I would expand on Divination, to make it about more than just predicting the future. Divination is the art of discerning information through magical means — past, present, and future; close at hand or far away. It could include remote viewing (aka scrying), clairvoyance, reading the past history of an object, speaking with the dead, etc.
You also need more classes than just Transfiguration. In the D&D magic system, spells are divided into eight "schools" of magic:
Abjuration: blocking, banishing, and protecting against creatures or effects.
Conjuration: producing things or summoning creatures out of thin air.
Divination: understanding the past, present, and future.
Enchantment: entrancing and beguiling the minds of people or creatures.
Evocation: harnessing the raw power of the four elements.
Illusion: deception and trickery through false images or sensations.
Necromancy: dealing with life, death, and undeath.
Transmutation: changing energy and/or matter from one form to another.
While you don't have to copy this system exactly, your school could use a wider variety of spellcasting in its curriculum.
This Space Intentionally Left Blank.Just in general, try and avoid directly lifting the Harry Potter names wholesale.
On more specific notes:
I have to ask how likely is your average student to encounter the "Dark Arts". Because that's one of the things that always bugged me about Harry Potter. Having that as part of the core curriculum suggests that you're likely to encounter dark wizards and the like on a regular basis and while Harry et al did, those were under extra-ordinary circumstances. And when it comes to dangerous magical creatures that's more like an entire separate subject from stuff like curses, hexes and how to defend against them.
And unless it's ridiculously common, recommend making it and elective for those who want to go into magical combat
Switch potions for alchemy I'd recommend. Its more generic and can cover a wider ranger of things. Also I would recommend including the extraction and preparation of ingredients in addition to just making up the various concoctions.
Don't use HP's magic system. Magic in the Potterverse is both central and horribly defined. The magic is more of a list of words to memorize than requiring actual study.
Also, you should probably add classes for math and literacy. We take it for granted but both of these are pretty important but if this is their primary school then it's the only opportunity.
edited 30th Dec '17 3:48:41 PM by Belisaurius
Thanks for the advice! I've taken it under advisement and have since edited the original post to reflect these changes.
Since I am going to be running this game with the 5th Edition rules, I actually agree with you and have re-hauled the schools curriculum to reflect this. In this setting, Necromancy is deemed are Dark Art and thus has been removed from the curriculum. With the exception of Abjuration, the other classes have been classified as Electives in order to reflect the "School of Magic" players obtain at level 3.
Abjuration has been made a Core class so that new students are at least able to protect themselves outside of school.
I would definitely say that students are far more likely to encounter the Dark Arts than say Harry Potter. The Campaign proper at this point include a giant Death Knight, a cult, Fey Lords and extra-planar rifts. I am debating whether or not I should actually have a magical combat class and have Cruciato pull double duty as the Professor of DADA and Magical Combat and create a new NPC to fulfill the role of Head of Security.
This had been added to the curriculum. Think I might add Art and Music to the elective lists as well. Perhaps Arithmancy as well? The study of magical numbers and equations?
Would greatly appreciate any thoughts or ideas for faculty members as well.
Do you read Sutter Cane?Art and music are EXTREMELY old forms of magic. Magic Music and Rewriting Reality, anyone?
I'm not too familiar with how Art is connected to Magic; could you expand on that at all? I do love the idea of music though and it's been added to the curriculum under Mystic Symphonics. Likewise I have expanded upon the faculty to some extent. Their personalities and quirks are still being developed.
The more classes I add though the more I realize that this Academy would have to operate similar to a K-12 school. Taking children from a young age and allowing them to stay till their college graduate age. Thoughts?
Do you read Sutter Cane?I recall an old Chinese story about a boy with a magic paintbrush. Anything he painted with it would come to life.
And then there's The Picture of Dorian Gray...
Similar to Lalo the Limner from the Thieves' World anthology novels. A wizard commissioned Lalo to paint portraits of the local bigwigs, and imbued the paintings with magic so they would reflect the subject's true inner self, so he could know who to trust. Lalo asked for that power for himself, not realizing that some beautiful people are in fact hideous monsters deep down inside.
Later, that power got reversed somehow, so that he could breathe life into anything he painted (which likewise got him into trouble...)
edited 1st Jan '18 5:08:20 PM by pwiegle
This Space Intentionally Left Blank.In addition to the examples above: Art-based magic is a really old form of Sympathetic Magic. Offerings to gods are often in the form of the appropriate sculptures, meaningful objects, and poetry (and then there's the ceremonial weapons and tools that were SPECIFICALLY meant as offerings).
To say nothing of the gods' TEMPLES in a lot of cultures, which are often decorated lavishly to make the god feel welcome in their new Big Fancy House.
It's also theorized that the cave paintings in various places are a form of shamanic magic (the logic being that "painting giant herds of delicious game animals will call them to our tribe's hunters.")
Plus, a lot of artists in general feel that they were "given" their talents by their god(s), so art and magic have a very close relationship.
edited 1st Jan '18 11:43:31 AM by Sharysa
Excellent points. I have since done my own independent research and wholeheartedly agree that it should be added to my curriculum, but I'm drawing a blank as to how and what that class would actually entail.
Impossible colours? Enchanted mediums and art forms? Pottery and sculpture would be out because Kuprum teaches those in Crafting.
This isn't me shutting down this idea either; I love this and have an idea for an Art Professor already in mind. I'm gonna try and see what I can come up with.
Do you read Sutter Cane?It would seem to fall under bringing things like statues to life. I remember one scene in "Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell" in which the stained glass windows were brought to life, and they began to sing like a choir, using all the emotional energy that had been invested in that church by all the human choirs for generations. It was a particularly poignant scene.
I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.Ok, I think I've come up with something that works and the original post has been edited to reflect this. Still haven't come up with a better name than Art. Will work on that, though open to suggestions.
The one thing I am really set on for this Academy is the concept of Houses. Yes, it is very Harry Potter, but I am hoping to use the houses concept as a way to give stat bonuses and house unique feats. I was hoping to use four - potentially five - though I'm not sure how the concept would coincide if the Acaedmy was to operate as a "K-12 like". Any thoughts or ideas?
edited 1st Jan '18 11:12:57 PM by J.G.Crowne
Do you read Sutter Cane?I was thinking more "the process of magical art requires learning how to focus/meditate/trance and channel your intent into crafting your piece," similar to how a lot of real-life artists channel their emotions into their work.
Also, is there going to be a performing arts subset of art, because HOO BOY I'd love to see that in a non-Dungeons-And-Dragons/video-game way of "bard plays music for stat effects". Dance and song are as ridiculously magical as fine art.
Ohh that sounds way better than what I have. I'll be using that if you don't mind. The subject has been renamed "Magical Application of Art" and the original post has since been updated to reflect this.
Hahaha! While there isn't going to be dedicated subject devoted to Drama, I've already started work on a short, simple Phantom of the Opera inspired adventure around a school performance Professor Allegretto puts on alongside the student drama club.
The performance itself is closer to an opera, where the special effects are handled by the musicians in the pit. I think it's pretty neat.
edited 2nd Jan '18 2:43:24 PM by J.G.Crowne
Do you read Sutter Cane?

So I'm creating an RPG setting based on Harry Potter and Dragon Age and I'm developing the magic school where most of the action will take place. While I am using Hogwarts as a point of reference, I am trying to make it unique. This thread will basically act as a place where I can put all my ideas down and where other can offer insights and suggestions. Details like floor plans, the student body, the location of the school itself will come soon.
Core Classes
Elective Classes
The Faculty
Facilities
edited 2nd Jan '18 9:52:10 PM by J.G.Crowne
Do you read Sutter Cane?