Paths of power

The paths of power were an alternative way for wizards to view magic and acquire spells in comparison to the conventional system of schools of magic.

Magic system
While a school comprised a large number of spells based on one philosophical principle like alteration, each path of power consisted a much smaller selection of spells of increasing power tied together by one topic, e.g. the Artificer's Path containing spells manipulating materials and devices, or the aptly named Road of Seals and Wardings. A wizard could learn a certain limited number of these paths, but was not restriced by anything like the opposing schools of specialists.

Paths of power were usually taught in specific colleges. A wizard had follow each paths by mastering all its spells in succession of rising power, but his learning allows him to acquire the next spell when he is ready without the need to get it from an external source. Some paths interconnected, so that the magic-user could switch her studies to a forking path if she so desired.

Use of path magic spells
Wizards using path magic also found a way to avoid the tedious memorization of their spells by limiting themselves to using one specific path on any given day only. Another fearsome development were the three spells sometimes call "Path of Paths": Close path, seal path and burn path, which directly attacked the ability of other wizards to cast magic from their chosen paths.

Paths of power on Toril
A diversity of paths of power known to followers of this kind of magic existed in Faerûn. Some wizards of Zakhara created different paths within their provinces of flame, sand, sea and wind, but also paths using the dreaded and despised spells of necromancy.

A number of so-called lost paths were also thought to exist: They were not taught in any college but were known only to a few individuals or to monstrous races. Among these were paths based on the spells created by the mages Elminster, Snilloc and the Simbul, the Path of the Drow and the genies' paths. There were also rumours of a Road of Southern Magic and paths based on spells of the elves of Evermeet and Myth Drannor, as well as the fire spells of the Red Wizards of Thay.