[Thieves World] Magic in TW

[Severion]

I just got the TW PHB, Gaz, and Shadowspawns guide and have been reviewing the magic system. Would it hurt the system to replace the level aspect with a skill check like spellcraft or perhaps a new specialized skill wich would be a class skill for primary casters and cross class skill for secondary casters (such as Godsworn)? So, instead of being d20+int mod+level it would just be d20+skill wich can include skill focus and the relevent ability bonus. The idea of taking two rounds (or possibly three) for a first level caster to magic missile just seems like a bad idea.

[Rubio]

I think part of the idea is that the casters who think they might be going into combat situations do so with spells prepared ahead of time. The rules on page 147 are all about that.

But making the spellcasting into a skill check (spellcraft?) seems reasonable. They did something like that for True Sorcery.