Post by Admin on Jan 28, 2012 22:10:06 GMT -5
Nobody can do everything - but some people can do more than others. In addition to the the Five Forms, a mage also has a specific use of magic called a specialization. Specializations primarily come in two major kinds: broad specializations and narrow specializations.
Broad -
Broad specializations represent either a major style or a theme of magic. Styles are usually form specific and represent ways of doing things. Themes are things like Enchantment (manipulating people's minds or bodies), Alteration (changing the nature of something in the world), Necromancy (controlling energies of death and undeath), the Elements (Classical or otherwise), Forces of Energy (hot, cold, electricity), etc.
Narrow -
Narrow specializations represent either a single application or element of magic. Single applications are like Summoning, Healing, Cloning, Telekinesis, Haste, etc. Single elements are like Fire, Water, Metal, etc.
(Note that some elements are distinctly more powerful and versatile than others, like Light and Shadow. Unless you take those to mean the control of brightness or darkness of an area only, those count as broad specializations. Time is also broad. See the "Time Magic" thread for more details.)
Form Specific -
Some specializations are unique to certain forms, and focus on the "how" they're specializing instead of the "what" they're specializing in.
Unique broad Spoken specializations have to do with the style of the incantation, with different styles effectively being different languages or patterns of speech - like a song, a shout, or a rhyme. Such Spoken mages can only employ their magic when speaking in that language or pattern.
Unique broad Written specializations have to do with the style of the mark, with different styles effectively being different languages. Such Written mages can only employ their magic when writing in that language.
Unique narrow Written specializations have to do with specific ways the mage leaves their mark, such as Engraving, Painting, or Ink. Such Written mages can only employ their magic when writing in metal, or writing with paint or ink respectively.
Unique broad Physical specializations have to do with the style of the movement, such as gesturing or hand signs. Such Physical mages can only employ their magic when using those motions.
Unique broad Mental specializations have to do with Psychic powers. Such Mental mages can only employ their magic with expressly mental things, such as Telepathy, Telekinesis, or Clairvoyance.
Remember, however, that these are examples, not requirements or restrictions. A character's specialization of magic is entirely a matter of personal choice (and admin verification, just to make sure things are fair). Don't be surprised if there are only a few mages in the (game) world - or even just one player on site - who practice a certain style.
Choosing Specializations -
While choosing a broad specialization does increase a mage's versatility, choosing a narrow specialization increases the mage's talent when it comes to that use of magic. A narrow specialization functionally increases a mage's Proficiency by half a tier - stronger than their tier, but not as strong as the next tier.
As a person grows in power, a person is able to learn new specializations from any of the Five Forms. They can learn a new specialization at Tier 1 (their first), and at each Tier after, up to five specializations at Tier 5.
Each of these choices can be either broad or narrow, but a mage also has the choice to further specialize in a use of magic they already have. Each additional tier a mage spends further training in the same specialization increases a mage's Proficiency by half a tier.
EXAMPLE[/u]
Hairy Otter takes Spoken (Latin) as a broad category as a Tier 1 mage, and his Proficiency is equal to a Tier 1 mage. As a Tier 2 mage, he chooses to further specialize in it, and his Proficiency is equal to a Tier 2.5 mage. As a Tier 3 mage, he chooses to further specialize in it, and his Proficiency is equal to a Tier 4 mage.
Another option for further specializing is if a mage chooses the same specialization, but in a different form from their first. In such a case, any bonuses to Proficiency gained from a narrow specialization or further specializing stack, applying to each form that uses that same specialization.
EXAMPLE[/u]
Virginia Weasel takes Spoken (Curses) as a broad category as a Tier 1 mage, and her Proficiency is equal to a Tier 1 mage. As a Tier 2 mage, she chooses to further specialize in it, but as a Written specialization. Her Proficiency with both Spoken (Curses) and Written (Curses) is equal to a Tier 2.5 mage. As a Tier 3 mage, she chooses to further specialize in it, and her Proficiency with both is equal to a Tier 4 mage.
Material Specializations -
Material specializations are an exception to the other Five Forms, because Material magic is less about extending one's internal energy than it is drawing in external energy.
A Material specialization has two parts: first, by taking any Material specialization, the mage gains all the benefits of being able to handle as many Material items as they can carry and using/creating magic items with them (provided they know how). Learning to use this Form is learning to use external magic, period.
Second, a Material specialization represents a specific Source: something that the mage is empowered by being around or absorbing. When a Material mage has access to their Source, then their Proficiency with all their other uses of magic increases. A Material mage's Source is the name of their specialization, not what they do with the form.
A broad Material specialization is something that a mage can find in abundance, like earth, air, or sunlight. Like the narrow specialization of the other forms, a broad Material specialization functionally increases a mage's Proficiency by half a tier when they have access to it.
A narrow Material specialization is something that a mage can find only rarely, like the light of the full moon, the heat of an active volcano, or certain weather patterns. A narrow Material specialization increases a mage's Proficiency by a whole tier when they have access to it.
