Reagent Spells
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On the risk of sounding obsessive-compulsive - I meant the ad hoc flexibility/spontaneity of sorcerers. They can cast more spells, and they can use their spell-slots for whatever they think suits them at the moment without having to prepare and ponder before resting.
Wizards are more flexible by the vastly greater number of different spells they can master - but (in the unchanged system), this is mitigated to some extent by them being stuck with a poorly assigned spell slot.
The addition of a reagent system (which I am very positively excited about!) increases both the number of different spell possibilities and it introduces possibilities to avoid being stuck with some poor spell choices. E.g., when I played a sorceress, I perceived it as a significant advantage to be able to use that fireball as a haste-spell instead and such things.
But, I think, if sorcerers get to pick an element theme - then that's really cool.
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I'd expect the reagents to modify only minor aspects of a spell without changing the essential things. Eg, the color of a 'light' spell (and maybe the radius), or what kind of animal you actually polymorph into.
Changing the elemental type of a spell would make sense for a sorcerer linked to a specific element (e.g. iceball instead of fireball for a cryomancer), but not for a wizard, at least, not at the time of casting the spell. If the wizard used the component at the memorizing stage, e.g. memorized a different ('researched') version of the spell, it would make sense again.
P.
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I'd expect the reagents to modify only minor aspects of a spell without changing the essential things. Eg, the color of a 'light' spell (and maybe the radius), or what kind of animal you actually polymorph into.
Changing the elemental type of a spell would make sense for a sorcerer linked to a specific element (e.g. iceball instead of fireball for a cryomancer), but not for a wizard, at least, not at the time of casting the spell. If the wizard used the component at the memorizing stage, e.g. memorized a different ('researched') version of the spell, it would make sense again.
P.
Only if you don't know how wizards work. They cast the spell at the time of 'casting' which is when they use the reagents.
Its like saying you can't make a substitution on a pie recipe if the first time you look at the recipe card it says blueberries, but you later decide to make a blackberry pie with your cups of blackberries.
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Iron Guts or Resistance + Bugbear Innards = +2HP/level to a maximum of 6. Duration: 5 Hours. Target: Caster only.
One of the commonest complaints about mages is that they don't do much at low levels. I think this is down to few HPs and fear of the dreaded one-hit kill. Something like this might make them more likely to step on to the front line. 6 extra HPs shouldn't be too overpowering at higher levels either.
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Sorcerers can pick an "element" theme at level one. It is set permanently for them the first time they cast a sorcerer spell. That would make pyromancers and cyromancers feasible for sorcerers.
.Wow, I'll finally be able to play a sorc from diablo 2!!!
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Aren't there old scripts for a system sort of like this floating around?
I remember testing a system of scrolls that substituted out ones from the spellbook and replaced them with entirely new ones, along with proposed circle magic type spells for Thayans. It was pretty cool.
But that was like, three years ago. Any ideas what happened to it?
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Sorcerers can pick an "element" theme at level one. It is set permanently for them the first time they cast a sorcerer spell. That would make pyromancers and cyromancers feasible for sorcerers.
Clerics will rely upon their domain choices to change various spells.
I don't know if it's worth scripting, but can the elemental deity clerics get themed out as well? Like Kossuth with all fire, Auril with cold, etc. If you go by domains it may not match up for every deity (like Gond on fire). Also, air and cold seem interchangeable in NWN since they didn't include all the domains; be nice for Auril to get cold spells instead of lightning.
(I almost suggested this instead of my other bad ideas but thought it was too Human Torch/Ice Man… first pyromancer that says "Flame On!" gets stabbed on the spot.)
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@Cunning:
Aren't there old scripts for a system sort of like this floating around?
I remember testing a system of scrolls that substituted out ones from the spellbook and replaced them with entirely new ones, along with proposed circle magic type spells for Thayans. It was pretty cool.
But that was like, three years ago. Any ideas what happened to it?
They were removed for various reasons.
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Sorcerers can pick an "element" theme at level one. It is set permanently for them the first time they cast a sorcerer spell. That would make pyromancers and cyromancers feasible for sorcerers.
Clerics will rely upon their domain choices to change various spells.
I don't know if it's worth scripting, but can the elemental deity clerics get themed out as well? Like Kossuth with all fire, Auril with cold, etc. If you go by domains it may not match up for every deity (like Gond on fire). Also, air and cold seem interchangeable in NWN since they didn't include all the domains; be nice for Auril to get cold spells instead of lightning.
(I almost suggested this instead of my other bad ideas but thought it was too Human Torch/Ice Man… first pyromancer that says "Flame On!" gets stabbed on the spot.)
That can be done.
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Maybe have the colour of continual light spells be reflected by the elemental type the person uses if possible? Could make people seek out a specific type of mage to enchant your items with a certain colour.
Acid=Green
Cold=Blue
Air=White
Fire=Red -
Sorcerers can pick an "element" theme at level one. It is set permanently for them the first time they cast a sorcerer spell. That would make pyromancers and cyromancers feasible for sorcerers.
Wouldn't this just streamline most sorcerers into the "Lol blaster" category instead of taking unique spells, or using any school other than evocation/abjuration?
Perhaps this could be tweaked for a school-by-school basis instead of an elemental basis.
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No. It wouldn't affect the power level of sorcerers at all. There is more to it than elemental damage furthermore.
Imagine sorcerers with an "infernal" bloodline, which affects many spells they cast for example. Not merely "pyromancers".
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Very cool suggestions that would alter a class for the better.
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Want to add the whole Shadow-weave thing while you're at it? Just sayin'. Maybe app only or something. Just thinking… while you're in there.
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Wuts a shadow weave, I'll ask in library forumz…
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Shadow Weave? Put simply, Shar got jealous, made her own "type" of magic which is based around Shadow spells (thus, Lesser/Greater Shadow Conjuration). The Shadow Weave is not for open use however and often much research is needed to be able to "Tap" into it, and of course be a "good friend" of Shar. There are items made of the Shadow Weave (unlike the ordinary weave) and they tend to be "Ebil".
That… preety much sums it up in ABC form.
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I like the idea of infernal bloodlines… (what about Tiefling sorcerers? - automatic?).
Such might involve elemental spells (e.g., fire), but you might also want to include parts of a negative energy or disease-theme, I think. Another specific spell I am thinking about and that might fit into that category could be Stinking Cloud. I do not know if that one could be easily changed, but perhaps it could likewise become a frost/heat/negative engergy/disease cloud.
Ghostly Visage might be another candidate for similar changes as for continual light. -
Bards could have different bard song's effects based on different tomes, lyrics, score or instruments that could allow different effects like sleep, fear, confusion, stun, deafness, sonic damage and so on.
You could have the same with barbarian rage and different totems, or any other kind of focus item, for different boosts.
For wizardly spells, perhaps different reagents or focus items (tomes, etc) could alter the shape of the spell: a 'finger of death' could be made a cone spell, consuming a bodak's eye, for example.
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Bards could have different bard song's effects based on different tomes, lyrics, score or instruments that could allow different effects like sleep, fear, confusion, stun, deafness, sonic damage and so on.
<3
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Bards could have different bard song's effects based on different tomes, lyrics, score or instruments that could allow different effects like sleep, fear, confusion, stun, deafness, sonic damage and so on.
You could have the same with barbarian rage and different totems, or any other kind of focus item, for different boosts.
These things are in the works. A DM suggested them years and years ago, but never bothered to script any of it. So I started it all last night.
Barbarian totems are nearly finished, they're so awesome I want to drop my current PC and make a barbarian and pray I roll a 100 on my special "rage chance" ability I'll have when I find a totem.