(2nd Ed) Universal Wizard Spells Poll

[Lady_Aleena]

Depending on a intelligence, a wizard has a chance that a spell is too difficult to learn, can only learn so many spells, and can reach only a certain level of spells. Should the universal spells be treated differently?

Example:
A wizard with a 9 intelligence gets 6 spells per spell level.
There are 7 1st level universal spells.
Should the wizard get those 7 spells and 6 other spells?

The same wizard can only cast up to 4th level spells normally, but should the wizard at least have access to the higher level Universal Sells.

Also, the wizard has only a 35% chance to learn a spell, should that apply to the Universal spells.

The Spells

• 1st level Spells
  • Cantrip
  • Comprehend Languages
  • Detect Magic
  • Hold Portal
  • Identify
  • Read Magic
  • Wizard Mark
• 2nd level Spells
  • Knock
  • Protection From Cantrips
  • Wizard Lock
• 3rd level Spell - Dispel Magic
• 4th level Spell - Remove Curse
• 5th level Spell - Teleport
• 6th level Spell - Enchant An Item
• 7th level Spell - Teleport Without Error
• 8th level Spell - Permanency
• 9th level Spell - Astral Spell

The Options - Please read these carefully.

1. Universal spells do not need to be learned, maximum spell level does not apply to them, and they do not count towards the maximum spells per level.
2. Universal spells do not need to be learned, maximum spell level does not apply to them, but they do count towards the maximum spells per level.
3. Universal spells do not need to be learned, maximum spell level does apply to them, but they do not count towards the maximum spells per level.
4. Universal spells do not need to be learned, maximum spell level does apply to them, and they do count towards the maximum spells per level.
5. Universal spells need to be learned, maximum spell level does not apply to them, and they do not count towards the maximum spells per level.
6. Universal spells need to be learned, maximum spell level does not apply to them, but they do count towards the maximum spells per level.
7. Universal spells need to be learned, maximum spell level does apply to them, but they do not count towards the maximum spells per level.
8. Universal spells need to be learned, maximum spell level does apply to them, and they count towards the maximum spells per level.

I am currently making a random spellbook generator, so the more input I get, the better. Also, I am posting this poll on various forums and boards. If you have already voted on this poll elsewhere, please do not vote here.

 

[ThirdWizard]

Option 8.

Universal spells are so named because they can be used by all specialist wizards no matter what is barred. They act as normal spells in all ways, including maximum per level, learning, etc.

Wow, been a while.

 

[Arbiter of Wyrms]

If you're determined to play 2nd Edition, good. I couldn't go back, but I do hope you and your group have a fun time.

If you're going to alter the rules on max spell levels and spells learned and all that, I would go the opposite way, and give the bonuses to specialists. For example, you might let illusionists learn illusion spells of any level and not count their illusions against their maximum number of spells learned. I think they already get a bonus to learn spells of their specialty, IIRC.

I suppose if you really wanted to tweak with the rules in regard to this, you could even regard Generalist Mages as specialists in Universal Magic, except that they don't get the bonus spell per day in their specialty - even 2nd Ed ought to have SOME game balance, right?

 

[Staffan]

What Thirdwizard said. The only exception is read magic, which all wizards start with without having to roll to learn it.

 

[Aust Diamondew]

While I haven't played 2e in many years I carefully read and examined your options and felt that option 7 was the most fair.

 

[the Jester]

Option 8, absolutely.

 

[dcollins]

Also agree that it's definitely Option 8. (Here I'm using 1st Ed. sources because I didn't really play 2nd Ed.). With the previously noted exception: everyone has to have read magic (as the DMG says).

 

[yennico]

Another vote for option 8.

 

[Lady_Aleena]

You all are not making things easy for me. :\

The random spellbook generator will be available for TableSmith as soon as I get everything into it. This is going to take a while with the majority (over 4 forums/groups) wanting all of the rules to apply.

I am making up a few of my own to make the generator work. If anyone is interested, I will post a link to the finished result when completed.