These modified spell casting rules are intended to apply to Stephen and Michael J.'s Pathfinder campaigns.
Spell Slots
A Spell Slot is defined as the ability to cast one spell per day of a specific level and from a specific class spell list. On the charts in the Pathfinder core rule book, the number of Spell Slots of each level available to a character of a specific level can be found on "Spells Per Day" section of the given class. This is to distinguish Spell Slots (SS) from the number of spells a character can prepare, which uses the same chart and which we shall call Prepared Spell Slots (PSS). As a character casts a spell of level X, they use up 1 Spell Slot of level X.
Hybrid Spell Casters
Hybrid spell casters, specifically Rangers and Paladins do not have to prepare spells granted to them by those classes. They are considered to know all of the Core Rulebook spells to which they have access, and may use an appropriate spell slot to cast any such spell that they know. Note:I am highly tempted to include the Druid in this group as well, given the very specific nature of many of their spells, but it might be better to allow them to "spontaneously" cast those very specific spell when faced with the appropriate environment or creature. Looking for input here.
Spell Preparation
Casters that must prepare spells (specifically Clerics and Wizards) may prepare one spell of the appropriate level into each Prepared Spell Slot they possess, per the Spells Per Day section of their basic Class Abilities Chart. These spells are not forgotten when cast, so such a caster need not prepare the same spell more than once. A caster may cast any spell they have prepared as many times as they wish, limited by available Spell Slots. Prepared Spell Slots may be left unfilled or emptied when preparing spells.
Purging Spells
A single Prepared Spell Slot may be "purged" with 1 min. per spell level of uninterrupted meditation or prayer, leaving an empty Prepared Spell Slot. If interrupted, the caster must start the process again, from the beginning.
Preparing Spells
Any spell a character knows my be "prepared" into an empty Prepared Spell Slot with 5 min. per spell level of uninterrupted meditation or prayer. Normal requirements for preparing the spell still apply (i.e. a wizard needs his or her spell book.) If interrupted, the caster must start the process again, from the beginning.
Meta Magic Feats
Meta magic feats may be applied to spells "on the fly", simply by using a Spell Slot of the appropriate level. i.e. Casting an Empowered (+2 spell levels) Fireball (3rd level) uses up a 5th level Spell Slot instead of using a 3rd level spell slot.
These modified spell casting rules are intended to apply to Stephen and Michael J.'s Pathfinder campaigns.
Spell Slots
A Spell Slot is defined as the ability to cast one spell per day of a specific level and from a specific class spell list. On the charts in the Pathfinder core rule book, the number of Spell Slots of each level available to a character of a specific level can be found on "Spells Per Day" section of the given class. This is to distinguish Spell Slots (SS) from the number of spells a character can prepare, which uses the same chart and which we shall call Prepared Spell Slots (PSS). As a character casts a spell of level X, they use up 1 Spell Slot of level X.
Hybrid Spell Casters
Hybrid spell casters, specifically Rangers and Paladins do not have to prepare spells granted to them by those classes. They are considered to know all of the Core Rulebook spells to which they have access, and may use an appropriate spell slot to cast any such spell that they know. Note:I am highly tempted to include the Druid in this group as well, given the very specific nature of many of their spells, but it might be better to allow them to "spontaneously" cast those very specific spell when faced with the appropriate environment or creature. Looking for input here.
Spell Preparation
Casters that must prepare spells (specifically Clerics and Wizards) may prepare one spell of the appropriate level into each Prepared Spell Slot they possess, per the Spells Per Day section of their basic Class Abilities Chart. These spells are not forgotten when cast, so such a caster need not prepare the same spell more than once. A caster may cast any spell they have prepared as many times as they wish, limited by available Spell Slots. Prepared Spell Slots may be left unfilled or emptied when preparing spells.
Purging Spells
A single Prepared Spell Slot may be "purged" with 1 min. per spell level of uninterrupted meditation or prayer, leaving an empty Prepared Spell Slot. If interrupted, the caster must start the process again, from the beginning.
Preparing Spells
Any spell a character knows my be "prepared" into an empty Prepared Spell Slot with 5 min. per spell level of uninterrupted meditation or prayer. Normal requirements for preparing the spell still apply (i.e. a wizard needs his or her spell book.) If interrupted, the caster must start the process again, from the beginning.
Meta Magic Feats
Meta magic feats may be applied to spells "on the fly", simply by using a Spell Slot of the appropriate level. i.e. Casting an Empowered (+2 spell levels) Fireball (3rd level) uses up a 5th level Spell Slot instead of using a 3rd level spell slot.
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Spontaneous vs. Prepared Spell Casters
Nominally, spontaneous spell casters are supposed to be limited by the small number of spells they know and have access to. Given that Sorcerers and Bards are very good at using scrolls, and the fact that only a relatively small number of spells of each level are generally applicable, this is a minor limitation. This problem is far worse for Rangers, Paladins, and to a lesser extent Druids, who have an even smaller quantity of generally useful spells to draw from, and thus almost never prepare the more interesting "niche" spells in their repertoire. The supposed flexibility of Wizards and Clerics is also limited by the book spell preparation rules, where one must prepare two "copies" of magic missile to cast it twice, and it really makes them less flexible than they ought to be.
So, please check out the above rules changes and let us know what you think.