Variant Rule: How Sorcerers learn spells......

[Khaalis]

Well I promised I would come post. I guess it could work, but to me this makes the sorcerer seem that they are receiving spells from without not from within. I personally also have an issue with any mention of sorcerers learning their spells from scrolls or books. Thats just my personal beef with the way WotC botched the flavor of the class witht he mechanics. The flavor text is very cool and the concept is awesome, but the mechanics fail to deliver, instead making them nothing more than a lesser wizard with innate spell mastery. In my view of the sorcerer, as it is described in the flavor text, is that a sorcerers spells are innate. They receive no study, they dont learn "spells", etc. I see it more along the line that the Sorcerer is like the super-hero of D&D. His spells are more like super-powers. An innate part of themselves. Why does one sorcerer develop certain powers while another sorcerer gets different powers? No one knows. However the game mechanic is broken. Instead of introducing a mechanic fit for the sorcerer, they tried to make the sorcerer for the old archaic mold of D&D spellcasting. They couldnt even go so far as to use a "Will & Word" type system. In fact, from a WotC standpoint, I actually see the Sorcerer flavor text as matching up much more nicely with the Psionic Power system.

Anyway, after that sidetrack, as for your idea, if you did it this way... How would the machincs work? Does the sorcerer have to be willing? Or do they run the risk of learning any spell they are hit with as long as they have open spell slots? If willing, does it require a Spellcraft check? If unwilling, how do they resist learning the spells?

There are some basic starter questions. Hope that helps at least some.

 

[Tuzenbach]

Well I promised I would come post. I guess it could work, but to me this makes the sorcerer seem that they are receiving spells from without not from within.

Crap! Why didn't I realise the whole "inside/outside" argument would come into play? You're right, Khaalis, as much as I hate to admit it. Yes, the Sorcerer is supposed to have innate magical ability, but does he automatically know how to use his powers from childhood on? He/she can't just automatically *know* how to cast certain spells. They have to learn how to channel & direct & control the powers they are born with. Just because a being has power does not necessarily mean that that being has the knowledge for which to use it. Case in point, "The Greatest American Hero", ya' know? That TV show from the early 80's about the guy who aliens granted super powers to along with a super-suit, only the guy lost the instruction booklet in the desert and has to figure out from scratch how to use the super-suit & all his newly acquired powers? WHAT?!?! YOU'VE NEVER HEARD OF IT?!?! OK, then. Bad example! LoL

But seriously, all Sorerers have the power within them, but not the knowledge of how to use it. *Experiencing* spell-effects first hand would give them the knowledge akin to when a regular Wizard studies a spell book or scroll. I.e., it's not as though the Sorcerer's *absorb* other spell powers, but they most definitely discover *where* in their beings that a similar power is stored and how to release it.

Anyway, after that sidetrack, as for your idea, if you did it this way... How would the machincs work? Does the sorcerer have to be willing? Or do they run the risk of learning any spell they are hit with as long as they have open spell slots? If willing, does it require a Spellcraft check? If unwilling, how do they resist learning the spells?.

To tell you the truth Khaalis, I've no idea. Though I've been playing D&D since 1979, I only read the 3.0 PHB about 3 weeks ago (despite the fact that it's been sitting on my shelf for THREE YEARS!). You see, I'm an "on again, off again" gamer who'll spend 6-8 months thoroughly enmeshed in gaming and then abandon it totally for the next 2-3 years. That's just the way my brain works.

Thus, I'm completely unfamiliar with the concept behind "spellcraft checks" and all that. I'm only vaguely comfortable with "DC" and how the DM calculates it and "BAB" is a HUGE mystery for me! LoL! What's it stand for? Seriously, WotC could have made the new system a lot more user-friendly not just for the sake of long-time gamers, but for potential new gamers as well. They should have enlisted Gygax's literary services, but that's a rant for another time.

"Willingness" upon the part of the Sorcerer may be an interesting game mechanic if exploited appropriately. Let's say they've already learned up to their quota for their level but are besieged by more spells they've never experienced before. Perhaps, then, these new spells (in addition to their regular spell effects) have the power to "overwhelm" the Sorcerer (i.e., his brain or being or whatever is just too full at the moment). Maybe he passes out or has a temporary ability loss or loses experience points or whatever.

The truth is, I just don't know. That was sort of my idea for posting the "rough concept" of this Sorcerer mechanic variant in the first place. Most persons here game A LOT more than myself, so I figured some of you guys would have the answers to the potential questions which my proposal raises.

There are some basic starter questions. Hope that helps at least some.

Definitely! Looks as if I've a lot more reading to do, yes? LoL

 

[lord_banus]

This thread reminds me of a small idea I had a while back. My Idea was to have sorcerers pick the spells they are going to get when they create a character and that the spells they take follow a concept like fire elemental or divination. Sort of like building a cust spell list. Perhaps up to 20th level could be done or it is done for 5 levels at a time.

Any thougths?