Spells for Rangers, Paladins, & Bards

Aladar · Post by **Aladar** » Fri May 16, 2008 7:28 pm

How many of you out there are allowing these professions limited spell use (as in AD&D)? I had one of my players ask me if I might consider letting his Ranger cast a few low level Druid spells once he got to name level (i.e. 10th).

If you are allowing it, have you found it makes these classes to powerful when compared to other classes?
_________________
Lord Aladar

Warden of the Welk Wood

Baron of the Castles & Crusades Society

The Poster formerly known as Alwyn

Senior Gamer - Member of the Senior RPG Tour

"NEMO ME IMPUNE LACESSIT - At least not in Yu Gi Oh"
http://www.cncsociety.org/

Treebore · Post by **Treebore** » Fri May 16, 2008 7:34 pm

If you limit them to 1st and second level spells, no. Plus do not let them be able to cast a lot. Treating them like a 1st level caster at 10th level and progress in caster level from there keeps them substantially less powerful than full fledged casters.

I would still up their XP requirement a bit. If you follow my suggestions I would increase it by 500 XP at tenth level, and still have them follow druidic armor restrictions. That XP cost doubles every level, so it adds a 1000 to 11th level, 2000 to 12th, etc...
_________________
The Ruby Lord, Earl of the Society

Next Con I am attending: http://www.neoncon.com/

My House Rules: http://www.freeyabb.com/phpbb/viewtopic ... llordgames

gideon_thorne · Post by **gideon_thorne** » Fri May 16, 2008 7:37 pm

Bards are of a first edition variety in my game. As for Paladins, they are powerful enough as is. Rangers, on the other hand, I extended the herb lore into something akin to a first aid/first level healing spell.
_________________
"We'll go out through the kitchen!" Tanis Half-Elven

Peter Bradley

JRR · Post by **JRR** » Sat May 17, 2008 5:57 am

Yep. I ported the ranger, paladin and barbarian over from 1e AD&D as is, as well as the monk, only separating the AD&D monk and the C&C monk into two separate disciplines. I pretty much let anyone play any class from either C&C or AD&D (save the damned cavalier) when we play, though I mostly play AD&D nowadays. Haven't seen any problems yet.
_________________
You face 99 beserkers, 99 beserkers, 99 beserkers, and 99 beserkers.

Will your stalwart band choose to Fight, Advance, or Run?

rabindranath72 · Post by **rabindranath72** » Sat May 17, 2008 8:04 am

500 XP at 10th level seems a bit low. Considering that at 10th level the progression has already come into the "linear regime", spellcasting should cost much more, let's say 50,000 to 100,000 XPs added to the XP tables of the classes,

Treebore · Post by **Treebore** » Sat May 17, 2008 6:30 pm

rabindranath72 wrote:
500 XP at 10th level seems a bit low. Considering that at 10th level the progression has already come into the "linear regime", spellcasting should cost much more, let's say 50,000 to 100,000 XPs added to the XP tables of the classes,

If they were going to get full spellcasting I would agree, but if he goes with my idea they will get second level spells at best and not very many. I sure wouldn't pay 50 to 100,000 XP's for so little. It would be better to see about dual classing and getting to be a 7th or 8th level mage for those 50 to 100,000 XP's.
_________________
The Ruby Lord, Earl of the Society

Next Con I am attending: http://www.neoncon.com/

My House Rules: http://www.freeyabb.com/phpbb/viewtopic ... llordgames

rabindranath72 · Post by **rabindranath72** » Sun May 18, 2008 4:25 pm

But one thing is to earn 500 XPs when you are first level, another is to gain them when you are 10th level. At 500XPs, you are practically giving spellcasting for free.

Aladar · Post by **Aladar** » Mon May 19, 2008 1:08 pm

Treebore,

Your idea is along the same lines that I was thinking. Starting them out with spells at 10th level (I was even thinking 9th) but allowing them to only cast as 1st level characters at that level. I hadn't made up my mind on what level of spells to allow to them to go up to, but second level spells sounds about right.

Rangers would get Druid spells, Paladins get Cleric spells, and Bards get Wizard spells, up to 2nd level spells only.
_________________
Lord Aladar

Warden of the Welk Wood

Baron of the Castles & Crusades Society

The Poster formerly known as Alwyn

Senior Gamer - Member of the Senior RPG Tour

"NEMO ME IMPUNE LACESSIT - At least not in Yu Gi Oh"
http://www.cncsociety.org/

Go0gleplex · Post by **Go0gleplex** » Sat May 31, 2008 4:14 pm

My campaign is just starting...and I'm pretty happy to see Rangers without spells.

I 'might' consider Pally's and bards for spell use but only at levels of 12 or higher...and then only able to utilize 1st level spells equal to whatever their Int/Wis modifier is. This would limit them to 1-3 max...enough to augment existing capabilities without overshadowing the flavor of the class itself.

seskis281 · Post by **seskis281** » Sat May 31, 2008 4:21 pm

Go0gleplex wrote:
My campaign is just starting...and I'm pretty happy to see Rangers without spells.

I 'might' consider Pally's and bards for spell use but only at levels of 12 or higher...and then only able to utilize 1st level spells equal to whatever their Int/Wis modifier is. This would limit them to 1-3 max...enough to augment existing capabilities without overshadowing the flavor of the class itself.

I'm adjusting Bards for my game with a selection of "bardic powers" that I award at differing levels.. (1 every three that I simply add to the powers listed in the C&C handbook)

Right now, our 6th level Bard has:
Bardic Restore (2 times a day, bard can play a tune which targets any party member as Cure Light Wounds);

and,
Bardic Initiative (1 per day, Bard can play a song at outset of combat, as long as party not surprised, that gives +2 to all initiative. Only before battle for first initiative).

_________________
John "Sir Seskis" Wright

Ilshara: Lands of Exile:
http://johnwright281.tripod.com/

High Squire of the C&C Society
www.cncsociety.org

Buttmonkey · Post by **Buttmonkey** » Sat May 31, 2008 5:04 pm

rabindranath72 wrote:
But one thing is to earn 500 XPs when you are first level, another is to gain them when you are 10th level. At 500XPs, you are practically giving spellcasting for free.

One way to solve this problem would be to force the player to decide at first level whether the PC is going to pursue spell-casting as a ranger. If so, then tack on an extra 5% or something to the experience required at each level, then give them limited spell-casting ability starting at 10th level. A player who initially decides not to pursue spell-casting as a ranger could potentially change her mind later, but she could be required to catch up the extra experience requirements for each of the previous levels before leveling up again.

Go0gleplex · Post by **Go0gleplex** » Sat May 31, 2008 5:19 pm

I'd simply make them seek out a teacher of 'the art'. In Pally's case, train with clerical cloisters or perform some heroic quest. This would probably work okay for Rangers if desired. The bard simply picks things up as their wont...spending time puzzling through the 'magic' of verse.

To me this would be more of an 'in character' achievement than a simple xp/ability rules mechanic.

Troll Lord Games

Spells for Rangers, Paladins, & Bards

Spells for Rangers, Paladins, & Bards

Re: Spells for Rangers, Paladins, & Bards