Spell Features.

The intention is to provide a little more "Magic" to First Level Magic-Users, including up to six unusual choices for most of the standard starting spells. This should help insure that no two 1^st Level Magic-Users are the same, even if they possess the same spells. It might also make the Class a little more flavorful and “exotic” for those that grouse at the limitations of low level Magic-Users or sour at the idea of Random Spell Selection when they receive perceived non-starters like the much maligned “Ventriloquism.”

I'm deeply indebted to Courtney's excellent series on Spell Memorization Effects, which I'm sure was brewing in the back of my brain when I vomited this up. It really got me thinking about Prepared Spells as a resource that does something passively until exhausted.

The idea also came to me as I was revising my Tunnels & Trolls Spell Book handouts, so please excuse the level of whimsy and tongue-in-cheek that seems to have crept into some of these. Re-skin or un-pun to taste. I think this is balanced by the ones that get quite dark in places.

I imagine that it would work something like this: Once Spells are randomly determined (or selected, if you are feeling exceptionally generous) for a first level Magic-User the player may either choose or randomly roll on the Spell Features for their specific 1^st level Spell (everyone receives Read Magic in most of my games). 

Some Spell Features are obviously more useful than others, and no regard has been paid to imaginary beasts like game-balance, nor is there much in the way of mechanical consistency. This was intentional, as I find it keeps things weird and mystifying, just as magic should be.

I've tried to incorporate interesting draw backs and resource management (usually based on time, which is precious) wherever possible so that these don't just turn into more character sheet cruft. I'm interested to hear what anyone thinks.

Some definitions of terms and explanations:

HLSS: This stands for Highest Level Spell Slot. I use this periodically to provide a somewhat tighter bounded bonus than Caster Level. In BECMI, this number is never higher than nine, and it doesn't increase every level, only according to the Spell Progression table. It's also information that is fairly obvious and at-hand (most casters know the level of the highest Spell they can prepare and cast). As a controlled bonus or duration, I tend to prefer it to caster level.

BECMI Example: A 5^th Level Magic-User's HLSS is 3, while a 17^th Level Magic-User has an HLSS of 7.

Familiars: However you do this is fine. I typically charge the Magic-User either 30 gold pieces from their starting wealth, or if using my Quick Equipment and Encumbrance Sheet, a familiar can be had for 1 miscellaneous pick. You could also just have them pick a die to drop from their starting wealth roll (making a Familiar cost between 10 and 60 gold pieces, Magic-Users don't have expenses like Armor, so they often end up wealthier than the rest of the party, the result can also serve as the Familiar's hit points). I tend to keep Familiars mostly cosmetic, unless one of the Familiar Features associated with the Magic-User's starting spell is selected.

Expend/Release/Internalize: Some features use this terminology (I obviously haven't found a favorite yet). This is not necessarily “casting the spell” in most cases, so I don't imagine it would take any time (or need to take place on the Caster's turn even, as some of the effects are triggered in reaction to other actions), but it does erase the spell from the Caster's mind the same way. I don't imagine it really having any outward visible effects, and it'd probably be possible to do in an Anti-Magic field. Just another choice to present the player with in most cases.

I've given a little bit of thought to converting this to D&D 5e, but I'm not as intimately familiar with the new Spell List yet. In most places where Bonus or Penalty is implied, Advantage/Disadvantage could probably be used. The Slot-Point mechanics of 5e make things a little trickier when it comes to Expending, and the lack of Reaction Rolls as a central mechanic is terribly sad, but I think for the most part the more Iconic Spells (like Charm Person, Sleep, Magic Missile) are similar enough that this could be used with most versions of D&D.

I'll be splitting this into smaller groups to keep the posts short. If there's significant interest, I might assemble a PDF or create a handout/compilation.

Here's a summary of the Spell Features for quick reference/random rolling:

First Level Spells

1. Analyze
   1. Avaricious Eyes
   2. Spell Book Feature: Palimpsest of Common Command Words
   3. Know Lineage
   4. Dagger Feature: Haruspex
   5. Tea Leaves
   6. Familiar Feature: The Eyes Have It
2. Charm Person
   1. A Loyal Henchman
   2. Spell Book Feature: Hamlin's Concerto
   3. Spell Book Feature: Etiquette Book
   4. Perfume
   5. Language: Harpy/Dryad
   6. Familiar Feature: Serpent
3. Floating Disc
   1. Feather Fall Charm
   2. Dagger Feature: Flying
   3. Language: Air Elemental
   4. Gainful Portaging
   5. Spell Book Feature: Buoyant
   6. Familiar Feature: Light as Feather
4. Hold Portal
   1. Tattle-Tale Lock
   2. Spell Book Feature: For Your Eyes Only/Privacy Please
   3. Jar of Friendly Earseekers
   4. Language: Mimic
   5. Puzzle Box
   6. Familiar Feature: Passdoor
5. Light *
   1. Selfish Spells
   2. Dagger Feature: Focus
   3. Spell Book Feature: Made In The Dark
   4. Candle Molds
   5. Language Of Shadows
   6. Familiar Feature: Bat
6. Magic Missile
   1. Strix Missile
   2. Spell Book Feature: Tablet of Arrow Carving
   3. Puissant Technique
   4. Voodoo Doll/Poppet Magic
   5. Dagger Feature: Sympathetic Athame
   6. Patient Missile
7. Protection From Evil
   1. Circles
   2. Spell Book Feature: Warded Against Intrusion
   3. Witch Bottle
   4. Dagger Feature: Lodestone
   5. Familiar Feature: Dog
   6. Horseshoes
8. Read Languages
   1. Staff Feature: Cipherstick
   2. Dictating Quill
   3. Bonus Language
   4. Spell Book Feature: Talking Book
   5. Jar of Tongues
   6. Voracious Reader
9. Read Magic
   1. Detect Magic/Scroll Ink
10. Shield
    1. Heraldic Gift
    2. Shield-Bearer Training
    3. Dagger Feature: Spell-Warded Kris
    4. Elemental Ward
    5. Spell Book Feature: Defending
    6. Familiar: Turtle
11. Sleep
    1. Spell Book Feature: Manual Of Oneiromancy
    2. Pouch Of Apple Seeds
    3. Spell Book Feature: Bedtime Stories
    4. Cockerel Automaton
    5. Osculations
    6. Familiar Feature: Sloth
12. Ventriloquism
1. Music Box
2. Dagger Feature: Voice Drinker
3. Dummy Golem
4. Jar Of Lips
5. Spell Book Feature: Talking
6. Familiar Feature: Talks