Re: Wild Mages and Spelljamming helms

On Wed, 9 Jul 1997, David Sarkies wrote:

> > p.s.  Ok, ok.  So I lied.  I *am* going to give a theory on why helms make
> > you forget spells.  It's because when you "memorize" a spell, you don't
> > actually learn it.  Instead, memorization is the *ritual* by which you cast
> > a spell and bind it to yourself for quick casting later.  This way, the
> > *energy* is "on the mage" for the helm to steal.
> >
> > 	Comments?
>
> Yes, in my campaigns I don't use spell memorisation. I rule that mages
> have to spend a certain amount of time every morning reading their spells
> to get the gist of what they are about. They are then able to cast any
> spell they want as long as they have level slots available. It is silly -
> but I agree that the whole magic system is silly - but I use it so I
> can't complain.

I use a similar system as well.  I think spell memorization is bunk.  It
makes spells like feather fall and gaze reflection practically useless
for all but the most paranoid of mages.  With the new Player's Option:
Spells and Magic compendium, I allow mages to save all their points and
use them during the day as they wish paying the higher non-memorized
rate, or memorize spells for the cheaper rate at the beginning of day.
Either way, I make mages of any level study their spellbooks for two
hours each morning after a full night of sleep, just as I make priests
meditate, pray, enact ritual, etc. every morning for two hours.  I
haven't read many novels that use a "memorization" system for the
spellcasters in them, and I like the freedom that casting any spell in a
mages repetoire gives my campaign.  The mages still have to learn spells
and transcribe them in their books in order to study them every morning.
I agree with your system and interpretation.


> As such I agree with the above because it is spell energy
> that the helm is stealing and not spells. Now for the wild mage - this
> energy is quite random - that is the nature of wild magic - thus I would
> rule that the level variation is rolled when the wildmage goes to sit on
> the helm. I might even have wild things happening in regards to
> maneuvering and so on. This is the nature of the wild mage.

I see your point here, although I am still more comfortable with the idea
that the wild mages ability to cast spells is stable UNTIL he casts
them.  Interesting idea, though.

--Grimwulf