While the magic-user has the potential to be a very powerful classes in the OD&D game, it is widely surmised that his abilities are not commensurate with his XP requirements relative to the other character classes available (vid. "Building the Perfect Class"). While we believe the magic-user's potential warrants the existing XP progression, we also feel that he deserves a few extra abilities. The enhancements below appear to fit the bill nicely, giving the class more logical talents of use to himself and the party.
Unless otherwise noted in the following, use the magic-user guidelines as presented in the Rules Cyclopedia (RC/19-21). Note, in particular, the inclusion of the short sword in the list of permitted weapons, as well as the improved saving throws, mimicking those of a cleric of equal level.
Class Details
Primary Attribute: Intelligence.
Experience Bonus: 5% for Intelligence 13-15, 10% for Intelligence 16-18.
Hit Dice: 1d4 per level up to 9th level. Starting with 10th level, +1 hit point per level, and Constitution adjustments no longer apply.
Maximum Level: 36.
Armour: None; shield not permitted.
Weapons: Blowgun, dagger, flaming oil, holy water, net, short sword, sling, staff, whip; Weapon Mastery as normal PC (RC/75).
Combat: Attacks as magic-user of equal level.
Special Abilities: Cast Magical spells; at 1st-level – read magical writings as 1st-level Magical spell Read Magic (RC/45) at will, General Skill of Magical Engineering (RC/84); at 3rd-level – detect magical aura as 1st-level Magical spell Detect Magic (RC/45) (level/3 times per day); at 18th-level – half damage from spells (as dwarf, RC/24).
Special Abilities
A magic-user trains extensively in the magical arts, gaining chiefly the ability to cast magical spells in the process. A necessary element of his training, taught from apprenticeship, is the ability to read magical scripts, as the 1st-level magical spell of the same name (RC/45), at will. This ability does not constitute the actual casting of Read Magic, though the effect is identical. Magic-users also receive, as part and parcel of their arcane instruction, the Magical Engineering general skill (RC/84). If the general skills rules (RC/81) are not used, assume that Magical Engineering is an automatic ability; if general skills are used in the campaign, Magical Engineering does not count against the magic-user's normal skill slot allotment.
At 3rd-level, the magic-user's improved sense and recognition of magical energy manifests as the ability to detect magical auras, as the 1st-level magical spell Detect Magic (RC/45), one time per day for every three experience levels attained. As with the read magical script ability, this ability does not constitute actually casting the Detect Magic spell, though the effect is the same.
Finally, upon earning 18th-level, the magic-user's exacting comprehension of magical spells permits him a saving throw bonus against all damaging magic. This benefit has the net effect of automatically negating half the damage directly caused by offensive spells, or reducing overall damage to 1/4 the normal amount if the magic-user's saving throw is made. Note that all damage values are rounded down, and that the minimum amount of damage the magic-user sustains from an offensive spell is 1 point.
Higher Experience Levels
As per the RC/20.
Experience Table
| Level | XP Req'd | Notes |
| 1 | 0 | |
| 2 | 2,500 | |
| 3 | 5,000 | Detect magical aura (1/day) |
| 4 | 10,000 | |
| 5 | 20,600 | |
| 6 | 40,000 | Detect magical aura (2/day) |
| 7 | 80,000 | |
| 8 | 160,000 | |
| 9 | 320,000 | Detect magical aura (3/day) |
| 10 | 470,000 | |
| 11 | 620,000 | |
| 12 | 770,000 | Detect magical aura (4/day) |
| 13 | 920,000 | |
| 14 | 1,070,000 | |
| 15 | 1,220,000 | Detect magical aura (5/day) |
| 16 | 1,370,000 | |
| 17 | 1,520,000 | |
| 18 | 1,670,000 | Detect magical aura (6/day); half damage from offensive spells |
| 19 | 1,820,000 | |
| 20 | 1,970,000 | |
| 21 | 2,120,000 | Detect magical aura (7/day) |
| 22 | 2,270,000 | |
| 23 | 2,420,000 | |
| 24 | 2,570,000 | Detect magical aura (8/day) |
| 25 | 2,720,000 | |
| 26 | 2,870,000 | |
| 27 | 3,020,000 | Detect magical aura (9/day) |
| 28 | 3,170,000 | |
| 29 | 3,320,000 | |
| 30 | 3,470,000 | Detect magical aura (10/day) |
| 31 | 3,620,000 | |
| 32 | 3,770,000 | |
| 33 | 3,920,000 | Detect magical aura (11/day) |
| 34 | 4,070,000 | |
| 35 | 4,220,000 | |
| 36 | 4,370,000 | Detect magical aura (12/day) |