Winternight
First Post
Mages have to specialze. They have to choose one (or two) additional schools. They do NOT get benefits from specialisation.
(but give them one or two martial weapon prof and the light armor prof)
Acquiring spells
Next, consider if spells should be much harder to acquire. Spellbooks and scrolls scarce or even unique and therefore extremely valuable.
The spelluser never automatically gets new spells when she advances a level.
Spellbooks or scrolls are very expensive and wizards may go to any lengths to get them.
Wizard guilds are very secretive about their spells and will hunt down any unauthorised copy of a spell they consider their property.
Some ancient spellbooks might be legendary and it is impossible to copy them. Such items are considered to be minor artefacts and therefore difficult to destroy. Also, they have a mind of their own and tend to find their readers as well as protecting themselves from harm. Spells from those books also cannot be copied down to a scroll or another spellbook..
Alternatively spells can be copied once from a spellbook or scroll. Copies from a copy are flawed or simply not functional.
Some spells might be inscribed on bizarre surfaces. Tattooed on a demons skin (the demon might still be alive and unwilling to co-operate ...), a gigantic stone pillar buried in the sands of the deadly dessert of tears, the lid of a mummy’s sarcophagus (to be found in a gigantic pyramid hidden in the same dessert...), painted on the stone walls of an ancient cave inhabited by savage barbarians, chiselled into the surface of a stone golem aimlessly wandering the seafloors...
Clues about such spells may be found in a wizards dairy, can be stuff of well known legends or mentioned in ancient songs. Usually such spells can only be copied once, so every spell caster willing to learn that spell, has to do it the hard way and travel to those places.
Though access to powerful spell levels is restricted to 5th level or lower, it might be possible to create powerful magical items utilising such spells. This means, a wizard has to sacrifice experience to be able to use them.
Spells above a certain level can only be used in certain places or at certain times. This can also be tied to the creation of magical items.
Special components might be necessary. A powerful spell might require sacrificing a specific creature, the blood of a king, a certain deed, fulfilling a quest, etc.
Just some ideas.
(but give them one or two martial weapon prof and the light armor prof)
Acquiring spells
Next, consider if spells should be much harder to acquire. Spellbooks and scrolls scarce or even unique and therefore extremely valuable.
The spelluser never automatically gets new spells when she advances a level.
Spellbooks or scrolls are very expensive and wizards may go to any lengths to get them.
Wizard guilds are very secretive about their spells and will hunt down any unauthorised copy of a spell they consider their property.
Some ancient spellbooks might be legendary and it is impossible to copy them. Such items are considered to be minor artefacts and therefore difficult to destroy. Also, they have a mind of their own and tend to find their readers as well as protecting themselves from harm. Spells from those books also cannot be copied down to a scroll or another spellbook..
Alternatively spells can be copied once from a spellbook or scroll. Copies from a copy are flawed or simply not functional.
Some spells might be inscribed on bizarre surfaces. Tattooed on a demons skin (the demon might still be alive and unwilling to co-operate ...), a gigantic stone pillar buried in the sands of the deadly dessert of tears, the lid of a mummy’s sarcophagus (to be found in a gigantic pyramid hidden in the same dessert...), painted on the stone walls of an ancient cave inhabited by savage barbarians, chiselled into the surface of a stone golem aimlessly wandering the seafloors...
Clues about such spells may be found in a wizards dairy, can be stuff of well known legends or mentioned in ancient songs. Usually such spells can only be copied once, so every spell caster willing to learn that spell, has to do it the hard way and travel to those places.
Though access to powerful spell levels is restricted to 5th level or lower, it might be possible to create powerful magical items utilising such spells. This means, a wizard has to sacrifice experience to be able to use them.
Spells above a certain level can only be used in certain places or at certain times. This can also be tied to the creation of magical items.
Special components might be necessary. A powerful spell might require sacrificing a specific creature, the blood of a king, a certain deed, fulfilling a quest, etc.
Just some ideas.
