Types of OSR Spellcasting Systems

Perceived problems with OD&D:

• Boring

• Vancian magic isn’t magical enough

• Difference between spell levels and PC levels

• Set spell lists

• Doesn’t suit certain settings and types of campaigns

Types of spells

• Set spell lists

• By spell level

• By player level (e.g., level 2 spell for level 2 caster)

• By schools (e.g., Necromancy)

• Level-less

• New spells are discovered in game (as treasure or from other casters)

• Improvised by player

Availability of spells

• Spell slots

• With slots per level

• Overall number of slots (level-less)

• Spells have physical form (e.g., scrolls) and take encumbrance slots

• Any spell they know

• Chosen by player

• Chosen by player if they pass a check (e.g., Intelligence)

• Determined randomly

• Casting has a cost

• Time: Spellcasting takes 2-3 rounds

• Reduces hp

• Mana cost

Success of spells

• Target, if any, gets a saving throw

• Caster rolls for success

• Caster failure results in anything from magical side effects to catastrophes

• Magic Dice (MD) per level, with option to roll as many or as few as you wish (GLOG) but with doubles result in a side effect and triples result in a catastrophe

Authors:

• Jeffrey Henning