Spell Points

Spell Points

http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/magic/spellPoints.htm

Table: Spell Points per Day

Level	Bard	Cleric, Druid, Wizard	Paladin, Ranger	Sorcerer
1st	0	2	0	3
2nd	0	4	0	5
3rd	1	7	0	8
4th	5	11	0	14
5th	6	16	0	19
6th	9	24	1	29
7th	14	33	1	37
8th	17	44	1	51
9th	22	56	1	63
10th	29	72	4	81
11th	34	88	4	97
12th	41	104	9	115
13th	50	120	9	131
14th	57	136	10	149
15th	67	152	17	165
16th	81	168	20	183
17th	95	184	25	199
18th	113	200	26	217
19th	133	216	41	233
20th	144	232	48	249

The spell point system presented here allows casters to more freely pick and choose which spells they cast each day.

Every spellcaster has a reserve of spell points based on class and level (see Table: Spell Points Per Day). Characters also gain bonus spell points from a high ability score (just as a normal spellcaster would gain bonus spells from a high ability score; see Bonus Spell Points and Bonus Spells, below). These spell points provide the magical power behind the caster’s spells: He spends a number of spell points appropriate to the spell’s level to cast the spell (see Casting Spells, below). Once spent, spell points are expended until the caster has sufficient time to rest and prepare new spells (see Preparing Spells, below).

Preparing Spells

With this variant, spellcasters still prepare spells as normal (assuming they normally prepare spells). In effect, casters who prepare spells are setting their list of “spells known” for the day. They need not prepare multiple copies of the same spell, since they can cast any combination of their prepared spells each day (up to the limit of their spell points).

For example, Boredflak the 4th-level wizard has an Intelligence score of 16. When using the spell point system, he would prepare four 0-level spells, four 1st-level spells (three plus his bonus spell for high Int), and three 2nd-level spells (two plus his bonus spell for high Int). These spells make up his entire list of spells that he can cast during the day, though he can cast any combination of them, as long as he has sufficient spell points.

Bonus Spell Points and Bonus Spells

Table: Bonus Spell Points

Score	Bonus Spell Points (by Maximum Spell Level)
	0	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	8th	9th
12-13	—	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
14-15	—	1	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4
16-17	—	1	4	9	9	9	9	9	9	9
18-19	—	1	4	9	16	16	16	16	16	16
20-21	—	2	5	10	17	26	26	26	26	26
22-23	—	2	8	13	20	29	40	40	40	40
24-25	—	2	8	18	25	34	45	58	58	58
26-27	—	2	8	18	32	41	52	65	80	80
28-29	—	3	9	19	33	51	62	75	90	107
30-31	—	3	12	22	36	54	76	89	104	121
32-33	—	3	12	24	38	56	78	104	119	136
34-35	—	3	12	27	48	66	88	114	144	161
36-37	—	4	13	28	49	76	98	124	154	188
38-39	—	4	16	31	52	77	110	136	166	200
40-41	—	4	16	36	57	84	117	156	186	220
42-43	—	4	16	36	64	91	124	163	208	242
44-45	—	5	17	37	65	101	134	173	218	269
46-47	—	5	20	40	68	104	148	187	232	283
48-49	—	5	20	45	73	109	153	205	250	301
50-51	—	5	20	45	80	116	160	212	272	323
and so on…

Any spellcaster who would normally receive bonus spells for a high ability score receives bonus spell points instead. In effect, the character can simply cast more of his spells each day.

To determine the number of bonus spell points gained from a high ability score, first find the row for the character’s ability score on Table: Bonus Spell Points. Use whichever ability score would normally award bonus spells for the character’s class (Wisdom for clerics and druids, Intelligence for wizards, and so forth).

Next, find the column for the highest level of spell the character is capable of casting based on his class level (even if he doesn’t have a high enough ability score to cast spells of that level). At the point where the row and column intersect, you find the bonus spell points the character gains. This value can change each time his ability score undergoes a permanent change (such from an ability score increase due to character level or one from a wish spell) and each time his level changes.

For example, Boredflak the 4th-level wizard has an Intelligence score of 16 and is capable of casting 2nd-level spells. The number on Table: Bonus Spell Points at the intersection of the 16-17 row and the 2nd column is 4, so Boredflak has 4 extra spell points to spend each day (in addition to the 11 points he gets for being a 4th-level wizard). If Boredflak’s Intelligence were increased to 20 because of a fox’s cunning spell or a headband of intellect +4, he wouldn’t gain any additional bonus spell points, since those effects produce temporary changes, not permanent changes. However, when he reaches 5th level, his bonus spell points would increase from 4 to 9 (since he is now capable of casting 3rd-level spells and thus uses that column), and his overall total would increase from 15 to 25.

A character who would normally receive bonus spells from a class feature (such as from wizard specialization or access to a domain) can instead prepare extra spells of the appropriate levels, domains, and/or schools. The character doesn’t get any extra spell points (and thus can’t cast any more spells than normal), but the added flexibility of being able to use the bonus spell more than once per day makes up for that.

For instance, a specialist wizard can prepare one extra spell from the chosen school of each spell level that he can cast. A cleric can prepare one domain spell (chosen from among his domain spells available) of each spell level that he can cast.

For example, if Boredflak were an evoker, he could prepare one additional spell per level, but that spell would have to be from the evocation school. Once it is prepared, he can use that spell just like any of his other spells, casting it as often as he has spell points.

Another example: At 1st level, Haigh the cleric gains a bonus 1st-level spell, which must be selected from one of his two domains. Once it is prepared, he can use that domain spell just like any of his other spells, casting it as often as he has spell points.

For class features that grant bonus spells of a nonfixed spell level (such as the dragon disciple’s bonus spells), the character instead gains a number of bonus spell points equal to twice the highest spell level he can cast, minus 1 (minimum 1 point) each time he gains a bonus spell. This is a fixed value—it doesn’t increase later as the character gains levels—though later rewards may be larger as appropriate to the character’s spellcasting ability.

For example, a 4th-level fighter/4th-level sorcerer who gains a level of dragon disciple gets a bonus spell. Since the character is capable of casting 2nd-level spells, he receives 3 bonus spell points (2 × 2 = 4, 4 - 1 = 3).