Hadrian_Emrys
2010-05-29, 08:44 PM
What think you lot of a class with a skill based casting system? You know, where one's actual skills determine effective spell selections and potency? I mean, I can't see a balance issue with DCs based on something like 11 + 1/2 relevant skill ranks (1/2 the average, when casting spells with multiple related skills), rounded up + casting attribute bonus (for this class, it is currently Int)...
-but I fear I may be blinded by bias, so I leave the concept to be picked at by the collective.
Edit: If you look at the base formula, the idea is that DCs would be determined by however many ranks one had in a spell's related skill(s). Thus, the DC for a spell cast with a maxed lvl 1 skill would be 13 (11 + [4 ranks divided by 2, rounded up]) + Int vs a good save bonus of 2 + related attribute. While the DC for a spell cast with the same maxed lvl 20 skill would have a DC of 23 (11 + [23 ranks divided by 2, rounded up]) + Int vs a good save bonus of 12 + related attribute. This way, max ranked spells will roughly have a 50% shot of affecting those of the same level (well, those with good relevant saves anyway) so long as the casting stat and the save stat are equal. Using the same attributes, it would also mean that those with poor related saves should, roughly, have a 25% chance to save against the same spell. I cannot think of any possible way to design a save system that is as fair OR makes as much sense given the way that skills and saves scale with each other.
As a thematic bonus, basing the spell DC potency on skill ranks (as opposed to skill checks) seems to indicate that it is understanding of the skill that shapes the magic, not personal ability. Should MAGIC prevent a crippled person from casting spells dealing with agility/mobility? I think not. With a class such as this, all that should matter is the caster's level of conceptual mastery. In a sense much truer than a Wizard, this class should exemplify the notion of one transcending one's own limitations through intellect as they strive for complete understanding of the world around them.
Better still? On a mechanical level, this brand of magic scales right through into epic levels without fail, unlike the painfully broken taint that is the current brand of epic casting.
-but I fear I may be blinded by bias, so I leave the concept to be picked at by the collective.
Edit: If you look at the base formula, the idea is that DCs would be determined by however many ranks one had in a spell's related skill(s). Thus, the DC for a spell cast with a maxed lvl 1 skill would be 13 (11 + [4 ranks divided by 2, rounded up]) + Int vs a good save bonus of 2 + related attribute. While the DC for a spell cast with the same maxed lvl 20 skill would have a DC of 23 (11 + [23 ranks divided by 2, rounded up]) + Int vs a good save bonus of 12 + related attribute. This way, max ranked spells will roughly have a 50% shot of affecting those of the same level (well, those with good relevant saves anyway) so long as the casting stat and the save stat are equal. Using the same attributes, it would also mean that those with poor related saves should, roughly, have a 25% chance to save against the same spell. I cannot think of any possible way to design a save system that is as fair OR makes as much sense given the way that skills and saves scale with each other.
As a thematic bonus, basing the spell DC potency on skill ranks (as opposed to skill checks) seems to indicate that it is understanding of the skill that shapes the magic, not personal ability. Should MAGIC prevent a crippled person from casting spells dealing with agility/mobility? I think not. With a class such as this, all that should matter is the caster's level of conceptual mastery. In a sense much truer than a Wizard, this class should exemplify the notion of one transcending one's own limitations through intellect as they strive for complete understanding of the world around them.
Better still? On a mechanical level, this brand of magic scales right through into epic levels without fail, unlike the painfully broken taint that is the current brand of epic casting.