* * * Wizards Community Thread * * * -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Thread : Schools of Magic Started at 02-08-06 11:22 PM by Rikutatis Visit at http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=584020 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 1] Author : Rikutatis Date : 02-08-06 11:22 PM Thread Title : Schools of Magic I wasn't entirely sure if this post should go to D&D General, Spells and Magic or D&D Out of Print. After some careful consideration I decided that I would post it here, since my chances to reach players familiar with earlier editions of the game would sharply increase. And that's exactly what I need. I apologize in advance if this wasn't the most appropiate forum. Here's the issue: For my own personal gaming reasons, I'm trying to make a compilation of all the different schools and types of magic that ever appeared in D&D and AD&D, in all of its incarnations. Other than the core schools, I know Wild Magic was presented in 2e Tome of Magic, just like Chronomancy had its own AD&D supplement. I know Player's Option: Spells and Magic introduced different schools of magic, one of which was Shadow if I'm not mistaken. Is that correct? What other schools and/or types of magic were introduced in that book? Also, I'm not entirely familiar with versions of (A)D&D older than 2nd Edition. Could someone point me out to the right direction, in case there's something to be found? Thanks in advance. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 2] Author : Cab Date : 02-09-06 04:11 AM That's a huge task there. Check out the Glantrian arts in classic D&D, the simple mechanism by which specialist mages work in that game (specifically Mystara). Look at the Radiance in the same setting. Try and pick up the 1st ed PHB as well. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 3] Author : Agathokles Date : 02-09-06 05:11 AM I know Player's Option: Spells and Magic introduced different schools of magic, one of which was Shadow if I'm not mistaken. Is that correct? What other schools and/or types of magic were introduced in that book? Ah, it's a bit long. PO: S&M revises the whole lot of schools, so it has the 8 basic schools (the Schools of Philosophy), and a set of so-called Schools of Effects, including the four elementals schools, plus Dimensionalism, Shadow Magic, Force Magic, and Mentalism, and a set of Schools of Thaumathurgy, including Song Magic, Geometry, Wild Magic, Artifice and Alchemy. PO:S&M also introduces the School of Universal Magic -- the common Divinations, Alterations and Enchantments that are supposed to be known by all wizards. Other types of magics were introduced in the Shair's Handbook for Al Qadim (a different form of Elementalism, manipulation of negative energy and Shairs, as well as several other forms of magic), in Preservers and Defilers of Athas (preserving and defiling, of course, plus other odd magics), and in Birthright's Book of Magecraft (realm magic). OD&D had 10 Secret Crafts: Alchemy, Illusion, Elementalism (all 4), Dracology, Witchcraft, Cryptomancy and Necromancy, as well as the Radiance. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 4] Author : Rikutatis Date : 02-09-06 07:17 PM This is all very interesting, thanks everyone! My friend has some old Mystara material that we never used much and I'll be sure to go over it again to see if I can find any Radiance references. About Darksun, Birthright and other campaign settings, I'm trying to stick to magical powers that aren't confined within a specific setting/world. That excludes some settings, but not all of them. Planescape for example introduced a not so elaborate design for Mirror Magic in Tales from the Infinite Staircase. But that was more or less restricted to a specific race in the setting. But it's still good to get some notice of these different magics. A few specific questions: 1) Were there druids or something similar in OD&D? This is important for what I'm trying to cook with all this information. 2) I didn't know 1st edition AD&D had different magic schools. I only have access to classic D&D and 2e material, not 1e. Could someone tell me about these schools from 1st edition? Just the names would suffice. 3) Is there any official supplement that details a Witch class/kit/whatever? -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 5] Author : weasel fierce Date : 02-10-06 12:31 AM AD&D1 schools are listed, for each spell, but outside of Dragonlance, they dont actually affect gameplay, pure flavour. I'll dig them up -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 6] Author : Agathokles Date : 02-13-06 09:06 AM 1) Were there druids or something similar in OD&D? This is important for what I'm trying to cook with all this information. Yes. In OD&D, Druids were first introduced as a subclass that could be taken by high-level Neutral Clerics, though it was soon extended to work as a complete character class. Basically, the druids have limitations on their equipment (non-metallic only), cannot turn undead, and cannot cast spells that affect good or evil. OTOH, they have access to a set of additional spells. 3) Is there any official supplement that details a Witch class/kit/whatever? Yes, at least two different versions. One is a Wizard kit in the CWH, the other a Fighter and Thief kit in the Van Richten's Monster Hunter's Compendium, vol. III. The latter is IMO much better. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 7] Author : kintire Date : 03-01-06 10:11 AM the other a Fighter and Thief kit in the Van Richten's Monster Hunter's Compendium, vol. III. Really? how did this work? I'm looking for a good treatment of the witch. I've got CWH but Van Richten passed me by. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Downloaded from Wizards Community (http://forums.gleemax.com) at 05-10-08 08:18 AM.