[3.5] Help with an Alternate Magic System [WIP]

[motionmatrix]

So this is a quick write up and an example of how this may work, based on your suggestions.


There are verbal, somatic, and material/foci slots. Permanent items (e.g. staves) grant extra slots. The most common way to gain extra slots is by granting the spell restriction(s).

The spell syntax (drawn from all types of components, some rolled into each other) would look somewhat like this:
Casting time (predetermined by the highest casting time among components, can be modified) + Target(s) + Range (predetermined by target component, can be modified) + Duration (predetermined by components, can be modified) + Saving Throw (Type predetermined by Effect components, can be modified) + Spell Resistance (predetermined by components) + Effects (which includes the effect itself eg debuffing or summon + what it actually targets eg str or nothing + Elements if applicable eg negative or fire + the type if applicable eg profane + Status effects if applicable eg fatigue + type of die rolled, if applicable)
For example: Somari wishes to help her allies by weakening her foes. She places together the components (Verbal + Somatic + Material) for a spell that will bring her god's wrath upon a specific enemy, taking his arms ability to hold his weapon.
She points an index finger at him {choosing a somatic component: Ray, which has a base medium range} this fills in the Target and Range, and uses up one of her somatic slots.
She mutters: Soma Mal Pond {choosing the verbal components: Physical Ability, Negative energy, Damage} this fills in the Effects of the spell, the Duration (instantaneous duration from the damage component), what Saving Throw (Fortitude, from the negative energy component), and Spell resistance (yes, from the negative energy component). The Damage component will also specify the base damage, which against abilities is 1d6.
In her other hand she hold her prayer book. {choosing a material (foci) component} this uses up one of her material slots. The benefit here is up for grabs, potentially an extra slot of some type. it could also work like a cleric's holy symbol, required for casting without actually gaining a benefit from it.