D&D 5E Simplified 3-level spellcasting

[Ludovicus]

I'm about to DM a group of friends and I really don't want to scare them away with complicated spellcasting so I thought of making the system easier to understand by using physical beads that are spent when spells are used. Since it's hard to differentiate between 20 different sizes of beads I think it would make things a lot easier to just divide spells into cantrips (no bead used), small spells (small bead), medium spells (medium bead) and large spells (large bead). Seems intuitive. Do you have any tips on which spell levels should be assigned to which size and how I might make the system more balanced?

Right now I'm thinking
Cantrips: Cantrips and 1st level spells
Small: 2nd to 7th level spells
Medium: 8th to 14th level spells
Large: 15th to 20th level spells

 

[marcelvdpol]

Some questions:
- What level should your group of friends start with?
- How much experience do they have with gaming in general?
- Do they have any experience playing computer roleplaying games?

In general, if I were to introduce new players to D&D, I would start them off at level 1 (level 2 at most) and give them easy to play characters (Fighter, Cleric, Rogue, Wizard). I would already have done all the stat selection, equipment etc for them including printing cards with the spells they have prepared. Keeping track of the spell slots can indeed be done simply with beads as you don't need so many different types of beads at level 1 or 2 (you can cast only 1st level spells).

If they are enthousiastic and want to play more, I definitely want them to "grow" their character so that additional features and options become available but only a few at a time. Once they become more accustomed to the way spellcasting works, I'd rather they follow the full rules.

 

[DEFCON 1]

Are you *starting* at 20th level? Why do you need to worry about medium or large beads right now?

If you are worried about players understanding spellcasting, the easiest way to explain it to them is to just start at 1st level.

"These three spells... called 'cantrips'... you can cast as often as you want. The magic is free to you. In addition, you can cast two '1st Level' spells each day. And this is your list of five spells you have prepared from which to choose from. You can cast two different spells from this list or the same spell twice, depending on what you think you need. Then after you've cast your two 1st level spells for the day, you'll get them back after you take a long rest. Until then, keep casting cantrips as many times as you want."

Spellcasting isn't really as incomprehensible as some people seem to believe it is. Not at 1st level at least.

 

[Li Shenron]

If they don't understand spell levels, they should start the game at 1st level.

When (if) they have troubles with spell levels as they are levelling up (certainly not before 3rd level), slow down XP advancement until they are comfortable with the idea of spell levels.

If they understand 3 then they understand 9. Your proposed change does nothing to help them understand better, it only adds more work to do.

 

[Oofta]

It's good that you're trying to make the game accessible, but unless you're dealing with multi-classing warlocks, I wouldn't worry about it too much. Let people come up with their own way of tracking spells.

For example I put my character sheet in a clear sheet protectors and then have checkboxes next to the spell level. I use a dry erase marker to check off the spells I cast.

Another guy used buttons, another guy wrote down every spell he cast. Everyone has their own method.

I would also agree with the others. Start people at low levels.

 

[Delazar]

Why not just use "spell points"? If they understand hit points, they will be fine with spell points.

 

[marcelvdpol]

Why not just use "spell points"? If they understand hit points, they will be fine with spell points.

I actually would have preferred spellpoints (or Mana) myself for D&D 5th, but there surely is some reason why WotC decided to go some other way. Perhaps Mana points would have been too flexible or too hard to adjust the mechanics of it for each class.

 

[Tigerzak21]

There is a rules variant in the DMG that uses spell points in place of spell slots, where you cast spells by spending a number of points slightly greater than the level of the spell. I don't have my book or the specifics with me, but it might be a good fit for easier spellcasting tracking. This way it is just 'a number of beads' rather than 'specific sized/color beads'

 

[Ludovicus]

I was planning to start them on lvl one, both because I think that makes the journey feel greater and because they have 0 prior experience of RPGs. Now that you mention it, understanding spellcasting shouldn't really be an issue as long as they get to ease into it. I'll just make sure to take things slowly. Thanks a lot for the help!

 

[Jester David]

I'd recommend post-it notes.
Get some really small ones if various colours and cut them into strips. An inch by a quarter inch. Different colours for different spell levels.
They can stick them on their sheet sticking out slightly and just pull off when casting or replace after resting, and it takes less table space, can't be knocked over, and keep their position between sessions.