I have myriad complaints about spells and magic in the current edition of Dungeons & Dragons (as well as myriad complaints about how they implement classes, species, backgrounds, feats, weapons, etc.). I don’t like that all the classes use the same spell lists, or that artificers don’t feel like inventors, or the meta that if the DM takes away your warlock’s or paladin’s powers for roleplaying or story reasons then they are being needlessly cruel.
But this post isn’t a diatribe against the magic system of Dungeons & Dragons, this is simply a brainstorm of ideas that might bring a little more spark or fun or, erm, magic to your table/game/campaign. And they may not—as always, your mileage may vary.
1. One school of magic for each class
There are eight classes that wield magic at first level in the PHB, and there are conveniently eight schools of magic. Replace the spell list for each class with one of the schools of magic. I plan on using a variation of this for my upcoming Drakkenheim campaign:
| Class | Schools of Magic |
|---|---|
| Artificer* | Transmutation* |
| Bard | Enchantment |
| Cleric | Abjuration |
| Druid | Nature (Custom List)** |
| Paladin | Evocation (Fire-Based Spells and Smites Only)*** |
| Ranger | Divination |
| Sorcerer | Evocation |
| Warlock | Necromancy |
| Wizard | Conjuration |
*I’m really pushing for a steampunk/Arcane vibe, so I included Artificers. If I was doing this for a different campaign, I would have given Transmutation to the shape-shifty druids.
**I created a custom plant and animal nature-oriented list for Druids (which also let me ditch the resource-management hating Goodberry). Of course, after all that work, watch none of my players want to play a druid. There’s a lesson in there somewhere.
*** Followers of the Sacred Flame should be pyros, and I liked restricting most of the healing to clerics. If I was running a home-brew, I’d give Paladins illusions, and make them shadow warriors.
Assigning schools to each class has a number of immediate effects:
- Instant worldbuilding. Suddenly paladins are flame warriors, wielding fire to deadly effect. A warlock is someone who dares to cross the boundaries between life and death. Only divine magic can heal. Rangers are relevant again.
- The classes are imbalanced. Wizards and warlocks get nerfed. Sorcerers are battle masters. Bards are the undisputed masters of social interactions.
- A big reason to pick your class is access to spells. If you ever want to teleport or summon creatures, you’ll need to be a wizard.
Many classes and subclasses have spells and abilities that break this one-school for each class division, and that’s okay. Paladins can have burning hands and smite and summon steed. Clerics can have some domain spells in addition to all their healing. Players will take the Magic Initiate feat for access to spells from other lists, just as they do now.
Why I like it: Restricting each class to a smaller and more-or-less unshared spell list creates more distinction between classes, and I find it results in more meaningful and flavorful choices for the players.
2. Blood magic
Keep the math simple: each spell level cast does a hit point of damage to the caster. This makes casting a spell more dangerous at low-levels, and Constitution becomes a critical stat. Fragile mages won’t last long.
Another option: Get rid of spell slots altogether. Let characters up-cast from first level—if they dare.
Yet another option: Magic requires sacrifice. Ritual casters can use someone else’s blood.
Why I like it: Yeah, it’s not an original idea, but a blood price for magic is so cool, and it nerfs casters just a bit, which is good for martials.
3. All magic is Wild Magic
Roll on the WIld Magic results table any time anyone casts a spell. This works best in campaigns where no one plays a Wild Magic sorcerer.
Another option: Only Arcane magic is Wild Magic. Primal and DIvine magic is unaffected. (Or mix and match as desired.)
Why I like it: Magic should be unpredictable. This drives it home.
What do you think? What have you done to make magic sparkle in your campaign or at your table? Let me know in the comments!
The Far Reach 