Are schools of Magic Mutually Exclusive?

[Felix]

Yep, calling is a conjuration effect (and only a conjuration effect).

I agree. But reasoning the opinion, for or against either point of view, has not provided an answer. The idea behind this thread is to provide the language in the core books that supports your opinion.

A category of spells within a school of magic

To me, this seems to indicate that a subschool stays within a single school. "A" school of magic.

but this is probably incomplete, since many supernatural abilities are described as "(x) effects" in the exact wording used for subschools

I do not think it is incumbent upon the definition of "Subschool" to provide for every eventuality, be it (Ex), (Su), or (Sp), that emulates it.

The definition of subschool defines subschool.

Other effects merely remark that those abilities function as if they were that particular kind of spell.

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But all that is neither here nor there, since it still hasn't been answered: are schools mutually exclusive?

 

[green slime]

Starglim, what you are asking for, is for us to prove something does not exist. This cannot be done.

It is implied in the fact, that the subschools themselves are described below the schools to which they belong. If it were otherwise, they would have organised the chapter differently. Either you can see that or not.

But until the flying saucer of Roswell '47 is put on public display, until some WotC editor slips and lets out a Necromancy (Calling) spell, these things will remain beyond mortal men.

 

[Sithobi1]

Although I see where many schools have spells given types of fire, sonic, acid, etc...

These are descriptors,not subschools...
This is irrelevant, except to further prove that subschools are within one school, because if they were meant to be within several schools, why have both a subschool and a descriptor?

 

[Li Shenron]

Starglim, what you are asking for, is for us to prove something does not exist. This cannot be done.

It is implied in the fact, that the subschools themselves are described below the schools to which they belong. If it were otherwise, they would have organised the chapter differently. Either you can see that or not.

This is the only thing you really need to know Starglim. Calling/Creation/Summoning are subschool of Conjuration as describe in the paragraph about spell schools in the PHB. It is clear from that paragraph that every Summoning spell is a Conjuration spell.

Descriptors are a different thing, and they identify a type which can be applied to any spell, nothing to do with schools or subschools here.

 

[dcollins]

So. Is there concrete, explicit evidence that the 8 schools of magic are mutually exclusive? Or, lacking that, is there a proponderance of circumstancial evidence that would suggest that the 8 schools of magic are mutually exclusive?

Yes. Regarding subschools:
- The PHB has a list of possible subschools, and the school they are attached to. Every subschool in that list is a member of exactly one school.
- The spells in every D&D rulebook indeed follow that hierarchy, with no new subschools or cross-member subschools.