Conjoined spells

[BrotherBill]

One way to reduce the problem of IQ bloat would be to conjoin spells, in a way similar to how the 7 hex wall includes the knowledge of the 3 and 1 hex walls. examples:
IQ 12 DARKFIRE (C) This creation combines the effects of the "Fire" and "Shadow" spells. Figures within a darkfire are -2 DX for the fire and an additional -6 if they attempt to attack from within the darkfire. Attacks into a darkfire are at -4 DX. A "Magic Rainstorm" will change a darkfire hex into a normal "Shadow" hex. Figures with "Mage Sight" can see that the hex is a darkfire and not a normal shadow; a figure adjacent to a darkfire may briefly touch it and determine its nature without harm, this counts as an action. This spell includes the knowledge of the "Fire" and "Shadow" spells. Darkfires last for 12 turns and cost 2 ST to cast. May be cast on a hex containing a figure.

IQ 13 SOLID SHADOW (C) A combination of the "Shadow" and "Wall" spells; no figure may move into a solid shadow. Any figure attempting to move into a solid shadow must make a 3d vs DX roll to avoid falling in the hex he attempted to enter from; figures which have moved more than half of their MA must make the roll on 4d. Mage sight will reveal the solidity of the shadow, and adjacent figures may touch them (as an action) to determine their nature. Cost 1 ST, duration 12 turns. Includes the knowledge of the "Shadow" and "Wall" spells.

This could be done with other spells:
IQ 8 FOG (C) This fills a single hex with mist extending 3 meters into the air. Figures may move freely through fog. A figure attacking from or through a fog hex does so at -3 DX; attacks into a fog hex are at -2 DX. Attacks through multiple fog hexes are treated as "Shadow," -6 DX. Cost 1 ST, duration 12 turns. Fog is dispelled by "Fire" and "Magic Rainstorm."

IQ 11 COLD (C) This spell fills one hex area with a mist of extreme cold, causing damage and DX penalties of the same severity as the "Fire" spell. "Cold" and "Fire" are opposites which cancel each other out. Cost 2 ST, Duration 12 turns, includes the knowledge of "Fog."

Another option would be to combine "Slow" and "Speed" into:
IQ 9 ALTER MOVEMENT (T) The target's MA is either doubled or halved (at the caster' choice) for 4 turns. Fortunate rolls or multiple castings to not increase the effect but do increase the effect's duration. Cost 2 ST.

And just because these are mostly creation spell tweaks:
IQ 13 SNARE (C) Creates an entangling wire acting like the "Rope" spell with the additional effect of causing the victim 1 point of damage when cast and at the end of each subsequent combat round (regardless of armor, but armor spells protect). Cost 4 St, duration 12 turns; includes the knowledge of the "Rope" spell.

And just because:
IQ 14 ONE WAY SHADOW (C) This 1 hex creation appears to be a normal shadow to mage or normal sight, and is -6 DX to attack into, but it is only dark on the outside; figures within it suffer no DX penalty. Includes the knowledge of the normal "Shadow" spell. Cost 2 ST to cast and lasts 12 turns.

When a figure knowing one component of a conjoined spell reaches the IQ needed to have the combo, it is granted the spell (and the use of the other component spell). A figure which knew both--say, Fire and Shadow at IQ 11 would would at IQ 12 know Darkfire and have one open IQ slot as the two spells joined.