Post by Admin on Feb 22, 2012 22:24:15 GMT -5
Learning magic, both in terms of specializations and special abilities, is not simply a numbers game. Mages growing from one Tier to another do not go "ding" and level up with a brand new specialization and special ability immediately at their finger tips. Both must be learned. Because of this, even though all races have the potential for some special abilities, not every creature will actually have learned one.
There are multiple ways to learn a new specialization or special ability. While not actually necessary, it may be worth mentioning which way your character learned their specializations, if any.
Apprenticeship -
This is how most mages learn magic: by having another mage teach them what they know. A teacher can only impart the uses of magic they know to the learner, but they could attempt to guide a mage through other uses if they know the theory.
Think of it like a chameleon: a chameleon blends in with its environment, taking on the colors around it. In the same way, a mage can slowly pick up and mimic the teacher's specializations or special abilities by being around them.
(Yes, we know chameleons don't really work this way. It's a metaphor.)
A magic teacher is not limited by how many students they can have at one time, but focusing on one or two at a time is sometimes preferred for cramming as much time with them as possible. Obviously, a teacher cannot help them learn more specialization's than the mage is able to learn. If the learner has no open or unused specializations, then they can only be taught the theory.
The Natural Way -
This is how all Natural born mages start out: learning a form and specialization that is instinctive to them, or something that they need to survive. They do not need to be taught it, but they may not even know what to call it or how it works otherwise. Learning magic in this way unguided is largely a matter of trial and error.
This way is not just the domain of natural mages. A mage who was taught how to pull out and use their magic by another mage may also learn new uses of magic this way when they rise to a higher tier. Magic learned in this way tends to either be unique or elemental, but that is not always the case. Some mages have learned Healing magic instinctively when they were dying.
The Experimental Way -
More inventive mages may opt to break away from the beaten path and create a specialization they've thought up or try to develop a special ability they've only heard of. This can be an incredibly hard and complicated way to go about it, if not outright dangerous at times.
Mages throughout history have died when an experimental use of magic went awry or in an explosive loss of control. It also tends to take longer than learning magic one of the other ways.
There are multiple ways to learn a new specialization or special ability. While not actually necessary, it may be worth mentioning which way your character learned their specializations, if any.
Apprenticeship -
This is how most mages learn magic: by having another mage teach them what they know. A teacher can only impart the uses of magic they know to the learner, but they could attempt to guide a mage through other uses if they know the theory.
Think of it like a chameleon: a chameleon blends in with its environment, taking on the colors around it. In the same way, a mage can slowly pick up and mimic the teacher's specializations or special abilities by being around them.
(Yes, we know chameleons don't really work this way. It's a metaphor.)
A magic teacher is not limited by how many students they can have at one time, but focusing on one or two at a time is sometimes preferred for cramming as much time with them as possible. Obviously, a teacher cannot help them learn more specialization's than the mage is able to learn. If the learner has no open or unused specializations, then they can only be taught the theory.
The Natural Way -
This is how all Natural born mages start out: learning a form and specialization that is instinctive to them, or something that they need to survive. They do not need to be taught it, but they may not even know what to call it or how it works otherwise. Learning magic in this way unguided is largely a matter of trial and error.
This way is not just the domain of natural mages. A mage who was taught how to pull out and use their magic by another mage may also learn new uses of magic this way when they rise to a higher tier. Magic learned in this way tends to either be unique or elemental, but that is not always the case. Some mages have learned Healing magic instinctively when they were dying.
The Experimental Way -
More inventive mages may opt to break away from the beaten path and create a specialization they've thought up or try to develop a special ability they've only heard of. This can be an incredibly hard and complicated way to go about it, if not outright dangerous at times.
Mages throughout history have died when an experimental use of magic went awry or in an explosive loss of control. It also tends to take longer than learning magic one of the other ways.