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StevenC21
2019-04-20, 03:50 PM
Literally. What would be some (hopefully slightly comical) names that an Arcane University might have for classes and/or one-off lectures?

Things like:

Succubus Summoning 101
Blasting like a Balor: How To Make the Most of Your Fireball Spell
Abjuration: The Study of Pretty Colors that Block Stuff
Demons and Devils: What's the difference?
Building an Undead Army 102: [scribbled underneath] Note: Not to be mistaken for how to resurrect loved ones.

Etc.

LibraryOgre
2019-04-20, 04:38 PM
Introduction to Metaphysics
Advanced Studies in Arcane Lore
Alchemy 101
Calligraphy for Scroll-Writers

Clistenes
2019-04-20, 04:44 PM
We had a couple threads similar to this one:

1001 Courses at a Fantasy University. (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?561948-1001-Courses-at-a-Fantasy-University)

Courses for a literal college for bards. (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?549650-Courses-for-a-literal-college-for-bards)

What would a Wizarding School would be like? (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?575672-What-Would-a-Wizarding-School-be-Like)

StevenC21
2019-04-20, 04:45 PM
That's good, but I'm looking for a more comical bend on the idea.

King of Nowhere
2019-04-20, 06:51 PM
That's good, but I'm looking for a more comical bend on the idea.

for that, you can always go with the classic
"arcane secrets that will drive you mad. MAD!"

EccentricCircle
2019-04-21, 02:15 AM
Illusionists take a lot of art classes, especially still life and figure painting.

gkathellar
2019-04-21, 08:07 AM
Every single department has found a way to proclaim via their 101 course that their spellcasting is the best and you need look nowhere else. Sorcery 101: Superior Spellcasting, that kind of thing. At least two departments don't even offer 101 courses these days, on account of being "too advanced" - in practice this means that one department's 201 is laughably simplistic for a course of its ostensible level, and that the other simply doesn't prepare you for 201 and most students flunk out.

In general, the entire school is an excuse for faculty rivalries.

Seclora
2019-04-21, 10:07 AM
Evocation 203: the value of friendship - teaches complex mathematical equations for determining whether or not it's worthwhile to friendly fire you allies

Abjuration 210: Intermediate Theory for Counterspelling - actually an intermediate evocation course, but the Abjuration department forges paperwork to plant you in the class and have you take notes so they can find the flaws in their spells and counterspel them better. The better you do in the evocation class the better grade you get in this one, counts for 6 credits, obviously.

Divination 201: Seeing the Unseen - the professor has a ring of Greater Invisibility and throws things at you while laughing. You can leave early if you can throw it back.

Conjuration 312: Advanced Planar theory - Every Conjuration student who has taken this class seems tired. None of them talk about why.

Necromancy 102: Life and Death basics - they meet in a field in the middle of the night. You run laps while Unseen Servants chase you with torches and pitchforks. Everyone drops this class in week two, but the Necromancy department unanimously agrees that it's the most important class in the curriculum.

Illusion 404: How not to be Seen - the Professor has a Crystal Ball, a bag of flour, and a list of names. If he recognizes you at the final, you fail.

Enchantment 302: Unseeing the Seen - You have a wand of modify memory and spend the entire class trying not to remember what the professor is doing.

Transmutation 113: Basic Morphic structures - Theoretically this class is about experimenting with Alter Self and observing the plethora of different possible body modifications. In practice, this class is about figuring out which of your fellow students is a furry.

Cespenar
2019-04-21, 02:21 PM
Math and Evocation: How Many Fireballs Are Too Many?

Rhetorics 201: Getting Along With Your Meat-Shields

Home Arcanomics: Finding the Freshest Components

StevenC21
2019-04-21, 02:32 PM
These are really awesome. I'm definitely going to be using a bunch of them!

LordEntrails
2019-04-21, 02:45 PM
- Another Name for Running Away
- Flame versus Acid, and Why Radiant Magic Sucks
- How to Make Friends, an Introduction to Necromancy
- Another Fireball, and Why its Never Too Much
- Invisible Flight, and Why You Don't share with your Meat Shields
- Slight of Hand, and why your 'Companions' don't need to know about the Gems you 'Found'
- Charm and Why you Never Need Old Friends
- Wild Magic and Wild Parties
- Chaos and Making the Most of Randomness
- Contingency and How you are Better than your Friends
- Why Intelligence is the only thing that Matters
- How to Make Dumb Folks Sacrifice for You
- Cult Leadership 101, Starting an "Adventuring Party"

Frozen_Feet
2019-04-21, 05:47 PM
How to reach altered states of consciousness I: Lucid dreaming: literally consists of just napping and taking notes of your dreams.

