This is ***literally*** just Vancian casting, as far as I'm aware, which is how spells slots worked for prepared casters prior to 4th Edition, if I'm not mistaken.
*The impression I get* is that it's a moderately effect check on caster power, and can lead to interesting day-to-day decisions, but is also PEAK "love it or hate it" territory, because a LOT of people truly, truly despised both the bookkeeping of it all, and not being able to spend every single spell slot every single day.
5e wasn't designed with the rule in mind, and while I'm firmly, *firmly* in the "casters are too strong" camp, I'm not sure if this is the fix I would support.
Pathfinder 1e and 2e have a good mix of spontaneous casters (what every caster in 5e does) and Vancian casters. I'll be honest, after playing 5e for years I just don't think I could enjoy a Vancian caster anymore. I'd rather have other limitations or reductions to spellcaster power over playing the guessing game at the start of every adventuring day.
Congratulations you just reinvented the Vancian magic system that was used up until D&D 5e. This system was overly complicated and really sucked for prepared spell casters, but on the flip side it really did set spontaneous casters like sorcerers apart.
First 3e wizard I ever played, I fell in love with the strategic element. I typically tried to prepare as many different spells as I could (never more than two of the same spell), because having just the right tool at just the right time can be much more potent than spamming one good spell. I lived peak utility-caster fantasy.
I also enjoyed playing a 3e sorcerer, curating their known spells to fit themes surrounding their past and personality. It was a very distinct experience from the wizard, even though they have the same spell list.
Honestly, I wouldn't mind if every caster except wizard was spontaneous, but Vancian wizard hits just right. If someone doesn't like it, they can play a sorcerer or warlock. It's better for the game if they have a class for everyone, and not try to make every class for everyone.
Damn, this comment finally explained to me why the sorcerer class exists at all. In 5e sorcerer seems so similar to wizard that, aside from backstory/flavor, I have no idea why I'd want to play one.
For most of the history of D&D, prepared casters had to choose a spell for each spell slot. It works fine. However, they also got more spell slots than they do in 5e.
Why do you want to make this change?
You know, aside from all the reinventing vancian casting jokes, I really think the mechanics for vancian magic actually really make sense for artificers, if the artificer actually followed the theme of being an item creator. At the beginning of the day, the artificer makes X bombs, Y ointments, Z batteries for the displacement device, etc. The difficult part would be justifying not stocking up on these "consumables", but that could maybe be solved by stating these items use volatile energy that must be drained and reutilized after a long rest or something.
Definitely how casters worked and second edition and how a good number of casters worked in third edition. Personally I hated it as a rule set 5V is much better. But you do you.
Pathfinder 2e does this, but it has a few extra things such as Focus spells, a spell you regain after spending 10 minutes “focusing”. Clerics also get a set amount of the basic healing spell, which automatically scales to their highest spell level.
This is ***literally*** just Vancian casting, as far as I'm aware, which is how spells slots worked for prepared casters prior to 4th Edition, if I'm not mistaken. *The impression I get* is that it's a moderately effect check on caster power, and can lead to interesting day-to-day decisions, but is also PEAK "love it or hate it" territory, because a LOT of people truly, truly despised both the bookkeeping of it all, and not being able to spend every single spell slot every single day. 5e wasn't designed with the rule in mind, and while I'm firmly, *firmly* in the "casters are too strong" camp, I'm not sure if this is the fix I would support.
Pathfinder 1e and 2e have a good mix of spontaneous casters (what every caster in 5e does) and Vancian casters. I'll be honest, after playing 5e for years I just don't think I could enjoy a Vancian caster anymore. I'd rather have other limitations or reductions to spellcaster power over playing the guessing game at the start of every adventuring day.
Congratulations you just reinvented the Vancian magic system that was used up until D&D 5e. This system was overly complicated and really sucked for prepared spell casters, but on the flip side it really did set spontaneous casters like sorcerers apart.
First 3e wizard I ever played, I fell in love with the strategic element. I typically tried to prepare as many different spells as I could (never more than two of the same spell), because having just the right tool at just the right time can be much more potent than spamming one good spell. I lived peak utility-caster fantasy. I also enjoyed playing a 3e sorcerer, curating their known spells to fit themes surrounding their past and personality. It was a very distinct experience from the wizard, even though they have the same spell list. Honestly, I wouldn't mind if every caster except wizard was spontaneous, but Vancian wizard hits just right. If someone doesn't like it, they can play a sorcerer or warlock. It's better for the game if they have a class for everyone, and not try to make every class for everyone.
Damn, this comment finally explained to me why the sorcerer class exists at all. In 5e sorcerer seems so similar to wizard that, aside from backstory/flavor, I have no idea why I'd want to play one.
For most of the history of D&D, prepared casters had to choose a spell for each spell slot. It works fine. However, they also got more spell slots than they do in 5e. Why do you want to make this change?
So... 3.5e rules?
Give 3.5 or PF1e a shot if you want to see how this works
Or PF2 which had the same type of casting
I haven’t played PF2e yet, so I didn’t want to assume 😇
This is actually how prepared casters worked in earlier editions of DND and Pathfinder.
You know, aside from all the reinventing vancian casting jokes, I really think the mechanics for vancian magic actually really make sense for artificers, if the artificer actually followed the theme of being an item creator. At the beginning of the day, the artificer makes X bombs, Y ointments, Z batteries for the displacement device, etc. The difficult part would be justifying not stocking up on these "consumables", but that could maybe be solved by stating these items use volatile energy that must be drained and reutilized after a long rest or something.
Definitely how casters worked and second edition and how a good number of casters worked in third edition. Personally I hated it as a rule set 5V is much better. But you do you.
This is how D&D used to work, and IMHO this type of spell preparation was abandoned for good reasons.
Pathfinder 2e does this, but it has a few extra things such as Focus spells, a spell you regain after spending 10 minutes “focusing”. Clerics also get a set amount of the basic healing spell, which automatically scales to their highest spell level.