Grog’s House Rules – Supernumerary Spells and Other Magic-User Rules

Hey, how can the Ref make it more fun to play the BX Magic-User? You can try it the Grog way by bolting on a few extra house rules. Lets get to it!

Change the Weapons

The MU may now use a sword, or magic sword, or staff, in addition to a dagger. That’s right we’re Gandalfing this character class.

Chuck out the Spell Memorization Rules

Memorization of spells is no longer required. Spells no longer vanish from the Memory of the Magic-User the moment they are cast. The Magic-User may cast any spell they have recorded in their spellbook. The spellbook is now used by the Player and Ref to record what spells the Magic-User knows.

A Magic-User may record into their spellbook spells which are found on scrolls if they are equal to their current level. Per the rules, the spell Read Magic is required to identify spells on a scroll. The act of recording the spell from the scroll does not use up the spell on the scroll.

Change the Hit Dice

Drop d4 as the minimum Hit Dice for Characters, therefore change the Magic-User’s hit dice type to d6 per “classic rules”.

Supernumerary Spell Use

The Magic-User has a spell allotment per level, what they are granted in their spell book and are able to cast. In order to keep things simple we are going to appropriate the “level” of the spell for use as points:

a level 1 spell is worth 1 point,
a level 2 spell is worth 2 points,
a level 3 spell is worth 3 points,
a level 4 spell is worth 4 points,
a level 5 spell is worth 5 points, and
a level 6 spell is worth 6 points.

The normal rules of spell casting still apply. That is the Magic-User is capable of casting those spells normally allotted to them by the rules. However, they are also able to cast additional Supernumerary Spells beyond those normally granted and this is where the spell points come in; using the following rules:

After each Supernumerary Spell is cast the Player must make a Saving Throw VS. Spells. If the Saving Throw fails the Player must temporarily deduct the point value of the spell from the Character’s CON. Supernumerary Spells may not be cast when the character’s CON reaches a value less than 9. CON is recovered simultaneously and in addition to Hit Points at the same rate, 1-3 points per day of rest. The temporary reduction of CON has no effect on total Hit Points or Resurrection.

Example of Play I

Ferd Fungus the First Level Magic-User casts his Sleep Spell laying low some Goblins. Ferd has already been on a few adventures and found some scrolls with First Level spells. The Magic-User has recorded these spells into their spellbook; thus Ferd knows several spells even though the First Level Magic-User is only normally allowed to cast one spell. The Player then elects to have Ferd cast a Supernumerary First Level spell, Detect Magic, in the following round and declares its use per the normal sequence of play. Ferd casts the spell (following the extant rules and sequence of play) and then must make a Saving Throw VS. Spells, 15 or better. The Player rolls 12, fails, and 1 point is temporarily deducted from CON because a First Level Spell is 1 point. Ferd’s CON is 11, and it is temporarily reduced to 10. This temporary reduction has no effect on total hit points or resurrection.

The CON and point combination act together as a brake on the potential endless use of magic. When Ferd reaches 8 points of CON the Magic-User can no longer cast Supernumerary Spells. Ferd must later rest to regain Hit Points and when this happens the character also recovers 1-3 points of lost CON per day of rest.

The element of chance, in the form of the Saving Throw VS. Spells, adds ambiguity to the consequence of supernumerary spell casting. Players love it when they have a chance to dodge an otherwise certain fate. This is a lot more fun than simply deducting points outright from CON.

Example of Play II

Ferd Fungus has progressed to 9th level and is now a Wizard. Note that the Magic-Users CON has not changed. When Ferd casts a Supernumerary 5th level spell the player must make a ST. VS. Spells, 12 or better. The Player rolls 11, fails, and 5 points are deducted from Ferd’s CON of 11, 11 – 5 = 6. Ferd may no longer cast Supernumerary Spells. From this it may be deduced that there is lesser penalty and greater advantage for Ferd in choosing to cast lower level Supernumerary Spells.

That’s it!