How to reach altered states of consciousness II: Herbal aides: literally doing every psychoactive drug under the sun.

Bonus points for being something actual practicioners of esoteric arts might do in real life. :smalltongue:

LibraryOgre
2019-04-23, 08:36 AM
How to reach altered states of consciousness I: Lucid dreaming: literally consists of just napping and taking notes of your dreams.

How to reach altered states of consciousness II: Herbal aides: literally doing every psychoactive drug under the sun.

Bonus points for being something actual practicioners of esoteric arts might do in real life. :smalltongue:



Dallben, master of Caer Dallben, was three hundred and seventy-nine years old. His beard covered so much of his face he seemed always to be peering over a gray cloud. On the little farm, while Taran and Coll saw to the plowing, sowing, weeding, reaping, and all the other tasks of husbandry, Dallben undertook the meditating, an occupation so exhausting he could accomplish it only by lying down and closing his eyes. He meditated an hour and a half following breakfast and again later in the day. The clatter from the forge had roused him from his morning meditation; his robe hung askew over his bony knees.

I'm just saying. :smallwink:

Malphegor
2019-04-25, 05:55 AM
Arcane Geometries: An Introduction- because somebody taught these wizards how to perfectly know the range of their spells and how to alter that.

Kyutaru
2019-04-25, 02:02 PM
The Heresy of Wisdom-based Arcane Spellcasting

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (for spell components)

The Problem with Sorcerers: Why you shouldn't become a university dropout

Elminster's Exercises for Evading Everything (Especially Effort) - Enlightened Experienced Expert

The Simulacrum Invasion of 1129: How NOT to Take Over the World

Telonius
2019-04-25, 02:17 PM
Intro to Postmortem Communications: Necromancy and You
Comparative Magecraft
Topics in Contemporary Architecture: How to Build a Better Mage Tower
Mundane Relations: Moving Beyond Pitchforks and Torches

Guizonde
2019-04-25, 02:30 PM
pyromancy 101: or how to fireproof your beard and wizard hat.

1001 ways to troll clerics: a crash course in metaphysics.

physical education: how to avoid effort by casting.

history: when divination simply doesn't cut it.

advanced silent casting: duelling in the library. (the librarian is a balor in withdrawal: don't get caught)

advanced telekinesis: cancelled on account of sexual harrassment suits by unknown people.

transformation 101: satisfy your inner *shudder* druid.

strategy 101: how to put the "shield" in "meat shield".

Alabenson
2019-04-25, 04:54 PM
Conjuration 102: Safe Summoning (Never without Protection (from Evil))

BWR
2019-04-27, 01:43 AM
Get hold of "The Principalities of Glantri", which details The Great School of Magic. A school with teachers, maps, details on courses and tuition and gaining experience and graduation, etc.
Courses include (these are skills/non-weapon proficiencies, which in 3.5 terms these are somewhere between skills and feats and class abilities):

- Agility Training
- Conjure Companion
- learning languages
- Mandragora (identifying, handling, use)
- Meditation
- Quick casting
- spell combination

Kami2awa
2019-04-27, 02:48 AM
Theoretical Theology
Applied Theology

LibraryOgre
2019-04-27, 11:22 AM
Theoretical Theology
Applied Theology

Quantum Theology
Theology for Engineers Wizards

Guizonde
2019-04-27, 02:06 PM
Quantum Theology
Theology for Engineers Wizards

political theology
economics theology
biological theology
neurotheology
wizardology (or the study of wizards by theologians)

Kyutaru
2019-04-28, 07:03 AM
political theology
economics theology
biological theology
neurotheology
wizardology (or the study of wizards by theologians)

Theology 101: Origin of Magic

Frozen_Feet
2019-04-28, 08:14 AM
Philosophy 101: remedial course to all those apprentices who don't get why they need to study theology. (Dimwitted student: "I thought this was a school for arcane magic? I wanna be a wizard, not a cleric!")

Applied Philosophy: Importance of Platonic forms to Conjuration and Transmutation.

Applied Philosophy: mind-affecting spells and correct understanding of the non-self.

Applied Philosophy: magical realism and existence of abstract entities.

Applied Philosophy: logic (or lack thereof) in axiomatic understanding of magic.

Advanced Mathematics: introduction to Far Realms or how Euclid was very, very wrong.

