I remember an old Dragon article which had spell paths in it, which I assume were inspired by Rolemaster/MERP etc. I was thinking about how that would work in 5E.
So this is just random musings -- but if say "fire mage" was a sub-class for the wizard, and you get access to all fire-themed spells in the core rules (whatever class the spell was originally intended for).
Alternatively, you get access to paths as feats, and each of those feats opens up an entire spell-path to you (fire, ice, plants, whatever).
Very, very rough musings!
I would bring that to 5e for one class: Sorcerer
A red dragon sorcerer would get all fire spells.
You can smack an elementalist together by fluffing a Draconic sorcerer, tacking on the Elemental spell metamagic from the new Class options UA (which lets you change your energy type when you cast a spell), taking the Elemental Adept feat, and being choosy with spells you select as you advance in level.
I've been thinking about creating an Ice/ Cold Sorceress this way.
Maybe I'll let it go.
You have to be careful with the spell selection, though. I'm playing a storm-themed storm sorcerer (well,duh!), and I've been trying to select thematic spells. We do use several house-rules to make sorcerer slightly more versatile (spellpoint variant from the DMG, does wonders for the class), but as we're advancing through the levels, the lack of versatility becomes more and more pronounced.
Even though I like the character, I've really come to believe that 5E sorcerer really isn't on par with (most?) other classes.
I remember an old Dragon article which had spell paths in it, which I assume were inspired by Rolemaster/MERP etc. I was thinking about how that would work in 5E.
So this is just random musings -- but if say "fire mage" was a sub-class for the wizard, and you get access to all fire-themed spells in the core rules (whatever class the spell was originally intended for).
Alternatively, you get access to paths as feats, and each of those feats opens up an entire spell-path to you (fire, ice, plants, whatever).
Very, very rough musings!
I mean, you can just choose to do that, so I might be making it more complex than I need to.This is really how I wish Sorcerers work. A "Fire Sorcerer" would have a deep but narrow mastery over fire, able to do all sorts of tricks with it. But they can't also greater invis, haste, and simulacrum.
To a point. I'd prefer something where you are mechanically locked in, but in exchange you have a greater range within that narrow specialty.I mean, you can just choose to do that, so I might be making it more complex than I need to.
Well, the really interesting thing about the path system was that if you had a spell shared by two paths you could jump between those paths.This is really how I wish Sorcerers work. A "Fire Sorcerer" would have a deep but narrow mastery over fire, able to do all sorts of tricks with it. But they can't also greater invis, haste, and simulacrum.