Why can't wizards know these spells?

Post by **Halaster Blackcloak** » Thu Sep 03, 2020 6:25 pm

This is another strange note I made while (once again) outlining a 1E DMG.

"Note that both Nystul's Magic Aura and Tenser's Floating Disc must be located by the character; they can never be known at the start."

~ DMG, pg. 39

So they can have any 1st level spell as starting spells except these. I know those are the only "named" spells at 1st level, but I don't see why they couldn't have them. Surely their master would have access to those spells, and if so, why not let the apprentice start with them? They're not powerful spells by any means, so hardly unbalancing.

Post by **garhkal** » Fri Sep 04, 2020 12:10 am

Never noticed that before. Maybe it was cause they ARE named mage spells, so must be found??

Website · Post by **Tawnos76** » Fri Sep 04, 2020 10:26 am

garhkal wrote:Never noticed that before. Maybe it was cause they ARE named mage spells, so must be found??

What is to say their Master had not already found the spell so that the apprentice can learn it as well.
If it has to be found then let the apprentice find it in his masters collection.

Post by **garhkal** » Fri Sep 04, 2020 2:01 pm

Why not just say any spell the pc mage wants, is in his master's collection.. In that case, why adventure to FIND spells/

Post by **Halaster Blackcloak** » Fri Sep 04, 2020 4:18 pm

I'm not necessarily arguing for or against the rule. I just thought it was odd that those two spells cannot be automatically known at first level. I get it that those are named spells, so perhaps they're harder to get. But I just assumed a higher level wizard would not have any particular reason NOT to have those spells, and just teach them to his apprentice.

Post by **garhkal** » Fri Sep 04, 2020 11:38 pm

Who knows. Maybe it's related to the DMG notes on "mages are very tight with their spells".. So as part of the 'master' learning those named spells from the creator, they agreed to NOT teach them to others??

Post by **McDeath** » Sat Sep 05, 2020 8:15 am

Pretty odd on Tenser's Disc. I know in Moldvay I have character's starting with it (albeit it wasn't "Tenser's"). I could say retarded it ever got named and as to why, I could only speculate that was the starting spell for Tenser the character in Gary's game. Perhaps he complained about it. You open up Netheril Boxed set and just about every spell has someone naming something after themselves. Been a while since i looked at that so I might be remembering wrong.

Post by **Halaster Blackcloak** » Sat Sep 05, 2020 9:15 pm

There are so many named spells, and in my other campaign I actually made most of them NPCs...Tenser, Melf (he was wild and crazy!), Tasha, etc.