Improvised/Freeform Magic

[pfloyd]

Okay, here's what I'm looking for...

Does anyone have any decent rules for improvised or freeform spellcasting in D&D 3e/3.5e and/or D20?
I kind of want to break away from the set spells for a while, let the players create their own.

I'm trying to come up with a system of my own, using some ideas from other systems (GURPS has rules for this concept, and I found some online for HERO as well), but in trying to get it into D20/D&D may be tough without hampering the character too much.

Any ideas are welcome.

(x-posted to dnd_games, dnd_creations, dnd3e, d20modern, d20games, roleplayers and my LJ)

Comments

[emperorko.livejournal.com]

What might work would be a modification of the epic spell rules. Tone down the magic "seeds" they have in the epic system, and have the characters make appropriate Spellcraft checks to create a spell they can use later on.

[lawful-evil.livejournal.com]

I assume you got the system that dauphinous has. We started by backing down the epic system. We found the need to create some artificial limits on how many times certain factors can be applied(for play balance issues).

She has been updating the system in recent weeks. Ask her for it.

[dauphinous.livejournal.com]

I also found that using a skill check was inappropriate, since it made the skill required for spellcasters, and skills are easily sugmented by both spells and items, resulting in an imbalance between the spellcasting classes and other classes (they could do more than was really appropriate for their level). I changed it so that there is still a check, but the check is based on level instead of skill ranks. The purpose of the check , incidentally, is to allow the possiblity of creating effects above your level, while also allowing the possibility of being incapable of things at level (the only way I could see to balance the former is with the latter). The hardest part remains making the factors appropriate for the power of the spell effect. Oh, and grouping things together logically. And making enough seeds while not having too many. Heh. It has been a pretty big challenge, and several of the seeds that have not yet been tried out still need some work. Illusion, in particular also seems to me to need help, mostly because DnD makes them cool, then lame, then cool, then lame, etc. with each revision they do. Also because I have never really liked to use them. If you choose to use that system, I will be happy to take feedback and assist with modifications to try to make the system fun, balanced, and playable. You have no idea how much time I spent agonizing over the Metamagic DC adjustments, too.
I've been adding on a druid class, as well, though I didn't send it with the rest of the system because it's not really finished. This druid doesn't have any spellcasting and is more centered around the wild shape stuff. Like the mage, also highly customizable through making druidish spells and abilities into feats and featlike abilities. I'll send it to you if you want it.

later

[dauphinous.livejournal.com]

Just so you know, there are changes in that last version of the magic system I sent you. I added Permanency as an item creation feat, a system for recharging magic items, and some other feats to dovetail with the switch to a level-based spellcasting method. I am currently finally motivated to think about lawful_evil's idea of a sorcerer class that can use all the seeds from the beginning, but has penalties until they actually learn them.
I hope I can get someone to play this again soon. But what a weird party it would be to playtest out all the classes: a mage, a bard, a druid, and a sorcerer. I guess we'd also need a fighter or a rogue to really test it properly.