Tinkering with Vancian Magic-Users

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I was thinking about how I could modify the rules for vancian spellcasting I outlined here more to my liking.

Here's an idea, the number of spell points, let's call it mental facility, still uses the D&D spells/level chart, but is limited by the magic-user's intelligence. So, a magic-user with 10 INT would be limited to the 1st level spell column, an 11 INT would add the 1st and 2nd level spell columns together, a 12 INT would combine the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd columns together, and so on. so intelligence would play a role in what level of spell could be cast, but it is not limiting it directly. Here's a chart:

	Mental Facility
Level	10 INT	11 INT	12 INT	13 INT	14 INT	15 INT	16 INT	17 INT	18 INT
1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2
3	2	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4
4	2	6	6	6	6	6	6	6	6
5	2	6	9	9	9	9	9	9	9
6	2	6	12	12	12	12	12	12	12
7	3	7	13	17	17	17	17	17	17
8	3	9	15	23	23	23	23	23	23
9	3	9	18	26	31	31	31	31	31
10	3	9	18	30	40	40	40	40	40
11	4	10	19	31	41	47	47	47	47
12	4	12	24	36	46	52	52	52	52
13	4	12	24	36	46	58	58	58	58
14	4	12	24	40	55	67	67	67	67
15	5	13	25	41	56	68	75	75	75
16	5	15	30	46	61	73	87	87	87
17	6	16	31	47	67	85	99	99	99
18	6	16	31	47	67	85	99	107	107
19	6	16	31	51	71	89	103	119	119
20	6	16	31	51	71	95	116	132	132
21	6	16	31	51	71	95	116	132	141
22	6	18	33	53	78	102	123	139	157
23	6	18	36	60	85	109	130	154	172
24	7	21	39	63	88	118	146	170	188
25	7	21	39	63	88	118	146	178	205
26	7	21	42	66	96	126	161	193	220
27	7	21	42	66	96	126	161	201	237
28	8	24	45	69	99	135	177	217	253
29	8	24	45	73	108	144	186	226	271
30	8	24	48	76	111	153	195	243	288
31	8	24	48	76	111	153	202	150	304
32	9	25	49	81	121	163	212	268	322
33	9	27	54	86	126	174	223	279	342
34	9	27	54	90	130	178	234	298	361
35	9	27	54	90	135	189	245	309	381
36	9	27	54	90	135	189	252	324	405

To prepare a spell beyond their Mental Facility the magic-user must make an ability check versus Intelligence with a penalty equal to the spell level.

Still not sure what to do for miscasting spells, I'd like to get rid of adding extra dice rolling. On the other hand maybe it fits, as my modification of Clerical casting also requires dice rolling. Maybe I should only require a check for miscasting when the spell is interrupted or when casting a spell of a higher level than the magic-user's level? Hmmm . . .

Ok, I think I got it; a magic-user only needs to roll to see if they miscast up to certain levels. this is based on the spell/level chart and when a new spell level is given. So they no longer check for miscasting 1st level spells when reaching their 3rd caster level. 2nd level spells are automatically cast upon attaining 5th level. 3rd level spells are automatically cast upon attaining 7th level. 4th level spells are automatically cast upon attaining 9th level. 5th level spells are automatically cast upon attaining 11th level. 6th level spells are automatically cast upon attaining 15th level. 7th level spells are automatically cast upon attaining 18th level. 8th level spells are automatically cast upon attaining 21st level. 9th level spells are automatically cast upon attaining 26th level (beginning of the Master Set and quest for Immortaility).

Also instead of chances to Miscast based on percentile, I think it would be easier to us a Saving Throw vs Spells. The penalties would remain basically the same, 1 point per spell level, 2 points per AC granted by armor or shield, and each Intelligence score modifier point (+1 to +3) would give a bonus. The spell backfires instead of fizzling out if the roll lands on the Saving Throw number. Also, if a spell is interrupted it is automatically miscast, at which point a failure to Save vs Spells results in the spell backfiring.

Now I'm satisfied with the system, and I think I will use it. I feel it represents the fiction well, while still retaining the simplicity and essence of the D&D ruleset.