Spell Selection

[Koren_nRhys]

Back again with another question, now that I've finished re-reading the rulebook. Phoenix's Master rulebook, actually.

So, the obvious intent of the game to is keep your character alive through a series of quests, buying stuff in between, hiring mercenaries, etc. Does it make sense to have the Wizard and Elf pick new spell groups at the beginning of each quest? Shouldn't a given character pick his group at creation (i.e. his first quest) then keep those spells his entire career? Am I missing something? What do you guys typically do?

Thanks!

[el_flesh]

Dispense with those crappy spells altogether and follow something alot more in line with D&D...

[Daniel Anteron]

Back again with another question, now that I've finished re-reading the rulebook. Phoenix's Master rulebook, actually.

So, the obvious intent of the game to is keep your character alive through a series of quests, buying stuff in between, hiring mercenaries, etc. Does it make sense to have the Wizard and Elf pick new spell groups at the beginning of each quest? Shouldn't a given character pick his group at creation (i.e. his first quest) then keep those spells his entire career? Am I missing something? What do you guys typically do?

Thanks!

Well, if you're wanting to keep using those spells I usually allow them to pick which spells they want during each actual gaming session. Not after every quest though. When we first meet I'll ask the elf and wizard which spells they want, and then they'll keep them for the rest of the day. That's what I do.

[drathe]

In the last year, playing more than one Quest at a time was a rare treat, so the Elf and Wizard players always chose their spells before the Quest. Before when there was more time in everyone's busy schedule to play several in a row... yeah, they always chose again before each Quest. I see the logic of them sticking with what they would have learnt in the beginning, but I find it fun when they decide to choose different spells. Everyone has unique tactics and it changes the dynamic of the party a bit.

Lately however, I've been fumbling with the idea of allowing the Wizard to choose three sets and the Elf one, but not limiting them to one of each type. If they are both capable of learning all the elements, but only have a set number of 'spell slots' in their memory, who's to say the Elf and Wizard can't both choose Earth? I think it would be interesting if they actually played with the ability to choose from any elemental set. Two Genies? Mayhaps that Wizard would actually use one before a potential boss shows up. I'm anxious to try it out when the chance arises.

[Koren_nRhys]

Thanks for the ideas. Sounds like you do repick - interesting. I guess I'm looking at it from a RPG point-of-view where you've got a long-term character you're developing. If you're playing the occasional session of HQ it's probably irrelevant. Now, if you use advancement rules (like Phoenix's or something similar) it may change things.

@el_flesh: Have you done conversions of the basic D&D spell lists? If one were to use the old Classic D&D, it's a relatively small list and you could still cherry pick it. With the card maker program it's pretty easy to whip something up.

@drathe: That certainly makes sense to me. In realist terms, there's no good reason not to let them pick the same spell groups if they wanted to. It seems to me that the players would only be limiting themselves, but they'll learn that quickly enough in play, I bet. No doubt the designer's intention was to get all four spell groups into play for maximum variety. It likely isn't an issue if you add more groups. The elf spell cards, or the schools of magic from Warhammer.

[Daniel Anteron]

Here's a set of optional rules that has some new spells and such in them:
http://theminiaturespage.com/rules/fan/hqsupp.html

[el_flesh]

Uhhhh no - we let our DM make up his own spell set! He's been working on his own roleplaying game since he was a teen...about 20 years!
We just write down what spells we have and what we use.
He's constantly tweaking the stats and attributes anyway.

Makes it alot more dynamic and fun...

[Koren_nRhys]

Hmm, some interesting stuff there Daniel, thanks! I have to admit that I've never been great at creating totally original stuff for any game I've played. I'm much better suited to seeing what others have done, cherry-picking, and putting together a set of supplemental or house rules that suit my needs and tastes. That's why forums like this, and the suggestions I find, are so great.

[Daniel Anteron]

Hmm, some interesting stuff there Daniel, thanks! I have to admit that I've never been great at creating totally original stuff for any game I've played. I'm much better suited to seeing what others have done, cherry-picking, and putting together a set of supplemental or house rules that suit my needs and tastes. That's why forums like this, and the suggestions I find, are so great.

Not a problem my friend. Make sure to go here so you can actually get the new spell cards you want. I made them all:
viewtopic.php?f=34&t=348&p=2078#p2078

[el_flesh]

After 20 years of Hero Questing, there's just SO much material available online!

I think I might get my artist cousin to create a new board...