Please help explain a wizard's need to memorize

[DreamChaser]

This is an idea I used for a while:

The ancient power of magic came into the world through the power of Runes. The Runes were granted by the gods so that mortals could fight the supernatural creatures that plagued them. (Alternately they were stolen by a heroic mortal to free the mortal world from the tyranny of the gods.)

Orginally, only a few mortals studied Runes. Mastering them took great time, patience, and intelligence. The average runecaster (wizard) would possess volumes of notes on the Runes so that he could use them properly. Each Rune could only be used by being inscribed and doing this took time, effort, and sometimes wealth. An inscribed Rune could be used only once before it vanished and had to be reshaped. Thus a runecaster would spend time at the beginning of each day scribing the Runes he wished to use that day. He could save some of his effort and choose Runes to scribe later but the inscription still required time.

As the centuries passed, the Runecasters became the new Tyrannts. They had the power of the gods at their command and only those of great priveledge, skill, and intelligence could use them. Eventually, someone stole their secrets and learned that a Rune could be inscribed onto a person, attached to her lifeforce, and wielded at will, provided her personal strength held out. There was a limit to how many Runes could be escribed at a time and a period of rest was required between inscriptions. Eventually, anyone's lifeforce would be saturated with Runic magic and no more could ever be added. Thus was born the art of sorcery. Those who practice it do not require understanding of the intricacies of their Runes, merely the personal will to command them.

This makes for cool tattooed sorcerers and explains why sorcerers and wizards use the same Spellcraft, Knowledge (arcana) and can use each other's scrolls and magical items.

DC

 

[VirgilCaine]

a wizard casts all but the last little bit of the spell (except for things like Identify and such that take a long time...in that case technically I think the would be leaving the slot free but earmarking it for the long spell). When it comes time to cast, the wizard finishes the spell and at that point the prep is used up. No more spell until it is used again.

Think of it as the wizard walking around with a bunch of muzzel loaded muskets. They can each only be used once without him having to stop and reload them. In this case, though, the reloading can only be done after rest.

I like this a lot better than the 1e idea. The verbal components resonate with the Positive or Negative Energy Planes...

 

[Pax]

What I've always pictured for spell preparation (and it is "preparation" now, not "memorisation") is, the Wizard builds a sort of "energy matrix" within himself - keyed to be released by a specific series of gestures, words, and/or substances/objects (IOW, somatic, verbal, or material components and foci).

^_^

 

[Nebt Bhakau]

The reason why D&D spells work the way they do is because a) it's a game, and therefore doesn't have to make sense so much as it has to be balanced for play and b) because of its source material. In this case, to the best of my understanding, the magic system takes its cues from Zelazny, Lovecraft, Larry Niven, and Jack Vance.

As to why a wizard must memorize spells daily, and why he can access a limited number per day instead of just casting them whenever, I refer you to Jack Vance's "Mazirian the Magician", in which they are "...poignant corrosive spells, of such a nature that one would daunt the brain of an ordinary man and two render him mad. Mazirian, by dint of stringent exercise, could encompass four of the most formidable, or six of the lesser spells."

Hope this helps.

 

[ARandomGod]

This is an idea I used for a while:

The ancient power of magic came into the world through the power of Runes. The Runes were granted by the gods so that mortals could fight the supernatural creatures that plagued them. (Alternately they were stolen by a heroic mortal to free the mortal world from the tyranny of the gods.)

Orginally, only a few mortals studied Runes. Mastering them took great time, patience, and intelligence. The average runecaster (wizard) would possess volumes of notes on the Runes so that he could use them properly. Each Rune could only be used by being inscribed and doing this took time, effort, and sometimes wealth. An inscribed Rune could be used only once before it vanished and had to be reshaped. Thus a runecaster would spend time at the beginning of each day scribing the Runes he wished to use that day. He could save some of his effort and choose Runes to scribe later but the inscription still required time.

As the centuries passed, the Runecasters became the new Tyrannts. They had the power of the gods at their command and only those of great priveledge, skill, and intelligence could use them. Eventually, someone stole their secrets and learned that a Rune could be inscribed onto a person, attached to her lifeforce, and wielded at will, provided her personal strength held out. There was a limit to how many Runes could be escribed at a time and a period of rest was required between inscriptions. Eventually, anyone's lifeforce would be saturated with Runic magic and no more could ever be added. Thus was born the art of sorcery. Those who practice it do not require understanding of the intricacies of their Runes, merely the personal will to command them.

This makes for cool tattooed sorcerers and explains why sorcerers and wizards use the same Spellcraft, Knowledge (arcana) and can use each other's scrolls and magical items.

DC

I like this idea too. Similiar to, but almost opposite of mine.

Of course, I like my idea BETTER. But then I would, wouldn't I?

Still, it's an interesting and filling explanation.