Re: Spellbattle

On Mon, 2 Feb 1998, Wilson, M.D. wrote:

> since IMC most "pilot" mages 1.) Have only average intellects and 2.) Have
> little spell selection, they tend to stay out of most combat. (Also, ships
> carry low-level mages for interstellar combat, and put the higher-level
> pilot on only in tactical situations.)

	I have a similar setup.  Due to the great demand for mages as
helmsmen and creators of magical devices related to spelljamming travel,
many nations and organizations run universities of magical instruction.
Rather than receive individual tutoring as an apprentice as on most
worlds, the majority of Phlo mages learn their trade at these
universities.  The curriculum at these schools is highly specialized
(Helm 101, Navigation 210, Creating Air Replenishment Items 390, etc.)
and students are quickly herded through the program to quickly provide
applicants for employers.  Due to this setup, many mages don't receive
proper in-depth theoretical or research instruction and tend to have very
broad and shallow knowledge of the schools of magic.  And only those
students in the College of War tend to have a good selection of offensive
and defensive spells.  Finally, university mages tend to lack ambition to
gain in knowledge and/or power.  They have been instilled with a desire
to get a good job as a helmsman or crafter, one that has benefits and a
pension fund.  You know, a safe, responsible, tax-paying member of
society who doesn't go around throwing fireballs on crowded city streets
at the first sign of one of their many enemies/rivals.  Or decide that
they need to raid the King's treasury to pay for a new Staff of Power.  Or...
Well, you get the picture.  Not one of those...adventurers :)

John Mccloud