Illusion Mastery and Focused Specalist

[Rannil]

Just a quick question, but neither searching the planes of the internet(and forums) nor RAW has given a clear answer.

To keep it short. Illusion Mastery states "An illusionist using this variant does not gain additional spells per day for being a specialist wizard."

Does this also affect the "Focused Specialist Wizard"?

Not quite sure if adding one word to "Specialist Wizard" suddenly doesn't make it a Specialist Wizard anymore. Both cases would make sense in my ears, but can anyone help me find a logic, rule or something to prove whether it affects or doesn't affects Focused Specialist Wizard?

[Endarire]

In this case, you'd gain the spell slots from Focused Specialist but lose the slots from normal specialist.

[Rannil]

In this case, you'd gain the spell slots from Focused Specialist but lose the slots from normal specialist.

So instead 3, you get 2 bonus spell slots eh, that's perfect (and precisely what I hoped for). But got anything to "prove" that? My GM doesn't have the Unearthed Arcana so I need to be prepared when I want combine two alternative class features from two books together.
The easiest would be by seeing both "Specialist" and "Focused Specialist" as separate alternative class features, but knowing my GM she would declare "Focused" as a upgrade to "Specialist". Maybe somebody got a line to point out they could be two different features? That could also solve my problem.

[Optimystik]

Your choice seems simple to me:

1) If your DM rules you only lose the specialist bonus slot, it's worthwhile to be an FS.

2) If your DM rules FS is a type of specialist and therefore that the variant has you lose all the bonus slots, it's better just to be a specialist (and not ban a third school.)

As for RAW; it seems ambiguous.

[Lord Vukodlak]

Lets look over the rules.[Illusion mastery is and such can be found on the SRD.

Illusion Mastery: "An illusionist using this variant does not gain additional spells per day for being a specialist wizard."

Focused Specialist: These extra spells are in addition to those normally granted to a specialist wizard"

One could go either way really, but I would lean towards that it works. In addition to implies they are apart.

[Akal Saris]

I'd lean towards it not working, since it modifies a class feature that you gave up for illusion mastery. But like others have said, there's no clear answer.

Just be honest with the DM and tell him that there are different ways to rule, and say that you're willing to trade a 3rd school as part of the second ruling.

[Rannil]

Your choice seems simple to me:

1) If your DM rules you only lose the specialist bonus slot, it's worthwhile to be an FS.

2) If your DM rules FS is a type of specialist and therefore that the variant has you lose all the bonus slots, it's better just to be a specialist (and not ban a third school.)

As for RAW; it seems ambiguous.

Hence why I am searching for ways to read the text to strengthen my arguments to pursue my GM for accepting option 1).

And if it's all up to interpretation maybe 3) not taking Illusion Mastery? Who knows.

Edit: need to refresh more.


Lets look over the rules.[Illusion mastery is and such can be found on the SRD.

Illusion Mastery: "An illusionist using this variant does not gain additional spells per day for being a specialist wizard."

Focused Specialist: These extra spells are in addition to those normally granted to a specialist wizard"

One could go either way really, but I would lean towards that it works. In addition to implies they are apart.
Seems I missed that line, or didn't focused on it. Either way, seems to be a valid point there.


I'd lean towards it not working, since it modifies a class feature that you gave up for illusion mastery. But like others have said, there's no clear answer.

Just be honest with the DM and tell him that there are different ways to rule, and say that you're willing to trade a 3rd school as part of the second ruling.
Heck, there is a fourth school taking a penalty, bonus points for sacrificing everything? Would also work.

And of course honesty works too/ :smallwink:

[Optimystik]

If scrolls are easy to come by in your games, Illusion Mastery isn't very necessary.

And Akal Saris is right - lay the situation out to your DM honestly and let him decide. You can always choose not to go with it if you don't like the ruling.

[Rannil]

If scrolls are easy to come by in your games, Illusion Mastery isn't very necessary.

And Akal Saris is right - lay the situation out to your DM honestly and let him decide. You can always choose not to go with it if you don't like the ruling.

The extra spells aren't the real reason, but scrolls tend to be rare as well. Although other mages aren't.

It's mainly for Signature Spell and secondly the GM tends to poke in weaknesses, like spellbooks. It won't be a lot but it will happen at least once, depending on the enemies we make. I keep my alarm spells ready for those rogues, although it will be like the only spell in the book. :smalltongue: