Inventing New Spells and the first Mage

[starslayer]

Originally Posted by momothefiddler

I like this concept. So you're saying something like Anaraxes - there are certain unterspells (unterspellen?), the invention of which is possible with minimal equipment, but the spells given in Magic are the diecast high-precision spells that can't be made without specialized tools.

Right. Further the enchanted items that a mage uses for perfecting those spells may have nothing to do with a 'traditional' magical enchantment. A wheel that spins as manna passes by it has no practical application, but if your goal is to figure out a way to get that magical effect you just discovered to be cheaper seeing how much manna you are using, and WHEN you are using it(how fast the wheel is spinning) might be invaluable.

[LemmingLord]

It might interesting to see magic as just another technology.. TL0 magic would require a TL0 laboratory... probably pretty stones, water, or other things you could find in a nice grove of trees somewhere..

[roguebfl]

Originally Posted by Nemi3e

Kindermagic is also noted as being "powerful, primitive ritual."

And embarrssing for older casters if they still chanting "You missed me; You missed me; Now you got to kiss me" to cast their blocking spell ;)

[Nemi3e]

Originally Posted by LemmingLord

It might interesting to see magic as just another technology.. TL0 magic would require a TL0 laboratory... probably pretty stones, water, or other things you could find in a nice grove of trees somewhere..

I LIKE this Idea, you have no idea how much.

Likewise, maybe with advanced theory one could bump up their TL0 lab--instead of putting the pretty rocks out in a line, they are arranged in the Fibonacci sequence, giving a minor bonus?

Originally Posted by roguebfl

And embarrssing for older casters if they still chanting "You missed me; You missed me; Now you got to kiss me" to cast their blocking spell ;)

It's only a quirk level disadvantage though.

[momothefiddler]

Fantastic help, guys. Thanks.

And interesting side discussions! By all means, continue speculation. I'm enjoying it.

[vierasmarius]

Since no one has mentioned it so far, I'd like to suggest taking a look at the Magic as Technological Progress article from Pyramid 3/43. It doesn't specifically address how the very first spells were developed, but it gives a suggested progression of development, and rules for inventing new spells (based largely on the existing invention rules). Even if you don't use the concept of Sorcery Levels (as a parallel to Tech Levels) the article is interesting and useful.