What's a higher spell level worth?

[Roman]

I have been toying with the idea of making all wizards in my world specialists, as I like the extra flavor this would entail. That said, though, I would like specialist wizards to be really, really good at their chosen type of magic, so I want to give them a new benefit:

Specialist wizards will gain access to one spell from their specialty of a spell level one higher than they could normally cast. This means, for example, that a third or fourth level evoker will be able to cast one fireball per day.

This is a rather powerful ability, however, and needs to be at least partially compensated somehow. Would you say that losing the ability to have a familiar (which although useful, neither I nor my players would miss due to flavor reasons of every class having a menagerie...) and perhaps additionally losing say 2 feats (scribe scroll and a bonus feat, but lost immediatelly on 1st level) be a sufficient level of compensation?

 

[Roman]

Hmm, thinking about this further, the higher-level spell would allow earlier entry into some prestige classes, so my idea probably is not the best one...

On second thoughts, however, perhaps easier entry into prestige classes is not a bad thing. I could leave specialist wizards almost as they are and instead encourage players to specialize their characters by allowing earlier entry into prestige classes as if specialists had a spell level one higher than in reality (even though they would not get an extra spell). If I were to do that, would losing the ability to have a familiar and losing say one feat be enough to balance it?

 

[Nifft]

IMHO this is just asking for trouble.

Cheers, -- N

 

[WhatGravitas]

IMHO this is just asking for trouble.

Cheers, -- N

100% true. Rather go another route and write up some "specialists only" spells, even as class features.

For example:

Fiery Explosion
Level: Evoker 2
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Area: 10 ft.-radius spread
As fireball, but with changes above.

That's pretty powerful and seems to be your goal, but still better than handing out full-fledged fireballs.

 

[Zelc]

Haste at level 3? Yes please!

 

[Roman]

Alright, maybe I will go the custom spell route instead.

Still, it is at least interesting to speculate what would balance it.

 

[Machiavelli]

What would balance it would be that all specialist wizards earn the dire wrath of Pun Pun upon character creation.

 

[the Jester]

Hmm, I remember that the 2ed Complete Book of Wizards or whatever it was called (the "brown book") had cool lil bonuses for all the specialists at high levels; you might look there for inspiration, if you have it or know someone who does.

In the spirit of your idea, how about letting specialists combine three of their highest level slots in exchange for a spell slot one level higher? Then it would require a sizable portion of your resources to use the ability, and you'd have to have 3 spells of that level (once your class allows you 2 and you have +1 for your int).

I dunno. Fast spell access is tricky.

 

[Angel Tarragon]

Unearthed Arcana has a section on varaint specialist features. The base alternate feature requires the caster to shirk having a familiar. If you wanted to you let them have the base alternate ability for free (instead of shirking a familiar).

 

[Tequila Sunrise]

What would happen when a specialist got to 17th level?