Annest's magical research

Brad writes on Mon, 12 Aug 2002. Carl updates 19 September 2003 based Annest returning from the dead without her cleric level, or abjuration, but now able to cast divination spells.

Something you all should know is that all of Annest's spells fall into a tight set of categories. If you want her to cast something outside these categories, you'll have to hunt up a scroll.

• Gnome Heritage (Illusion). As Annest gets stronger, she gets the ability to make better illusions for free. I have not decided how that will manifest at 4th level, probably Shadow Conjurations, then Shadow Evocations at higher levels.
• Specialized illusions. Impossible until she's mastered the general form, and this is work for her to learn, unlike the basic illusion spells. Examples include Color Spray and Invisibility. At 6th level she's far more likely to learn magic mouth than any of the combat-oriented illusions of 2nd or 3rd level. Give her notice early in the level if you want her to learn a specific spell, and never expect it until she's at an "even" mage level.
• Fire Spells. Oddly this came out of Vulcan's heritage. The domain spell was so useful she learned the more powerful arcane version of burning hands (Lighting the Forge Fires). Vulcan's Arrow showed her that it was a pious responsibility to learn fire spells as she got more powerful, so, like the generalized Illusion spell, don't expect anything but a fire spell out of Annest on the "odd" mage levels, and expect it to be brutal and without much finesse.
• Cooking spells. Spells that do things food is supposed to do. Most of the 2nd level spells like Darkvision (carrots), Bulls Strength, etc are in this category. Rule of thumb is that if a potion can't do it, this category probably can't, although Polymorph Self and Alter Self MIGHT fall in this category given the right materials to work with. (after a meal of doppleganger brain I figured out a way to simulate the effect with more mundane materials). I'm not at all sure how useful this category will be at higher levels, although if I get materials to play alchemist with, this may expand a bit.
• Utility spells. Prosaic things that make everyday life more comfortable. Unseen Servant is a terrific example, as is Tenser's Disk. Something like Leomund's Secure Shelter is a possiblity, but on her own she's unlikely to think that largescale.
• Seed spells. If Annest has a low level version of a spell she can attempt a higher level version. Example...she has Charm Person. She could probably derive Suggestion from it. She has Conjure Vulcan's Badger. She can probably figure out how to conjure bigger critters and eventually fire elementals. If you want her to learn Fly, find her a levitate scroll or at least Feather Fall (Feather Fall plus Unseen Servant might translate into Fly someday....)

Annest will also be interested in any spell that helps supply alchemical materials. She wants Shocking Grasp not as a combat spell, but as a source of electricity. She would not be able to invent such a spell though, unless it was similar to one she already knew.

As a reminder:
Annest CAN NOT perform any kind of abjuration spell or necromatic spell. Etheric and magical forces are pretty foreign to her training and thinking.