I like the Mage so much that I'm keen on playing them, but at the same time, I'd also like some support with the assurance that the old material (PHB1 especially) is to be compatible with the new (HOFL).
In that vein, I'd like a simple errata release to school the PHB and AP wizard spells. Naturally, I figure that a spell like Illusory Ambush goes into the school of Illusion. However, what about a spell like Scorching Burst? It can be argued for both the Evocation and Pyromancy schools. Can a spell fall into two schools? Do I get the benefit of "I ignore your fire resistance" or "I reroll that one" or can I stack those benefits with scorching burst? House rulings are cool for my own game but my buddy has a "not unless it's in the errata" approach to tabletop-litigation.
So please just release a simple list to place the pre-existing spells into schools, update the compendium accordingly, and while you're at it a CB update would be awesome. The only thing that's turned me off to CB mages at this time is that I've purchased books adequate to provide my standard wizard with a wealth of spells to choose from. Why in the world should my mage be limited by comparison in CB?
On a second note, I'm delighted with the model that the mage provides because it makes me feel like I'm writing for second edition again when I choose school specializations. I'm looking forward to more schools in the future, and delighted with the available set (my boyfriend did the math and he was like, "so there's 5 schools and three tiers of mastery at level 10 so your level 11 mage can come in xxx different varieties" i don't remember the figure it was like 300 or something)
Also, question on school releases, nwo that we have nethermancy and necromancy to add to pyromancy, evocation, enchantment and illusion, each school bending the mages secondary role (which is bloody brilliant, thanks guys) to the direction that you want, will we see a return of other schools, such as a leaderish Divination school? If so I have a suggestion or two for that school:
Reviled Memories
"Your see into the victims past and utter the names of lost loved ones and hated enemies, leaving them vulnerable to the attacks of your allies"
Arcane, Divination, Psychic
Standard
At-Will
Target: One enemy within 10 squares
Attack: Intelligence vs. Will
Hit: 1d4+intelligence modifier psychic damage, and the target grants combat advantage until the end of your next turn; increase the damage to 2d4+intelligence modifier psychic at 21st level.
True Strike
"You glimpse briefly into the future to see your opponents next move"
Arcane, Divination
Minor
Encounter
Target: One creature within 10
Effect: For next attack made against the target by you or an ally, you may roll the attack roll twice and take the better result. If the attacker misses, they get +2 to attack rolls to hit the target until the end of their next turn.
Seers Doom
"You pronounce a destiny of pain for your enemy"
Arcane, Divination, Psychic
Standard
Daily
Target: One creature within 10 squares
Hit: 2d6+intelligence modifier psychic damage and the target gains vulnerability 5 (save ends).
Miss: half damage
Effect: Until the end of the encounter, you and your allies get +2 to hit the target.
I like the Mage so much that I'm keen on playing them, but at the same time, I'd also like some support with the assurance that the old material (PHB1 especially) is to be compatible with the new (HOFL).
Mages are wizards. A mage can take any wizard spell he likes, from any source. That's pretty clearly stated in HotFL.
In that vein, I'd like a simple errata release to school the PHB and AP wizard spells.
I expect the forthcoming DDi Class Compendium article on the wizard will do that. However, a lot of 'old' wizard spells don't actually need any changes to make them work with mage schools.
Naturally, I figure that a spell like Illusory Ambush goes into the school of Illusion.
Does it have the 'illusion' keyword? Yes? Then a mage already counts it as a spell from the Illusion school. The only thing that makes a spell part of the Illusion school is that it has the 'illusion' keyword.
However, what about a spell like Scorching Burst? It can be argued for both the Evocation and Pyromancy schools.
Now, this is one spell that should be updated. I's already a Pyromancy spell (all arcane powers with the 'fire' keyword are Pyromancy spells), but it should have the 'evocation' keyword added. It could also benefit from an additional effect, since it's currently only really worth taking if you're a tiefling or a pyromancer (and even then only until you can use Arcane Admixture to make Freezing Burst a fire power).
Can a spell fall into two schools?
As long as it has the keywords for both schools, yes. Don't think of the schools as being rigid categories in which spells exist, though. Schools are just the mechanism by which a mage gets benefits with spells that have certain keywords. A spell that takes control of an enemy's mind and makes him burst into flames would be an enchantment spell, an evocation spell and a fire spell and would give benefits to mages from three different schools. Using Arcane Admixture to add fire damage to any spell that deals damage gives the spell the 'fire' keyword and therefore makes it eligible for a pyromancer mage's school benefits.
Do I get the benefit of "I ignore your fire resistance" or "I reroll that one" or can I stack those benefits with scorching burst?
If Scorching Burst gets the 'evocation' keyword added to it in the wizard's CC article, you'll be able to get both benefits when you cast it, assuming your mage belongs to both schools.
Why in the world should my mage be limited by comparison in CB?
You need to make sure you click the 'Custom' button, not the 'New' button when making your character. Then, you need to check the 'Show Additional Options' box each time you pick a spell. Then the CB will show you all the legal options, not just the spells in the Essentials books.
On a second note, I'm delighted with the model that the mage provides because it makes me feel like I'm writing for second edition again when I choose school specializations. I'm looking forward to more schools in the future, and delighted with the available set (my boyfriend did the math and he was like, "so there's 5 schools and three tiers of mastery at level 10 so your level 11 mage can come in xxx different varieties" i don't remember the figure it was like 300 or something)
Even the people on these forums that hate Essentials mostly like what was done with the mage. It was the real success story of the Essentials design shift. I'm not sure your boyfriend did the maths right, though...
