Teaching vs Scribing

[Ungtar]

To begin with, it should be noted that I have several characters that would suffer from this proposed change and I have several more who would have suffered had I not benefited from the existing system. And I really dislike when old players propose a change that would make things harder for new players to become as skilled/powerful as they are now, so it is with some hesitancy that I propose this. However I think some discussion on it might be beneficial to the game and allow for some improvement.

Learning spells is a bit too easy. Yes, I realize that I am somewhat of a nut about wanting to completely fill in the spell/prayer book and so I spend most of my time doing that ... but all I've got to do is accumulate some coin, find a person who knows the spell I want + scribing, and presto ... I've got a new spell.

On one character I invested a lot of feats and stat points towards scholar and teacher before finding out that pretty much anyone else can do what I can do without that investment simply by scribing a scroll.

Some of the spell acquisition has been heavily gated because I couldn't find any teachers who were IC compatible, and other characters were easy because I had willing teachers within the same faith. But nothing has been completely unavailable simply because there are scribers who will teach you if you simply bring enough platinum.

So to sum it up:

a. Is the system fine as it is to the majority?
b. Do others recognize the issue but believe that changing it would put new characters at too much of a disadvantage?
c. Is it solvable IC versus code?
d. Other suggestions might be better?

[Alitar]

There are some spells that cannot be scribed, making them teach only. Additionally, being taught allows for more than just the first point in the spell. This gotta a long way in some spells.

[Ungtar]

There are some spells that cannot be scribed, making them teach only. Additionally, being taught allows for more than just the first point in the spell. This gotta a long way in some spells.

That is a noteworthy benefit.

[Algon]

Considering that in tabletop, when you want a new spell from the spell list, you just know it and there is no hunting for spells at all...I think the system here to find new spells is not bad at all.

Plus...it's not all about who knows the most spells and who is strong enough to teach what. It's about the Roleplay. You can roleplay that character you have put the feats into as a genuine genius of a teacher. Someone who does not have the ability to teach a 9th sphere spell, even if they can scribe it, cannot do that.

[Yemin]

Considering that in tabletop, when you want a new spell from the spell list, you just know it and there is no hunting for spells at all...I think the system here to find new spells is not bad at all.

Plus...it's not all about who knows the most spells and who is strong enough to teach what. It's about the Roleplay. You can roleplay that character you have put the feats into as a genuine genius of a teacher. Someone who does not have the ability to teach a 9th sphere spell, even if they can scribe it, cannot do that.

Agreed on the first point. It would only become a problem for me if spells are taught out too quickly or too cheaply.

Though I feel I have to point out that teaching requires 12 cha/wis/int as a requirement... which frankly I've always disagreed with but I sort of see the reason for making it so strict. With this in mind, I can't really adopt the reasoning that my char is a genius at something, because he has slightly more charisma than the other guy who's actually more intelligent because he didn't spend his time with a bard, or was simply blessed with a bigger brain, but thats my own personal thought process on it, and it shouldn't be taken as dictating to others.

Still keeping this in mind, I don't see what these mental requirements have to do with teaching physical based skills. The Avg barbarian has less than these. Yet out on the plains, they teach each other stuf just fine.

Overall, I think the current system works fine. The MUD environment pushes spellcasters to know many more spells than would be available to them than in tabletop simply because of how wide and varied the challenges in the world can be. Restricting spells further would only result in more types of characters being necessary for your basic MUD type adventure, which isn't something FK needs. We already have alot of options where thats concerned.

[Algon]

Directly from the SRD...

Charisma (Cha)
Charisma measures a character’s force of personality, persuasiveness, personal magnetism, ability to lead, and physical attractiveness. This ability represents actual strength of personality, not merely how one is perceived by others in a social setting. Charisma is most important for paladins, sorcerers, and bards. It is also important for clerics, since it affects their ability to turn undead. Every creature has a Charisma score.

You apply your character’s Charisma modifier to:

Bluff, Diplomacy, Disguise, Gather Information, Handle Animal, Intimidate, Perform, and Use Magic Device checks. These are the skills that have Charisma as their key ability.
Checks that represent attempts to influence others.

This is why a good Cha is important. It is your ability to actually teach someone...the best teachers are NOT Ben Stein, they are the ones who have the ability to draw you in and make learning enjoyable. That is charisma.

[Yemin]

Definitely. I still learnt stuff from Jane Doe though.

I suppose my gripe is more that it isn't possible at all, not that its harder.

[Ungtar]

Definitely. I still learnt stuff from Jane Doe though.

I suppose my gripe is more that it isn't possible at all, not that its harder.

Realistically it ought to be gradient. If your teacher's charisma sucks, you learn less.

But the laws of D&D tend to be all or nothing sometimes. At 13 points you're a nobody, but at 14 points you're a master teacher.

At 6 charisma I'm a dog turd on the floor that nobody wants to pick up.