Archetypal Spells (Information-Gathering)

[Bozwevial]

So this is a little discussion thing I'm putting here. It could also go in the talespinning/general D&D discussion forums, but since I'm using it to collect information for a project, I think it'll be fine.

Anyway, my question to you: What spells from each of the schools of magic would you say belong (or should belong) in a core set of effects? More broadly, what effects should each of those schools be able to produce thematically?

I know, it's a tad vague. Just bear with me on this.

[Risada]

Are we going to include certain descriptors (Conjuration [Summoning, Calling, Creation...])?

[Bozwevial]

Eh, I'd file all those under the broader umbrella of conjuration. Unless you don't like the schools as is, in which case feel free to suggest a different organizational system.

[dipolartech]

Well theres Burninator spells, (i.e. it deals destruction to things such as HP any flavor of direct damage really), Creation/Conjuration/Energy to Matter Conversion, Alteration/Warping (matter to energy to matter, matter to matter), Channeling/Absorption (energy to energy)

I suppose its just how abstract you want to get....

After all a giant ball of Fire really should cause some things to become dustlike even though the way that happens isn't the way that something like Disintegrate does it. And whats the difference between giving 'positive' energy for 'healing' and just converting energy directly into viable flesh (cells, tissues, organs etc) that just so happen to be in the perfect place to make you continue living?

[Risada]

Hmm...

Abjuration: Dispel Magic, Dismissal/Banishment, Protection from X
Conjuration: Mage Armor, Summon Monster X, Dimension Door
Divination: Scrying, Contact Other Plane
Enchantment: Charm X, Suggestion, Heroism, Dominate X
Evocation: Fireball, Lightning Bolt, Cone of Cold, Flame Strike
Illusion: Image Series (minor, major, mirror...), Shadow Evocation, Shadow Conjuration
Necromancy: Ray of Enfeeblement, Animate Dead, Create Undead
Transmutation: Haste, +4 to stat ones

Like this?

[Bozwevial]

That's a good bit of it, yeah. The other thing is what effects those schools don't cover but should, or effects that aren't core that you'd like to be.

...for a given value of core. Essentially, if you had to boil the schools down to the bare minimum, what would you keep out of all the possible effects?