Re: (TFT) Hanging Magic in TFT.

[Peter von Kleinsmid <pvk@oz.net>]

Some thoughts:

* The "spells per day" thing (as well as its "memorize and forget" 
description) is one of the things that I rather dislike about D&D 
magic. Another is how powerful the spells are.
* I like this version better because the mechanic is more TFT-like, 
but it seems like there are still balance issues. An avid balancer 
would compare the cost/effects to what it takes to do similar stuff 
with potions, magic gems and enchantments.
* It seems like some of these spells end up not only being am amazing 
way to built up a huge magical attack without using all that fatigue 
during combat, but they also gain some advantages that can't be 
achieved in any other way, which don't seem to me to be particularly 
natural consequences, and I don't like that aspect of them. For 
example, I don't mind a huge fireball having an extra chance to knock 
people over if it's because of the natural physics of a huge fireball 
going off, but I don't like four magic fists that don't do actual 
damage and don't seem to need to roll to hit.
* In your example, it seems like the rate is generous unless it's a 
low-fatigue hung spell, because of the resting time that'd be needed, 
assuming you and/or your apprentices need to recover at least 8 
fatigue (80 minutes unless I mis-remember) after each failure. So one 
attempt would be about 40 minutes to try plus 80 minutes to recover, 
or two hours per attempt, so average 22 hours rather than 7.5.
* For the guideline where the GM decides a hung spell is too good 
after it's been used, I would make it seem less arbitrary by telling 
them they have discovered a drawback that they'll need to spend more 
fatigue to avoid, but which they so far luckily avoided. So I'd add a 
chance that if they cast it at the original fatigue level, there 
could be a fizzle or backfire or unintended effect. To me this is 
more interesting and breaks continuity less, while addressing the 
balance issue.
* I think these spells are interesting and not unbalanced in the 
sense that you have made them cost a LOT in terms of experience, not 
everyone can even spend XP on it, and the high fatigue cost, need for 
people casting Aid on you, time required, and risk of failure.
* However, they do still stretch the balance impact of having one of 
these effects go off... I think this is ok as long as you are an 
experienced GM who has his world make sense in terms of what magic 
gets made, and doesn't just have excessive stuff because it's cool.

For Hit Them When They Are Down:
    I wouldn't mind it if it were a combination of existing spells, 
but I don't much like the rolling Hammertouch, or what seems to be 
its fairly automatic nature which unless I misremember, doesn't match 
what it would take if you had a group of wizards casting actual Hammertouch.

For the Firey Fireball spell:
   I think the Magic Fist part is weird. I don't mind it having a 
knockback effect, but basing it on Magic Fist seems weird because 
what would aim the fists, why would they not do damage, why would 
there only be four, why would they not miss, etc just seems odd - I 
prefer the "critical success" effect of just having everyone close 
have to check or fall. Rolling 3/ST or 3/DX whichever is better isn't 
a very evil effect even into magic fire... well, it is for weakish 
undextrous unarmored types, but those can be hurt easily in other ways too.

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