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Aside from the practical demonstration of casting a high level spell, how would you determine that a wizard has mastered the conceptual framework of their craft and guarantee that the work is their own, with no outside help or input from notes or others of any kind?
Lead lined walls? Telepathic silence? What is everything that is needed to give a secure exam to a wizard (spell level by spell level)?
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Give them an empty spellbook and have them scribe the highest level spell they have prepared into it.
As my Wizard in a long-running play-by-post game once said: "Is it really cheating to use a Charm Person spell to ace an Enchantment exam?"
I think the key thing is that you have to make sure the Wizard being tested doesn't know the security measures being used against them. Because especially once you get to the mid levels, Wizards have too many tools to guard against.
Testing that the knowledge and ability of a wizard is his alone goes against wizardly tradition, the very basic and honorable way wizards conducted themselves for years (ever since 1st edition).
As the creator of 'Mathmagician' put it back then:
"To copy from another wizard's spell book is plagiarism, to kill him for it is research!"
Simply casting arcane sight:D3 and examining a creature reveals caster level etc. So three judges conferring can do a guy every 2-3 rounds.
That only tells if they are an arcane spellcaster. I guess my method also lets arcanists pass, but we don't know if that is intentional to the world. I imagine flavor-wise that an arcanist is treated more as a wizard with an archetype than as a different class.
Give them an empty spellbook and have them scribe the highest level spell they have prepared into it.Could you cast memorize page while looking a spellbook from the library?
A wizard could, because they have the ability to write spells into spellbooks. Others can only scribble into spell books. Mostly that spell just lets you have a partial copy of the foreign spellbook in your brain. You'd still need to use the rules for copying into spellbooks to do the writing.
However, this would allow a wizard to copy a spell into his spellbook so he could prepare the spell from his book (assuming the spell takes up only one page in a spellbook).
I guess this would technically also prevent an arcanist from doing it, but that's probably accidental RAW
Spells Copied from Another's Spellbook or a Scroll: A wizard can also add a spell to his book whenever he encounters one on a magic scroll or in another wizard's spellbook. No matter what the spell's source, the wizard must first decipher the magical writing (see Arcane Magical Writings). Next, he must spend 1 hour studying the spell. At the end of the hour, he must make a Spellcraft check (DC 15 + spell's level). A wizard who has specialized in a school of spells gains a +2 bonus on the Spellcraft check if the new spell is from his specialty school. If the check succeeds, the wizard understands the spell and can copy it into his spellbook (see Writing a New Spell into a Spellbook). The process leaves a spellbook that was copied from unharmed, but a spell successfully copied from a magic scroll disappears from the parchment.
If the check fails, the wizard cannot understand or copy the spell. He cannot attempt to learn or copy that spell again until one week has passed. If the spell was from a scroll, a failed Spellcraft check does not cause the spell to vanish.
In most cases, wizards charge a fee for the privilege of copying spells from their spellbooks. This fee is usually equal to half the cost to write the spell into a spellbook (see Writing a New Spell into a Spellbook). Rare and unique spells might cost significantly more.
Create a secure location and stock it with all the supplies needed for the test. The supplies include a prewritten spell book with one spell of each level you want to test on. They also include any foci or material components to cast those spells, a blank spell book, and materials required to scribe read magic on a scroll.
8 hours before the test strip the wizard of all clothing and any items they are carrying. Require the wizard to remove/dispel any magical effects on them. After removing all magical effects require the wizard to abandon/cast all his spells including cantrips. Have 3 wizards with good spellcraft use arcane sight to verify there are no magical effects on the wizard and that he has no prepared spells. If the testing wizards are high enough use greater arcane sight. Give the wizard a document with all the rules for the test and make them sign the document after reading it. Cast Geas on the wizard with the task being to complete the test without cheating. Use Arcane sight to verify the Geas is affecting the wizard. Allow the wizard to rest for 8 hours in the secure location.
Once the wizard is rested, he is to prepare read magic from memory (which all wizards can do). Decipher all the spells in the book he is capable of casting. Memorize each spell in the book. Then he has to cast each spell he memorized. After he has cast each spell, he is to scribe read magic on the scroll.
Arcane Sight will verify there are no magical effects on the wizard. Geas allows no saving throw and will prevent the wizard from cheating. The wizard can take 10 with the spellcraft rolls to memorize the spells from the borrowed book.
This tests the wizard understanding of the principles of magic (spellcraft), the ability to cast spells, and to create scrolls.
This tests the wizard understanding of the principles of magic (spellcraft), the ability to cast spells, and to create scrolls.
I like almost all of that, but it doesn't work for all of the wizard archetypes that traded out create scrolls. Unless we want to declare those archetypes as "not real wizards".
In my mind, a wizarding exam would be for 1st level (or under, if that somehow even makes sense) wizards.
And what would a wizard exam even really prove?
If someone is out to cheat the exam, what will they have gained?
