Magic Rating (3.5e Variant Rule)
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Contents
Mana Rating[edit]
This Rule was inspired by the Magic Rating rule in unearthed arcana. When I read the title, I was filled with all these ideas of what it could be. Then I read it. It was bad. The ideas were still there and now, years later, I force them on you.
Mana Rating is intended to codify how spellcasting works and make it more multiclassing more friendly to spellcasters and is designed to work hand in hand with Mana-Based Spellcasting.
Mana Rating[edit]
Every creature has a Mana Rating (MR). A creature's MR depends on a number of factors, mostly what classes they have levels in.
You add your MR to your Strain Tolerance instead of half your levels in spellcasting classes and prestige classes.
Your MR does not actually grant you the ability to cast spells, it does determine the highest level spell you can cast or learn. (Highest spell level = MR / 2)
Magic Rating Progressions[edit]
The following is a list of MR progressions for SRD classes:
| Mana Rating Progressions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Progression | Formula | Classes |
| Good | Equal to Class Level | Cleric, Druid, Sorcerer, Wizard |
| Medium | Equal to 1 + 2/3 Class Level) | Bard |
| Poor | Equal to 1/3 Class Level | All Others |
Progression is fractional and if the fraction is 1/2 or greater, round up to the next whole number.
Base classes not listed here use the formula for Good if they grant 7th level spells or greater by level 20. They use the formula for Medium if they grant spells of level greater than 4th by level 20. All classes that do not gain spellcasting or only get spell of up to 4th level, use the formula for Poor.
Racial HD and LA increases MR based on type. Fey and Outsider HD and LA progress MR as Good. Aberration, Dragon, Elemental, and Undead HD and LA progress MR as Medium. All other creature types HD and LA progress MR as Poor.
A character with the spellcasting class feature has a minimum MR of 2.
Prestige Classes, Multiclassing, and Mana Rating[edit]
Prestige classes advance MR just like base classes. The MR progression of a prestige class is equal to that of the spellcasting base class that you choose to progress with the prestige class. Levels of a prestige class that do not advance spellcasting (or similar ability advanced by the prestige class that is (Sp) or (Su)), use the poor MR progression.
A multiclass character adds up the MR from all HD they possess before rounding. This is the character's MR.
The End of Caster Level[edit]
The use of Mana Rating and Caster level together may get a tad confusing, so I have decided to eliminate caster level in its entirety. All effects of a spell tied to caster level are now tied to the level of the spell. Use twice the spell's level as its caster level (0-level spells are treated as 1/2 level spells and thus have an effective caster level of 1).
Effect which increase your caster level, are halved and applied as an effective spell level increase (not for spell DCs).
Metamagic increases the spell's actual level and therefore its effective caster level and DC.
For counter spelling and penetrating spell resistance, use your Mana Rating as your caster level. The improved counterspelling and spell penetration feats allow you to use your character level in place of your MR if it would be higher in addition to their normal benefits.
Caster level caps are removed.
Spells Known[edit]
Spells known functions differently in this variant as well. Any spontaneous spellcaster's with a limited number of spells known, learn one spell per class level. Fixed list casters and casters who know every spell on their spell list know 2 spells per class level. Both types learn an additional spell known per spell level they can cast.
They may exchange any spell they know for any other spell regardless of level whenever they would normally be able to exchange a spell known for another. They must, however, know at least one spell of each level they can cast.
A multiclass character that gains spellcasting may have a MR that allows them to learn spells of a level higher than 1st. They can learn such spells normally.
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