Phoenix - spell variability

[Alex Koponen]

How about some comments and ideas on spell variability?

One of the things I like about P&P's magic system is that spells become
more powerful as one becomes more skilled in their use. Yet one need not
always cast the most powerful version but can limit the spell down as far
as EL0 effects.

One possibility for varying spells even more would be to allow decreasing
the cost by one for each doubling of the length of time it takes to cast
the mana for a spell with a minimum of having to cast at least one mana
per phase. [The mana structure of the spell would not be maintained at any
slower rate.]
Example: Blouhard the wizard's apprentice can cast all his spells at 1
mana/phase. He cannot decrease the cost because he is already at the
minimum. Later he progresses to where he can cast his spells at 2
mana/phase. Now he can decrease the cost by one and cast at 1 mana/phase.
However it still will not help. Spells costing 1 mana will still require 1
mana and take 1 phase to cast. A 2 mana spell doubled would be 4 mana, it
would take him 2 phases to cast that much mana so a 2 mana spell would
still take 2 phases and at 1 mana/phase he has not gained anything, just
doubled the length of time it took to cast the spell. Similarly there is
no gain (yet) for more expensive spells.
    Blouhard the Journeyman wizard can cast his spells at 3 mana/phase. He
still takes 2 phases to cast a reduced cost 2 mana spell (2x2=4, 4>3) so
has not yet gained any advantage there. However he can reduce a 3 mana
spells to a 2 mana spell cast over 2 phases. (3 doubled is 6, it takes him
only 2 phases to cast 6, so he can reduce the cost to 2 and cast it over 2
phases). Trying to reduce the cost to 1 wouldn't work because it would
actually increase casting time to 4 phases and 4 mana.
    An Arch-Wizard with casting speed of 12 can't reduce the cost of a 1
mana spell, it still costs 1 mana and takes 1 phase. However, spells from
2 to 6 mana could be reduced in cost by 1 mana and still cast in 1 phase.
Spells from 7-12 mana could  be reduced in cost by 1 mana and cast in 2
phases.
    The Arch-Wizard could even cast a 3 mana spell with only 1 mana in
just 1 phase (3x2x2=12, he can cast 12 mana/phase).

    This would have little effect on low level spell casters but would
make master spell casters even more effective. Anyway I've rambled on long
enough. Later I will list some risk options I use for spellcasting.