Cleric Spell Levels in 3LBBs

[Haldo Bramwise]

On page 18 of Men & Magic, I noticed that clerics are given two new spell levels when they reach 6th level (Bishop) (a 3rd and 4th level spell) on page 18.

Is this correct?

[tombowings]

That's what mine says as well. Never noticed that before--never had a cleric in a game I've played or ran get to that level. Good catch.

[waysoftheearth]

Coleston, I was thinking about that very same thing a few months back.

The cleric spell progression table has that same "feature" in both the 1st and 6th prints, so I don't imagine it is likely to be different in any other.

I'm not certain it was a mistake, but it is something I decided to house rule as soon as I noticed it.

[coffee]

I think it's a reward for not having spells at first level.

And it could also be a way to "balance" he class out with the magic-user, which Gygax apparently lived in mortal fear of ever gaining high level, because he figured a high level mage would just slap everybody else around. (or that could just be my take on it; I really don't know.)

I gotta say, I kind of like it. But maybe that's because I've been playing a lot of clerics lately.

[kenmeister]

I've always chalked it up to a change that came from playtesting. Level 4 has neutralize poison and cure serious wounds, and Gary and Dave may have decided late in the game that those effects needed to come sooner. If you house rule it otherwise, I'd move cure serious wounds at the least to the 3rd level list. That's what I do in my 1E game.

[TheMyth]

Mar 25, 2010 23:48:57 GMT -6 waysoftheearth said:

Coleston, I was thinking about that very same thing a few months back.

The cleric spell progression table has that same "feature" in both the 1st and 6th prints, so I don't imagine it is likely to be different in any other.

I'm not certain it was a mistake, but it is something I decided to house rule as soon as I noticed it.

The same spell progression can be found in the original Expert rules.

It was intentional.