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Jim's DragonQuest Campaign:
The Colleges of Magic

The sections below describe how the Colleges of Magic appear in this campaign, at least as they pertain to player races. In a nutshell: Nothing is everywhere.

Ensorcelments and Enchantments

Certain elven realms use this college of magic. In these realms, any elf with sufficient MA (15 or higher) is customarily expected to become a member. Elves are usually reluctant to teach their magic to outsiders. Practitioners are referred to as enchanters.

Enchanters in certain places of power (mana rich areas) pay reduced fatigue costs (see rule 27.1), and they gain a 20% bonus on their cast chances. Conversely, enchanters in a mana poor area suffer triple fatigue costs and a 20% penalty on their cast chances.

Sorceries of the Mind

Practitioners of this college are called sorcerers. In this campaign, this college is found only among the Romans. Ordinary people find this college very frightening.

While cities count as mana poor areas for other colleges, sorcerers pay the mana poor penalty only if they're in the midst of a crowd. This is why it's the only college likely to be found in a Roman city.

Illusions

This is the other college practiced by elves. Any given elven realm will practice either Ensorcelments and Enchantments or Illusions. Where illusionists are found, all elves are expected to become members of this college.

Illusionists receive the same bonuses and penalties for mana rich and mana poor areas as enchanters.

See my house rules on illusions.

Naming Incantations

In pagan and Wotanic areas, and in halfling communities, this college is practiced by the local wise person, who conducts naming ceremonies when people reach physical maturity. In these areas, namers play a critical cultural role.

In Christian areas, the college has fallen to the status of folk superstition. Many peasants are superstitious enough to continue its practice, even though orthodox Christian practice favors Christian confirmation over the primitive naming ceremony.

Regardless of the namer's religion, the namer always has a regular job in addition to being a namer.

See also my additions to Naming Magics.

The Elemental Colleges

The elemental colleges are:

In this campaign, members of the elemental colleges are druids. Druids hold prestigious positions in their tribes, and they are owed respect even in other tribes. Druids are the priests of the pagan religion. Each elemental college is affiliated with a pagan god.

In DragonQuest, Star Mages are aligned with the Powers of Light. In this campaign, that means their values are very similar to those of Christianity. Star Mages and Christians in the know respect each other, even though each views the other as a non-believer. Dark Mages are aligned with the Powers of Darkness, which means Christians regard them as evil.

Necromantic Conjurations

Necromancers are normally found in Christian areas only. They are feared and persecuted as witches and heretics, although some people are still willing to benefit from their spells.

Necromancers receive bonuses and penalties on their cast chances as follows:
-10
  • Epiphany (Jan 6)
  • Candlemas (Feb 22)
  • Annunciation (Mar 25)
  • Easter (first Sunday after the spring equinox [which is not the present-day method for determining Easter's date])
  • Pentecost (40 days after Easter)
  • Christmas (Dec 25)
-5
  • Any normal Sunday
  • Any day during Lent
+20
  • Walpurgisnacht (Apr 30)
  • Halloween (Oct 31)
+50
  • The stroke of midnight on Walpurgisnacht or Halloween

Summonings

The College of Summonings is viewed as a scholarly pursuit, revolving around the understanding and control of living creatures. It is found only in selected realms, typically among humans. Practitioners are called wizards.

Shaping Magics

The shaping of magic items is the province of the dwarves. Members of this college (all dwarves) are called shapers.

Members of any other college can learn the Investment Ritual (rule 32.3), but as stated in the rules, the item to be invested must first have been prepared by a shaper to receive the charges.

Rune Magics

The College of Rune Magics is for the Wotanic religion. Its practitioners are rune priests, the priests of the Wotanic religion. Rune priests receive a certain amount of respect in Saxon society, but they don't have as much status as the druids of pagan society.