[Kurush]

Finally, I am back, because of Internet Explorer is acting up and refuses to open. I have therefore decided to switch to Mozilla Firefox, instead.

instead of leveling her shortcommings i'd say it would be much more logical to improve her strong suits, since she arguebly have some strength in those, one way or another ... therefore its honestly no question in my book ... Divination with Evocation as prohibted

Well, I've given that some thought myself.

Spoiler for objection!:

I am sorry, but I must disagree especially after going to D&Dwiki and reading the spells of each school. Evocation is the closest to magic Nodoka has already shown in the story (I've fallowed it before even joining this Forum), and while I can honestly see the idea of playing to your strengths depending on how closely the template is fallowed I can see no point in specializing in something Nodoka already has such an extensive background in over a fourteen year training binge. There is not really that much challenge in it to devote such a large amount of time to learning, plus in the story she is leading a rebellion against people that were too much for any of her classmates. She is going to have to consider her enemy, her command, and her self in this decision. In adition to all that it states that she can't forfeit Divination no matter what so she can still invole it. The only two I'd prohibit would be Necromancy and Transmutation they are just too out there for Nodoka.

Spoiler for counter:

Evocation is practially only damage dealing, and Nodoka is hardly (by canon) an offensive person, but rather one of the intelligence gatherers

Spoiler for Answer:

-Well, Evocation is not available now, due to plot reasons. Sian is right in that it is the offensive category of spells for Arcanists in D&D and the reason why it's barred, is because she doesn't need to learn it. I have planned ahead in that she would learn more and more of her own homeworld's Western magic, so Evocation is in the dump.

-Secondly, Necromancy and Transmutation being barred, I've been told, is actually one of the worst ways of doing a wizard. Transmutation is good for an overall party and she's the only one capable of using magic. It increases strength, speed, stuff like that for the group, allowing them to be more efficient. Necromancy, does have very few spells that are truly evil. Most of it involves just summoning the dead or draining the enemy of energy and such. Okay, that sounds evil, but it isn't. The only reason it's automatically classed "Evil" is because it's a perversion in the eyes of people who believe that the dead shall stay dead. That's how I view it. It too is barred for plot reasons.

Then again, if Divination is picked, then Evocation alone is barred. I've set up a poll on my profile regarding the choice, but Evocation is not available, whatsoever.

Finally, as to the massive time span, she needs it. Fashtar isn't playing this by chance and all, as he's the one who realized the whole scenario for her. Not to mention that this kind of magic is completely different then what Nodoka is used to. She's up against three opponents who's had years of experience and she's got... about only seven months. That makes her a novice in their eyes.