Enhanced Specialization - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Enhanced Specialization

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
agent_34_dup
Aug 02, 2004 20:41:56 I have been wondering lately, is giving up a third school of magic really anything good when all you have to show for it is a +1 caster level?

Under 3rd edition rules I see there to be advantages since many times you would only have barred one other school to get your specialization, yet now since we have to bar 2 schools this third school just seems to be to be over the top for the limited benefits.
#2
clarkvalentine
Aug 02, 2004 21:14:42 My white robe Diviner took it, but since he only had to give up one school to begin with, it wasn't all that bad (he gave up Necromancy and Illusion).
#3
theredrobedwizard
Aug 04, 2004 7:58:19 I... I don't think you realize what all you can do with +1 Caster Level.

First off, and most obvious, all of your spells from your Specialized School are more potent, do more damage, have a larger range, are harder to dispell, and harder to counterspell.

Also, it's easier to penetrate Spell Resistance with your Specialized School, any items you create are more powerful, and (as I've ruled it) that extra +1 can take you past the cap on spell damage. [ex: If you're casting a spell that has a cap of 10d6 damage, and you have Enhanced Specialization in that school and are a 13th level caster, you'll do 11d6 - even though the cap is 10d6; the above stacks with Reserves of Strength].

-TRRW
#4
Sysane
Aug 04, 2004 8:05:21 If you feel that losing two schools is harsh you can use the optional rule of generalist wizard out of AoM. Dalmar is a generalist black robe.
#5
true_blue
Aug 05, 2004 4:55:46 I personally think that a +1 caster level is only good for some schools. For some of them you end up getting better attack with it (i.e overcoming SR and more damage), but for other schools it basically adds 1 more round or so heh.

Personally I think the Enhanced Specialization rarely is worth it. Yea if your Evocation its big time, and a few others gain a little benefit, but I hate not having 3 schools of magic. Its hard enough for me to specialize and choose to lose two, let alone lose a third for "enhanced" specialization.

It would be neat if they revised the class a little and you got more benfits in the school you specialized in. This would make enhanced specialization mean something.

*edit* I personally believe that +1 CL should be included into specializing. And I think that you should have to have like 1/3 of your spells from your school automatically. An extra spell per level and a +1 CL in return for losing two schools and making 1/3 of your spells of your school. For some reason sometimes I've seen people who specialize, and barely memorize any of the spells of their school. They just take it for the extra spell heh. Of course Evocation people will memorize lots of their spells, but Abjuration and such should have a lot of their spells memorized also.
#6
zombiegleemax
Aug 05, 2004 18:35:18 This question is as old as the idea of specialist wizards in general. When 2E first came out a lot of people asked why someone would willingly bar themselves from any schools of magic simply to gain a specialist bonus.

But the idea is still pretty widespread. Over in the Forgotten Realms setting the Red Wizards of Thay (one of the most powerful groups of wizards in that world) also were specialists and their 3E PrC uses Enhanced Specialization much like Wizards of High Sorcery do.

Ultimately it's a question of theme. Some characters incline more towards particular types of spells than others. For example, if you have a fondness for Transmutation spells and they usually make up the bulk of your spell list anyway then you might benefit from specializing.

I agree with the optional Generalist Wizards rule. I don't think specialization should be mandatory and it certainly never seemed to be the case with wizards like Raistlin or Dalamar. But at the same time I think that specialization and enhanced specialization have a place as well.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 agent_34_dup Aug 02, 2004 20:41:56	I have been wondering lately, is giving up a third school of magic really anything good when all you have to show for it is a +1 caster level? Under 3rd edition rules I see there to be advantages since many times you would only have barred one other school to get your specialization, yet now since we have to bar 2 schools this third school just seems to be to be over the top for the limited benefits.
#2 clarkvalentine Aug 02, 2004 21:14:42	My white robe Diviner took it, but since he only had to give up one school to begin with, it wasn't all that bad (he gave up Necromancy and Illusion).
#3 theredrobedwizard Aug 04, 2004 7:58:19	I... I don't think you realize what all you can do with +1 Caster Level. First off, and most obvious, all of your spells from your Specialized School are more potent, do more damage, have a larger range, are harder to dispell, and harder to counterspell. Also, it's easier to penetrate Spell Resistance with your Specialized School, any items you create are more powerful, and (as I've ruled it) that extra +1 can take you past the cap on spell damage. [ex: If you're casting a spell that has a cap of 10d6 damage, and you have Enhanced Specialization in that school and are a 13th level caster, you'll do 11d6 - even though the cap is 10d6; the above stacks with Reserves of Strength]. -TRRW
#4 Sysane Aug 04, 2004 8:05:21	If you feel that losing two schools is harsh you can use the optional rule of generalist wizard out of AoM. Dalmar is a generalist black robe.
#5 true_blue Aug 05, 2004 4:55:46	I personally think that a +1 caster level is only good for some schools. For some of them you end up getting better attack with it (i.e overcoming SR and more damage), but for other schools it basically adds 1 more round or so heh. Personally I think the Enhanced Specialization rarely is worth it. Yea if your Evocation its big time, and a few others gain a little benefit, but I hate not having 3 schools of magic. Its hard enough for me to specialize and choose to lose two, let alone lose a third for "enhanced" specialization. It would be neat if they revised the class a little and you got more benfits in the school you specialized in. This would make enhanced specialization mean something. edit I personally believe that +1 CL should be included into specializing. And I think that you should have to have like 1/3 of your spells from your school automatically. An extra spell per level and a +1 CL in return for losing two schools and making 1/3 of your spells of your school. For some reason sometimes I've seen people who specialize, and barely memorize any of the spells of their school. They just take it for the extra spell heh. Of course Evocation people will memorize lots of their spells, but Abjuration and such should have a lot of their spells memorized also.
#6 zombiegleemax Aug 05, 2004 18:35:18	This question is as old as the idea of specialist wizards in general. When 2E first came out a lot of people asked why someone would willingly bar themselves from any schools of magic simply to gain a specialist bonus. But the idea is still pretty widespread. Over in the Forgotten Realms setting the Red Wizards of Thay (one of the most powerful groups of wizards in that world) also were specialists and their 3E PrC uses Enhanced Specialization much like Wizards of High Sorcery do. Ultimately it's a question of theme. Some characters incline more towards particular types of spells than others. For example, if you have a fondness for Transmutation spells and they usually make up the bulk of your spell list anyway then you might benefit from specializing. I agree with the optional Generalist Wizards rule. I don't think specialization should be mandatory and it certainly never seemed to be the case with wizards like Raistlin or Dalamar. But at the same time I think that specialization and enhanced specialization have a place as well.