Once you become a student at the GSoM you are given a personal ring, which you must wear at all times until you graduate. It is a symbol of your status as a student - an apprentice - of the school. The ring has the following powers:
- Grants a +2 circumstance bonus to Concentration and Spellcraft skill checks.
- Allows you to memorize one extra 1st level spell / day. If you are a specialist wizard it must be from your chosen school.
- Allows you to cast the spell Wizard Mark (your own only) an unlimited number of times a day. You simply touch the ring to the surface of whatever you want to bear your mark.
- Once per day you may cast a spell as if it had been Extended with the Extend Spell feat. You chose this at the time of the casting. The spell is memorized normally and does not require a higher level spell slot. If you are a specialist wizard the spell you extend must be from your chosen school.
The ring is magical, of course, and the student cannot wear another ring on that hand. It is highly illegal for a non-student to wear such a ring.
What do you think?
Oh, and my DM mentioned a feat from a book he had read which essentially allowed a wizard to write spells in his spellbook on half the number of pages normally required - simply because he would try to fit as much into as little space as possible and write all the way to the edge of the page etc.
Does anyone know this feat? Where it is from? How exactly it works? I kind of like it - it could save a wizard from carrying all those heavy books with him on adventures.
:-) Jesper
To give an extra 1st level spell per day is a big bonus to low-level casters - though its power diminishes later. However an extra Expeditious Retreat, say, every day is still quite useful.
The Extend Spell without using a higher level slot is going to help Endure Elements or Mage Armour quite a bit. I'm sure at higher levels there are some powerful ideas too. Some specialists may gain less than others though. I'd like to see people's ideas.
I think the ring would be worth having without either of these abilities. I'd have to get the rulebook to do an actual costing as listed. I recommend somebody does that.
That's a pretty powerful ring. If your DM wants to give it out, then fine, but:
To give an extra 1st level spell per day is a big bonus to low-level casters - though its power diminishes later. However an extra Expeditious Retreat, say, every day is still quite useful.
The Extend Spell without using a higher level slot is going to help Endure Elements or Mage Armour quite a bit. I'm sure at higher levels there are some powerful ideas too. Some specialists may gain less than others though. I'd like to see people's ideas.
I think the ring would be worth having without either of these abilities. I'd have to get the rulebook to do an actual costing as listed. I recommend somebody does that.
You're absolutely right but it didn't seem that powerful at the time because it was a one-shot scenario and we were all 6th level specialist wizards without fighter protection :D
Powerful or not, I like the idea that students enrolled at the school get some sort of identification - a ring, a badge, a scarf whatever - to signal their standing. Other universities across Mystara might also have this. ("Yeah, he was wearing a special ring - the academy, class of '74 if I be not very much mistaken")
An another note:
I read about the excerpts from the Complete Arcana at the Wizards website
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20041105a
and I got to thinking about how these new feats might be implemented in Glantri.
This is what I thought:
Double Wand Wielder
This feat is originally Alphatian in origin, having been developed centuries ago by boltmen sorcerors onboard imperial skyships and since then perfected by higher level wizards. The House of Silverston brought it to Blackhill from whence it spread to the rest of Glantri. This feat is commonly available to learn.
Reckless Wand Wielder
This arcane feat was brought with the House of Crownguard from the world where they originally lived. Few outside the McGregor family have ever learned it, as it requires unusual skill and practice, but once mastered it can be very lethal.
Practiced Spellcaster and Touch Spell Specialization
These feats are particularly common amongst Aalbanese and Caurenzian battlemages (fighter/wizards), who like to boost their caster level and be more lethal in close combat with monsters. Both feats are taught in the Spellpit underneath the Great School of Magic.
:-) Jesper
...
Powerful or not, I like the idea that students enrolled at the school get some sort of identification - a ring, a badge, a scarf whatever - to signal their standing. Other universities across Mystara might also have this. ("Yeah, he was wearing a special ring - the academy, class of '74 if I be not very much mistaken")
....
I strongly agree with this. Lots of flavour.
Then do you need a Spellcraft roll to identify the institution, or a Knowledge roll? A high result might give pertinent information. ("In '74 old Gringle was the chief wizard - he specialised on fire magics if I recall. Prepare to be fireballed, chaps!")
The feat you're looking for is called:
Thrifty Wizard
You have a talent for fitting extra spells into your spellbook.
Prerequisites: int 13+, wizard level 1+
Benefit: The number of pages required for at spell to be copied into your spellbook is reduced by one.
It can be found on page 83 top right corner of Legends and Lairs "Path of Magic" A character Sourcebook for bards, sorcerers and wizards.
(Jesper it is me Martin
)Also, what about the School of Magecraft in Karameikos, and the Alphatian Academies? Should they get some other benefits?
Håvard
Has anyone come up with more conversions of the advantages gained from joining the GSOM that they get in OD&D and AD&D?
For the past month and a half I have been working on a (rather extensive) conversion project, which details the courses available at the GSoM and other interesting little tidbits as well. I will have it ready for when the wizard Ikaros in my party returns to Glantri next month on a solo module to take the Test. I will post it here before then and hopefully get some positive feedback.
Also, what about the School of Magecraft in Karameikos, and the Alphatian Academies? Should they get some other benefits?
Håvard
I agree, they should also have some specialities. I am working (slowly) on coming up with a list of which meta-magic feats etc. a typical wizard from Glantri or sorceror from Alphatia would have to try and emphasize their differences.
:-) Jesper