== Memorize ==
	by Meg Harrelson

* What's wrong? *

The current glossary description of Memorize is confusing. It implies that 
you can cast the spell once and use it to memorize limitless amounts of 
information, and that the ability to memorize never wears off. This seems 
overly powerful for a first-level spell; it has been my understanding that 
the intent of the spell was that it let you memorize one thing, not a 
limitless number of things, and to me, that seems right.


* The solution *

The spell needs to be cleaned up so that its limits are clear. I propose 
that for written information, that limit be five pages, and for spoken 
information (or things the caster sees and hears, but not reads), that 
limit be five minutes. I've also made two alternate proposals, if the first 
fails: that the spell allow the memorization of "one piece of information" 
(open to interpretation), or if that also fails, that the spell last for a 
whole game.


* Potential problems *

I think limiting heard/seen information to five minutes' worth is pretty 
nonproblematic. The potential problems I see with limiting written 
information are that (a) information is not always on paper, and (b) there 
isn't always the same amount of information on each page. However, an NPC 
or a GM can easily make a quick call in those cases. For example, if a 
caster wanted to memorize ten pages with two words each on them, an NPC 
could rule that a single casting of the spell was sufficient; or if a 
caster wanted to memorize the dwarven Halls of History, an NPC could rule 
that it would take three castings of the spell to accomplish; etc. Five 
letter-size pages of normally typeset or handwritten material is a lot, and 
most uses of Memorize aren't aimed at more material than that, so I don't 
think this is a major problem. And it's certainly easier to limit based on 
pages than on word count.

I see more problems with the "one piece of information" proposal, since the 
interpretation is wide open. Is that a whole book? A single page? A single 
fact? However, it's still tighter than what we have now, which seems 
limitless. I think that allowing the spell to work for a whole game leaves 
it too powerful for a first-level spell, but it would at least clarify the 
spell.


* The proposal *

1) Memorize 5 pages

-- Change the text of Memorize from this:
	This spell lets the caster carry around a pen and piece of paper
to record information. Since anything written on this paper represents
items memorized by the caster, it may not be stolen or given or shown to
anyone.  Such memories last for 48 hours. (Note that anyone who is not
Illiterate may write and take notes; this spell allows for "notes" that
cannot be stolen.)

to this:
	This spell lets the caster memorize information by using a pen and
paper to record it. A single casting of this spell allows the caster to
memorize up to five minutes' worth of experiences. The caster may only
memorize written material as fast as the player can read the words out of
game (e.g., you cannot quickly memorize an entire book by flipping its
pages). Since the notes the caster makes represent memories, they may not
be stolen or given or shown to anyone. Such memories last for 48 hours.  
(Anyone who is not Illiterate may write and take notes; this spell allows
for "notes" that cannot be stolen.)


2) Memorize one piece of information (only if 1 fails)

-- Change the text of Memorize to this:
	This spell lets the caster memorize information by using a pen and
paper to record it. A single casting of this spell allows the caster to
memorize one piece of information. Since the notes the caster makes
represent memories, they may not be stolen or given or shown to anyone.
Such memories last for 48 hours. (Anyone who is not Illiterate may write
and take notes; this spell allows for "notes" that cannot be stolen.)


3) Memorize everything at a game (only if 1 and 2 fail)

-- Change the text of Memorize to this:
	This spell lets the caster memorize information by using a pen and
paper to record it. Since anything written on this paper represents
memories, the paper may not be stolen or given or shown to anyone. The
ability to memorize and the memories gained last for 48 hours (thus, the
spell need only be cast once per game). (Anyone who is not Illiterate may
write and take notes; this spell allows for "notes" that cannot be
stolen.)