One Interesting Aspect of Spell Skill Development

[sloucho]

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.

[Nightowl2]

Actually, that should only be expected. Anything left behind on a class change can't be improved by use or points unless the new class shares the skill with the old.

By going from bishop to a specialist, your character gave up improvement in all spell disciplines except alchemy. Therefore, only alchemy can be improved by spellcasting. It does not matter how high the others are, because they're cut off from improvement.

Nightowl2

[Viscer Spineshank]

Well it would make sense as far as raising...but I think the point was that it ignored the fact that his wizardry skill was the highest of the realms...when deciding which spell realm to apply the gain.

One might have thought that it would look at the highest skill still....but because it could no longer raise it....he would not get a realm skill gain. This would of course cause you to only practice skills that are realm specific.

The real question is....can you use this to your advantage in doing class switches.....this stuff confuses me of course and I'm not very creative....but I know there are lots here that are

[BlackHand]

If you want a big advantage - don't ever class change your bishop.

[Nightowl2]

Actually, it shows that the designers gave considerable thought to this matter. It's one for them that they did it this way. Players who switch from bishop to specific are not put at a disadvantage.

And I have to agree with Blackhand, never switch your bishop.

Nightowl2