New Design: Wizards...

[JVisgaitis]

This is super way off topic, but Peter B who did the cover for Psionics Unbound? Looks very cool.

 

[Rechan]

True, but the Sorcerer still used generic schools on magic, all I had to do is change one line and I was done..

Now if a school of magic was called "Dragon Blooded" and the spells where names like "Dragon Breath" and "Claws of the Wyrm" it becomes a bit more complicated.

Because every sorcerer calls them Evocation and Transmutation and Adjuration, right?

I still don't see it. All you have to do is call it "Claws of the Fiend", "Hell Breath", etc.

If people can call it Melf's Acid Arrow, then calling it Dragon Breath is just as kosher.

 

[GSHamster]

I like the original article better. For one thing, having four items and choosing two seems more interesting--and lended itself to more possibilities--than having three items, and only choosing one.

As for tomes, yeah, they are perhaps a little unwieldly in battle (though why is it that no one has the same complaint about scrolls?). However, they are the perfect item for rituals such as summonings.

 

[Anthraxus]

Preferred the first version with generic wizardly implements/no weirdly-named disciplines.

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

That's what this is about?! Con games and official tournaments?

No, it's about defining the common language that gamers use to communicate with each other, and whether the language used to describe game terms is needlessly clogged with setting-specific fluff or not.

 

[howandwhy99]

These are just optional rules like Wizard Specialization and the 8 schools, right? It's not like every arcane caster will need to follow this kind of system - at least, that's my thinking if they are attempting to keep the classes flexible.

Another thought. Perhaps the combinations of different focuses represent the 8 different schools?

orb = divination
wand = enchantment
staff = evocation
orb + wand = illusion
orb + staff = conjuration
wand + staff = transmutation
orb + wand + staff = abjuration
none = necromancy (invocation from a life force)

 

[WayneLigon]

But if it's a Good soul then they usually can't touch it. Pure good is anathema to evil, after all. It's why evil can't touch a Good sword. A Soul that is Pure has got to be one hell of a pain to look at, much less touch.

Traditionally, that's not how it works. Folklore and myth is full of totally blameless people who get snatched off to Hell for no reason at all, regardless of the state of their soul.

 

[frankthedm]

Anyone else notice that there is nary a mention of necromancy or summoning in either version of the article?

Well, that makes sence since Mearls in on the job taking out anything that might cause encounter balancing issues. IF they can find a way for having animated dead or summoned minions with the party on a permanent basis, it might be put back in.

 

[frankthedm]

Traditionally, that's not how it works. Folklore and myth is full of totally blameless people who get snatched off to Hell for no reason at all, regardless of the state of their soul.

Not to mention sword and sorcery fantasy has a modest amount of soul eating monsters. Heck in some some settings, the soul is almost as vulnerable to harm as the body, once even a little bit of magic gets involved.

 

[drothgery]

Anyone else notice that there is nary a mention of necromancy or summoning in either version of the article?

There's no way we'll be that lucky.

(Hates necromancy, summoning, and any other magic that adds more entities to the battlefield...)