Using memories to cast spells

[Arparrabiosa]

Hello guys!


I have an idea for a character, and I would like you to give me some powerful thematic ideas to build it. It's a character from Faerûn, but she doesn't use the Weave to cast spells. Instead, what she does is infuse pure magic into the most impactful memories of her life and turn them into spells. For example, when the character was a child, she often got lost in the forest behind her house while playing. Once, when it was getting dark and she was very scared, she managed to find her way home thanks to a firefly that landed on her hand and guided her. Since then, she remembers that firefly to cast a light spell and illuminate her path when she feels lost in darkness. And so on.


Can you think of any feat or prestige class that could mechanically reinforce this concept, or should I simply go for a more conventional sorceress build and use the idea to add color to the descriptions?

[Gruftzwerg]

Have a look at "Spell Thematics" a FR specific feat. Imho it should fit your request.

[Anthrowhale]

Sorceress does seem to fit pretty well. If you want something more reusable (like a memory), the closest fit is warlock.

[Gruftzwerg]

A Shadowcraft Mage build could also fit in here. Add Spell Thematics and fluff your illusions with your memories.

Psionic classes could also be an option here, since those are more about releasing your inner powers and not bending the magic around you.

[Zanos]

Not using the Weave for arcane magic generally doesn't fly in Faerun. "Pure Magic" is, in fact, the Weave, and all arcane spellcasters including sorcerers interface with it.

If you don't want to cast spells using the Weave, you need to be either a Divine caster or shadow weave user. And divine casters still need the Weave to function, they just access it indirectly.

[Arparrabiosa]

Thanks guys for all your input!


Not using the Weave for arcane magic generally doesn't fly in Faerun. "Pure Magic" is, in fact, the Weave, and all arcane spellcasters including sorcerers interface with it.

If you don't want to cast spells using the Weave, you need to be either a Divine caster or shadow weave user.

No, that's not how it works. Ed Greenwood said in a recent youtube video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXFbgsFy1Xc) that "The Weave is not the only way to cast spells in the realms. It's just the most convenient." So I'm working around that here.

[Inevitability]

No, that's not how it works. Ed Greenwood said in a recent youtube video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXFbgsFy1Xc) that "The Weave is not the only way to cast spells in the realms. It's just the most convenient." So I'm working around that here.

Was that in a 3.5 or 5e context? With how often the Realms' metaphysics shift, I wouldn't be surprised if it holds for one but not the other.

[Zanos]

Thanks guys for all your input!



No, that's not how it works. Ed Greenwood said in a recent youtube video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXFbgsFy1Xc) that "The Weave is not the only way to cast spells in the realms. It's just the most convenient." So I'm working around that here.
There are, but as far as I know none of the methods outside of the Weave are particularly stable or effective for PHB classes. A wizard or sorcerer can't simply choose to bypass the Weave and experience no lose of ability. Arcane magic was basically useless within the realms for the duration of the spellplague.

[MaxiDuRaritry]

I'd go with a psionic manifester, either psion, erudite, convert-spell-to-power erudite, or ardent. They all bypass the Weave by having an inner reservoir of power and using their own thoughts to alter themselves and the world around them. A lot of their effects feel more elemental than spells do (a lot of which feel very artificial), and they have a lot fewer fluff-based mechanical restrictions, and thus they tend to be easier to change the fluff on than spellcasting.

Maybe combine psionics with incarnum? They combine extremely well. Being able to form physical objects out of your memories to protect and assist you would segue easily into more esoteric reality alterations. Totemist 2/psion 6/soul manifester (https://www.realmshelps.net/charbuild/classes/prestige/psionic/soulmanifester.shtml) 10, maybe? Or something similar that leads into a psionic version of the jade phoenix mage? It's extremely easy to do a conversion, after all.

[Zanos]

Yeah, Psionics would be a good fit, especially with a memory theme.

[ShurikVch]

Not using the Weave for arcane magic generally doesn't fly in Faerun. "Pure Magic" is, in fact, the Weave, and all arcane spellcasters including sorcerers interface with it.

If you don't want to cast spells using the Weave, you need to be either a Divine caster or shadow weave user. And divine casters still need the Weave to function, they just access it indirectly.
Well, actually:

Raw magic exists in Faerûn, but it is a powerful and dangerous force that can easily destroy even a patient and skilled mortal. It is locked away inside all matter and difficult to access. Most spellcasters instead draw upon magic through the controlled and relatively safe magic accessed through the Weave.
"Most" ≠ "all"

Among the forms of magic which are explicitly mentioned as using raw magic are Spellfire and Incarnum (https://web.archive.org/web/20150520003526/http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/frcc/20070808):

Spellfire Wielder [General]
You are one of the rare people who have the innate talent to control raw magic in the form of spellfire.

In the Realms, incarnum is raw magic, mystical energy that permeates the world at all levels.


Ghustil (https://srd.dndtools.org/srd/classes/prestigeDunmag/ghustil.html) may not use Waeve, since:

Beginning at 1st level, a ghustil gains the ability to cast a number of spells. These spells are neither arcane nor divine, but are powered by the energies of the Astral Plane.


I heard Epic Spellcasting isn't based on the Weave, but can't find relevant quotes right now

[Analytica]

IIRC it is stated that for Faerun, psionics users essentially have their own custom tiny Weaves. This would work well?