The whole setting was more an exercise in world building than anything else; I wanted to create an unambiguously monotheistic D&D setting, following through the implications of that metaphysics to its logical conclusions. One of the tweaks I made to magic was the notion that no created being, which is to say anyone but Father God, could bring something into existence from nothing. Neither could they create true life. Surprisingly, it didn't take a lot of effort to change D&D's spells into something that could accommodate these notions and the result was something fairly flavorful while still being recognizable as D&D.
In thinking about it recently, I realized that, by adopting the same principles, I could make D&D's magic system something more like the magic seen in pulp fantasy stories. To do that, you just need to get rid of some of the "whiz-bang" effects of magic and/or "rationalize" the way spells work. Take magic missile, for example. Suppose that, instead of conjuring missiles from thin air, the magic-user had to carry with him a supply of arrows or darts (or even daggers) that he tossed in the air as he cast the spell. The spell would still work as before, but it no requires "ammunition" to work. Certainly this makes it less handy than currently, but the addition of an ammo requirement isn't unduly onerous, given that the missiles strike unerringly for a decent amount of damage. The end result of this approach wouldn't change magic greatly, either mechanically or in terms of its effects, but it'd add a thin layer of chrome that'd keep spells grounded in "reality" and prevent them from being treated as super-powers.
Here are a few more ideas I had:
- Knock: Requires the use of a large blunt instrument, such as a cudgel or staff, which the magic-user then swings to open sealed doors, portals, etc.
- Light: Needs an existing flame or light source to draw upon in order to operate, but infuses it with magical potency that enables that flame or light to have the same effects as the spell.
- Shield: Requires a physical shield or shield-like item to function, which it temporally transforms into magical barrier as described in the spell.