Should a "specialist" wizard be demoted?

[reiella]

Ironically, the only way a Diviner will cast more spells per day than a regular wizard (Assuming same int) could is if they put only divination in their spellslots.

The point of a spellslot being a spellslot is appropiate, but, for most of those, is it a spell that people would normally even memorize?

The problem being more so, in D&D, and depending on campaign, there isn't a pressing need for a PC to be a dedicated Diviner.

The "Adventuring Diviner" isn't a normal archetype either.

To pay proper homage to the Diviner class, would for the most part, involve the PC casting the swarm of 10minute, 8 hour, etc casting times.

Although, for terms of the adventuring party, you may want to ban the Diviner specialist from PC play for the reasons you've stated. An adventuring Diviner can't pay proper homage to the divination school and still be effective to the party. By a similiar token, you may wish to disallow Divination from being a restricted school becuase it isn't all too useful for the adventuring wizard except for Occasional Casts.

 

[Oni]

Well I see a lot about the wrong way to play a diviner. So what exactly is the right way, if I may ask.

 

[reiella]

Hmm, fair point and one I'm not sure if it's directed to me .

My personal view of a diviner pretty much always falls back to the Oracle of Delphi stereotype. And as I said, I just have a real problem of seeing how a 'Diviner' can be a good diviner and remain effective to the party. Use of Rary's Telepathic Bond would probably showcase them to me, and have them acting as a tactical lead (they are a diviner after all). They would be helpful in surplanting a rogue for detecting any secret doors.

 

[Sejs]

I can think of two Adventuring Diviner types right off the top of my head:

-Magical Spy. The guy who uses Detect Thoughts to learn about the location of the hidden military base, Clairvoyance/Clairaudience to spy on the secret meeting, and Scry to get a look at the physical layout of the Royal Archives before sending their team in, and Arcane Eye to trail the chancellor without exposing themselves to danger, or revealing who they are.

-Spell Tactician. Detect Poison helps to find traps in a dungeon, Detect Secret Doors.. uh.. well, detects secret doors. Rary's Telepathic Bond keeps all the group members in silent communication, making coordination of movements, scout reports, etc much easier and safer. See Invis keeps you aware of any invisible or etherial threats, and so on.

 

[Oni]

I don't think you'll be finding many traps with detect poison, look at the area/target.

 

[Erastus]

Ooooh! A Bugaboo thread! I haven't gotten sucked into one of these in a loooong time. Once more into the fray!

Anyway...

It seems to me that they should change the way that the Spell Focus feat works so that it has equal benefit to all schools of magic.

Suppose, instead of adding a +2 to the DCs of divination spells, Spell Focus: Divination provided a bonus to the range or effectiveness of divination spells somehow? Or provided a small bonus to duration for abjuration spells?
Perhaps...

Spell Focus (Abjuration, Conjuration, Divination, Transmutation): A spellcaster focused on casting spells from one of these schools is able to push his magic further. For purposes of calculating the range or duration of these spells for the caster, treat him as though he is two levels higher. This does not apply to absolute range or duration, but only to a range or duration that has a level dependent variable.

If you could provide these kind of benefits to players who want to have specialist characters, perhaps it would be worth their while mechanically to actually be true specialists.

 

[Bugaboo]

Yeah, right. Like the guy in my department who's earning more than me (his manager!) just because he has a worthless college degree is going to give up his +2 paycheck bonus without a lot of whining? Nuh-uh -- there's only one way out of this inequity: I'm gonna wipe out the Diviner and make an example of him to all future "specialists."

 

[FreeTheSlaves]

Are you even talking about d&d?

 

[Sejs]

Somehow I don't think so, Free.


Wow Bugaboo. You say people -pay- you to DM? I'm supprised people even let you run a game for them. If a DM of mine said "No, you don't fit with what I think an specalist wizard should be like, I'm stripping your designation." I'd tell 'em, in no uncertain terms, where to go. If they tried popping some "Red Dragon Justice" because of it, they'd be tossed out on their ear and not invited back.

 

[Tsyr]

A way to look at it roleplay-wise...

Maybe his character is a "natural" when it comes to Divination spells, but just doesn't LIKE them.

I mean, sure, it's not quite how a specialist is supposed to be thought of, but I can see it... Like the guy who is a math wiz but wants to be a poet, or something.