Most wanted School Specialization

[Li Shenron]

This should be a poll similar to the following

http://enworld.cyberstreet.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=30023

but I don't want opinions on which is the most "useful" school. Instead I want to COUNT how many Wizards around have chosen each school as favored (not exactly the same question...).
Even most important, I want to know how many Wizards specialize and how many don't.

It seems to me that basically every Wizard specialize, probably both because of role-play preference and because the extra spells/day are very attractive. However I think that the drawback of having banned school(s) becomes more aching at higher levels, when you find out you won't ever cast an invisibility spell at all, or a summoning, or you're out in identifying items... (These of course until you find the right magic item to make up for your lack )

OTOH, I think the choice of which school(s) to ban is more difficult than the school to specialize in; after all you can be e.g. an Evoker and prepare only those extra spells from Evocation school (an extra blast is always useful...), with the rest of the spells being free to be even all Necromancies. Will you call yourself an Evoker (which you are technically) or a Necromancer (which you are practically)?
Much more complicated the choice of what to ban yourself forever! But let's stick to the first question for now.

So... if you're/have been a Wizard (or have known any), please let me know your choice!

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

I love specialization because it gives the Wizard a little focus, which is great for roleplaying.

IMO, it hardly matters what school you specialize in, what type of extra spell you have makes almost no difference play, especially when you start metamagicking your favorite low level spells into the higher level slots.

The real effect of specialization is what school you lose. That can make a huge difference in tactics.

 

[Li Shenron]

The real effect of specialization is what school you lose.

Exactly what I was trying to express

 

[Kershek]

All of our wizards have specialized. We just can't do without that extra spell per level. Personally, I have a Gnome Illusionist currently, and that reflects in my vote.

 

[Tiberius]

The Red Wizard I played specialized in Abjuration because I wanted to be really good at summoning things later on. While some would say that Conjuration would be the appropriate specialist school for such things, a Red Wizard specialized in Abjuration isn't going to have things breaking out of the appropriate Magic Circles anytime soon.

I've had two mages in my campaign. One of them specialized in Necromancy (Hey, Femerus!) the other is a generalist.

-Tiberius

 

[smetzger]

I played a Necromancer up to about 5th level, oposing school was divination I believe.

The thing that I found most restricting was the requirement that 1 of my two spells I got for free in my spellbook every level had to be Necromantic

 

[mzsylver]

most of the wizards i play are specialized.

of the two i play the most one is an invoker/rogue halfling - she is an invoker because there are no fire elementalists in 3e. imagine my surprise when i saw Elemental Savant emerge and notice that it required being able to cast a spell with the summons descriptor. you think a Wish could change my opposed school?

the other wizard i play a lot is a generalist mage but he has Spell Focus & Greater Spell Focus necromancy. i was *really* trying to make him a specialist but couldnt give up any school.

 

[Dakhran the Dark]

One of the precious few 3E characters I've been able to play has been a Necromancer specialist, with Divination as his opposed school...

The way I figured it, if I needed a low-level divination, say, Identify, I'd pick up a level of Sorcerer. For anything more powerful, well, isn't that what clerics are for?

Then again, I haven't had much play-time with any characters lately, much less 3E necromancers. I'm stuck in the "he's the best DM, he's gotta run" rut...

 

[Tar-Edhel]

I chose Transmutation for my elven wizard. It's the school that contains most of my favorite spells.

I chose evocation as opposed school. It didn't fit my character and I didn't want to loose more than one school.

Ain't missing it one bit so far.

 

[thegreatbuddha]

I usually pick Divination when i specialize. I give up Necromancy, which only has 1 spell I like anyway (Magic Jar). It's nice o be able to find out what's on the other side of a door. Combat is a LOT easier when you know what you're fighting ahead of time