the spell. A Defiler can trade in any result his roll exceeds the given DC to purchase metamagic feats as of the following table: Cost__________Metamagic (Defiler only) 2__________Enlarge Spell 2__________Heighten Spell 4__________Extend Spell 6__________Empower Spell 8__________maximise Spell If the Preserver of the above example was a Defiler, he could use the result of 20 (remember: 8 points more than neccessary to cast that spell) to either maximise his fireball (8), or enlarge (2) and extend (4) it. However, a Defiler defiles even when only amking the DC! A Preserver is free to use his skill roll to defile, but than he is subject to the taint rule. As an additional rule, all creatures near to a Defiler suffer penalties if he casts a spell. The radius is defined by the terrain type (Desolate 100ft, Barren 30ft, anything better than Barren 5ft). The effect is -1 on attacks, damage, saves and initiative. Plant creatures suffer an additional 2 points of damage per spell level cast. The reason for the extended circle in wastelands is that the energy must be sucked from a far wider space than in fertile areas so the effect is noticable at a greater distance. Spell Save DC and Spellcaster Level Checks As of DS3 Somatic Concealment As of DS3
#2 xlorepdarkhelm_dup Sep 12, 2003 11:21:41	Unfortunately, the problem is that the Athas.org team is looking for a system that Defilers and Preservers are the same class (and thus, are balanced to each other, neither is more powerful than the other), and that the Athasian Wizard class is balanced to the standard PHB Wizard class.
#3 zombiegleemax Sep 12, 2003 16:11:42	Simplistically speaking... How about a "defiling" version of a spell costing as one spell level lower than it is normally(preserving). That would definitely create a viable reason to want to defile if you are in a tight spot. ie "i wish i had another fireball but im all out of 3rd level spells". Of course it would not allow you to cast spells higher in level than what you would normally be able to. I doesn't take in to account casting time differences or damage to plants but would help explain why there are so few preservers. With some additional guidlines it might be a relatively simple way to handle it. Some sort of Difiling "counter" like darkside points in Star Wars should go with it.
#4 zombiegleemax Sep 12, 2003 20:44:11	If you just want to make it more powerfull and keep it simple, you could (as i suggested in this tread http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=70770&perpage=30&pagenumber=5]click Just make it empower the spell, thats a lot less complicated then the options you suggest and "about" the same effect: It makes the spell more powerfull. and use the starwars darkside system for example. Anyway, just read it... maybe you can use something from it Greets R.