Prohibited magic spell schools?

[EvilGM]

Enchantment and Illusion for sure.

I can't see giving up any of the other schools.

 

[Laman Stahros]

I think one generic poll is valid if you're trying to figure out which schools are overall the weakest. It seems to me that people will forbid largely the same schools that they don't like no matter which specialist they play.

Well, I can't agree with myself. All of the schools have their strengths.

OTOH, I never really play specialists. I don't think losing access to a bunch of spells is worth the extra spells per level in the long run.

Agreed, as a generalist, you can dump the specific spells that you think are weak.

 

[Derulbaskul]

As others have noted, it's a tough question to answer without considering the school of specialisation first (and general character concept) although Necromancy is almost always first choice for me (except for users of the Shadow Weave).

Perhaps something else to consider is what school will you never drop?

 

[DaveStebbins]

I have to admit id be surprised to see just how many people ban evocation spells just because of the amount of tank spells like fireball in there.

The popularity of the evocation spells is why I like to ditch them for many of my specialists. I also prefer to play a specialist wizard over a generalist because I believe specialists have more flavor. Of course, any PC can be interesting or cliche, but I think specialists are a half-step closer to the interesting side of the scale. Maybe it's just me, but the specialization and barred schools seem to give me more of a head start towards a unique PC than the complete blank slate of a generalist. Probably because I'm just not good at making choices or finding a direction when the whole field is open to me...

 

[TroyXavier]

Enchantment is usually a guarantee. The other tends to be either Illusion, Conjuration, or Evocation for me. It depends on what I'm making.

 

[Driddle]

Complainers aside, it appears that enough people here are likely to pick certain schools over the others for prohibition regardless of specialty.
Or perhaps their responses represent the specialists they're most likely to play -- because, yes, it *might* be useful to know the specialty style before knocking out unwanted spells, but how many of us regularly play each of the eight specialists?

Necromancy doesn't surprise me so much, but Enchantment and Illusion do. I s'pose it implies that we prefer to embrace effects that directly influence our environment rather than use subtle measures?

 

[Driddle]

{bump - just once}

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

Necromancy doesn't surprise me so much, but Enchantment and Illusion do. I s'pose it implies that we prefer to embrace effects that directly influence our environment rather than use subtle measures?

First off, put me in the category that does not choose specialists. I did it once a long time ago with an Evoker, but it was 2E rules, so I didn't have a choice as to what to drop.

As for the choices, they do nto surprise me much. Necromancy can cause too many party issues and smacks too close to evil for many people. The Enchantment and Illusion schools are popular, I think, because it leaves so much up to the DM in adjudicating effect.

 

[Thanee]

Voted Evocation and Necromancy as these are the prohibited schools, I am most likely to drop.

I can see dropping Enchantment and Illusion, too, tho it normally doesn't fit to the type of spellcaster I prefer to play.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Darmanicus]

I chose Necromancy and Enchantment for me last specialist but if I created another now I think I'd drop Evocation and Illusion.