Magic - the smallest difference in the world. . . .

[RangerWickett]

I'm starting a thought experiment to develop fantasy cultures. Please join in.

I am a young hunter with a spear, and I discovered that I can cast a spell. This spell is the first magic the world has seen. Pick a single 1st level spell, and describe how my ability to cast this spell once a day will affect my hunter-gatherer society.

Magic Missile - I can hunt birds with flawless accuracy, and can strike down enemies from hundreds of feet away.

Charm Person - If I'm smart (which I'm probably not), I'll charm people a bit at a time, making them spend time with me and enjoy it, then leaving before the spell ends, so that they'll remember me fondly and eventually stay my friend. If I'm not smart, I will have many more mates, and I will be able to steal things with ease.

Identify - . . . well, okay, I'm out of luck here.

Jump - I will be cheered for my physical prowess, but otherwise this spell helps me little.

Silent Image - I could become a phenomenal storyteller, or a skilled thief.

Think of more, or hop down to this post, where I expand on the nature of this thought experiment.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Expeditious Retreat - I will survive dangers that the rest of my tribe could not.

True Strike - I can almost certainly best any other challenger in the tribe one on one, and kill game with ease.

 

[William Ronald]

Sleep would be welcome, as one could not only render enemies unconscious, it would be useful for hunters.

Cure light wounds would probably give your hunter a place of influence in his society.

Create water would also be useful.

Comprehend languages might be helpful in dealing with strangers as would detect evil.

Bless would be useful before major battles. Command might be useful but would onley impact one foe.

Endure elements would be very useful for someone living in the wilderness.

Summon monster would be useful in battles.

Charm animals would be useful to hunters.

Goodberry could help solve food problems and heal one's allies.

Produce flame might be very useful on those cold nights.

Entangle could be used for hunting or fighting enemies.

Speak with animals might be useful in learning about new territories.

Mount would be useful for any cultures using hoorses, while unseen servant would impress people.

Disguise self would be useful for a spy.

Enlarge person and expeditious retreat could also have uses in battle.

Alarm would be useful in protecting a camp.

 

[VirgilCaine]

Burning Hands--I can scare off animals and monsters.

Spider Climb--I can climb trees and cliffs easily, getting things other's cannot.

Mage Armor--I am better protected against attacks (duh).

Sleep--I can debilitate a choice animal for my tribe to kill easily.

Shillelagh, Magic Weapon, Magic Stone--Useful when unarmed or nearly so.

Animal Blank/Blank Animal--Very useful for avoiding predators and catching prey.

Tenser's Floating Disc--Useful for hauling food around.

 

[Evilhalfling]

Mount - I am lord of the horses and can travel at high speed for hours, This may inspire faster domestication of similar animals.

Dancing Lights - I am chosen of the spirits and honored by my people ( or killed)

Mending - I am a valued craftsman and fixer.

Prestidigtation - Cook, Herbalist, held in awe by others

Ray of frost - I can preserve food, or kill and preserve small game.

Shocking grasp - I can kill with a touch.

Jump - I win the tribal contests.

Disguise Self - I have the power to sleep with other mens wives.

 

[LeapingShark]

Produce flame might be very useful on those cold nights.

As would Charm Person.

 

[VirgilCaine]

As would Charm Person.

You're very generous with your friends, aren't you?

 

[Numion]

Burning Hands--I can scare off animals and monsters.

Spider Climb--I can climb trees and cliffs easily, getting things other's cannot.

Mage Armor--I am better protected against attacks (duh).

Sleep--I can debilitate a choice animal for my tribe to kill easily.

Shillelagh, Magic Weapon, Magic Stone--Useful when unarmed or nearly so.

Animal Blank/Blank Animal--Very useful for avoiding predators and catching prey.

Tenser's Floating Disc--Useful for hauling food around.

The threadstarter was asking how the spells might affect the hunter-gatherer society. You're basically just describing what the spells do.

 

[VirgilCaine]

The threadstarter was asking how the spells might affect the hunter-gatherer society. You're basically just describing what the spells do.

Okay then.

Sleep is a much easier way to kill something than actually killing it. You have to get very close, perhaps impossibly so, but it's much easier than throwing spears.

Burning Hands will get a lot of predators away from you when they are almost on you, because of the flash of fire. Or so I would guess.

Entangle would help your several hunter friends get in range of your spears to kill a few more prey animals than usual, as would many of the Animal based druid spells. This would ensure a more steady source of food for the tribe.
Expeditious Retreat would help children (or burdened adults) keep up with the rest of the tribe when moving.

Goodberry would allow a better usage of limited resources.

 

[Fate Lawson]

1st Level? Nope. 0 Level. Guidance. That simple extra 5% chance of succes on anything and everything I do to survive puts me ahead of the rest. Teach it to my children, and their children.