Endarire
2019-04-28, 09:05 PM
General Eduction 101: What To Do When You're Low On Spells
Kinesiology 101: Preparing to Do Might and Magic

Bohandas
2019-05-04, 03:56 AM
High Energy Metaphysics

Magic In Science

Nonphysical Mechanics

Practical Hamartiology

Introduction to Sacred Geometry

Physical Biology of the Soul

Elementary Quanta of Matter and Spirit

Natural and Supernatural History

Statistical Divination

Principles of Parapsychology

Karmic Emission and Absorption According to Moral Theory

Particle Metaphysics

EDIT:

The Science of Magic

Necronomics

Edible, Inedible, and Bellicose Fungi

Archaeology for Looters

Banks and Politics Along the River Styx

The Color Theory Out of Space

Avista
2019-05-04, 04:35 AM
Bladesinging 202

And a sign underneath: please ensure Mage Armor, Misty Step, or Shield are prepared before entering. We don't want another eye poked out.

noob
2019-05-04, 04:43 AM
Necromancy 102: Life and Death basics - they meet in a field in the middle of the night. You run laps while Unseen Servants chase you with torches and pitchforks. Everyone drops this class in week two, but the Necromancy department unanimously agrees that it's the most important class in the curriculum.
I can confirm it is very useful: the day a mob comes at you then you will be prepared.

Living in lava 101 (you can do that at ECL 1)
Course in following 50 courses at once 101 (it explains why the end result of goblin wizard studies is the same as the one of elf wizard studies while the latter study for far longer)
Course in procrastination 101(what elves follows)

Aotrs Commander
2019-05-05, 12:04 PM
Alchemy is Not Necromancy: Using the Right Tool for the Right Job

Lecturer E. Elric.

LordCdrMilitant
2019-05-06, 12:12 AM
An arcane university department, let's say Evocation, probably has a curriculum like:
1st Semester
MGK100: Introduction to the Arcane [2Cr]
EVC100: Introduction to Evocation [3Cr]
EVC101: Introductory Evocation Lab [1Cr]
THEO125: The Divine and the Arcane [3Cr]
RHET105: Technical Writing [3Cr]
MATH231: Calculus II [4Cr]

2nd Semester
PHYS211: Physics Mechanics [3Cr]
MATH241: Calculus III [4Cr]
CHEM105: Introduction to Chemistry [4Cr]
HIST101: Histories of the Materiel Planes [3Cr]
DIV105: Reading Magic Nonmagically [2Cr]

3rd Semester
MTPS211: Metaphysics Mechanics [3Cr]
PHYS212: Electricity and Magnetism [3Cr]
MATH251: Differential Equations [3Cr]
CHEM205: Advanced Chemistry [4Cr]
PHYS213: Thermal Physics [3Cr]

4th Semester
EVC300: Thermodynamics [3Cr]
EVC301: Metaphysical Thermodynamics [3Cr]
EVC250: Spell Dynamics [3Cr]
PHYS250: Planar Physics [4Cr]
HIST250: Histories of the Planes [3Cr]

5th Semester
MATH385: Higher-Dimensional Geometric Structures [3Cr]
EVC350: The Elemental Planes [3Cr]
EVC320: Cantrip Dynamics [3Cr]
THEO325: Magic Flow Mechanisms [3Cr]
ABJ205: Abjuration for Nonmajors [3Cr]

6th Semester
EVC325: Basic Evocation Cantrips [4Cr]
EVC326: Cantrip Lab [1Cr]
EVC311: Somatic Component Mechanics [3Cr]
EVC312: Material Component Mechanics [3Cr]
EVC310: Verbal Component Mechanics [3Cr]

7th Semester
EVC442: Senior Thesis [3Cr]
EVC460: Evocation Lab 1 [2Cr]
EVC433: 1st Level Evocation [3Cr]
DIV401: Read Magic [3Cr]
--TECHNICAL ELECTIVE-- [3Cr] [IE: ENCH402: Sleep, ABJ402: Shield, EVC402: Burning Hands]

8th Semester
EVC443: Senior Thesis Continued [3Cr]
EVC461: Evocation Lab 2 [2Cr]
--TECHNICAL ELECTIVE-- [3Cr]
--TECHNICAL ELECTIVE-- [3Cr]
--TECHNICAL ELECTIVE-- [3Cr]

Also offered:
EVC199: Evocation Seminar [2Cr]
EVC185: Undergraduate Research [2Cr]

Gravitron5000
2019-05-06, 12:19 PM
Theoretical Theology
Applied Theology

Theoretical Apology 101
Applied Apology 101
Apology 201 Finer Points of Law as Regards to Property Damage and Personal Injury.

Guizonde
2019-05-06, 02:51 PM
practical theology: for when you need to know which god to pray to when things go badly.
applied anatomy: or which area is most susceptible to elemental spells.
enchanting economics: or how to avoid crashing the world economy, again.
nekkomancy: everybody loves vorpal cats.