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House Rule
Freecasting
submitted by Varl on Aug 28th, 2009
206 views |   7 comments |   2 votes |   4.00 rating (login to vote)
This rule allows priests (including druids) and paladins to freely cast any spells within their spheres as strictly mandated by the deity, and within the fixed guidelines for number of spells each character as available per day. Note that spell access to spells above 3rd level for minor spheres is still restricted, and freecasting does not remove that limitation.

So, for example, a priest with access to 6 major and 2 minor spheres, and with a daily allotment of 12 spells, can cast any combination of 12 spells from any of the 8 spheres he has access to with minor sphere access restricted to 3rd level spells. If he wishes to cast 12 heals, he can.

The barrier to spell utility and usefulness has been removed in my opinion using this system by allowing spells to be cast as needed, not as they were memorized by the character at the beginning of the day. I've always loathed the idea of premem spells for religious characters because 1) they receive their spells from a divine entity, 2) because of the backassward methods attempted to remedy memorizing the wrong spell for the wrong scenario (i.e., blowing off a spell so the correct one can be cast instead), and 3) because a divine being by definition is in most cases omnipotent and omniscient.

So, it only makes sense to me that a deity knows its own spells better than anyone based on what portfolio(s) it has chosen to uphold, and those spells are what priests and paladins tap into when casting.

Comments:

Aug 30, 2009 - 6:16 AM

Amen! Preach on, brother!

Sep 12, 2009 - 7:03 AM

I have never tried the “freecasting” method.  I am curious as to how it affects game balance….and if your wizards complain about it.

Sep 12, 2009 - 7:20 AM

Considering that priest spells are mostly defensive, healing and supportive (buffing, if you will), the way I see it, it puts the cleric on a par with the wizard.

Sep 12, 2009 - 9:47 PM

I was thinking along those lines myself.  The cleric/priest is getting his/her spells from a higher power, and should just pray for them as they cast them.  The wizard studies, the priest prays. 

I think it makes sense, I may have to try it in my campaign, just to see how it works and if it is balanced.

Sep 13, 2009 - 10:34 AM

No issues with it I’ve ran into yet. Wizards don’t really have too much to complain about either. Priests aren’t receiving any more spells than they normally would using this system, and as a matter of fact, if a priest happens to get carried away or is needed to cast the bulk of their spells in the morning, guess who the party is going to be looking to for magic solutions? If anything, freecasting forces players of priests to be more conscientious of the spells they cast and when they choose to cast them. A character that suffers a scratch or two in a battle might not need a cure to be cast; healing NWP might be enough, for example. The priest player needs to recognize that and determine when his or her spells are most needed.

Sep 13, 2009 - 12:27 PM

After I posted, I was thinking along the same lines as what you posted.  The more careful casting of spells.  It would be very easy to cast your daily number of spells rather quickly if not chosen wisely.

Sep 17, 2009 - 9:55 AM

A very similar system to ‘Freecasing’ is already covered by several options in the 2E Player’s Option books.



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