Specialization spell for before 1st era games

Art by Luigi Castellani from the "Spears of  the Dawn" free art pack

The rule in brief: with this rule every spell-caster can specialize in a particular type of magic, when they specialize they will learn a "specialization" spell for each spell level they can use, such a spell when cast will let the caster choose a specific effect between a short list of spells (5 for each level usually) at the moment of casting.

This article is a modification of the Instant Spell Recall a spontaneous magic option for Vancian OSR systems rules. By changing a few assumption it catch 2 birds with one stone. In fact it represent specialization and it gives mage spontaneous magic in the framework of Vancian magic (cast and forget). Furthermore such a specialization can be also be seen as pact magic, as the spell can be easily represented as a special kind of magic that can be learned only if the spell-caster makes a pact with supernatural entity (gods, daeva, demons, faeries, dragon, immortal, aliens or whoever is able to give spell knowledge).

The spell for each level are are very similar to the ones presented in the previous article with the presence of a 1st level spell that let the spell-caster chose between 5 cantrips/orison (0th level spells)

Specialist Spontaneous Spell 0 - cantrip (1st level spell) Conjuration/Summoning

Duration: Istantaneous	Casting Time: 1+spell casting time
Saving Throw: none	Area of Effect: self
Range: self	Components: V, S + spell components

Description: When the spell-caster cast this spell she is able to cast a single spell from a list of 5 (five) 0th level spells, the list is defined by the mage specialization.

Specialist Spontaneous Spell I - 1st level (2nd level spell) Conjuration/Summoning

Duration: Istantaneous	Casting Time: 1+spell casting time
Saving Throw: none	Area of Effect: self
Range: self	Components: V, S + spell components

When the spell-caster cast this spell she is able to cast a single spell from a list of 5 (five) 1st level spells, the list is defined by the mage specialization.

...

Specialist Spontaneous Spell VIII - 8th level (9th level spell) Conjuration/Summoning

Duration: Istantaneous	Casting Time: 1+spell casting time
Saving Throw: none	Area of Effect: self
Range: self	Components: V, S + spell components

Description: When the spell-caster cast this spell she is able to cast a single spell from a list of 5 (five) 8th level spells, the list is defined by the mage specialization.

Once a specialization is chosen it's the same for each spell level (the Game Master can opt for multiple specialization but this should be unusual and with some restriction). Furthermore the GM can decide that such a specialization is at the cost of prohibited spells/schools or (for pact magic) at the cost of specific geas/quest.

let's see how two list of common specialization spells would look.

