New Spell System Enhancements

I was thinking about new new spell enhanced system and I had some suggestions. Taking Curtis's suggestion I'm starting this thread.

So what would I like to see in the new system?
All the OGL spell effects programmed into the system, that way at least all the basic class spell effects exist.
Spell Damage effects and range based on level
Automatically Calculate DC
AOE templates assigned to the spells effects
Editable graphics for AOE templates

Lets look at the fireball as an example.

Fireball
Damage: 1d6 points of fire damage per caster level (maximum 10d6)
Range: Long (400 ft. + 40 ft./level)
Area: 20-ft.-radius spread
Saving Throw: Reflex half
Spell Resistance: Yes

My player is a wizard with a caster level of 6 so he should be dealing 6d6 and should be able to throw this sucker 640 ft creating a 20ft burst.

Currently in order for this to be done correctly i need to put the spell effect into the system, have my player manually increase the d6 to the right number, measure out the distance to the creature that's being targeted, and make sure that they can be hit. Then I need to put a template down, and confirm the attack.

This slows down what should be an intense, fast paced combat situation.

I propose, that spell effects and damage would be assigned to your character automatically based on the caster level of the character and the spells they are using. This data could be pulled from a table, much like the spells are pulled from a .txt file. When a character has a spell added to them, D20pro looks at the caster level and spell and pulls the associated spell effect from the bank along with calculating the DC the spell based on the caster level. Once the spell is case the effects are applied to the targets for the appropriate amount of rounds.

The AOE templates would be pulled form the same area as the status effects come from and the template would be automatically applied to the square that the character targets. The template icons/colors could be edited just like the death image and the status images are edited.

Lets talk about the benefits to the players and GM. First you take hours of prep time from the GM and you also allow them to concentrate on running the game more then running the system the program. AS for the players, you give them "glitz" so when the wizard casts Fireball, he clicks his spell, and the target, and then a fireball appears on the target in a 20 foot radius, because this happens quickly and they see a fireball vs. a red splotch, the get a better feeling of being there.

I'll see if I can get a mockup of what it would look like, but i'm sure you can all picture it.

 

I agree that there are some holes in the idea, that's what I get for not knowing how to code.