Magic Point System
Written By :Quincunx Master

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Each spell costs a certain amount of magic points. All magic users are given the points that would allow them to cast the standard number of spells per level.

Priests spells cost 2 MP per spell level. This does not apply to druids. The low cost of MP is because the spells are given from their deities, who are magical by nature.

Wizard spells cost 3 MP per spell level. Although they cast fewer spells per level than priests do, the spells they do cast are often more powerful and offensive. Specialists wizards casting spells from their own school costs only 2 MP per level, as they find casting these spells easier. Conversely, casting spells from outside their specialty costs more MP per spell level.

Paladin's spells cost 4 MP per spell level. Although they are often tied to specific gods, spells are not the major tools of the holy warrior, and the cost therefore must be greater.

Ranger spells cost 5 MP per level. Since the casting of spells is limited for Rangers, they must spend even more MP than other spell users.

Bards and specialist wizards casting from outside their specialty costs 7 MP for every 2 spell levels, rounded down. Bards, while not as accomplished magic users as wizards, and specialist wizards, who have some trouble casting non-specialty spells, are easily accounted for.

Druids, whilst protecting nature and the balance with spells, are more limited, and so they must spend 5 MP for every 2 levels.

A simply calculated table would be as follows:

* The column on the left is for specialists casting from within their specialty. The column on the right is the cost for casting outside this specialty.

Of course, MP must be awarded for spell casters to use their spells. The following table lists the MP awarded for each XP level. The number in parentheses is the total MP given, whilst the number is the MP awarded (not the total). Also given is the MP for Paladins using the Skills and Powers rules.

Druids must spend 1 MP to enter the Elemental plase can be recovnes. Of course, theered normally, or spent on spells.

Wisdom Bonuses
Priests and Druids gain bonus spells for high Wisdom scores. Here is a calculated table for those

Boosting spells
A spell caster can, by spending 1 additional MP per spell level, boost the casting level of the spell by 1. This is useful for increasing the level-based variables (range, duration etc.). It also adds extra power to offensive spells (burning hands, fireball) where damage is level-based. So a 6th level wizard wishing to boost his fireball spends 3 MP (3rd level spell) extra, for a cost of 12 MP. This treats the casting as if it was 1 level higher, for a total damage of 7d6, instead of 6d6. It also increases the total range to 80 yards (10 yards + 10 yards per level), where it would normally be 70 yards. No more than 3 levels can be added to a particular spell. So the wizard could, if he chooses, boost his fireball to 9th level by spending 18 MP, causing 9d6 damage to a maximum range of 100 yards.

This can also work in reverse. If a spell caster wishes to reduce his casting level (reserving his MP for greater uses later), he can spend one less MP per spell level (to a minimum of 2 MP for any spell). If he so chooses, the wizard can save 3 MP for later, by treating his casting level as 5th. The fireball would therefore cost 6 MP, cause 5d6 damage out to a maximum range of 60 yards.

Casting Restrictions
This can also work in reverse. If a spell caster wishes to reduce his casting level (reserving his MP for greater uses later), he can spend one less MP per spell level (to a minimum of 2 MP for any spell). If he so chooses, the wizard can save 3 MP for later, by treating his casting level as 5th. The fireball would therefore cost 6 MP, cause 5d6 damage out to a maximum range of 60 yards.

For casting spells at a higher level than would normally be allowed, a similar system is applied. Mages of all types and bards cannot cast spells at a higher level than normally allowed – this is given to priests (druids included) only. This is because priests do not have to learn spells like mages – they have access to all the spells in their spheres. For example a 3rd level priest wishes to cast a cure serious wounds (4th level spell). The difference is calculated as a scroll (DMG pg. 196): Find the minimum casting level for the spell. For the example, this is 7th level. Next, subtract the caster level. The cleric is 3rd level, so the difference is 4(7-3). Add 1, then multiply by 5 for the % chance of spell failure. This would leave a 25% chance of failure. Refer to the above table for the effects of spell failure. Also, it costs 1 extra MP for each casting level of difference. In the example, it would cost 4 extra MP, for a total of 12 MP. Rangers and Paladins do not have the same mastery of spells as a priest has. They cannot cast spells at a higher level than would normally be allowed.

Recovering MP
MP can be recovered, like PSP, by meditating or sleeping. No other activity will restore MP, apart from magical means. The spell caster recovers ¹/8 of the MP total for each hour of meditation or sleep. Some spellcasters, elves especially, only require 4 hours of sleep. They recover double the normal rate of MP (¼ instead of ¹/8).

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