Post by zendog on Dec 13, 2009 12:17:47 GMT -5
Okay, I'm afriad this is a bit of a ramble . . .
. . . does that make sense to anyone else?
WIZ/ST Houserule
Its undeniable there are problems with using ST to power magic, among them: munchkin Power gamers and Dwarf 'Magic Battery' Wizards. Inherently magical creatures such as Fairies and Leprechauns that are unable to cast many (sometimes any) spells at 1st level. Muscle bound wizards playing against most peoples archetypal idea of the ancient greybeard wizard/puny Sorcerer's apprentice. The fact that wizards with the required ST (and DEX) for some of the higher level spells would have such high Combat Adds you have to wonder why they bother with magic.
However, there is an upside to using ST to power magic. I like the way expending ST to power magic leaves a Wizard weakened, albeit temporarily. I like the way it lowers their Adds, Weight Poss. and affects the armour they can wear, sometimes even the size of the dagger they can wield. T&T magic is a powerful force and there should be a downside to using it other than just being unable to cast more spells until your WIZ regenerates.
To get the best of both worlds I'm going to try a houserule that uses both WIZ and ST for powering magic.
Here's how it works: the cost of casting spells is only deducted from first from the highest of either ST or WIZ then both as they level out at which point the cost is deducted from both. But WIZ, not ST dictates how many spells you can cast. When WIZ hits 0 you can't cast more spells without resting.
So spell cost is deducted from WIZ as long as that is higher than ST. Once the WIZ hits the same score as ST the cost of spells are deducted from both WIZ and ST and all the ST penalties (such as lower Adds and Weight Poss.) come into play.
For example imagine the average 1st level Fairy with an average ST (4) and an Average WIZ (12). She can cast a TTYF and a Knock Knock Spell reducing her WIZ from 12 to 4 with no penalties or ST reduction, but should she cast another Knock Knock spell both her WIZ and ST drop to 2.
"Hey hang on a minute!" I hear you cry. "What if your ST is higher than your WIZ? Like the average Dwarf, he would have a WIZ of 12 and a ST of 24 or for that matter the average Human with a ST 12 and WIZ 12 what about them?"
Well, our Dwarf casts two TTYF and his WIZ drops to 0 and his ST to 12 affecting his adds, and Weight Possible, etc. on the plus he won't die because his WIZ drops to 0 before his ST does. Now, our average Human with ST 12 and WIZ 12 well he can't cast two TTYF's or he'll drop dead, and even if he casts one his Adds, etc suffer.
"Hey, but that's not fair!" you say.
To which I'm tempted to reply so what, this is T&T who said it was fair? If your 1st level character's ST is higher than WIZ perhaps it should be a warrior, but lets not be flippant.
Lets look at it this way: these examples were all 1st level 'average' characters. If your character is a human Wizard with 12 ST and 12 WIZ then as he levels up, even though you need to split Attribute raises between IQ, DEX, and WIZ to be an effective Wizard, his WIZ would naturally outstrip ST eventually.
If ST is higher than WIZ then it might stay that way for a few levels and each time you cast a spell your character's Adds, Weight Poss., etc are affected, but so what you're a Wizard not a front line warrior, right?
"So how come," you might ask, "the weakling Fairy can cast spells and not get tired straight off the bat, but the muscle-bound dwarf and the average guy get tired as soon as they start throwing spells about?"
Good question, glad you asked. My rationale is that WIZ represents the mental will power required to use magic without physical strain, but it is just plain easier to draw on physical resources if you have them. So the Dwarf who although he might have the same WIZ as the Fairy has much greater physical resources, and not being as inherently magical as the Fairy, finds it easier to burn off ST first.
Anyway, that's the theory. I think this will work better for me than just ST or just WIZ. It kinda makes sense to me and will model powerful Wizards who can cast a lot of spells, but still get drained and tired eventually, but without having to pump iron like Arnie to be effective.
. . . does that make sense to anyone else?