gabrion
2011-10-25, 09:17 PM
I've been wracking my brain over this for a while and thought I'd turn to the GitPG community for fresh perspectives.
I'm designing a new Incarnum base class. One feature of this class is that they will have access to some soulmelds that grant them the ability to cast spells. This is an example soulmeld containing the current mechanic I'm thinking of using.
Abjurant Shroud
Descriptor: None
Classes: Enigma
Path: Magus
Chakra: Hands, Crown, Brow, Waist, Throat, Heart
Saving Throw: As spell created by the soulmeld (DCs set by charisma modifier)
Fluff here.
Select any three abjuration spells of 1st level or lower (cantrips) from the sorcerer/wizard spell list. You can cast any combination of these spells a total of three times per day with a caster level equal to your enigma level.
Essentia: If the effect of a spell cast from this soulmeld is based on your caster level, your caster level is treated as 1 level higher per essentia invested (allowing you to exceed normal maximums based on caster level). If the effect of a spell cast from this soulmeld is a static bonus, the bonus is increase by 1 per point of invested essentia.
Chakra Bind (Hands)
In addition to the spells to which you have access for shaping this soulmeld, select any three abjuration spells of 2nd level or lower from the sorcerer/wizard spell list. You can cast any combination of these spells a total of three times per day with a caster level equal to your enigma level.
Chakra Bind (Crown)
In addition to the spells to which you have access for shaping this soulmeld, select any two abjuration spells of 3rd level and any three abjuration spells of 2nd level or lower from the sorcerer/wizard spell list. You can cast any combination of the 3rd level spells a total of three times per day and any combination of the 2nd level or lower spells a total of four times per day with a caster level equal to your enigma level.
Chakra Bind (Brow)
In addition to the spells to which you have access for shaping this soulmeld, select any two abjuration spells of 4th level and any three abjuration spells of 3rd level or lower from the sorcerer/wizard spell list. You can cast any combination of the 4th level spells a total of three times per day and any combination of the 3rd level or lower spells a total of four times per day with a caster level equal to your enigma level.
Chakra Bind (Waist)
In addition to the spells to which you have access for shaping this soulmeld, select any two abjuration spells of 5th level and any three abjuration spells of 4th level or lower from the sorcerer/wizard spell list. You can cast any combination of the 5th level spells a total of three times per day and any combination of the 4th level or lower spells a total of four times per day with a caster level equal to your enigma level.
Chakra Bind (Throat)
In addition to the spells to which you have access for shaping this soulmeld, select any two abjuration spells of 6th level and any three abjuration spells of 5th level or lower from the sorcerer/wizard spell list. You can cast any combination of the 6th level spells a total of three times per day and any combination of the 5th level or lower spells a total of four times per day with a caster level equal to your enigma level.
Chakra Bind (Heart)
In addition to the spells to which you have access for shaping this soulmeld, select any two abjuration spells of 7th level and any three abjuration spells of 6th level or lower from the sorcerer/wizard spell list. You can cast any combination of the 7th level spells a total of three times per day and any combination of the 6th level or lower spells a total of four times per day with a caster level equal to your enigma level.
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Other relevant info:
There would be a similar soulmeld for each school of magic.
The chakra binds open at a rate different than any of the classes in MoI, but at a rate that leaves this soulmeld behind the sorcerer's progression in terms of what level spells it has access to.
The class ends up being able to bind 5 soulmelds, for whatever that's worth.
My questions:
If anyone knows of a system or class that's already been designed using some mechanic to allow spellcasting through incarnum, can you please link it so that I might draw inspiration?
On its face, does this seem like a totally ass backwards way of going about this?
I'm particularly struggling with the essentia investment in these soulmelds. Granting additional casting based on essentia invested was one idea, but is convoluted because it messes up essentia reallocation and either ends up with infinite casting (if reallocating gives more uses each time) or eventually no use for essentia (if extra spells require essentia be "locked" until they've been used, but is free for reallocation after the extra spells have been used). Any ideas on what I could make the essentia effect for this type of soulmeld?
I know that certain feedback is not possible without knowing more about the other features of the class. For instance, I'm not asking anyone to evaluate the number of spells and the uses/day as their appropriateness depends on what other goodies the class gets. Any help is greatly appreciated.
