It makes perfect sense that the fighter, through fighting stuff, has learned how to fight better. The rogue has become more deft, the archer can aim much better, and the barbarian is closer and closer to the point of insanity.
My question is, what about spellcasting?
Spontaneous casters have innate abilities, so probably the most common thought (though not the only: tell me how you do it) is that the more they use it, the better they get at it, leading to being able to cast higher level spells.
In Dragonlance, Raistlin essentially learned Sleep before he could cast 1st level spells, but it didn't work for him. Why do you say that is? Does his body not mesh well enough with the magic, since it just hasn't become attuned enough? Why can't this rogue with tons of experience with magic devices and an 18 INT grab a spellbook and learn to cast a 3rd level spell? I understand that from a mechanics point of view, it needs to be as it is, but that just means you get to give it fluff and make it have a "logical" progression by working backward.
What about divine casters? The more that cleric does in the name of her god, the more her god gives her powers? Does that mean it's impossible to RP a cleric who follows her god but doesn't -really- care about it all or at least can't get above a certain level of spells? Or maybe she just doesn't follow the tenants as she should. If not, what's to stop this new convert who truly, with all of his soul, loves and worships the same god, from being granted the ability to cast 5th level spells?
I'm just curious.
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One theory could be that a mortal body suffers a certain amount of 'spiritual strain' or whatever channel magical power (arcane or divine) through itself. Most mortal races have no innate magical talent (gnomes and dark elves, with their spell-like abilities, being exceptions to that), meaning that, in most cases, it flat out is *unnatural* for them to channel magical energy through their bodies.
The strain doesn't cause any damage, because there's a built-in 'safety' that prevents any creature from channeling energy that would damage or kill it to channel.
So a 3rd level cleric might know the rites and rituals necessary to cast 3rd level spells, but not be able to 'open that door' quite yet, as the power of those spells would burn him like a candle. At 4th level, he still won't be able to channel those higher magics, but will be even better at enduring those 1st and 2nd level spells (being able to cast another of each per day). Finally, at 5th level, he'll be 'spiritually' tough enough to channel the power of 3rd level spells (and, since he's known the rites for an indeterminate amount of time already, just lacked the ability to call upon them, he could, in theory, start preparing 3rd level spells without returning to the temple and training).
I'd sorta handwave that a spellcaster knows the principles behind spells one level 'ahead,' but can't cast them yet, to save a PC spellcaster from having to return to the temple / academy / whatever the moment he hits a new level of spells, but keep that fuzzy, and limited. I'm not as comfortable with the idea of a prepared caster *never* having to return to train with a higher-level spellcaster, or hit the books, or whatever, and 'knowing' his 9th level spells at 1st level, just being unable to cast them for sixteen levels...
If this 'theory' is in any way decided to be the truth of the matter, then it becomes possible that some spellcasters might be able to disable the 'safety switch' or 'turn off the governor' and be able to cast more spells per day than normal, or higher level spells than they normally could, at great risk to themselves (taking an unavoidable 1d6 damage / spell level over your normal daily limits, *and* taking ability damage to Con and / or your casting stat, *and* being exhausted, or something like that). A feat, PrC or special location / item / situation might allow this sort of 'burning the candle' spellcasting. Another option that becomes available is that someone who receives some sort of 'positive energy levels' might temporarily be able to cast 'above their level.' Additionally, this option, if combined with spellcasters already knowing some spells 'above their level' might allow a spellcaster to train another spellcaster in rites and spells that neither of them can actually cast yet, due to insufficient level. Under this paradigm, perhaps even someone who can't (yet) 'do,' can still 'teach from the textbook.'
One theory could be that a mortal body suffers a certain amount of 'spiritual strain' or whatever channel magical power (arcane or divine) through itself. Most mortal races have no innate magical talent (gnomes and dark elves, with their spell-like abilities, being exceptions to that), meaning that, in most cases, it flat out is *unnatural* for them to channel magical energy through their bodies.
The strain doesn't cause any damage, because there's a built-in 'safety' that prevents any creature from channeling energy that would damage or kill it to channel.
So a 3rd level cleric might know the rites and rituals necessary to cast 3rd level spells, but not be able to 'open that door' quite yet, as the power of those spells would burn him like a candle. At 4th level, he still won't be able to channel those higher magics, but will be even better at enduring those 1st and 2nd level spells (being able to cast another of each per day). Finally, at 5th level, he'll be 'spiritually' tough enough to channel the power of 3rd level spells (and, since he's known the rites for an indeterminate amount of time already, just lacked the ability to call upon them, he could, in theory, start preparing 3rd level spells without returning to the temple and training).
I'd sorta handwave that a spellcaster knows the principles behind spells one level 'ahead,' but can't cast them yet, to save a PC spellcaster from having to return to the temple / academy / whatever the moment he hits a new level of spells, but keep that fuzzy, and limited. I'm not as comfortable with the idea of a prepared caster *never* having to return to train with a higher-level spellcaster, or hit the books, or whatever, and 'knowing' his 9th level spells at 1st level, just being unable to cast them for sixteen levels...
If this 'theory' is in any way decided to be the truth of the matter, then it becomes possible that some spellcasters might be able to disable the 'safety switch' or 'turn off the governor' and be able to cast more spells per day than...
I like this a lot. Would be a fun archetype or prestige class. Reminds me of the Wilder and Wild Mage, except probably more powerful.
I think this concept is pretty good, as well. I will comment more later when i am not at work
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I like this a lot. Would be a fun archetype or prestige class. Reminds me of the Wilder and Wild Mage, except probably more powerful.
What's cool about it as a theory is that, even if there are feats and PrCs that work off of this 'theory,' that doesn't mean it has to be right.
Just as gravity worked fine for millenia before we came up with a theory how it works, and even now, we aren't 100% positive about it, a theory about how magic learning works doesn't necessarily mean that there isn't a completely different explanation at work, that hasn't been figured out yet.
Or, since this is a fantasy world, multiple competing and contradictory theories that are all true, for certain people. A cleric of one god might learn completely differently from a cleric of another, and the means by which their spells are granted to them might have nothing at all to do with how wizards learn their magics. (And wizards of different traditions may also learn differently!)
Theories like this should always be seen as opportunities, and not as shackles. (Although a specific setting could have very specific restrictions or limitations, based on these sorts of theories, just as magic worked differently in the Dark Sun setting or the Ravenloft setting, or clerics *must* have patron dieties in the Realms or Golarion, but can worship concepts, pantheons, etc. in the 'core rules.')
I think I might adopt this as my universal theory on magic in table top games. I had nothing, really. It doesn't come up too much, and it can be explained easily enough by saying "you just can't do that yet," so there isn't a huge reason why I need it, but I like it, for roleplay purposes.