[Armin]

I think the way you are doing it there probably works fine, and should be easy to understand and work with. I agree that it's probably the simplest way to accomplish what you're talking about.

Now, for the alternative that you mentioned, using 4 levels of advantages....

For that, I would suggest actually using the four attributes as the base for your spells. However, you could continue to use advantages to increase the level of those attributes, so players would never have to deal with the attributes directly.

Give the attributes a base value (maybe basevalue(5) ). Then have the advantages increase that using gives() bonuses with variable bonuses based on level (such as gives(=+me::level*3 to ST:Casting) ).

I think that combo would be cleanest for such a system.

Your spells could still use the advantage in needs() to ensure they have that, but your default would change to be based off of the attribute.