# 2020-09-12 Spell System Overhaul, Overhauled

I've been thinking about my "Spell System Overhaul" [1] and realized
that it did not sit well with me. For one, it places too much
emphasis on ability scores. Also, I think the spell bonuses are too
high - more akin to AD&D than OD&D. And I think it's worth keeping
the goal in mind of having more useful low-level spell-casters. So I
think a simpler solution is this:

1. MUs or Clerics with a prime requisite of 13 or more get a bonus
  1st level spell.
2. MUs or Clerics can store one spell in a staff, wand or holy
  symbol.

For #2, one known spell can be stored and used per day, or, in the
case of Clerics, they can instead (regardless of WIS score) store
"Divine Energy" in their holy symbol, such that it gives them a +1
bonus to turning attempts. The stored spells or energy can be
replenished when the spell-caster learns or prays for her spells
each morning.

I think it is still worthwhile to not allow MUs to memorize
duplicate spells, to encourage variety, and to allow read magic as
an additional spell each day. MUs can be provided with a study
scroll of all 1st level spells, but must find, buy or research
spells of higher level.

OD&D Clerics have such small spell lists, I think it makes sense to
still allow them to free-cast and have access to all the spells of a
level they can cast. Clerics can also use a book or study scroll if
the referee desires, or the spell slots can just be granted divinely
each day.

Just thinking about how this would play in practice, Murray the Mage
has an above-average intelligence (14), and so at 1st level gets a
bonus 1st level spell. He is not allowed to memorize duplicates, but
he has access to a study scroll of all 1st level spells provided to
him by his mentor. The day he plans to go on an adventure, he
memorizes charm person and hold portal. He also imbues his oaken
staff with the magical energies needed to cast a sleep spell, and
finally he has read magic memorized.

So this gives Murray a decent variety of spells - one utility, two
offensive, and one defensive spell. Because the bonus is just one
1st level spell, this baseline set of spells doesn't change - at
subsequent levels he just adds spells as per the normal advancement
chart. If nothing else this makes him much more useful at low
levels, and the staff also gives him a slight boost at higher
levels.

Murray's companion Lana the 1st level Cleric is not as wise as her
peers (10 WIS), but she can still prepare her holy symbol with the
divine energy needed to aid her undead turning attempts. If she had
a WIS of 13 or more, or was 2nd level, she could instead choose to
store a 1st level Clerical spell in her holy symbol. Also with a WIS
of 13 or more, she could cast any one 1st level spell as needed each
day, independent of how she had prepared her holy symbol.

[1]: gopher://gopher.smolderingwizard.com/0/phlog/2020-05-30-spell-system-overhaul-odnd-white-box.md