Balancinging + New spell ( Caster based )

[Danaron Duskworn Raveleyn]

I have a slight issue with the way magi are balanced with melee and ranged and I wish to balance that out in a way and I was hoping to get a good discussion below here, I will use examples from a Shadow Warlock point of view for that is where my expiernce comes from so far.

The point spending for those whom use magic is B:
1 DP = lvl 1 focus 1 DP = lvl 1 magic
3 DP = lvl 2 focus 2 DP = lvl 2 magic
6 DP = lvl 3 focus 4 DP = lvl 3 magic
10 DP = lvl 4 focus 7 DP = lvl 4 magic
15 DP = lvl 5 focus 11 DP = lvl 5 magic

At this very moment we have 18 points at maximum to play with, at this moment in time on Danaron I now have 2 focus and 4 shadow magic, in total and you can see by the number above that is >10< points allready spend, and it isn't very trustable, for it is a very low focus rating, if I wanted to spend another point into focus I'm up to 13 points spend, leaving me with 5 for Will/health/endurance/fate/resolve. I need lvl 4 shadow for shadow bolts otherwise all I'll be doing in combat is shoot shadow darts which does little damage compared to a melee whom has 4 melee and is able to slice mutliple times with a good roll and do more damage, he needing only melee for that, and if he has 1 strength he'll be able to even hit more.

I would love to hear opinions about this, sorry if there is incorrect english within there or if the text makes little to no sence, I tried to explain my situation best I could



The second thing I wish to introduce is self made spells, even though we have a nice spellbook I would like to encourage people to be creative and attempt to make their own spells in their own magic tree, explaining them in an emote, roll for spell and focus and then let the DM deside what happens. (Just an idea, discussion would be needed due to balancing and such.)

[Shonn Bayerleyn]

The balance is there as per accounts other factors:

To cast a spell you may so do at range.
You cast the spell against a spell difficulty and unless you face a magic resilient opponent, you know what you need to hit - to so say. A melee fighter needs to best the enemy roll by 20+ in a one on one situation to score a hit. And expose itself to being hit as well.
Spells have utility and not just damage which can be helpful to solve situations where brute force is not the solution.

It is embedded in your Spellcasting ability also the ability to dish damage (Just assume you pump 5 in Shadow and 0 focus, and screw focus itself or put 1 in Focus only for 1 DPs to easen the unkeep of Shadow Dart), and you can opt for Almost Ensured Spellcast twice for a rather strong shadow bolt in this case.
The melee to dish that amount of damage needs to hit, and have also a high strength to have a damage modifier.

So pratically as you need Spellcast and Focus, the melee needs Melee and Strength. With melee only they can grind the enemy down over time if it is a resilient enemy with lots of HPs because their damage would be 1 per round; exactly as you could do with Shadow Dart per turn.

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About the custom made spells it is something I refrained from due to previous experiences when DMing. Pratically people were doing massive shields, AoE damage and whatnot beyond control, and only the luck of the roll would determine success or not there.
When casters can begin to lay down flamey walls or holy novas or super bubbles, what am I to field against them? And what would happen against the melees or other non magically enabled toons?

The limit itself is a design that makes you try to cooperate in boundaries I know and thus can determine what to have you face.