School of Wonder

[Kaaurk]

I was thinking lately, that it would be nice if each individual guild had a more difficult quest instead of having to go through the school of wonder. I make no secret of my hate for the school and it has something to do with my lack of owning any real wizards though I have been trying lately!

[Rhangalas]

Agreed. The concept of the School of Wonder is good, the real problem - in my opinion - is that there isn't an 'evil' equivalent and that it is a requirement to progress any further as a wizard.

The best fix would be the addition of an evil pre-school and have both schools not be required, but simply having the School of Wonder be optional would be good too... and less work.

If you choose to progress directly to specializing without graduating from Kindergarten, then the fee would be a lot steeper and the quest would be more difficult.

[Lylena]

I'm all for something for evils to go through. Mystra won't take evil followers, yet evil magic users and even possible enemies of faith learn all the fundamentals there because there's really nowhere else to go.

[Tyeslan]

I would rather see the School of Wonder updated, and brought to function more for less frustration and more about the spheres of magic, with evils inside of it. An overall school for the fundamentals, and the like.

[Rhangalas]

I would rather see the School of Wonder updated, and brought to function more for less frustration and more about the spheres of magic, with evils inside of it. An overall school for the fundamentals, and the like.

That could be cool too. My only concern is: Would Mystrans willingly teach spellcraft to potential enemies? The 'new' Mystra (Midnight) is more lawful - lawful neutral - towards the use of magic than her predecessor who was neutral good and, in regards to lore, Midnight tends to strike against evil spellcasters when they grow too powerful.

[Tyeslan]

Honestly, I think the school should be brought away from the whole Mystra is teaching it, and find a more neutral way to go about teaching young wizards. There are so many wizards in the Realms, of all faiths, and all ways, that while the weave is a gift, and it should be taught that it is, it would be better off seeing as neutral as possible.

[Gwain]

Maybe the Old School of Wonder, could be used as a school for evil wizards? I'm not sure how often the current area is used in the game since it fields incredibly dangerous mobiles and a very, very old quest. Maybe if someone is willing it could be updated as a school or divided into two level controlled areas, one, the demon-haunted ruins of the old school and the other being a school for evil wizards?

[Casamir]

The Phaerimm and the ghosts are your teachers? Sounds very House Slytherin.

[Gwain]

The Phaerimm and the ghosts are your teachers? Sounds very House Slytherin.

Even monsters have to eat.

[Rhangalas]

Maybe the Old School of Wonder, could be used as a school for evil wizards? I'm not sure how often the current area is used in the game since it fields incredibly dangerous mobiles and a very, very old quest. Maybe if someone is willing it could be updated as a school or divided into two level controlled areas, one, the demon-haunted ruins of the old school and the other being a school for evil wizards?

That would be cool. Since the area is already divided map-wise (surface ruins and then ruins beneath), I could see the buildings on the surface being salvaged and used as school grounds, while the tunnels below are still infested with demons. Since the quest is old, maybe it could be updated along with area if it were to be revamped.

Seeing as how the new School of Wonder sponsors two in-house specializations, the old, evil one could sponsor conjurers and transmuters (which would give evils a way to become transmuters).

EDIT: On second thought, maybe it should sponsor mages and transmuters. The place was destroyed by errant conjurations after all... and evils can already become conjurers. That would allow two specializations that evils can't get without invading goodly areas.

[Harroghty]

The School of Wonder (SoW) serves a low-level population. In contrast, the Old School of Wonder serves a typically high level population. I don't feel that it makes sense to compromise one or the other in an attempt to mix the two areas.

We can admit that the SoW has its short comings in terms of role-play and, to some degree, in content. The solution though is not to try to make a half-measure solution which will be plagued by its own set of issues. I feel that the best course of action would be to make a separate school at a new location, one that is both practical for the purposes of our game and one that suits the setting. The rub, of course, is that Zhentil Keep (and the Moonsea at large) is scantily described in source books.

I would be really interested to see what people could come up with, but I do feel that this is two projects: first, updating SoW and, secondly, making another school that serves a different population. Then comes the fun part: me going around and making sure that all the existing magical schools jibe with the changes.

[Tyeslan]

If I come up with a few outlines for SoW update, and a new more darker school with a place in mind, could I send them to you, and see what you think?