Realz wrote:It would work as a background only if we changed the definition. Right now backgrounds are just starting kits - they're the stuff you enter the dungeon with. The only permanent part is a few stats, and there are none that do a big rules change like this one would.
I wouldn't mind more backgrounds with rule changes honestly.
Berserker almost works the same way anyways (give up spellbooks), except you can stop worshiping Trog. But if this was shifted to a god and a Zealot added for it as a background (as a work around), you would have to have clever solutions on what happens to the spells when say: A bookstart converts with already known spells, abandoning the god (do you forget spells learned from the god?) and what advantage the Zealot starts with.
I'm just saying we need to carefully consider the pros and cons of tying this to a race before committing to it as its still early in the design process.
If its a race this potentially limits it too much so we lose out on fun combos with existing races, and niche combos like 'Wild Wizard' Trolls.
If its a god, the conduct is odd to say the least: You have to forget all known spells so that you can then learn wild magic? You later abandon the god, forget all this magic you learned to learn book magic? This trivializes the downside.
If its a background, well, its unprecedented for a background to have abilities or rule changes of any kind anyway. Main reason to tie it to a background is that it has the advantage of using all existing races and gods for combos.