Re: A new beginning

	I once played with a group where we had a similar problem
(preponderence of combat spells).  We experimented with a variety of
spell-point systems to encourage using all spells in one's book.  The
simplest system may interest you.
	Continue using the Spell Progression Table for the relevant
class.  However, the number on the table represents the number of spells
the PC is able to cast in 1 day.  The PC doesn't have to specify which
spells are memorized.  Any spells the individual has learned for that
level are available.  Thus, a 1st level wizard who has learned Sleep,
Tenser's Floating Disc, Armor, and Detect Magic is free to cast any of
these spells, albeit once per day as per the Progression Table.  This
wizard would then be free to contribute to the group more instead of
merely having Sleep always memorized.
	I don't have the info (this was many moons ago), but we also had
rules requiring the spellcaster to study their spells regularly.  This
study had to be repeated at least once a week or that particular spell
was unavailable for casting.  We also had another rule that limited the
number of spells a wizard could cast from.  Thus, if the M-U had 100 ist
level spells learnt, they could only have memorized for casting, say,
15.  This was to prevent high level wizards from casting about anything
they wanted.
	The system was easy to use and didn't overbalance the game.  Of
course, maybe we just didn't take advantage of it!

John McCloud
jmccloud@?????.????.edu

On Tue, 4 Aug 1998, Optimus wrote:

> 13. Most of the PC wizards tend to choose combat spells rather than
> "trick" spells like feign death and such. Therefore I am going to
> allow wizards to lose 2 spells of one level and cast another spell of
> the same level instead. For instance, if a character had memorized a
> fireball and a lightning bolt, he could forget those two and cast a
> different level 3 spell from his spellbook.