Variant: Short Rest Spell Slots
The following is a rework of Spell Slots to fit the Short Rest system, making them on par with Martials in resources.
As long as you follow the amount of Short Rests in "The Adventuring Day" (Dungeon Master's Guide, page 84) all Casters will have the same amount as in their original Long Rest system.
Spellcaster Class
Bard, Cleric, Druid, Sorcerer and Wizard
Your progression is equal to each one of your Spellcaster Class Levels.
Half Spellcaster Class
Artificer, Paladin and Ranger
Your progression is equal to half of all your Half Spellcaster Class Levels (rounded up).
Note: Artificer has spells since 1st level.
One Third Spellcaster Subclass
Fighter: Eldritch Knight, Rogue: Arcane Trickster
Your progression is one third of all your One Third Spellcaster Class Levels (rounded up).
Uses per Rest
You have a number of Spell Slots of a certain Level as shown in the Short Rest Spell Slots table. You regain all your Spell Slots when you finish a Long Rest. Depending on the color of the number of the Short Rest Spell Slots table, you can also regain Spell Slots in the following ways:
Black Number. Once you use this Spell Slot, you can only regain it when you finish a Long Rest.
Red Number *. Once per Long Rest, when you finish a Short Rest you can choose to regain 1 Spell Slot of this Level.
Cyan Number /*. Whenever you finish a Short Rest, you regain 1 Spell Slot of this Level.
Spellcasting
Spells of 6th Level and Higher. Spells of 6th level and higher are particularly taxing to cast. You can only Cast one Spell of 6th Level or higher once between all of them, and you cannot do so again until you finish a Short or Long Rest.
Greater Spellcasting. Starting at Spellcaster Level 17, you can Cast Spells of 6th Level or higher twice between them all before needing to complete a Short or Long rest.
Optional Rule: Limited Short Rests
You can have up to 2 Short Rests per Long Rest.
Art Credits:
Wizard's Lightning - Wizard's Retort - Magic the Gathering - Greg Rutkowski
Short Rest Spell Slots
| Level | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1* | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2nd | 1/* | ─ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 3rd | 2/* | 1* | ─ | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 4th | 2/* | 1/* | ─ | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 5th | 2/* | 1/* | 1* | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 6th | 2/* | 1/* | 1/* | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 7th | 2/* | 1/* | 1/* | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 8th | 2/* | 1/* | 1/* | 1* | — | — | — | — | — |
| 9th | 2/* | 1/* | 1/* | 1/* | 1 | — | — | — | — |
| 10th | 2/* | 1/* | 1/* | 1/* | 1* | — | — | — | — |
| 11th | 2/* | 1/* | 1/* | 1/* | 1* | 1 | — | — | — |
| 12th | 2/* | 1/* | 1/* | 1/* | 1* | 1 | — | — | — |
| 13th | 2/* | 1/* | 1/* | 1/* | 1* | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| 14th | 2/* | 1/* | 1/* | 1/* | 1* | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| 15th | 2/* | 1/* | 1/* | 1/* | 1* | 1 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 16th | 2/* | 1/* | 1/* | 1/* | 1* | 1 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 17th | 2/* | 1/* | 1/* | 1/* | 1* | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 18th | 2/* | 1/* | 1/* | 1/* | 1/* | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 19th | 2/* | 1/* | 1/* | 1/* | 1/* | 1* | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 20th | 2/* | 1/* | 1/* | 1/* | 1/* | 1* | 1* | 1 | 1 |
By Larry2233
Discord: @Larry2233
Reddit: /u/Little-Mist-Walker
Published: v1.0 - 14/10/2021
Last Update: v2.1 - 13/01/2024
Multiclass
If a Creature uses Multiclass, now the Paladin & Ranger Classes and all Spellcaster Subclasses round down their Spellcaster Levels.
Variant: Short Rest Spell Points
The following is a rework of the Variant: Spell Points of the Dungeon Master's Guide page 288-289, but to fit the short rest system.
As long as you follow the amount of Short Rests in "The Adventuring Day" (Dungeon Master's Guide, page 84) all Spellcasters will have almost exactly the same amount of points as their original Long Rest Spell Point system.
Spellcaster Class
Bard, Cleric, Druid, Sorcerer and Wizard
Your progression is equal to each one of your Spellcaster Class Levels.
Half Spellcaster Class
Artificer, Paladin and Ranger
Your progression is equal to half of all your Half Spellcaster Class Levels (rounded up).
Note: Artificer has spells since 1st level.
One Third Spellcaster Subclass
Fighter: Eldritch Knight, Rogue: Arcane Trickster
Your progression is one third of all your One Third Spellcaster Class Levels (rounded up).
Spell Points
Instead of gaining a number of Spell Slots with the Spellcasting Feature, you gain a number of Spell Points as shown on the Short Rest Spell Points table.
You regain all expended Spell Points when you finish a Short or Long Rest.
Spellcasting
You can expend a number of Spell Points to create a Spell Slot of a given Level to immediately Cast a Spell. Your Spellcaster Level determines the maximum Level of Spells you can Cast.
Spells of 6th Level or higher. Spells of 6th-Level and higher are particularly taxing to Cast, you can only Cast one Spell of 6th, 7th 8th and 9th Level once each. You cannot do so again until you finish a Long Rest.
