Ironworks Gaming Forum - View Single Post - One Interesting Aspect of Spell Skill Development

sloucho · 03-11-2002, 02:29 PM

Let's start with what we all know:

When a bishop with a 50 in divinity and a 20 in psionics casts charm, he may increase his mental realm skill by one point.

Now, since charm is a priest spell and a psionic spell, most of us are aware that the only school that he can raise by casting charm is the divinity school (because he already has a higher score in divinity than in psionics).

Simple enough.

With class-changing, however, things get a little more complicated.

Take, for example, a bishop who changes to a ranger. At level 15, the bishop has 93 in wizardry, 92 in divinity, 91 in psionics, and 30 in alchemy. (The player hasn't done much to improve the alchemy skill because there will be plenty of time for that once the character gets spells as a ranger.)

So the character changes to a ranger and loses the ability to improve any of his spell skills for 4 levels (16, 17, 18, & 19).

Still with me?

Now, at level 20, the character is able to start improving his alchemy skill.

Would it surprise you if the character's alchemy skill improved as a result of casting light?

It surprised the heck out of me.

Light, as most readers already know, is a spell that belongs to 3 different schools (alchemist, mage, and priest).

I expected it to have a chance of increasing my ranger's fire skill, but I assumed that it would be cast as a wizardry spell rather than an alchemist spell because the wizardry skill had more points than divinity or alchemy (the two other schools that could cast it).

Nevertheless, the game gave my ranger a +1 in alchemy for casting light.

I assumed something had gone wrong. But apparently not, as it just happened again.

It hasn't yet happened with element shield or heal wounds or any of the other spells that alchemists share with other schools, but I'm inclined to think that it could happen (and that it will).

Just a point for those of you who change from bishop to a specialist school and then go out of your way to avoid shared spells. Apparently the shared spells will increase the school in which your character is active EVEN IF THAT CHARACTER HAS A HIGHER SCORE IN ANOTHER SCHOOL TO WHICH THE SPELL BELONGS.

03-11-2002, 02:29 PM	#1
sloucho Elite Waterdeep Guard Join Date: February 10, 2002 Location: Philly Posts: 40	Let's start with what we all know: When a bishop with a 50 in divinity and a 20 in psionics casts charm, he may increase his mental realm skill by one point. Now, since charm is a priest spell and a psionic spell, most of us are aware that the only school that he can raise by casting charm is the divinity school (because he already has a higher score in divinity than in psionics). Simple enough. With class-changing, however, things get a little more complicated. Take, for example, a bishop who changes to a ranger. At level 15, the bishop has 93 in wizardry, 92 in divinity, 91 in psionics, and 30 in alchemy. (The player hasn't done much to improve the alchemy skill because there will be plenty of time for that once the character gets spells as a ranger.) So the character changes to a ranger and loses the ability to improve any of his spell skills for 4 levels (16, 17, 18, & 19). Still with me? Now, at level 20, the character is able to start improving his alchemy skill. Would it surprise you if the character's alchemy skill improved as a result of casting light? It surprised the heck out of me. Light, as most readers already know, is a spell that belongs to 3 different schools (alchemist, mage, and priest). I expected it to have a chance of increasing my ranger's fire skill, but I assumed that it would be cast as a wizardry spell rather than an alchemist spell because the wizardry skill had more points than divinity or alchemy (the two other schools that could cast it). Nevertheless, the game gave my ranger a +1 in alchemy for casting light. I assumed something had gone wrong. But apparently not, as it just happened again. It hasn't yet happened with element shield or heal wounds or any of the other spells that alchemists share with other schools, but I'm inclined to think that it could happen (and that it will). Just a point for those of you who change from bishop to a specialist school and then go out of your way to avoid shared spells. Apparently the shared spells will increase the school in which your character is active EVEN IF THAT CHARACTER HAS A HIGHER SCORE IN ANOTHER SCHOOL TO WHICH THE SPELL BELONGS.