Let's make all the spells in the PHB give unnamed bonuses.

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Lago_AM3P
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Joined: Fri Mar 07, 2008 7:54 pm

Let's make all the spells in the PHB give unnamed bonuses.

Post by Lago_AM3P »

Rather than be constantly at odds with the magic item system (itself problematic), why don't we just have spells like magic vestment, greater magic weapon, bull's strength, etc. give a unique but named bonus to their effects?

That way, we won't have crap like people loading up on +1 magic beast bane, flaming, shocking, icy, ghost touch, vicious, subdual, wounding falchions pumped by GMW.

Of course, if we did that, we'd have to lower the bonus on stuff. Like MW granting a flat +1 bonus to hit and damage that stacks with an enhancement bonus (or gives a weapon one) and GMW granting a +3--and eagle's splendor would like give a +4 unique bonus to a stat.

It'd up the power of the game, but it feels less hamhanded than 3.5E's attempt of just making the bonuses harder to get.
Username17
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Joined: Fri Mar 07, 2008 7:54 pm

Re: Let's make all the spells in the PHB give unnamed bonuse

Post by Username17 »

I remain unconvinced that spells giving bonuses should exist.

There's lots of ways to handle combat spellcasting, as outlined here:
http://frost.bbboy.net/thegamingden-vie ... br][br]And frankly, the "guess and check" coupled with "charge casting" limitations on D&D Magic don't balance them very well. And once we start talking about buff spells, those don't even use up combat actions, only charges. And that's often a meaningless concern to players who continue to get more spell charges as they rise in level.

Buff spells in a charge limited spell system make characters more powerful in environments where they perform less combats and less powerful in environments where they perform more combats - and that's not a good system.

If we are going to do Spell Slots at all, Buff Spells shouldn't be part of that - they should instead be Class Features that characters get access to as they rise in level. There is no way to balance a spell slot used up before combat against anything - because it doesn't really have a cost at all.

-Username17
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