Spell  Level	Black Mage	White Mage
1'	Obscure Poison: Makes poison detectable only if the caster of the detect poison can make an Int roll. Inflict Minor Wounds: Touch attack, 1 point of damage. Un-Light: dispel a Light cantrip Breaking: Makes minor damage on an object. Putrify Food and Drink: Putrifies 1 cu. ft./level of food or water.	Cure Minor Wounds: Cures 1 point of damage. Detect Poison: Detects poison in one creature or object. Guidance: +1 on one skill check. Light: Object shines like a torch. Purify Food and Drink: Purifies 1 cu. ft. of food or water. Resistance: Subject gains +1 on saving throws.
2'	Bane: Enemies take -1 on attack rolls and saves against fear. Cause Fear: One creature of 5 HD or less flees for 1d4 rounds. Command: One subject obeys selected command for 1 round. Curse Water M: Makes unholy water. Hide from Undead: Undead can’t perceive one subject/level.	Bless Water M: Makes holy water. Cure Light Wounds: Cures 1d8 damage +1/level (max +5). Divine Favor: You gain +1 per three levels on attack and damage rolls. Protection from Evil: +2 to AC and saves, counter mind control, hedge out elementals and outsiders. Shield of Faith: Aura grants +2 or higher deflection bonus.
3'	Death Knell: Kills dying creature; you gain 1d8 temporary hp, +2 to Str, and +1 level. Desecrate M: Fills area with negative energy, making undead stronger. Enthrall: Captivates all within 100 ft. + 10 ft./level. Hold Person: Paralyzes one humanoid for 1 round/level. Undetectable Alignment: Conceals alignment for 24 hours.	Delay Poison: Stops poison from harming subject for 1 hour/level. Gentle Repose: Preserves one corpse. Remove Paralysis: Frees one or more creatures from paralysis or slow effect. Restoration, Lesser: Dispels magical ability penalty or repairs 1d4 ability damage. Zone of Truth: Subjects within range cannot lie.
4'	Animate Dead M: Creates undead skeletons and zombies. Bestow Curse: -6 to an ability score; -4 on attack rolls, saves, and checks; or 50% chance of losing each action. Blindness/Deafness: Makes subject blinded or deafened. Contagion: Infects subject with chosen disease. Speak with Dead: Corpse answers one question/two levels.	Cure Serious Wounds: Cures 3d8 damage +1/level (max +15). Daylight: 60-ft. radius of bright light. Remove Blindness/Deafness: Cures normal or magical conditions. Remove Curse: Frees object or person from curse. Remove Disease: Cures all diseases affecting subject.
5'	Death Ward: Grants immunity to death spells and negative energy effects. Giant Vermin: Turns centipedes, scorpions, or spiders into giant vermin. Planar Ally, Lesser X: Exchange services with a 6 HD extraplanar creature. Poison: Touch deals 1d10 Con damage, repeats in 1 min. Repel Vermin: Insects, spiders, and other vermin stay 10 ft. away.	Discern Lies: Reveals deliberate falsehoods. Dismissal: Forces a creature to return to native plane. Divination M: Provides useful advice for specific proposed actions. Neutralize Poison: Immunizes subject against poison, detoxifies venom in or on subject. Restoration M: Restores level and ability score drains.
6'	Command, Greater: As command, but affects one subject/level. Insect Plague: Locust swarms attack creatures. Slay Living: Touch attack kills subject.. Symbol of Pain M: Triggered rune wracks nearby creatures with pain. Unhallow M: Designates location as unholy.	Atonement F X: Removes burden of misdeeds from subject. Break Enchantment: Frees subjects from enchantments, alterations, curses, and petrification. Hallow M: Designates location as holy. Raise Dead M: Restores life to subject who died as long as one day/level ago. True Seeing M: Lets you see all things as they really are.
7'	Create Undead: Create ghouls, ghasts, mummies, or mohrgs. Geas/Quest: As lesser geas, plus it affects any creature. Harm: Deals 10 points/level damage to target. Planar Ally X: As lesser planar ally, but up to 12 HD. Symbol of Fear M: Triggered rune panics nearby creatures.	Banishment: Banishes 2 HD/level of extraplanar creatures. Forbiddance M: Blocks planar travel, damages creatures of different alignment. Heal: Cures 10 points/level of damage, all diseases and mental conditions. Heroes’ Feast: Food for one creature/level cures and grants combat bonuses. Undeath to Death M: Destroys 1d4 HD/level undead (max 20d4).
8'	Blasphemy: Kills, paralyzes, weakens, or dazes nonevil subjects. Destruction F: Kills subject and destroys remains. Symbol of Stunning M: Triggered rune stuns nearby creatures. Symbol of Weakness M: Triggered rune weakens nearby creatures. Word of Chaos: Kills, confuses, stuns, or deafens nonchaotic subjects.	Dictum: Kills, paralyzes, slows, or deafens nonlawful subjects. Holy Word: Kills, paralyzes, blinds, or deafens nongood subjects. Regenerate: Subject’s severed limbs grow back, cures 4d8 damage +1/level (max +35). Restoration, Greater X: As restoration, plus restores all levels and ability scores. Resurrection M: Fully restore dead subject.
9th	Cloak of Chaos F: +4 to AC, +4 resistance, and SR 25 against lawful spells. Create Greater Undead M: Create shadows, wraiths, spectres, or devourers. Symbol of Death M: Triggered rune slays nearby creatures. Symbol of Insanity M: Triggered rune renders nearby creatures insane. Unholy Aura F: +4 to AC, +4 resistance, and SR 25 against good spells.	Antimagic Field: Negates magic within 10 ft. Cure Critical Wounds, Mass: Cures 4d8 damage +1/level for many creatures. Dimensional Lock: Teleportation and interplanar travel blocked for one day/level. Holy Aura F: +4 to AC, +4 resistance, and SR 25 against evil spells. Shield of Law F: +4 to AC, +4 resistance, and SR 25 against chaotic spells.