Let's assume you can successful cheat the exam, you get what? A piece of paper saying you're a wizard? I don't expect that's going to get you much.
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In my mind, a wizarding exam would be for 1st level (or under, if that somehow even makes sense) wizards.
And what would a wizard exam even really prove?
If someone is out to cheat the exam, what will they have gained?Let's assume you can successful cheat the exam, you get what? A piece of paper saying you're a wizard? I don't expect that's going to get you much.
Letters next to your name saying you Piled it Higher and Deeper!
Letters next to your name saying you Piled it Higher and Deeper!In my mind, a wizarding exam would be for 1st level (or under, if that somehow even makes sense) wizards.
And what would a wizard exam even really prove?
If someone is out to cheat the exam, what will they have gained?Let's assume you can successful cheat the exam, you get what? A piece of paper saying you're a wizard? I don't expect that's going to get you much.
I like you
In my mind, a wizarding exam would be for 1st level (or under, if that somehow even makes sense) wizards.
And what would a wizard exam even really prove?
If someone is out to cheat the exam, what will they have gained?Let's assume you can successful cheat the exam, you get what? A piece of paper saying you're a wizard? I don't expect that's going to get you much.
I'm assuming access to a fancy wizard-only establishment like Boarverruca's School of Doom. Cheaters and half-orcs are always trying to get in there.
The description for wizards in CotCT player guide mentions the Acadamae: ** spoiler omitted **
Fleshing out a test to RP through is perfectly reasonable, as is having a scenario for a non-wizard needing to infiltrate the school for some MacGuffin.
I think saying that there is a test, and that graduating comes with "influence and acclaim" within the area "near" the school. But it doesn't really need the test to be fleshed out.And infiltrating the school wouldn't need to be associated with the test at all. Lots of people just starting to learn wizardry are likely to be found.
Doesn't need to be, no. Just wanted to show Golarian has an example of such a place that may institute this kind of test as part of the 'difficult' to enter idea.
Honestly, I'm amused by the idea of a rich applicant having his parents paying for the equivalent a wish spell to help him cheat only for it to be dispelled. On the other hand, I sympathize with the wizards being so crippled by the huge loans that they can't afford to scribe a 1st level spell.
If they can afford a wish, wouldn't they just wish that their son was a powerful and well trained wizard? Like wish is as powerful as the DM wants it to be, so gaining class levels isn't unreasonable.
Then you just have the now magically altered person go and take the wizarding tests.
Since a wizard’s bonded object is a class feature, a wizard with a bonded object would be allowed to use it. That would require that all the spells in the test spell book be spells that are not in the wizard's spell book or those able to be cast by the item. Add a rule to the list of rules that the wizard’s bonded object can only be used to cast the memorized spells, and any other uses of the item are considered cheating. The Geas will then prevent the wizard from using it for anything but casting spells.
Provisions can be made for wizards that have traded away scribe scroll. In some cases, an alternative can be created for the archetype. For example, an Arcane Physician would need to brew a potion; A Bonded Wizard would be required to create a tool made of force; A Hallowed Necromancer would be required to cast a cure spell. Some archetypes may not be considered real wizards. A Familiar Adept for example stores his spells in his familiar like a witch, so I can see them not being counted as a real wizard.
The combination of Arcane Sight and Geas make it very difficult to cheat.
If they can afford a wish, wouldn't they just wish that their son was a powerful and well trained wizard? Like wish is as powerful as the DM wants it to be, so gaining class levels isn't unreasonable.
Then you just have the now magically altered person go and take the wizarding tests.
"Adventurers, I need your help! I'm Archmagister Grimtook. I look like young Byron Meddlestone, but I am the victim of a wish. His parents paid for it and he wished to be a powerful wizard to pass the wizarding test. It gave him my body and powers and now I am trapped in this form which has no wizardly talent! You have to help me sneak into the Wizard's College to confront him!"
So now... he's got to pass the wizarding test in Byron Meddlestone's body to get inside.
I was with you until you said "he's got to pass the wizarding test to get inside".
He doesn't. The test would be to show you're a graduate of the school, so you can claim the influence and respect that are shown to graduates of the school. To get into the school...well I imagine plenty of magically in-adept people go to the school every day. Unless you think the servants/cooks/cleaning crew also are wizards?
Gotta make those apprentices practice prestidigitation, mending, and mage hand a hundred times a day too!Unless you think the servants/cooks/cleaning crew also are wizards?They're all unseen servants and summoned creatures.
You can make that argument, but I don't believe it.
Unless an organization is called out out secretive and not allowing any outsiders, then yes. In such a scenario being accepted as a student would make access easier. But still, not really necessary. You could absolutely infiltrate with stealth or even storming the compound.
There's also simply saying "Hey, I'm actually the headmaster and X stole my body. I have knowledge of certain things that can prove my position."
So my point is, that while going through some sort of exam could be a way to gain entrance/access to a facility, to me it is one of the least plausible things.
