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Well, I know that the main book has most of the spells, and the ones in other source books are considered rare and maybe even completely forgotten. As such, it's almost impossible to learn them as a wizard. But what about when the spell caster levels up and has "figured out" a spell? Is it the mage hearing about some spell, or having seen it, and then deducing how it's done? Or can the mage have the spell just come to them? Like a Psi-mystic isn't learning spells, they just come during meditation. How available should those other book spells be?

-Vek
"And if you get one from, say the shadow magic, can you continue down that path?"

For me the ones in the book are the ones available everywhere, the special ones have to be researched in the locations where they are found (mostly library of bletherad or special locations). However if a character researched and learnt about a shadow magic spell I would give him the option of either pick ing normal spell and being guaranteed to get it or try to self teach themselves a special one (like shadow magic) but have a chance of failure and not gaining a spell.

The level up spells suppose to represent the results of learning through exp. Like they have been thinking about things since the last time they made a connection to figure out a spell. Not some navel pondering intuitive 'just knowing something new' that mystics, psi-mystics, mystic knights,...etc...etc....etc... do.

Availability...This is all up to the individual GMs.

The regional spells for the northern hinterlands and the O. grasslands (early rifter) should be fairly common in their regions. While while spells like those found in the MoM1 book more in large cities. And those on the LoB book should be quite rare everywhere.

It does depend on which book the spells are in and how they are presented. I agree that most of the spells listed in the various sourcebooks/world books - especially those in Library of Bletherad - are rare and shouldn't be available to any old wizard or mystic without some research/instruction. But in some books it is different, as like as Drewkitty says, the spells in Northern Hinterlands are well known to mages in that part of the world. The spells in Mysteries of Magic I'm not too sure about, as I think they are presented in such a way as to suggest that any mage/warlock could learn them. I allow these ones in my game.

But, from the way the Forsaken Mage in Mysteries of Magic is written, I make this O.C.C. the exception to the rule - the "power" of the forsaken mage is that they have access to rare or previously unknown spells, and as such I allow this O.C.C. to choose any of the spells in Library of Bletherad and beyond.

side-tracking from the OP's question....
As for the Psi-Mystic types throughout the PB games... everything is "available" including fan spells. It just needs to be something the GM thinks will be useful in the near future 'in game'. This is because the mystic characters are "communing with the universe' to gain their spells.

Well, drew, that's not off topic. That's one of my main questions!

-Vek
"Thanks for answering."

Veknironth wrote:Well, I know that the main book has most of the spells, and the ones in other source books are considered rare and maybe even completely forgotten. As such, it's almost impossible to learn them as a wizard. But what about when the spell caster levels up and has "figured out" a spell? Is it the mage hearing about some spell, or having seen it, and then deducing how it's done? Or can the mage have the spell just come to them? Like a Psi-mystic isn't learning spells, they just come during meditation. How available should those other book spells be?

Generally, for wizards, I let them go hog-wild on Main Book spells, but require a rationale or source for other spells. Psi-mystics get free reign; IMO, they don't really "Cast spells" but have a weird psychic power that 100% resembles a specific spell. Their powers aren't really teachable, though they are trainable (i.e. a Psi-mystic can have an apprentice and guide their thoughts as any teacher might, but the student might take the lesson to an entirely different place than intended).

Mark Hall wrote:

Veknironth wrote:Well, I know that the main book has most of the spells, and the ones in other source books are considered rare and maybe even completely forgotten. As such, it's almost impossible to learn them as a wizard. But what about when the spell caster levels up and has "figured out" a spell? Is it the mage hearing about some spell, or having seen it, and then deducing how it's done? Or can the mage have the spell just come to them? Like a Psi-mystic isn't learning spells, they just come during meditation. How available should those other book spells be?

Generally, for wizards, I let them go hog-wild on Main Book spells, but require a rationale or source for other spells. Psi-mystics get free reign; IMO, they don't really "Cast spells" but have a weird psychic power that 100% resembles a specific spell. Their powers aren't really teachable, though they are trainable (i.e. a Psi-mystic can have an apprentice and guide their thoughts as any teacher might, but the student might take the lesson to an entirely different place than intended).

Even with this my question to the character would be why they are thinking about magic like that as their contact with mainstream magic would colour their thoughts more, and if you can't imagine it you aren't likely to get it. If they saw someone casting it however i would have no issue with them meditating on that path.