Results 1 to 3 of 3
  1. #1
    Junior Member Patrucio's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2002
    Location
    Bloomington, IN
    Posts
    22
    Downloads
    4
    Uploads
    0
    Heya all.

    I've been working on trying to start up another BR game, and have been thinking about incorporating one of my favorite house rules involving magic, namely the elf/human split on magic. I wanted to throw it up on here to see what you all thought about it. Basically, the split is based upon the distinction between the Sorcerer and Wizard class. Elves are always Sorcerers and can't access necromantic spells, humans are always wizards, and must specialize in one school of magic.

    I've always liked the idea of the Schools of Magic, and feel that they have never been played up as much as they should. Dividing magic up into schools definitely seems like a human, Anuirean in particular, idea to me. Anuirean society lends itself to lawfulness, and so I believe that lawful inclination would tend to push Anuireans into trying to catagorize, define, and label meibhaigl. Different theories on how magic works would lead to different approaches to casting spells. It seems only natural that these different theories would produce certain effects better than others, thus lending a wizard towards specialization. Anuireans being Anuireans, there would naturally be competition between these schools, particularly after the College of Sorcery was founded and the different Schools began competing for the most promising students. (As an aside, I have an image of the College of Sorcery being a lot like Hogwarts from the Harry Potter books, but that is another discussion entirely.)

    The question I have for you all is whether you think a) mandatory specializing for human wizards would handicap them too much and B) do the realm spells slant the choice too heavily towards one or two schools.
    **************************************
    "My conscience hath a thousand several tongues,
    And every tongue brings in a several tale,
    And every tale condemns me for a villain."

    -William Shakespeare, Richard III (Act 5, Scene 3)

  2. #2
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2002
    Location
    Germany
    Posts
    883
    Downloads
    0
    Uploads
    0
    Patrucio schrieb:

    > This post was generated by the Birthright.net message forum.

    > You can view the entire thread at: http://www.birthright.net/forums/ind...=ST&f=2&t=2137

    >

    > Patrucio wrote:

    > Heya all.I've been working on trying to start up another BR game, and have been thinking

    about incorporating one of my favorite house rules involving magic,

    namely the elf/human split on

    magic. I wanted to throw it up on here to see what you all thought

    about it. Basically, the split

    is based upon the distinction between the Sorcerer and Wizard class.

    Elves are always Sorcerers

    and can't access necromantic spells, humans are always wizards, and

    must specialize in one

    school of magic. I've always liked the idea of the Schools of Magic,

    and feel that they have

    never been played up as much as they should. Dividing magic up into

    schools definitely seems

    like a human, Anuirean in particular, idea to me. Anuirean society lends

    itself to lawfulness,

    and so I believe that lawful inclination would tend to push Anuireans

    into trying to catagorize,

    define, and label meibhaigl. Different theories on how magic works

    would lead to different

    approaches to casting spells. It seems only natural that these

    different theories would produce

    certain effects better than others, thus lending a wizard towards

    specialization. Anuireans

    being Anuireans, there would naturally be competition between these

    schools, particularly after

    the College of Sorcery was founded and the different Schools began

    competing for the most

    promising students. (As an aside, I have an image of the College of

    Sorcery being a lot like

    Hogwarts from the Harry Potter books, but that is another discussion

    entirely.)The question I

    have for you all is whether you think a) mandatory specializing for

    human wizards would

    handicap them too much and <img

    src=`http://www.birthright.net/forums/html/emoticons/cool.gif`

    border=`0` style=`vertical-align:middle` alt=`cool.gif`> do the realm

    spells slant the choice

    too heavily towards one or two schools.



    I like the idea of schools playing a bigger role in the game.

    Not only because of Harry Potter (of which I read all 5 books now ;-) )

    but also because of the Shadow Stone which while converted to fit

    Forgotten Realms allows us a glimps at the Imperial College.



    To simply rule "Sidhelien can never cast Necromancy" and "Humans MUST

    specialize" I do not like.



    As others on this list already wrote, the "sidhelien shun necromancy"

    should mean that sidhelien who cast necromancy are social outcasts,

    possibly hunted by other sidhelien/gheallie sidhe or even killed on

    sight if known in any sidhelien realm, but not that it is impossible for

    them to learn and cast those spells.





    And the human wizards should not be simply forced to become specialists.

    After all MOST humans (those without a bloodline) are already forced to

    be Magicians instead of becoming wizards.

    Those few humans that can become a wizard should have all choices if

    they wish to specialize or to stay a generalist.



    Perhaps you could "encourage" them to specialize if you want them to, by

    ruling that only specialists are able to master battlemagic/realmmagic? ;-)

    bye

    Michael

  3. #3
    Birthright Developer irdeggman's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2001
    Location
    Virginia Beach, Virginia
    Posts
    3,945
    Downloads
    0
    Uploads
    0
    Originally posted by ConjurerDragon@Dec 13 2003, 03:56 PM
    To simply rule "Sidhelien can never cast Necromancy" and "Humans MUST

    specialize" I do not like.



    As others on this list already wrote, the "sidhelien shun necromancy"

    should mean that sidhelien who cast necromancy are social outcasts,

    possibly hunted by other sidhelien/gheallie sidhe or even killed on

    sight if known in any sidhelien realm, but not that it is impossible for

    them to learn and cast those spells.





    And the human wizards should not be simply forced to become specialists.

    After all MOST humans (those without a bloodline) are already forced to

    be Magicians instead of becoming wizards.

    Those few humans that can become a wizard should have all choices if

    they wish to specialize or to stay a generalist.

    bye

    Michael

    I agree with Michael. Most things are supposed to be optional for players, that is they make choices that define their characters. If too many of these choices are taken away then they (the characters) are all the same and hence no fun to play.

    If elves are &#39;forced&#39; to be sorcerers then they no longer are the greater creators of magic items that they are in the setting and humans will pass them in this regard. Don&#39;t forget the wizard bonus feats?
    Duane Eggert

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Tags for this Thread

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
BIRTHRIGHT, DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, D&D, the BIRTHRIGHT logo, and the D&D logo are trademarks owned by Wizards of the Coast, Inc., a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc., and are used by permission. ©2002-2010 Wizards of the Coast, Inc.