I'm designing a new Incarnum base class. One feature of this class is that they will have access to some soulmelds that grant them the ability to cast spells. This is an example soulmeld containing the current mechanic I'm thinking of using.
Abjurant Shroud
Descriptor: None
Classes: Enigma
Path: Magus
Chakra: Hands, Crown, Brow, Waist, Throat, Heart
Saving Throw: As spell created by the soulmeld (DCs set by charisma modifier)
Fluff here.
Select any three abjuration spells of 1st level or lower (cantrips) from the sorcerer/wizard spell list. You can cast any combination of these spells a total of three times per day with a caster level equal to your enigma level.
Essentia: If the effect of a spell cast from this soulmeld is based on your caster level, your caster level is treated as 1 level higher per essentia invested (allowing you to exceed normal maximums based on caster level). If the effect of a spell cast from this soulmeld is a static bonus, the bonus is increase by 1 per point of invested essentia.
Chakra Bind (Hands)
In addition to the spells to which you have access for shaping this soulmeld, select any three abjuration spells of 2nd level or lower from the sorcerer/wizard spell list. You can cast any combination of these spells a total of three times per day with a caster level equal to your enigma level.
Chakra Bind (Crown)
In addition to the spells to which you have access for shaping this soulmeld, select any two abjuration spells of 3rd level and any three abjuration spells of 2nd level or lower from the sorcerer/wizard spell list. You can cast any combination of the 3rd level spells a total of three times per day and any combination of the 2nd level or lower spells a total of four times per day with a caster level equal to your enigma level.
Chakra Bind (Brow)
In addition to the spells to which you have access for shaping this soulmeld, select any two abjuration spells of 4th level and any three abjuration spells of 3rd level or lower from the sorcerer/wizard spell list. You can cast any combination of the 4th level spells a total of three times per day and any combination of the 3rd level or lower spells a total of four times per day with a caster level equal to your enigma level.
Chakra Bind (Waist)
In addition to the spells to which you have access for shaping this soulmeld, select any two abjuration spells of 5th level and any three abjuration spells of 4th level or lower from the sorcerer/wizard spell list. You can cast any combination of the 5th level spells a total of three times per day and any combination of the 4th level or lower spells a total of four times per day with a caster level equal to your enigma level.
Chakra Bind (Throat)
In addition to the spells to which you have access for shaping this soulmeld, select any two abjuration spells of 6th level and any three abjuration spells of 5th level or lower from the sorcerer/wizard spell list. You can cast any combination of the 6th level spells a total of three times per day and any combination of the 5th level or lower spells a total of four times per day with a caster level equal to your enigma level.
Chakra Bind (Heart)
In addition to the spells to which you have access for shaping this soulmeld, select any two abjuration spells of 7th level and any three abjuration spells of 6th level or lower from the sorcerer/wizard spell list. You can cast any combination of the 7th level spells a total of three times per day and any combination of the 6th level or lower spells a total of four times per day with a caster level equal to your enigma level.
--------
Other relevant info:
There would be a similar soulmeld for each school of magic.
The chakra binds open at a rate different than any of the classes in MoI, but at a rate that leaves this soulmeld behind the sorcerer's progression in terms of what level spells it has access to.
The class ends up being able to bind 5 soulmelds, for whatever that's worth.
My questions:
If anyone knows of a system or class that's already been designed using some mechanic to allow spellcasting through incarnum, can you please link it so that I might draw inspiration?
On its face, does this seem like a totally ass backwards way of going about this?
I'm particularly struggling with the essentia investment in these soulmelds. Granting additional casting based on essentia invested was one idea, but is convoluted because it messes up essentia reallocation and either ends up with infinite casting (if reallocating gives more uses each time) or eventually no use for essentia (if extra spells require essentia be "locked" until they've been used, but is free for reallocation after the extra spells have been used). Any ideas on what I could make the essentia effect for this type of soulmeld?
I know that certain feedback is not possible without knowing more about the other features of the class. For instance, I'm not asking anyone to evaluate the number of spells and the uses/day as their appropriateness depends on what other goodies the class gets. Any help is greatly appreciated.