To ease the bookkeeping of tracking spell slots and increase spellcasting flexibility, Mana now fuels spellcasting instead. Casting a spell costs Mana equal to its level (e.g. a level 4 spell, or upcasting a level 1 spell at 4th level, costs 4 Mana). Mana recovers ona long rest.

• The maximum Mana pool for a full spellcaster (Bard, Cleric, Druid, Sorcerer, and Wizard) = number of spell slots + spellcaster level. Arcane Recovery regains Mana equal to 1/2 wizard level (rounded up). Sorcery Points can be converted into Manaand vice versa, 1 to 1.
• The maximum Mana pool for half-casters: (Paladin & Ranger) = spellcaster level +Proficiency Bonus (PB).
• The maximum Mana pool for quarter-casters (e.g., certain Fighter and Rogue subclasses) = number of spell slots + PB.

Examples. A level 7 Wizard has 18 Mana (11 spell slots +7 from level) and could cast 18level 1 spells or four level 4 and 2 level 1 spells. They couldn't cast any 5th level spells; however, since wizards don't get access to those until level 9. A level 7 Ranger has 10 Mana(level 7 + PB of 3 = 10). A level 20 1/4 caster Fighter or Rogue would have 17 Mana (11 spellslots + PB of 6).

Leveling Up. When a full spellcaster levels up, increase their maximum Mana pool by1 for their level, and 1 for each new spell slot (ignoring the /eve/ of the slot, each slot =1 Mana, regardless of its level).

When a half-caster levels up, they increase their maximum mana pool by 1 for their level, and 1 more if their PB increased.

When a quarter-caster levels up, they will increase their maximum Mana pool by 1 for each new spell slot, and 1 if their PB increased.

DESIGNER'S NOTE:

5e spelicasting has 2 competing problems:

Too often does a spellcaster have a single high-level spell slot and will hoard it preciously "there might be a BIG encounter right around the corner, | can't spend it!”—so the players rarely get to see them use their coolest spells. Or they will “waste” it on a throw away encounter and the Big Boss Fight will be far harder than it needs to be.

Players, so far, have REALLY liked the increased flexibility. During our last long-termcampaign, one spellcaster used his highest level spell slot... once, | think? It was awesome, but he more often than not went to sleep with an unused spell slot. The Mana system makes sense, is numerically balanced, and has been well received so far. It's much easier tosay that a level 2 spell uses 2 Mana than to try and explain the rules for 5e, as written.

The bookkeeping is minimized, as is the confusion for new players.

Maximum Mana