Quote from: Pat on October 29, 2021, 06:06:37 PM
More seriously, regarding spell points, don't just think of the size of the pool, but the flow of points. Most spell point systems are effectively nova systems, where you have a pool that you can blow out very quickly, and then you have to rest a long time before it replenishes. This tends to encourage the 10 minute adventuring day, where the wizards blast everything in sight, and then the party retreats until they can do it again.

I favor spell point systems with a very long recovery time, as in a month or more.  If you nova and retreat til you recover, the adventure is over because everything will be different by the time you get back, and it will be a whole new adventure.  I like having resources that must be managed over the course of the entire adventure, and it fits several fictional settings that I enjoy.

Quote from: Mishihari on October 29, 2021, 08:10:52 PM

Quote from: Pat on October 29, 2021, 06:06:37 PM
More seriously, regarding spell points, don't just think of the size of the pool, but the flow of points. Most spell point systems are effectively nova systems, where you have a pool that you can blow out very quickly, and then you have to rest a long time before it replenishes. This tends to encourage the 10 minute adventuring day, where the wizards blast everything in sight, and then the party retreats until they can do it again.

I favor spell point systems with a very long recovery time, as in a month or more.  If you nova and retreat til you recover, the adventure is over because everything will be different by the time you get back, and it will be a whole new adventure.  I like having resources that must be managed over the course of the entire adventure, and it fits several fictional settings that I enjoy.

Spell slots recharge within a day, I've only "retreated" so far to a previous secured place where we can fend off attacks. Only once did we fail to recharge because we couldn't rest. We still pressed on fighting by other means.

My current group is made up of sneaky bastards that fight smart.

Oil, Whiskey, Greek Fire if you have it, spears of the fallen as a protective barrier, seal holes with whatever you can drag to do so. As long as you're not facing casters on the other side you're good.

Also henchmen, lots and lots of henchmen when needed (of course this assumes you at least suspected you might need them).

Aim for the leader, use whatever tools you have at your disposal, hell shout in joy that reinforcements are comming! Charge them like Han Solo in Star Wars.

And if needed run, there's nothing wrong in running and living to fight another day. The adventure has changed, so what? The enemy is expecting you (if they are inteligent), so what? If there's more than one type of enemy creatures make them fight each other if you can. Use the tools of the BBG against him.

I don't care for pure mana point systems as I find them a bad mix for casual players.  I like a little bit of a "governor" on the system to protect the player, but only a bit. 

I went with "charges" tied to each level of spells the caster can do (up to 8 in my system).  Sure, that's 8 "mana pools" to track instead of 1, but you don't need to do funky math to to get the relative balance of a pure mana point system right, and it also keeps the numbers down.  I almost went with 3 pools, with spells in three tiers (minor, major, master?), with some of the nicer spells in each tier taking more points, but decided the bog simple version of each level being different was worth it to avoid such tracking.  After all, most characters never unlock the upper reaches anyway.

A month recharge is a little long for me, but I did go with a mix of 1 week for full easy recharge when at rest, and then less, decision-based recharge while adventuring.  It's only 1 to 3 charges per day (depending on conditions of the camp), and no more than 1 in any given spell level.  I like for characters to get steadily worn down in the field, but want a little bit of an out for casual players that realize they are in over their heads.

drive by posting just now but...

i like the magic is marvel powers, spells are power stunts approach. ymmv.

My notion is that using magic causes turbulence in the aether, called "miasma" using proper rituals when drawing energy from the aether and to cleanse it after spell casting make it safer.  In game terms casting spells accumulates an increasingly large penalty to casting further spells as the penalty grows, so does the area effected.  Miasma clings to the caster and flows after them but can be shed and out distanced but leaving uncleansed miasma tends to cause negative magical effects like mutations and possession.

In the d20 Conan game, a spall caster had to find and learn each spell, including the first one.  There was a small pool of spell points they could use to power their spells, but if you wanted to do any "real" magic, you had to find an outside source of magic points.  Usually sacrificing something.  Usually people.  It gave magic a sinister aspect, even the good spellcasters had to pay a heavy price, though it usually did not mean human sacrifice. 

Sadly I never got to play this game so ai can't tell you how smooth everything went. 

As for spells, each one was it's own unique thing that a caster had to research, track down, buy, or otherwise acquire from some obscure source.  Usually each spell was tied to a particar entitiy like Set, or Ibis, or Mitra, or some other god or demon.  So they all had a certain flavor to them. 

I am looking forward to seeing how the Mayan game turns out.  It sounds like a nice change of pace from dungeon delving. Plust I have a personal interest in the Mayans and their history.

Quote from: Svenhelgrim on October 30, 2021, 11:12:44 PM
In the d20 Conan game, a spall caster had to find and learn each spell, including the first one.  There was a small pool of spell points they could use to power their spells, but if you wanted to do any "real" magic, you had to find an outside source of magic points.  Usually sacrificing something.  Usually people.  It gave magic a sinister aspect, even the good spellcasters had to pay a heavy price, though it usually did not mean human sacrifice. 

Sadly I never got to play this game so ai can't tell you how smooth everything went. 

As for spells, each one was it's own unique thing that a caster had to research, track down, buy, or otherwise acquire from some obscure source.  Usually each spell was tied to a particar entitiy like Set, or Ibis, or Mitra, or some other god or demon.  So they all had a certain flavor to them. 

I am looking forward to seeing how the Mayan game turns out.  It sounds like a nice change of pace from dungeon delving. Plust I have a personal interest in the Mayans and their history.

Well it's not going to be very historical, one because we know very little about them and second because more fantastic is more fun IMHO.

But I'm trying to get as many true cultural artifacts in there as I can.

For instance the Warrior is also an artist of some sort, poet, painter...

There's actual schools for the warrior caste. And the Cleric caste.

The non human PC races (2 so far) are based of true Mayan myth with my own twist to turn what was 2 brothers(In the mythology) into a whole race and a death race (precursors of the humans) into a not death race coexisting with the other two.

May not be exactly what you're after, but if you can find a copy of Torg's "Aysle" sourcebook and the supplement "Pixaud's Practical Grimoire," it details a magic construction system to build pretty much any sort of spell.