No mage can increase their Proficiency by more than one tier above their actual level, however, and specializing in these ways do not actually increase a mage's Tier or increase their Proficiency for any other uses of magic they might have.
Broad -
Broad specializations represent either a major style or a theme of magic. Styles are usually form specific and represent ways of doing things. Themes are things like Enchantment (manipulating people's minds or bodies), Alteration (changing the nature of something in the world), Necromancy (controlling energies of death and undeath), the Elements (Classical or otherwise), Forces of Energy (hot, cold, electricity), etc.
Narrow -
Narrow specializations represent either a single application or element of magic. Single applications are like Summoning, Healing, Cloning, Telekinesis, Haste, etc. Single elements are like Fire, Water, Metal, etc.
(Note that some elements are distinctly more powerful and versatile than others, like Light and Shadow. Unless you take those to mean the control of brightness or darkness of an area only, those count as broad specializations. Time is also broad. See the "Time Magic" thread for more details.)
Form Specific -
Some specializations are unique to certain forms, and focus on the "how" they're specializing instead of the "what" they're specializing in.
Unique broad Spoken specializations have to do with the style of the incantation, with different styles effectively being different languages or patterns of speech - like a song, a shout, or a rhyme. Such Spoken mages can only employ their magic when speaking in that language or pattern.
Unique broad Written specializations have to do with the style of the mark, with different styles effectively being different languages. Such Written mages can only employ their magic when writing in that language.
Unique narrow Written specializations have to do with specific ways the mage leaves their mark, such as Engraving, Painting, or Ink. Such Written mages can only employ their magic when writing in metal, or writing with paint or ink respectively.
Unique broad Physical specializations have to do with the style of the movement, such as gesturing or hand signs. Such Physical mages can only employ their magic when using those motions.
Unique broad Mental specializations have to do with Psychic powers. Such Mental mages can only employ their magic with expressly mental things, such as Telepathy, Telekinesis, or Clairvoyance.
Remember, however, that these are examples, not requirements or restrictions. A character's specialization of magic is entirely a matter of personal choice (and admin verification, just to make sure things are fair). Don't be surprised if there are only a few mages in the (game) world - or even just one player on site - who practice a certain style.
Choosing Specializations -
While choosing a broad specialization does increase a mage's versatility, choosing a narrow specialization increases the mage's talent when it comes to that use of magic. A narrow specialization functionally increases a mage's Proficiency by half a tier - stronger than their tier, but not as strong as the next tier.
As a person grows in power, a person is able to learn new specializations from any of the Five Forms. They can learn a new specialization at Tier 1 (their first), and at each Tier after, up to five specializations at Tier 5.
Each of these choices can be either broad or narrow, but a mage also has the choice to further specialize in a use of magic they already have. Each additional tier a mage spends further training in the same specialization increases a mage's Proficiency by half a tier.
EXAMPLE[/u]
Hairy Otter takes Spoken (Latin) as a broad category as a Tier 1 mage, and his Proficiency is equal to a Tier 1 mage. As a Tier 2 mage, he chooses to further specialize in it, and his Proficiency is equal to a Tier 2.5 mage. As a Tier 3 mage, he chooses to further specialize in it, and his Proficiency is equal to a Tier 4 mage.
Another option for further specializing is if a mage chooses the same specialization, but in a different form from their first. In such a case, any bonuses to Proficiency gained from a narrow specialization or further specializing stack, applying to each form that uses that same specialization.
EXAMPLE[/u]
Virginia Weasel takes Spoken (Curses) as a broad category as a Tier 1 mage, and her Proficiency is equal to a Tier 1 mage. As a Tier 2 mage, she chooses to further specialize in it, but as a Written specialization. Her Proficiency with both Spoken (Curses) and Written (Curses) is equal to a Tier 2.5 mage. As a Tier 3 mage, she chooses to further specialize in it, and her Proficiency with both is equal to a Tier 4 mage.
Material Specializations -
Material specializations are an exception to the other Five Forms, because Material magic is less about extending one's internal energy than it is drawing in external energy.
A Material specialization has two parts: first, by taking any Material specialization, the mage gains all the benefits of being able to handle as many Material items as they can carry and using/creating magic items with them (provided they know how). Learning to use this Form is learning to use external magic, period.
Second, a Material specialization represents a specific Source: something that the mage is empowered by being around or absorbing. When a Material mage has access to their Source, then their Proficiency with all their other uses of magic increases. A Material mage's Source is the name of their specialization, not what they do with the form.
A broad Material specialization is something that a mage can find in abundance, like earth, air, or sunlight. Like the narrow specialization of the other forms, a broad Material specialization functionally increases a mage's Proficiency by half a tier when they have access to it.
A narrow Material specialization is something that a mage can find only rarely, like the light of the full moon, the heat of an active volcano, or certain weather patterns. A narrow Material specialization increases a mage's Proficiency by a whole tier when they have access to it.
No mage can increase their Proficiency by more than one tier above their actual level, however, and specializing in these ways do not actually increase a mage's Tier or increase their Proficiency for any other uses of magic they might have.