I like the idea of a specialization but I really don't like the idea of a "signature spell". That seems awfully narrow. The signature spell could be more what a person is good at and favors within their sub-specialization but it shouldn't be set in stone.

This would also favor a Hogwarts where after say 4th year, people are split into "houses" based on their specialization. So before that everyone's trying to get into the one of their dreams but sometimes those dreams are crushed with the realization that they're just not good at that area of magic and they never can be. The last three years you're given exclusive training in your specialization because studying other areas is pointless due to others being better equipped to do tasks/jobs related to those.

You would also need to define how effective the specialization makes them and what the power level variance is. Let's say a 4th year specialist in Charms is as good at Charms as a 7th year hogwarts graduate who isn't a specialist in it (assuming the original curriculum of Hogwarts). This would also help favor a world in which it is nearly pointless studying a non-specialist field post 4th year.

Just some ideas.

 

I had an idea like this once, but rather than a specialism, sub-specialism and ability, characters only have the latter.

Abilities are always inherited from one of the parents, and people share the last name with the parent they got the ability from. If one the parents is a muggle the child might have a new - sometimes unheard of - ability. Muggleborns always have new abilities.

Here's the abilities I came up with:

Harry Evans, Lily Evans - Pyschometry
The ability to pick up an item and understand its history and nature, only last while the object is touched. Useful when enchanting items (how Lily used it) but can also be used for instant mastery of things like ancient swords, an old broom, etc. Of course having a build similar to a previous user of an item is more or less mandatory for effective use. This new and powerful ability made Lily a much envied and hated person.

Ron Weasley, Charlie Weasley, Arthur Weasley - Physical Manifestation of One's Magic
The Weasleys have a kind of familiar that follows them around, its shape and behaviour are influenced by the Wizard's subconscious. A weak and often embarrassing ability. Charlie however, is able to turn his familiar into a dragon.

Hermione Granger - Innate Probability Calculation
All information (conscious and subconscious) is automaticly used to perform probability calculations, allowing her to verify statements, predict events, find objects, etc. The great weakness the of the ability that unknown information isn't taken into account - information gathering is very important with an ability like this.

Molly Prewett, Bill Prewett, Percy Prewett, George Prewett, Fred Prewett, Ginny Prewett - Earth Manipulation
The ability to control earth. Does not require a wand and often is more powerful then ordinary spells. Also has great utility use. Ron is very jealous that he didn't get this ability instead.

Ted Tonks, Nymphadora Tonks - Automodification of Appearance
Until Ted Tonks, this ability was believed to be extinct. Its return was cause of great celebration among wizards across Britain - Andromeda Black was highly encouraged to marry him.

Harry Evans, Tom Slytherin, Salazar Slytherin, Herpo the Foul - Snake Communication
Was considered a very weak ability until Herpo the Foul came along. Now a very powerful ability with unique spells and techniques. Harry Evans is the only person in the world with two abilities.

Black Family - 0.34 second precognition
Highly specialised, but very powerful in combat. Don't duel with a Black if you can avoid it.

These are the most notable I think. It was more the societal aspects that interested me. Draco Black has a younger sister, Maia Malfoy, to continue the Malfoy line, Andromeda has a good relationship with Narcissa, Dumbledore has a very weak ability but is still a great wizard, Charlie and Ron have the same abilities but are very different in powerlevel anyway, etc. etc.

P.s: Hi all, BTW.

 

It seems we are thinking alike. Muggleborns are wildcards, and certain abilities are quite valued. Together with the weakening of Dumbledore and Voldemort, such a thing would change the whole political situation.

 

@cowofdoom: The issue I see there is as I understand it with your premise wizards still have the same magic as canon, just with an ability on top. In that case all those abilities are frankly not worth the social status they seem to have in your proposed world. Magic can already do way more impressive things. They'd just be treated like Metamorphmagus is in canon. An interesting but otherwise unimportant little trick. Certainly not enough to decide your name or who you marry.

Parseltongue only had social status because it showed you were a decendant of Salazar Slytherin, who was treated as great because of his achievements. At magic.

