Wizard Traditions

[Najo]

My gut instinct on the traditions is that they are mostly fluff ideas with mechanics based in the feats you choose. I would be surprised if you choose a tradition to belong to with your class, I think it is more just names of the feats. The class is then customized by the feats you choose, representing training and combining different styles if you wish too.

 

[WarlockLord]

I'm hoping implements aren't linked to tradition. I want to use serpent eye...with a staff.

Plus, bad pick-up lines ahoy!

 

[RPG_Tweaker]

From this it sounds like what we formerly thought of as Sorcerers ( i.e. guys who cast magic b/c of their magic blood) might be folded into wizards. Sort of the self-taught wizards or natural savants.

To me it seems more like Wizards are still generalists, but may specialize by way of feats & tools. It also offers a multitude of potential origins of their magic.

It nicely removes the opposed school restrictions of specialization in 3E... which kinda sucked.

 

[Primitive Screwhead]

The way I read those descriptions in 3x terms is:

"Serpent Eye cabalists use orbs to focus powers of enchantment, beguiling, and ensnaring. "
Feats/Talents allow an Orb to improve the effectiveness of certain spell types,
"Serpent Eye Tradition, Metamagic Feat. When using an Orb as a focus, any mind affecting spell you cast is treated as if csat at two levels higher"


"The mages of the Iron Sigil, on the other hand, employ orbs to guard themselves with potent defenses when invoking spells of thunder or force."
Feat/talent allow an Orb to create a secondary protective effect when used as a focus for certain spell types.
"Iron Sigil Tradition, Metamagic feat. When using an Orb as a focus to cast a [Sonic] or [Force] evocation, you gain a Force bonus to AC equal to the level of the spell cast. This protection lasts for 1 round for every 2 caster levels"


"Servants of the Hidden Flame wield fierce powers of fire and radiance through their staves. "
Metamagic feat, When using a Stave as a focus, any [Fire] or [Light] evocation deals an additional 1D6 per every 2 caster levels.

"Golden Wyvern initiates are battle-mages who use their staves to shape and sculpt the spells they cast."
Metamagic feat, When using a Stave as a focus, the caster may apply the effects of the Sculpt Spell feat without increasing the spell level.

"Emerald Frost adepts use wands to help channel powers of cold and deadly acidic magic, "
Metamagic feat, When using the Wand as a focus for ray or Orb spells with the [Cold] or [Acid] descriptors, the spell deals an additional 1D6 per every 2 caster levels.

"...while Stormwalker theurges channel spells of lightning and force through their wands."
Metamagic feat, When using the Wand as a focus for ray or Orb spells with the [Force] or [Lightning] descriptors, the spell deals an additional 1D6 per every 2 caster levels.


The impression I get is that the new design philosphy is 'restrictions arent cool', so instead of limiting access to spells, the new specialist wizard will invest in feats/talents and implements to become better and *cooler* than the normal wizard.
For 3rd party/HR it then becomes simple to apply the same template for other traditions.. like...

"Crimson Reaver adepts use athame's to channel the powers of darkness and stealth."
Metamagic feat, when using an athame, any spell you cast darkens a radius around with a radius equal to 5' per spell level. This darkness allows you to Hide as an immediate action.

 

[erf_beto]

The way I read those descriptions in 3x terms is:

"Serpent Eye cabalists use orbs to focus powers of enchantment, beguiling, and ensnaring. "
Feats/Talents allow an Orb to improve the effectiveness of certain spell types,
"Serpent Eye Tradition, Metamagic Feat. When using an Orb as a focus, any mind affecting spell you cast is treated as if csat at two levels higher"

...

The impression I get is that the new design philosphy is 'restrictions arent cool', so instead of limiting access to spells, the new specialist wizard will invest in feats/talents and implements to become better and *cooler* than the normal wizard.
For 3rd party/HR it then becomes simple to apply the same template for other traditions.. like...

"Crimson Reaver adepts use athame's to channel the powers of darkness and stealth."
Metamagic feat, when using an athame, any spell you cast darkens a radius around with a radius equal to 5' per spell level. This darkness allows you to Hide as an immediate action.

What he said!

 

[RigaMortus2]

My prediction...

Traditions are basically the equivalent to Disciplines from Tome of Battle (White Raven, Setting Sun, Shadow Hand, etc.)

The impliments are equivalent to the preferred weapons of ToB Disciplines. You don't NEED them, but they enhance the tradition. There will probably be feats that enhance a tradition of you use their specific impliment (like Blade Meditation feat from ToB), or perhaps they will be built into the mechanics and you won't need feats at all.

 

[Najo]

My prediction...

Traditions are basically the equivalent to Disciplines from Tome of Battle (White Raven, Setting Sun, Shadow Hand, etc.)

The impliments are equivalent to the preferred weapons of ToB Disciplines. You don't NEED them, but they enhance the tradition. There will probably be feats that enhance a tradition of you use their specific impliment (like Blade Meditation feat from ToB), or perhaps they will be built into the mechanics and you won't need feats at all.

This is the impression I have too and it would match up with what I have learned about the feats so far.

 

[Gloombunny]

My prediction...

Traditions are basically the equivalent to Disciplines from Tome of Battle (White Raven, Setting Sun, Shadow Hand, etc.)

The impliments are equivalent to the preferred weapons of ToB Disciplines. You don't NEED them, but they enhance the tradition. There will probably be feats that enhance a tradition of you use their specific impliment (like Blade Meditation feat from ToB), or perhaps they will be built into the mechanics and you won't need feats at all.

If that were how it worked, then shouldn't Golden Wyvern Adept reference the tradition's spells or implement in some way?

 

[Zweischneid]

Not to be picky, but I think Sarumon was more dangerous with that black orb of his, using it to see and communicate and such.

Not to be picky, but the palantir wasn't under Saruman's control. Palantiri, created in ancient time were used in Middle Earth to communicate across vast distances. In the third age, most were lost, but the Palantir of Minas Ithil was in the hands of Sauron, through which he exercised his influence on both Saruman in Orthanc and Denethor the II.

So technically, the orb owned Saruman (or at least corrupted him) and not the other way around.

 

[Gloombunny]

Not to be picky

Liar.