M20 Spell Casting

[SmootRK]

So maybe I should just use a spell point system, like I mentioned above.
Does Intelligence do anything besides determining the amount of languages someone can know ?

In the core rules, the game follows B/X Edition of that certain game we have all heard of... which has very few uses of some of the ability scores besides race/class qualification. Many people (like me) try to figure out ways to utilize abilities when possible, but these are all house-rules.

It would be difficult to quickly enumerate all the fiddly bits that I have stat bonus thrown in, but for INT it is often used as bonus spells for some MU types (just as WIS grants similar stuff for Clerical/Druid types). Spell Research also gets nominal bonus from INT. Cantrip use depends on INT (WIS for clerical - Zero Level Spell Supplement, or slightly altered in the Libram Magica Supplement in the showcase). Even Thieves have some abilities that get bonus from INT score (Thief Options Supplement).

My own set of houserules can be found in this thread: viewtopic.php?f=19&t=537
but I have modified bits of it here and there since this was posted up (nothing dramatic). Feel free to utilize any ideas found, and bear with the fact that it is meant as an "always under construction work in progress" and never meant to be completely finished up nor complete for publication (far too much borrowed from others for that).

Bear in mind, being new to BFRPG and RPGS in general, I would suggest that one sticks to core rules for a time before trying to overhaul your game. Surprising how much fun can still be had using just the rules in the main book.

[Joe the Rat]

Coming at this from a sideways perspective, I have considered adapting some of interesting spellcasting alternatives from BasicD20: http://www.easydamus.com/CustomCharacters.html#BasicD20

There are a couple of alternatives that looked interesting: "Fairytale casting" and Loss-based casting. Both of these use a check using something (given the format, I'd go with character level + Int (or Wis) modifier) against a target depending on the level of spell cast, and how many spells you've already cast today. "Fairytale Casting" is a mental fatigue system - you pick up a 'mental status effect' that makes additional checks even harder, until you feeblemind yourself. This recovers with rest (mostly). This is like casting yourself into unconsciousness.

Loss-based casting in beautiful in its simplicity: blow your roll, lose the ability to cast your highest level spells. The idea is you are using up your personal power, and simply don't have enough to cast those most powerful spells. This is less fiddly than spell points, plus alleviates some of the cost-balance issues (Solo has pointed out before that the spell levels aren't exactly balanced for spell point conversion - one 3rd level spell isn't necessarily "worth" three 1st level spells).

I need to run numbers to see how these stack up for casting (how much casting can you do in a day, would a character of X level be able to cast the usual spell allotment before running out, etc.)

[saskganesh]

We just use spontaneous casting, with spell slots substituting for spell points. East to track. I also give bonus 1L spells, based on INT stat bonus.

It works well at low level, but I may switch to a hybrid fire-and-forget/Vancian at higher levels. But not there yet so we'll see.

Game wise, enemy spell casters can always be deployed to balance easier character magic.

[dymondy2k]

When I was running Microlite instead of using direct HP I just gave them magic points equal to their HP. I liked it the idea because it made them a bit more powerful at lower levels but also kept them from being too powerful at higher levels.

[LibraryLass]

Really I think spontaneous sorcerer-style casting is probably your safest bet. Mind you, I'd advise you to put some restrictions on a caster's repertoire at that point. Clerics are probably fine, but for Magic User I'd treat their repertoire as being equal to the number of spells they can cast per day (with perhaps some option to change out their repertoire). That's what ACKS does and I'm satisfied with it.

If you want to make intelligence matter more to Magic Users I'd follow their lead on that too and add one extra 1st level spell for 13+ INT, one extra 2nd level spell (once they become available) at 16 INT, and one extra 3rd level spell (once they become available) at 18 INT.

[dymondy2k]

Lass.. I've always liked the idea of giving a MU more spells based on their INT. I like the table S&W uses for the maximum spell levels, % chance of learning the spell and the max number of known spells per level.