Spell Points

Spell-points are used by many classes to cast spells. The cost of casting a spell is equal to the spell-level in spell points therefore it costs 1 point to cast a first level spell, 2 points to cast a second level spell and so on. 0-level spells (cantrips, orisons and talents) are considered to be such minor magicks that they are completely free to cast. Even a magic-user with no spell points at all is still able to cast a spell of 0-level. However, the number of 0-level spells a class has access to may have changed. Consult the section on character classes for more details.

Classes that use different forms of magic may utilise their magic points different - i.e. the mechanic used for the casting of spells differs between certain classes. Check the section on magic to see what these differences are.

Base Spell Points

Consult the table below and find the point where the appropriate character class and level intersect. This number is the base number of spell points a class of that level has access to. The base number may be modified by a character's ability scores. See the section on bonus spell-points for details. A "---" on the table indicates the class has cannot cast spells at that level, whereas a "0" indicates that the class can only cast spells if it gains bonus spell points from a high attribute modifier (see below). The numbers in this table are not cumulative.

Note that spell points gained by core classes and prestige classes have been separated for ease of use.

Bonus Spell Points

Almost all classes receive bonus spell points on top of the base spell points listed above. For each class, magic is directly associated with a particular attribute - either Intelligence, Wisdom or Charisma. Details of which attribute modfies the spell points of which class can be found in the character class section and in the printed rulebooks.

To use the table below simply find the ability score of your character in the left hand column and compare it to the highest level spell your character can cast. If your character can cast spells of greater than level nine, stil treat ninth level spells as your maximum in this instance. Should you ability score increase, bonus spell points can be recalculated.

Maximum Spell Levels

Some classes are limited in the number of spells they can actually know. The Maximum Spell Levels (or Known Spells) figure represents the number of spell levels a character of that class and level can know. For example, an eleventh level psion can know sixty-six levels of powers. This might be 66 first level powers, 33 second level powers or any combination that adds up to 66 levels as long as it doesn't include powers of higher than sixth level - sixth level is the maximum level power an eleventh level psion can manifest. The descriptions of each branch of magic in the magic section describe this in more detail.

Spells of 0-Level never count against this total. The spell-caster can know as many of these powers as they please.

Recharge Time

Some spell casters, notably the War Mage, do not have a spell point total. Instead, when they cast their spells the spell becomes unavailable for a certain number of rounds. When a spell is cast, the player must note the recharge time. The spell cannot be cast until that time has expired. Spells with a recharge time of one round are available again the very next combat round.

Do my Spell Points Stack?

Multiclass characters may find themselves with spell points from more than one source. Players will obviously want to know whether their spell point from class a stacks with that from class b. Here, in this very paragraph, I can reveal that the definitive answer to this question is: sometimes. Before we press on, let us be sure we are working from the same definition when I say "stack":

If spell points stack then the base spell point totals from the classes in question are added together. The character can cast any of the spells available from any of his classes from this single spell point total. For example, a ranger 12/druid 5/healer 3 has six spell points from his ranger levels, ten spell points from his druid levels and ten spell points from his healer levels for a spell point total of twenty-six. He can cast any spell from the ranger, druid or healer list using those 26 spell points.

Bonus spell points do apply to this total but they only apply ONCE, and the total is always the highest possible value. Assume the above character has Wisdom 20. A 12th level ranger with that ability score would have 7 bonus spell points, a 5th level druid would have 7 bonus spell points, and a 3rd level healer would have 4 bonus spell points. Therefore this character has 7 bonus spell points added to his total, and now has 33 spell points.

If spell points stack then caster level also stacks. The above character casts spells as a fourteenth level caster (Ranger have a caster level of half their class level). However, despite caster level, the character does not have access to spells as a fourteenth level caster. He still only has access to same number of spells as a 12th level ranger, 5th level druid and 3rd level healer respectively.

If spell points don't stack then the character is left with two distinct pools of spell points. Bonus spell points apply to each of these pools individually, and the caster level does not stack. A twentieth level caster who is a wizard 10/cleric 10 would have a set spell point total for his wizard spells (with bonus spell points derrived from his Intelligence attribute) and a set spell point total for his cleric spells (with bonus spell points derrived from his Wisdom attribute).

Spell Points by Class

As a general rule spell points derrived from classes that use the same type of magic will stack with one another. However, it is dangerous to make too many assumptions. Use the list below as a guide, but always refer to the GM for a final ruling.

• Because wizardry, sorcery, draconic magic and recharge magic use completely different mechanics they do not stack with one another in the traditional sense. However, levels of wizardry and sorcery (but not recharge magic) do stack in determining caster level and the power of certain arcane accoutrements such as familiars. Although caster levels stack, access to spells do not stack. The maximum spell castable by a wizard 5/sorcerer 6 is still a third level spell.
• Divine magic spell-points only stack if they are granted by the same god. This tends to mean that they only stack if you go from cleric or paladin into a related prestige class. The GM has more guidance in this area.
• Power points and caster levels always stack for psionicists (psion, psychic warrior and wilder).
• Spell points for bards and sonorists do not stack. Although bardic magic and sonorism both use Song Magic they are too different for one to benefit the other.
• All nature magic comes from the same route. Therefore spell points and caster level always stack for druids, healers and rangers.