In 3.5 bards regular bards had access to heal spells, which is the domain of divine magic. IIRC, DL bards could not cast those spells but a work around that I saw was to simply make bards divine casters/I guess part of my concern is that as a character that has taken and passed the Test of High Sorcery, he would be required to follow their rules on these topics.
Suggested workaround: The GM could opt to disallow bard spells, and instead give bards more uses of their song effects, and perhaps some bonus feats. If loss of healing spells is a concern, allow the bard a song effect that improves the results of heal checks, or inspires a surge of vitality that mimics a cure light wounds spell.
Wouldn't be simpler to say the magic is divine?
I think you folks should absolutely decide the ruleset you are using *before* any back and forth about sources of available magic. I know that might seem counter intuitive as how to present that may inform the ruleset, but I think Albion makes some pertinent points.
Personally, after rereading the first two books to my then 10-11 year old son, I came to loathe them as being poorly written and incredibly derivative. When the guards in Tarsis attacked the party with their “hauberks” I laughed out loud. When the whole ice adventure was hit with “it happened between then and now and isn’t at all detailed” I groaned, even though I knew it was detailed in a later, subsequent book. I still cried again when Sturm died, but that wasn’t great writing, I cry during most movies that apply a certain musical score and pattern of emotional cues to respond to. We gave up at the beginning of the third book.
Having said all that, I am of the opinion that Dragonlance is best suited to ADnD - the healing that PF1 is built on/requires just doesn’t suit the story - at least until Paladine et al “return”. As such, and given my distaste for the source material I don’t believe it can be a good experience as I find ADnD to be a system I loved a long time ago, but would never play now. Albion knows, however, that I am terse, biased and opinionated. ;)
Handled by a competent GM and a completely on-board party can absolutely make this a compelling and fun game in PF1, but there will be conversion required.
I have played DL in 1e, 2e, SAGA, 3.5 and PF1e. The systems work if the time periods are taken into account.
Wouldn't be simpler to say the magic is divine?
That would work, as long as the bard player was okay with not having spells until the gods and divine magic are rediscovered. With the other method, they would have the replacement abilities consistently from the start of the campaign.
What if bards (or other spellcasters) couldn't simply use Healing magic until the gods are back?
They could use others spells, from whatever source, simply no CLW and higher spells for a while.
Albion knows, however, that I am terse, biased and opinionated. ;)
Handled by a competent GM and a completely on-board party can absolutely make this a compelling and fun game in PF1, but there will be conversion required.
I still feel I could convince you to play AD&D :D
Though I do agree with you here - it can absolutely be made compelling and fun for/with PF1, but it will require additional work to keep it consistent with the 'feel' of DL. We are already seeing some of it now around what classes make sense, etc.
The way I see it, and if wanting to stay consistent with the timeline of DL1 etc, like Mariel Uth Kaldar very well pointed out, I would make the whole game PF1e Core Rulebook only, and the classes 'allowed' being something like:
- Cleric (Heathen): These are basially 'false' clerics. Not sure if they would be relevant as a playable class?
- Druid (Heathen): I think Druids would only lose the spells? Unless we consider the Ex abilities to be divine inspired?
- Holy Order of the Stars (Krynn Clerics): Same as druids.
- Fighter: stays as is
- Barbarian: stays as is
- Ranger: stays as is without spells
- Cavalier: I guess Cavaliers can exist, they can be tied to local nobles or stuff like that. I would restrain the Orders a lot though.
- Paladin: Stays as is without any Su abilities for now? Not sure
- Knight of Solamnia (Crown/Sword/Rose, but they are whole new classes): This is a tough one, but I would make them Prestige Classes.
- Magic-User: As-is
- Illusionist: Irrelevant for PF1e I guess. Just another school of Magic?
- Wizard of High Sorcery: Prestige Class?
- Thief: as is
- Tinker Gnomes: Archetype?
Holy Orders of the Stars, in 3.5 stated that druids and paladins loose their abilities since there are no gods to grant them after the Cataclysm and the early Age of Mortals. I think some of them got spells being mystics but I don't recall.
In Knightly Orders of Ansalon as well as the DLCS in the 3.5 system the Knights of Solamnia were all PRC's.
Wizards of High Sorcery were also PRC's.
I have every edition of DL, even the travesty of 5e. I was looking over my 1st and 2nd edition materials, such classic stuff. I still really like 3.5.
Oooooo dragonlance! Hells yea!
Female sorceress ranger sounds fun.
Honestly, I'm going to say this is for PF1.
Thanks, Rizzen, for your enthusiasm. :)
DM, have you decided how you are going to address the primal v. focused magic issue?