Learning Time for Spell Lists

by Lars Bernstein

Date: Thu, 19 Jan 1995 19:07:28 -0500 From: leb@miteksys.com (Lars Bernstein) To: Multiple recipients of list Subject: Re: Optional Spell Law

The people I play with, kept wondering how long it takes to learn a spell list, so one day we sat down and tried to address this question.

We use "whole" list acquisition, so you might have to taylor some of these rules/times for single spell acquisition.

There are several premises to the time factors:

	1)  The more lists you already know, the easier it is to learn
		another one.
	2)  Instruction and runes help the learning process.
	3)  Knowing part of a list helps when learning the rest.
	4)  The better your stat bonus, the better mage you are,
		and therefore the quicker you learn spells.

Well, here it is: (comments are welcome)


Learning Time for Spell Lists

 
1.	Base time to learn a spell list is 30 days. 
2.	Time to learn is based on studying 8 hours per day.  
	Increased hours can reduce the number of days. 
3.	All modifications are considered separately. 
4.	Time to learn a list is modified by the learner's 
	(Magical Stat Bonus - 10%), i.e. - a Mage with a +20 Empathy bonus 
	would reduce the time needed by 10%. 
5.	Minimum time is 8 days, regardless of modifications 
	(except for studying more hours per day). 


MODIFICATIONS FOR # OF LISTS ALREADY KNOWN
------------------------------------------
# of lists known (1)		Time Modifier 
				(for next list)
0				x 3
1-3				x 2 1/2
4-8				x 2
9-16				x 1
17-29				x 3/4
30+				x 1/2
 
MODIFICATIONS FOR TYPE OF LIST
------------------------------
Type			Time Modifier
Open			x 1 1/4
Closed			x 1 1/2
Base			x 1
Other Base Same Realm	x 2
Open Other Realm	x 1 1/2
Closed Other Realm	x 2
Base Other Realm	x 3
 
MODIFICATIONS FOR TYPE OF INSTRUCTION
-----------------------------------
Instruction	Time Modifier
Tutoring		x 3/4
Teacher w/Runes		x 3/4
Teacher w/o Runes	x 1
Class Instruction	x 1
Normal Writings (2)	x 3
New Research (3)	x 10 

OTHER MODIFICATIONS
-------------------
Similarity		Time Modifier
Similar			x 1/2
Hybrid			x 1 1/2
Extroadinary		x 2

Notes:
     1 - Number of lists is based on number of list known to 10th level.
	  One way to calculate is to take total number of spells known
	  and divided by ten.
     2 - Incomplete writings may increase the time needed. 
     3 - Number of researchers may reduce the time needed.


Well that's it. I'm sure many may disagree with the time figures, but it seems seem to work out decently.

For instance:

A complete novice in the ways of magic (knows no spells), who is average in ability (+10 Stat Bonus), learning their first open list, Detect Magic, Who has a normal teacher (not personal tutor) without the use of practice runes, will learn the list in:

		30 days.	base time
		x3		number of lists know (0)
		x(1 / 1)	stat bonus 1 / (1 + (.10 - .10))
		x1.25		open list - same realm
		x1		teacher w/o runes
		------
		112.5 days

Assuming he studies for 8 hours a day 5 days a week, this will be 22.5 weeks or about 5-6 months.

A 15th level Alchemist (knows 25 lists), who has a +25 stat bonus, is trying to learn a base illusionist list from writings (complete) that he has found. This will take him:

		30 days.	base time
		x3/4		number of lists know (25)
		x(1 / 1.15)	stat bonus +25 - 10
		x2		base list (not his) - same realm
		x3		normal writings
		x2		"Extroadinary" spell pick.
		------
	aprox.	235 days

If he had an illusionist to teach him it would take him 1/3 as long or less. Of course for him to learn Detect Magic from a tutor takes:

		30 days.	base time
		x3/4		number of lists know (25)
		x(1 / 1.15)	stat bonus +25 - 10
		x1.25		open list - same realm
		x3/4		Tutor
		------
	aprox.	18 days

Hope you like it.

Laurence E. Bernstein


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