Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Jaerom Darkwind 07-15-04, 11:32 PM	Okay, I'm curious as to other systems people have created for specialist wizards. I don't like the fact that a wizard must drop 2 whole schools of magic to specialize. It doesn't seem to make that much sense. "I'm really good with necromancy, but I had to stop studying evocation and enchantment completely to become so." I can see being worse with some schools-- or all other schools even-- in exchange for more mastery of one, or having to devote a certain amount of spell slots or something to your specialist school, maybe, but the current system doesn't sit well with me. If the point of dropping schools is game balance, I'd be much happier dumping it and seeking balance elsewhere (such as my wiz/sor MM-role swap). I imagine others have noticed this problem and devised ways to fix it, so I'd like you to post them here. If you're uncertain how balanced your ideas are, post them anyways, and this thread can double as a workshop to develop them more. Thanks.
Jaerom Darkwind 07-16-04, 03:56 PM	No one?
Thelon Fairblade 07-16-04, 07:55 PM	Unearthed Arcana had a really nice, school-by-school variant where the specialist wizard could give up "standard" bonuses for school-specific bonuses. For example, an Abjurer couldgive up his every-5-levels feats for a mystic save-or-AC shield he could create (lvl/5) times per day, equal to his caster level. An Illusionist could give up his "+1 spell per spell level" for "all illusion spells are automaticall Spell Mastered". Etc. Other thoughts are more mundane. Granting +1 caster level with school spells, or spell defense, or spell penetration, or Spell Focus... i.e. a free feat (or more) with school spells , if you think that specialization is underpowered. Another idea I've had and seen previously, in line with your own comment about "too much for too little" is to be only a little better with your preferred spells, slightly worse with other spells, and really bad with opposed spells. Example: +1 DC, +1 caster level, or +2 penetration with specialty spells, and +5 spellcraft; -1 DC, -1 caster level and -2 spellcraft with all other spells; -3 DC, -3 caster level, -2 penetration, and -5 spellcraft with opposed spells. A more extreme version: Specialty spells are -1 spell level for learning and casting purposes (but not penetration, save DC, etc.); other spells are normal level; opposed spells are +1 spell level (but not penetration, save, etc.). Example: an Evoker (opposing Necromancy and Illusion) learns Fireball as a 2nd level spell, but it is still a 3rd level spell for saves, penetrating Globe of Invuln, etc. Shield is still a 1st level spell, but False Life is 3rd level.
Ao 07-16-04, 08:55 PM	The Domain Wizard, also from the Unearthed Arcana is an interesting idea. It may not be exactly what you had in mind, however, Jeromn.
Jaerom Darkwind 07-16-04, 09:10 PM	Well, what I'm looking for is any and all specialization systems (or ideas) that don't involve restricted schools.
Shatteredtower 07-17-04, 07:57 AM	I'm still of the opinion that specialist casters (not just wizards) should be members of a nine level prestige class (because no one is going to want a bonus cantrip slot, especially not rangers or paladins), gaining a bonus spell and spell slot of a new spell level with advancement through said class. The mechanics of the class itself still need work, though. If the qualification was the ability to cast 3rd level spells, a wizard would gain a bonus 9th level slot at 15th level, while a sorcerer gains at 16th level -- two levels early in both cases. This is a significant advantage, and it might be excessive to allow for the casting of a 9th level spell at that point. Using the 9th level slot for lower level spells combined with metamagic, on the other hand, is probably fine. It's almost certainly not worth the trouble for any other spellcasting class. Clerics and druids would be giving up hit points, good Fort saves, better attack bonus progression, and several other abilities just to gain something like this. Bards would be giving up good Ref saves, better hit points and attack progression, and special abilities, but could bonus spell slots of 7th, 8th, and 9th level be worth it to a 17th level bard? More than it is to a paladin or ranger, almost certainly, but that's not saying much. I can't see this idea being popular (or advisable) with either class, though it wouldn't be impossible to qualify with them. Oh, one other thing: I'd want to make the class one you could enter once for each school. It would almost certainly be impractical to do so, since every new school means that it takes much longer to get that high level bonus slot, and I doubt most people would consider it, but I'd prefer that the option was allowed even so. Edit: Small grammar corrections; added one extra thought on the subject.
Shadowfax7 07-17-04, 10:39 AM	Originally posted by Jaerom Darkwind Well, what I'm looking for is any and all specialization systems (or ideas) that don't involve restricted schools. Well there are many answers then . . . a specialist casts all spells of his/her specialty school at +1 caster level and spells of all the other schools at -1 caster level. OR gains specialty school spells one level earlier than all other schools, at the cost of gaining other school spells one level later (similar to the Sorcerer). I believe you get the idea . . . give them a benefit with the specialist school and the opposite of the benefit, as a penalty, on all other schools. Also, still allow the +2 to learn specialty school spells (maybe even giving a -2 penalty to learn spells from other schools). Check out 2nd ed for this type of idea. These ideas allow the casting of spells from any school, thus no prohibited schools. These are just the ideas, the actual concepts must be mathematically worked out on the spells/day list. Something I don't have time for right now. :)