Thursday, July 16, 2020

Delayed Spell Memorization for BECMI

An idea crossed my mind about the (entirely optional) ability of magic-users to leave a few slots “open” while they spend their required hour to memorize spells for the rest of the day. The objective is to allow them the ability to memorize one or more of these open slots at a later time.

Red Wizard of Thay--Learning New Spells © 2015-2020 Winterkeep
            The math is simple:  it takes a ninth level spellcaster an hour to memorize 12 spell levels, therefore each spell level should require no more than 30 rounds—using BECMI rounds and turns. The math is different in other versions of the game, since their timeframes work differently. Whether a DM should allow this option is entirely up in the air, but I thought I’d bring it up for the sake of reference.
            The initial memorization process at the beginning of each day should always take the recommended 60 minutes, regardless of whether slots are left open. Assume these open slots require some mental prep work at the beginning of the day. Delayed memorization can therefore take place, at the rate of 30 rounds per spell level for a ninth level magic-user or just 5 rounds per spell level for a wizard with maximum possible experience.
            A magic-user should not be able to combine open slots to cast higher level spells. For example: one cannot combine slots left open for second- and third-level spells in order to cast a fifth-level spell; delayed memorization only concerns spells of the same or lower levels as those open slots. Given the chart below, the option becomes attractive once a spell level requires a turn or less to memorize. This makes spellcasters, including clerics (if they need to pray for their spells in advance), a lot more versatile and dangerous.

Process =         1           Hour
                       6           Turns Lasting 10mn each
                      360         Rounds of 10 seconds each

Spell Memorization Speed
(D&D BECMI, B/X, Lab Lord, Dark Dungeons, etc.)
XP Levels
Spell Levels
Total Spell Levels
Mem. Time per Spell Level
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Rounds
Turns
1
1
1
360
6
2
2
2
180
3
3
2
1
3
120
2
4
2
2
4
90
2
5
2
2
1
5
72
2
6
2
2
2
6
60
1
7
3
2
2
1
8
45
8
3
3
2
2
10
36
9
3
3
3
2
1
12
30
10
3
3
3
3
2
14
26
11
4
3
3
3
2
1
16
23
12
4
4
4
3
2
1
18
20
13
4
4
4
3
3
2
20
18
14
5
4
4
4
3
2
1
23
16
15
5
4
4
4
3
2
1
23
16
16
5
5
5
4
3
2
2
26
14
17
6
5
5
4
4
3
2
29
13
18
6
5
5
4
4
3
2
1
30
12
Etc.
36
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
81
5



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