 

One of problems I encountered while coming up with abilities was that making them too powerful might overshadow canon magic. That's why most the abilities (1) are often of the utility kind, (2) require large amount of practice, (3) highly specialised, (4) require some type of set-up: items, informations, terrain, etc.

That said, one of the sub-plots was about a twelve year old Lily properly identifying a valuable artefact belonging to the Smith family as a high-quality forgery. As a result, the Smiths lost quite a bit of status and no small amount of galleons. Lily even made a good salary identifying heirlooms for Borgin and Burkes.

Another idea was Harry going from duelling Draco Black, who can dodge spells a bit better than most to Sirius Black who can't be ambushed, doesn't fall for feints or traps, counters the spells before you cast them, keeps you close-range to maximize his precognition advantage and roughens up the terrain as much as possible (he knows he will trip in advance, so he can chose not to trip at all).

 

I could imagine a world where students are divided evenly (resulting in four separate houses not based on their character traits). Then, once they are reaching the age of majority, their talents have been cataloged by the Professors and the Headmaster. Upon passing their OWLS (Ordinary Wizarding Levels, heheh) they move on to NEWTS (Natural Efficiency Wizarding Test for Specialization) which are classes divided to replicate career-based college courses. (Someone who desires to be a Potioneer or Alchemist for example, would have a Herbological courseload whereas a potential auror would concentrate on defense. Inevitably, there would be more choices for electives).

Electives: Wandlore (O or E in History of Magic)
Introduction to Alchemy (O in Transfiguration)
Introduction to Warding (O or E in Charms)
Advanced Potions (O in Potions, O or E in Herbology)
Introduction to Healing (E in Charms, O in Potions and Herbology)
Advanced Dueling (O in Defense, E in one of Transfiguration or Charms)

Just a start.

 

Making Animagus be someones signature spell seems like a waste considering once its learned it can be used as well as anyone elses. unless having the specialization makes the form more powerful or its nearly impossible to do without it? But then how did the marauders all manage it? In fact, I feel like the specific spell each character is best at is unnecessary, and confusing. It cheapens the idea of hard work allowing one to learn the best spells. Although i guess in this AU a wide variety of spells will be less the mark of a powerful wizard?

 

I'd say you can get better effects with it, and each specialist has a different type of "better". McGonagall's cat includes a Notice-Me-Not supernatural effect, and James' Stag is resistant to magic and exceptionally tough like a half-giant.

 

The idea wasn't that you're born with a signature spell, but that the choices you make in life result in people becoming special experts in one spell.

 

So the signature spell would be something that developed naturally because of your life choices rather than you being born with it? Like, the wizard has a specialization and he is good or has an easier time learning the spell on it but for some reason or another he has been using one of them more than the others and since he is good at that branch of magic he started to notice all the little nuances that makes that spell work and began to wonder what would happen if he changed something of it. Eventually, either by experimenting on it and perfecting it or just by using it more than the others it becomes known as his signature spell.

Since learning magic in general since to be harder save for one branch of magic, perhaps it is not so far off to say that you can spend a lifetime perfecting a spell, which would help improve on those that are similar but you don't use as often because you tend to use the one you have worked with the most.

 

Someone needs to write this. Now.

 

Firenze
Specialism: Rape
Sub-specialism: Dolores Umbridge
Signature spell: Star Gazing
Ability: The hogtie

 

Fixed that for you. He was clearly the more rapey of the two.

 

Hagrid
Specialism(s):
=Brute Strength (Hagrid can take multiple stunners and deals great bodily damage to any foes within range).
=Proficiency with Magical Creatures (Hagrid can speak to most animals, is better than most wizards at raising magical creatures, and he has a hound dog familiar named Fang)
Sub-specialism:
=Hidden Wand (Hagrid, who is limited in range and repertoire of spells compared to normal wizards, does not have a wand but can still use some offensive and defensive spells by swinging any weapon)
=Loyalty: (Hagrid fights harder when working in tandem with others, especially those that also share this sub-specialism)
Signature Spell:
=NONE: (Hagrid did not finish Hogwarts, and his wand was broken, so he does not have a signature spell.)