Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Irish Guy 06-16-04, 05:22 PM	Long Rant so bear with me... Okay In Eberron Magic replaces Technology and there has been a Magical Revolution(like the Industrial Revolution) and "Practical Magic" is now becoming more and more common in the form of Magewrights,Artificers and increased amounts of Mages. So where are all these magic-users coming from? In traditional fantasy Wizards take apprentices and train them but this is no longer sufficeint in a world of "Practical Magic"(Can't use "Magi-tech" anyone come up with something better). What I'm thinking of are a system magic schools. Here's the idea I am toying around with: Before the age of 13 children study in elementary schools run by the government in major towns/cities and by voluntary groups ie churches elsewhere. A 13 they sit a special examination to see wheter they qualify(intelligence & ability to use magic). If they pass they go to the region's Magic School. Here they study for a couple of years until the cream of the crop are taken out to be trained as Mages and Artificers. The rest become Magewrights. Parents push their children into taking the tests because being a magic-user is a better life than they can otherwise expect. Only one problem who should run the schools? The Government, The Dragonmarked Houses? Some Council of Mages? Feel free to add your thoughts
Taigis 06-16-04, 05:38 PM	There are several places where I imagine someone could receive magical training. Theres the Arcane Congress in Aundair, the Twelve in Karrnath (which is supported by the dragonmarked houses), Morgrave University in Sharn, Wynarn University in Aundair and the Library of Korranberg in Zilargo. Taigis
Moleculor 06-16-04, 07:48 PM	This is actually covered on page 132. :) *teasetease* (Ok, it's not much, honestly (two paragraphs), but it provides a very nice outline to build within.)
JohnnyONeal 06-16-04, 08:26 PM	Page 132 mentions that it's fairly common for people in Khorvaire to attend public schools (though not necessarily ones that teach the use of magic) and that some go to magical colleges. I would assume that many students, having learned the basics in school, would then apprentice themselves to a more accomplished magewright guild member or independent mage. On the other hand, higher education for particularly promising students makes a lot of sense. Instant character concept for your favorite Harry Potter fan: prodigious young student who sneaks out of his live-in wizarding academy to go on wild adventures. (Hmm, while I wrote that intending it as a joke, by the time I finished my sentence I realized that it actually sounds kind of fun...)
ChronosCrow 06-16-04, 08:32 PM	Originally posted by JohnnyONeal (Hmm, while I wrote that intending it as a joke, by the time I finished my sentence I realized that it actually sounds kind of fun...) Well it does sound kinda fun especially for some certain kinds of players. I'm sure plenty of PC's and DM's could have fun with that kind of concept. I smell fun side adventure.
Irish Guy 06-16-04, 08:57 PM	Unfortunatly I don't have a copy of the book yet :( Anyway It's a matter of flavour( quque exsesively long post) Here's MY backstory to Magewrights Zeke Fixchett Zeke's father was a small time adventurer whose career was over before it even began. On his first foray into the world of sword and sourcery he got frostbite and lost a foot. The party's leader a mage felt responsible and so agreed to take Zeke as an apprentice. Zeke was a smart child but lacked the magical ablility to go far as a mage. His teacher said of him "He was a child of little mystical ability and a thourghly mundane mind". However Zeke was pragmatic and moreover determined to make something of himself. An enterprising young man he used wat little Arcane skills he had aqquired to full effect. He spent many years doing odd jobs until he found his niche: he used Divination to find lost pets, magically cleaned windows, he even cleaned pest out of sewers It was not until he began manufacturing Potions of Cleaning on a large scale that he found his place. Soon he moved on to producing minor magical items aswell. With the help of a fellow failed apprentice(who was heir to a small merchant house) he set up a small factory. Within 10 years they employed 50 ex-apprentices and self taught magic-users. It was not long untill demand for workers overan supply and Zeke was forced to start training people for the job. He originally called them Mage-Smiths but a complaint from the Wizard Smith forced him to change the name to Mage-Wrights. However whenever Zeke saw a truly gifted child he passed them on to the Local Mages or to house Cannith. At the time of his death similar bussinesses had shot up throughout Galifer. Not all owners were as compassionate towards their students as Zeke but House Cannith and the Mages made it worth their while to send them the gifted children To this day the Mage-Wrights still recuit 100's of children a year(the profession being seen as a way for children from poor families to make a decent life for themselves). The lucky ones are handed on to be trained as Artificers by House Cannith or as Mages by the region's wizards. Still there are those among the Mage-Wright who failed as wizards, who are bitter and long for revenge against the person who failed them(Plot hook) End of EXTREMELY long rant