Strain Cost Lists & Spell Fatigue Saves (3.5e Other)

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Author: brainduster (talk)
Date Created: 2014-01-12
Status: Basically done.
Editing: Clarity edits only please
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Strain Cost Lists, Maximum Strain Tolerance, and Spell Fatigue Saves[edit]

I use straincasting in my games; it's why I made Strain-Based Psionics (3.5e Variant Rule). The calculations are pretty simple to do on the fly, but my players are lazy, and they do not necessarily always play classes that use the lone table on the mana-based spellcasting variant rule's page. There are also some unfinished bits, like the spell fatigue saves (that is, the saving throw made when casting a spell while fatigued from being overstrained) being a mere suggestion as opposed to something clearly laid out.

So yeah, rather than do some excel spreadsheet nonsense on google docs, I'm making this here. Because it's prettier. And I like it better.

Primary Casters: Wizards, Clerics, Druids, etc...[edit]

Primary casters are defined as classes who unlock spells at the fastest rate, that is: Spell Level × 2 - 1; so level 2 spells a character level 3, 3 at 5, and so forth. They use this table, have the listed strain tolerance, and have to make the listed fortitude save when they want to cast more than they should.

Table: Primary Caster Strain Costs
Level Strain Cost
0 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th
1st 3 6
2nd 3 6
3rd 2 3 7
4th 2 3 6
5th 1 2 4 7
6th 1 2 3 7
7th 0 1 3 4 8
8th 0 1 2 4 7
9th 0 0 2 3 5 9
10th 0 0 1 3 4 8
11th 0 0 1 2 4 6 10
12th 0 0 0 2 3 6 9
13th 0 0 0 1 3 5 7 11
14th 0 0 0 1 2 5 7 10
15th 0 0 0 0 2 4 6 8 12
16th 0 0 0 0 1 4 6 8 11
17th 0 0 0 0 1 3 5 7 9 13
18th 0 0 0 0 0 3 5 7 9 12
19th 0 0 0 0 0 2 4 6 8 10
20th 0 0 0 0 0 2 4 6 8 10

Strain Tolerance is equal to the spellcasting ability score plus half of the character's caster level.

Spell Fatigue Save has a DC equal to 20+Spell Level+Amount of Strain Exceeding Tolerance. It is a fortitude save. They are all fortitude saves. Only the base changes on a class by class basis.

Secondary Casters: Sorcerers, Elementalists, Bards, Etc.[edit]

Secondary casters are defined as spellcasting classes who unlock spells at the second-fastest rate: Spell Level × 2. Sorcerers and elementalists and god knows whatever else use these things.

Table: Secondary Caster Strain Costs
Level Strain Cost
0 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th
1st 3 6
2nd 3 6
3rd 2 3
4th 2 3 7
5th 1 2 6
6th 1 2 4 7
7th 0 1 4 7
8th 0 1 3 5 8
9th 0 0 3 4 7
10th 0 0 2 3 5 9
11th 0 0 2 3 5 8
12th 0 0 1 2 4 6 10
13th 0 0 1 2 4 6 9
14th 0 0 0 1 3 5 7 11
15th 0 0 0 1 3 5 7 10
16th 0 0 0 0 2 4 6 8 12
17th 0 0 0 0 2 4 6 8 11
18th 0 0 0 0 1 3 5 7 9 13
19th 0 0 0 0 1 3 5 7 9 12
20th 0 0 0 0 0 2 4 6 8 10

Strain Tolerance is equal to 1.5 × the spellcasting ability score for the class plus half of the character's caster level.

Spell Fatigue Save has a DC equal to 15+Spell Level+Amount of Strain Exceeding Tolerance. It is a fortitude save. They are all fortitude saves. Only the base changes on a class by class basis.

Half Casters: Red Mages, Paladins, Rangers, and ...[edit]

Hybrids get fewer spell levels; their unlocks are on par with secondary casters, but their costs decrease more slowly. Get dunked.

Table: Hybrid Caster Strain Costs
Level Strain Cost
0 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th
1st 3
2nd 3 6
3rd 2 6
4th 2 6 7
5th 1 4 7
6th 1 3 6 7
7th 0 3 4 7
8th 0 2 4 7 8
9th 0 2 3 5 8
10th 0 1 3 4 7 9
11th 0 1 2 4 5 9
12th 0 0 2 3 5 8 10
13th 0 0 1 3 4 6 10
14th 0 0 1 2 4 6 9
15th 0 0 0 2 3 5 9
16th 0 0 0 1 3 5 8
17th 0 0 0 1 2 4 8
18th 0 0 0 0 2 4 7
19th 0 0 0 0 1 3 6
20th 0 0 0 0 1 3 5

Strain Tolerance is equal to the character's spellcasting ability score plus half of the character's caster level.

Spell Fatigue Save has a DC equal to 23+Spell Level+Amount of Strain Exceeding Tolerance. It is a fortitude save.


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Authorbrainduster +
Identifier3.5e Other +
RatingUndiscussed +
SummaryTables with spell costs for non-wizard classes using the straincasting rules. +
TitleStrain Cost Lists & Spell Fatigue Saves +