The removal, in practice, of the prohibited schools from the specialists and of bonuses to their spellcasting when combined with both generalists and specialists getting the spell-like powers has served to reduce the level of distinction between generalists and specialists.
I think it would be helpful to reintroduce prohibited schools in a meaningful manner, though perhaps not quite as strictly as before. Perhaps spells from the prohibited school could be cast by the specialist, but only at a higher spell level (probably 1, 2 or maybe 3 levels higher - going to 4 levels or any higher would probably be virtually the same as banning them altogether other than in some very specific circumstances known by the wizard ahead of time). I know, I know, I have been suggesting this for a long time, but now the right forum is finally open!
Of course, if this is done and the power parity between generalists and specialists is to be maintained, specialists need to gain something to compensate or generalists need to lose something to compensate.
A few things.
1. Prohibited schools should be just that.
2. the none specialist wizard should not gain the spells at 2,4,6,10,12,14,16,18 levels
Bring back prohibited schools. It was quite flavorful and gave distinction.
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A few things.
1. Prohibited schools should be just that.
2. the none specialist wizard should not gain the spells at 2,4,6,10,12,14,16,18 levels
I agree.
However, if this simply isn't going to happen, I'd vote for giving specialists more bonuses for spells of their speciality school This could be things like insight bonuses to saves vs. effects of their school, an extra +1 DC to saves from spells of their school, or a metamagic mastery ability like the universal school that only applies to spell of their speciality.
One way or another, there should be more distinction between a specialist and a non-specialist than simply different abilities than the universal school.
I don't vote for anyone getting more of anything, but I don't have a huge problem with allowing specialists to use opposed spells if they cancel out his school power for the day.
I do think that generalists should, if the "need" to have bonus spells, should have to treat their bonus spell as one level higher, i.e. they wouldn't get a bonus 1st level spell, and when they get 9th level spells, their bonus spell is an 8th level spell.
1. Prohibited schools should be just that.
2. the none specialist wizard should not gain the spells at 2,4,6,10,12,14,16,18 levels
That would certainly go a long way towards solving my problem with Wizards being overpowered, but if universalists lose their spell-like abilities there will be no incentive for them to remain single-classed.
Also, I like prohibited schools, but to be honest they make no real sense - why should an archmage who concentrates on enchantment be absolutely unable to ever learn a necromantic spell? It just doesn't make sense - hence my proposal of letting them memorize spells at using higher-level spell slots.
Here is a different idea on prohibited schools:
Prohibited schools are completely off-limits to the specialist, but he can spend a feats (let's call them something like Opposed/Forbidden/Neglected Knowledge) to unlock spell levels from his prohibited schools. One feat would unlock one spell level from one prohibited school, enabling the specialist to cast the relevant spells normally.
So for example: Neglected Knowledge: Necromancy 1 would unlock 1st level necromantic spells and would be a pre-requisite of Neglected Knowledge: Necromancy 2 and so the feat-chain would continue. Of course, Neglected Knowledge would get only one entry under feats (or even directly in the Wizard section) where the system would be explained, so as to save precious book space.
I like the idea of allowing the specialists to cast their spells in a higher spell slot I'd say one level higher would be sufficient, but if people are really worried that it'd be overpowering then +2 levels would still be good. Then they're only casting 7th level or below spells in their prohibited schools (pre-epic anyways).
Prohibited schools are completely off-limits to the specialist, but he can spend a feats (let's call them something like Opposed/Forbidden/Neglected Knowledge) to unlock spell levels from his prohibited schools. One feat would unlock one spell level from one prohibited school, enabling the specialist to cast the relevant spells normally.So for example: Neglected Knowledge: Necromancy 1 would unlock 1st level necromantic spells and would be a pre-requisite of Neglected Knowledge: Necromancy 2 and so the feat-chain would continue. Of course, Neglected Knowledge would get only one entry under feats (or even directly in the Wizard section) where the system would be explained, so as to save precious book space.
Both of those I think would fit well
Yeah, I think it would work well.
The (practically) complete removal of prohibited schools is not a good thing. I have been pretty vocal on at least trying to keep the power level the same, but in some cases I accept that if a change adds a huge amount of good flavor (e.g. Sorcerer bloodlines) or addresses a major problem in the game (e.g. Fighter boosts - Fighters were too weak at higher levels, so the boost were useful; e.g.2. Favored class mechanics providing incentives rather than penalties - the XP penalty method was a pain to track and the new mechanics also incentivize single-classing), the issue of power creep can be overriden by the positives the change brings. With the effective removal of prohibited schools, however, flavor was subtracted rather than added (and that is a rare thing for Paizo to do), the mechanic was not breaking the game, and it constitutes power creep. Making prohibited schools less strict or surmountable is another matter, but they should exist and be meaningfull.