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Post by David on Oct 12, 2005 18:36:37 GMT -5
Howdy folks,
I just wanted to point something out that might have escaped folks with regard to witches with spheres. For EACH and EVERY sphere a witch’s patron has, that witch has a -5% chance to learn spells (elemental spheres are a special case). In the case of Hecate, for instance, her witches are at -30% since she grants MAJOR Divination and Travelers and MINOR Death, Air, Earth, Water, Numbers, and Sun (non-solar). Moreoever, for each sphere, the MAXIMUM number of spells learnable is decreased by one, or using Hecate as an example, -6 spells of each level. Finally, for each MAJOR or two MINORS the top-end of witch spells is cut off.
Now, rereading all this, I’m starting to think it’s overkill.
Thoughts? Maybe REMOVE the top-end limitation? Or say that witches can LEARN upper-end spells, but not via their patron?
I like the idea that witches with patrons are LESS witchy than their sisters, but I think all of these limits combined might be a bit much. It would mean that Kephalonia (17 Int, right?) should have started with only 2 to 8 spells and had only a 45% to learn them. I’m thinking that alone is a BIG defect in trade-off with spheres.
What do YOU think?
David
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Post by David on Oct 13, 2005 13:22:44 GMT -5
I believe I've come up with a solution that solves multiple problems at once. PLEASE let me know what you think.
Witches with spheres are a particular problem at low level because they can cast every spell under the sun. They get their witch spells PLUS their spheres spells and are more versatile than a Swiss Army knife. To partially combat this imbalance, I introduced to restrictions -- a) witches with spheres must DIVIDE their attention between true prayer and witchcraft, so they are at -5% per sphere to understand witchcraft spells (thereby lowering slightly the number of spells understood), and b) witches with spheres are encouraged by their gods to use clerical-type spells, so gain one less spell due to intelligence per sphere (again, sharply decreasing a witches dazzling arsenal of power).
Honestly, those to defects go a LONG way toward curbing the problem. A 17 int witch like Rhanée or Kephalonia only gets 8 or 9 spells per spell level and only has a 45% chance to learn each one, so very effectively limiting the witch from being able to cast "the kitchen sink".
Moreover, I placed a restriction that witches with spheres lose upper level spells, so that they slowly transition into becoming witch-doctor / witch-clerics as their faiths slowly become legitimate. I really like this concept, but think it might be too far. You see, witches with spheres wind up with only a handful (usually one or two AT MOST) of spells at higher levels AND miss out on some of the hallmark witch spells. Thus, I'd like to make this adjustment...:
The restriction is still in place -- a witches patron will NOT teach a witch any spells over a certain level. That does not, however, preclude the witch from learning the spell ON HER OWN (from a scroll or another witch, for instance). To put some further "teeth" into the restriction as well as logically address that witches are NOT used to magical research without aid, the witch's maximum number of spells for these levels are HALVED (round up) and the minimum is ALWAYS ZERO. Thus, Rhanée or Kephalonia still only get 5 or so "greater" spells -- just enough to make 5th and higher level spell slots not totally useless.
So, whaddya think?
Lemme know, David
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Post by Andy on Oct 13, 2005 13:30:06 GMT -5
And you wonder why Kephalonia doesn't have Lightning Bolt? She was pretty lucky as it was to get the spells she has, including 'Cure Disease' which powers her little moonlight rituals in Amberwood. I like the idea of being capable of learning the higher level witch spells, but just not getting them for free. Would it make sense to have to perform some sort of sacrifice or offering to get the god to cough up the spell, or just make it so they had to research/find a copy themselves? Or perhaps give some offering to bargain the god to look the other way when they do? I really like the additional flexibility this allows, even though in most every case, it's only going to be a spell or two that even higher level sphered witches are going to have.
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Post by Andy on Oct 13, 2005 13:33:14 GMT -5
hehe - so we apparently agree. Off to check the witch lists for 5th level spells... I do have another witch question this time dealing with specifically neutral witches' ability to cast 'good' or 'evil' spells. I'll post that soon, cause I do want to re-read the latest witch article first. By the way, once again I have to mention that the witch class is just really cool all around...
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