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<blockquote data-quote="Pbartender" data-source="post: 1537532" data-attributes="member: 7533">Two suggestions...&nbsp; One that I use already, and one that I plan to use on my next campaign.First, change the description of a spell's effect without changing the actual effect of the spell.&nbsp; For example, here's one I tossed against my players recently...&nbsp; &quot;The shaman dances a little step, and with his final movement slashes his ceremonial dagger through the air.&nbsp; Even though he stands twenty yards away, beneath your untouched armor you can feel the sting of his blade and the dribble of blood down your chest.&nbsp; You take (rolling dice) 9 points of damage.&quot;&nbsp; The first thing the players said was, &quot;Wow, that's tough.&nbsp; What kind of a spell bypasses armor and does damage without an attack roll or a saving throw?&quot;&nbsp; The wizard wondered about finding a scroll with this powerful spell to copy into spell book.&nbsp; The spell was simply a Magic Missile...&nbsp; But they didn't realize it at the time, and it certainly had them worried for a bit.Second, introduce &quot;Proprietary Magic&quot;.&nbsp; There is a popular addage amongst stage magicians, &quot;A good magician never reveals his secrets.&quot;&nbsp; Apply that to D&amp;D.&nbsp; Magic, especially high-level magic, is powerful stuff.&nbsp; Don't give your secrets away.&nbsp; Any spell you give to someone else could end up in the hands of your enemy.&nbsp; What if only 3 wizards in the world knew the Teleportation spell?&nbsp; What if they won't reveal the secret to the spell?&nbsp; What if they all die without passing on the secret?</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Pbartender, post: 1537532, member: 7533"] Two suggestions... One that I use already, and one that I plan to use on my next campaign. First, change the description of a spell's effect without changing the actual effect of the spell. For example, here's one I tossed against my players recently... "The shaman dances a little step, and with his final movement slashes his ceremonial dagger through the air. Even though he stands twenty yards away, beneath your untouched armor you can feel the sting of his blade and the dribble of blood down your chest. You take (rolling dice) 9 points of damage." The first thing the players said was, "Wow, that's tough. What kind of a spell bypasses armor and does damage without an attack roll or a saving throw?" The wizard wondered about finding a scroll with this powerful spell to copy into spell book. The spell was simply a Magic Missile... But they didn't realize it at the time, and it certainly had them worried for a bit. Second, introduce "Proprietary Magic". There is a popular addage amongst stage magicians, "A good magician never reveals his secrets." Apply that to D&D. Magic, especially high-level magic, is powerful stuff. Don't give your secrets away. Any spell you give to someone else could end up in the hands of your enemy. What if only 3 wizards in the world knew the Teleportation spell? What if they won't reveal the secret to the spell? What if they all die without passing on the secret? [/QUOTE]

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