A wizard's duel is
more interesting if there is a way of responding to your attacker's
magic. There is no incentive to cast a defensive spell, instead of an
attack spell in a wizard's duel. Often the first hit wins. Here is a simple way of adding some strategy.
If an attacking wizard's spell allows a saving throw, the defending wizard can burn an uncast spell to gain a bonus. Under attacking spell level +1, at level +4, above +5. The attacking wizard can then burn an uncast spell to erase the bonus. Multiple spells can be burnt to create or erase bonuses. The defending wizard can never have a less than 0 or more than a +5 bonus.
Moe the Magic User and his party have been fire balled by a Dark Tower Pyromancer. Moe decides to use his uncast third level Haste spell and give everyone in the party a +4 bonus to save. The Pyromancer now opts to burn up two uncast first level spells to reduce the bonus to +2. This can go back and forth until one side drops out.
