[UA] Master Adepts vs. New Adepts Formula Spells

[Nicco]

One thing that has puzzled me in UA is why beginning characters have their
entire school of magic available to them at character creation.  Maybe I
missed a key chapter in PMM, but it seems to me that a new adept
practitioner would need to learn each formula spell the same way rituals are
learned.  By giving beginning characters all the formula spells and never
any more, the only way to raise magical talent is to learn rituals (which
are school independent) or raise the obsession skill.  This provides for
much less growth then I would expect from a magic system.

I realize that the schools in UA are guidelines and GMs should create their
own.  Thus if I were to start a game with a character just learning
Abluomancy (Dish Washing Magick) I would say “OK, you can do a minor and sig
blast and random magick anytime, but you only have 3 minor and 1 significant
Formula Spells". To learn more formula spells the adept will either have to
research them or find a master (like Dishwasher Pete
[http://www.outwestnewspaper.com/pete.html], the founder of Abluomancy).

Greg & John: What was the original rational for not keeping track of
formulas on character sheets and thus allowing the entire school to be
available? As the system is, there really is no difference between any two
practitioners of any school.  In a combat or challenge, it's going to come
down to who has the charges and rolls the cherries, not the training.  Why
is that so?

Also, what place do teachers have in PMM?

Nicco "...must not...covert Unknown Armies...to
GURPS...resist...temptation...uhhh!(faints)" Wargon


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