Spell Point Cost
| Spell Level | Point Cost |
|---|---|
| Cantrip | 0 |
| 1st | 2 |
| 2nd | 3 |
| 3rd | 5 |
| 4th | 6 |
| Spell Level | Point Cost |
|---|---|
| 5th | 7 |
| 6th | 9 |
| 7th | 10 |
| 8th | 11 |
| 9th | 13 |
Art Credits:
"MTG - Force of Negation" - Paul Canavan
Short Rest Spell Points
| Level | Spell Points | Max Spell Level |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2 | 1st |
| 2nd | 2 | 1st |
| 3rd | 4 | 2nd |
| 4th | 5 | 2nd |
| 5th | 9 | 3rd |
| 6th | 10 | 3rd |
| 7th | 12 | 4th |
| 8th | 14 | 4th |
| 9th | 19 | 5th |
| 10th | 21 | 5th |
| 11th | 24 | 6th |
| 12th | 24 | 6th |
| 13th | 27 | 7th |
| 14th | 27 | 7th |
| 15th | 31 | 8th |
| 16th | 31 | 8th |
| 17th | 35 | 9th |
| 18th | 38 | 9th |
| 19th | 41 | 9th |
| 20th | 44 | 9th |
Multiclass
If a Creature uses Multiclass, now the Paladin & Ranger Classes and all Spellcaster Subclasses round down their Spellcaster Levels.
Variant: Short Rest Mana Points
The following is a version of my Variant: Mana Points, a revision of the Spell Points to fit my liking, now also for the Short Rest system.
As long as you follow the amount of Short Rests in "The Adventuring Day" (Dungeon Master's Guide, page 84) all Spellcasters will have almost exactly the same amount of Mana Points as their original Long Rest Spell Point system.
Spellcaster Class
Bard, Cleric, Druid, Sorcerer and Wizard
Your progression is equal to each one of your Spellcaster Class Levels.
Half Spellcaster Class
Artificer, Paladin and Ranger
Your progression is equal to half of all your Half Spellcaster Class Levels (rounded up).
Note: Artificer has spells since 1st level.
One Third Spellcaster Subclass
Fighter: Eldritch Knight, Rogue: Arcane Trickster
Your progression is one third of all your One Third Spellcaster Class Levels (rounded up).
Mana Points
Instead of gaining a number of Spell Slots with the Spellcasting Feature, you gain a number of Mana Points as shown on the Short Rest Mana Points table.
You regain all expended Mana Points when you finish a Short or Long Rest.
Spellcasting
You can expend a number of Mana Points to create a Spell Slot of a given Level to immediately Cast a Spell. Your Spellcaster Level determines the maximum Level of Spells you can Cast.
Spells of 6th Level or higher. Spells of 6th-Level and higher are particularly taxing to Cast, you can only Cast one Spell of 6th, 7th 8th and 9th Level once each. You cannot do so again until you finish a Long Rest.
Mana Point Cost
| Spell Level | Point Cost |
|---|---|
| Cantrip | 0 |
| 1st | 2 |
| 2nd | 3 |
| 3rd | 4 |
| 4th | 5 |
| Spell Level | Point Cost |
|---|---|
| 5th | 6 |
| 6th | 7 |
| 7th | 8 |
| 8th | 9 |
| 9th | 10 |
Optional Rule: Hardcore Cantrips
Casting a Cantrip now Costs 1 Mana Point, and you gain a number of additional Mana Points per Long Rest equal to your Spellcasting Modifier (minimum 1).
Ideal for low fantasy campaigns, or to return the dread of D&D3.5, but beware that it weakens Caster Players.
Short Rest Mana Points
| Level | Mana Points | Max Spell Level |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2 | 1st |
| 2nd | 2 | 1st |
| 3rd | 4 | 2nd |
| 4th | 5 | 2nd |
| 5th | 8 | 3rd |
| 6th | 9 | 3rd |
| 7th | 11 | 4th |
| 8th | 13 | 4th |
| 9th | 16 | 5th |
| 10th | 18 | 5th |
| 11th | 21 | 6th |
| 12th | 21 | 6th |
| 13th | 23 | 7th |
| 14th | 23 | 7th |
| 15th | 26 | 8th |
| 16th | 26 | 8th |
| 17th | 30 | 9th |
| 18th | 32 | 9th |
| 19th | 34 | 9th |
| 20th | 37 | 9th |
Multiclass
If a Creature uses Multiclass, now the Paladin & Ranger Classes and all Spellcaster Subclasses round down their Spellcaster Levels.
Features Affected
Arcane Recovery/Natural Recovery
Spell Slots
Once per Long Rest, you can expend 1 Minute to recover expended Spell Slots. The Spell Slots can have a combined Level that is equal to or less than half your Druid Level if you have Natural Recovery and Wizard Level if you have Arcane Recovery (rounded up), and none of the Slots can be 6th-Level or higher.
For example: A a 4th-Level Wizard can recover up to two Levels worth of Spell Slots. Recovering either a 2nd-Level Spell Slot or two 1st-Level Spell Slots.
Spell/Mana Points
Once per Long Rest, you can expend 1 Minute to recover a number of expended Spell/Mana Points equal to your Druid Level if you have Natural Recovery and Wizard Level if you have Arcane Recovery.