Possibly, but if you wanted to be very strict about things:
Students would need to enter a (lead lined) room and stay in that room for at least 24 hours prior to the test being administered. During that time, casting of magic by students wouldn't be allowed, and attempts to do so would disqualify you from the test (and possibly banned from the school). Test administers would likely have arcane sight, detect magic, etc running during this period to spot any people that might try to inconspicuously hide their magic. Personal items wouldn't be allowed. The school would provide clothing and other items as necessary to the students taking the test.
Basically don't let anyone in with anything that might be magical, and force them to wait so long under observation that most magic would run out. There are some spells that can last for more than 24 hours, but I don't know how helpful any of them would be. A lead lined room would prevent a lot of divination or scrying type magic (IIRC).
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Actually, Aura Alteration would not work. The options for the false aura are nonmagical, a magic item of a kind you specify or the subject of the spell you specify. Obviously detecting as a magic item is going to be useless. Detecting as a subject of a spell is going to be considered cheating. That means the only useful alteration would be being nonmagical. Aura Sight also detects the ability to cast spells and if they are divine or arcane. If you use Aura Alteration to appear as nonmagical it will not detect you are an arcane caster, which means you are not in fact a wizard or are cheating.
The reason I choose Arcane Sight is because it not only verifies you are not under any magical effect, but it also confirms you are in fact an arcane spell caster. Blocking the spell from working prevents that and is much of a red flag as revealing a magical effect on you.
The school could have restricted areas that only wizards are allowed to enter. That would allow mundane servants to take care of normal tasks but still have places that only a wizard can enter.
Geas will also act as verification the character completed the test. If they cheat on the test in any way, they have not completed the task of the geas and will take a -3 penalty to each stat per day up to a maximum of -12. If you really want to verify the test, put a requirement that the subject waits in the secure location for 5 days after completing the test. How many characters can function when all their stats are reduced by 12?
Arcane Sight will verify the target is an arcane caster and the highest-level spell they can cast but will not verify they are actually a wizard. An Arcanist, Bard, Bloodrager, Magus, Skald, Sorcerer, Summoner, and Witch will register the same as a Wizard.
Greater Magic Aura allows you to alter the identifiers as described in Greater Detect Magic. All that does is allow you to identify and remember who cast the spell. It would not allow you to register as a different kind of caster or otherwise fool Arcane Sight’s determining your caster status.
Misdirection on the other hand would allow you to fool Arcane Sight, but it does allow a saving throw. There are several ways to counter the use of Misdirection. Misdirection has a duration of 1 hour per level but extend spell could increase that to 40 hours for a 20th level caster. Delaying the start of the actual test for 48 hours will cause the duration to run out. Misdirection causes all information from detection spells to show the information from the second creature instead of the character that the detect spell is aimed at. That means that a spell cast on the person under Misdirection will not register. So, all you need to do is to cast a spell on the character taking the test. If that spell is not detected he is cheating. Geas would work as the spell, but if you are really paranoid you could use a random spell instead or use Greater Arcane Sight (or Greater Detect Magic) to identify the caster of the spell affecting the character.
Both a Magus and an Arcanist can scribe spells into spell books. The Magus has a different spell list from the Wizard. So, all you have to do to eliminate a Magus is to make sure the spells being used are not on the Magus’s spell list. The Arcanist on the other hand has the same spell list as a Wizard so eliminating them is going to be a lot harder. That brings up the question of what is considered a real Wizard. Should the Arcanist be considered a Wizard? Are certain archetypes of Wizard not counted as a real wizard? Without using game mechanics what is the difference.
Honestly, I would say anyone with access to the arcane spell list that can pass whatever criteria a school decides to enact could be considered a wizard, if they choose.
So for me, a wizard, a bard, a magus, an arcanist, and even a sorcerer (or anyone else I might have forgotten) could all qualify to attend and graduate from a "Wizard" school. Some school might get really nitpicky and try to set criteria that only a wizard (and only certain archetypes of wizards) might pass. Other might deem themselves a "school of the arcane" and allow for a much wider assortment of casters to attend.
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Greater Magic Aura allows you to alter the identifiers as described in Greater Detect Magic. All that does is allow you to identify and remember who cast the spell. It would not allow you to register as a different kind of caster or otherwise fool Arcane Sight’s determining your caster status.
GMA:
If the target is a creature, you can also alter how the creature registers to arcane sight, making the creature appear to have or not have spellcasting or spell-like abilities, whether those abilities are arcane, divine, or psychic in nature, and the strength of the most powerful spell or spell-like ability they currently have available for use. Similarly, you can alter the way the target appears when viewed with greater detect magic, causing the last spell that he cast to seem to be any spell of your choice.
I did not scroll down far enough to see that portion. But the same tactics I suggested against Misdirection could work vs Greater Magic Aura. Dispel Magic can also end most spells designed to fool Arcane Sight. In any case if you use Geas as I suggested it acts as a failsafe for cheating.