diff --git a/src/kernel/magic.c b/src/kernel/magic.c
index 2d8382fb8..1da2e01b8 100644
--- a/src/kernel/magic.c
+++ b/src/kernel/magic.c
@@ -344,7 +344,7 @@ sc_mage *get_mage(const unit * u)
 static int read_seenspell(attrib * a, void *owner, struct storage *store)
 {
   int i;
-  spell *sp = NULL;
+  spell *sp = 0;
   char token[32];
 
   store->r_tok_buf(store, token, sizeof(token));
@@ -352,11 +352,12 @@ static int read_seenspell(attrib * a, void *owner, struct storage *store)
   if (i != 0) {
     sp = find_spellbyid((unsigned int) i);
   } else {
-    int mtype;
-    mtype = store->r_int(store);
+    if (store->version<UNIQUE_SPELLS_VERSION) {
+      store->r_int(store); /* ignore mtype */
+    }
     sp = find_spell(token);
     if (!sp) {
-      log_error("read_seenspell: could not find spell '%s' in school '%s'\n", token, magic_school[mtype]);
+      log_error("read_seenspell: could not find spell '%s'\n", token);
     }
   }
   if (!sp) {
@@ -371,7 +372,6 @@ write_seenspell(const attrib * a, const void *owner, struct storage *store)
 {
   const spell *sp = (const spell *)a->data.v;
   store->w_tok(store, sp->sname);
-  store->w_int(store, sp->magietyp);
 }
 
 attrib_type at_seenspell = {
@@ -423,7 +423,7 @@ static boolean has_spell(quicklist * ql, const spell * sp)
 }
 
 /** update the spellbook with a new level
-* Written for Eressea 1.1
+* Written for E3
 */
 void update_spellbook(faction * f, int level)
 {
diff --git a/src/kernel/magic.h b/src/kernel/magic.h
index 931ccf8f6..152e7118e 100644
--- a/src/kernel/magic.h
+++ b/src/kernel/magic.h
@@ -158,13 +158,15 @@ typedef struct sc_mage {
     char *sname;
     char *syntax;
     char *parameter;
-    magic_t magietyp;
     int sptyp;
     int rank;                   /* Reihenfolge der Zauber */
-    int level;                  /* Stufe des Zaubers */
     struct spell_component *components;
     spell_f cast;
     fumble_f patzer;
+
+    /* this is not so much the spell's data, but the school's studying data */
+    magic_t magietyp;
+    int level;                  /* Stufe des Zaubers */
   } spell;
 
 /* ------------------------------------------------------------- */
diff --git a/src/kernel/version.h b/src/kernel/version.h
index d2b6ba3b9..c179b99fb 100644
--- a/src/kernel/version.h
+++ b/src/kernel/version.h
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@
 #define FOSS_VERSION 336        /* the open source release */
 #define OWNER_2_VERSION 337     /* region owners contain an alliance */
 #define FIX_WATCHERS_VERSION 338        /* fixed storage of watchers */
+#define UNIQUE_SPELLS_VERSION 339        /* turn 775, spell names are now unique globally, not just per school */
 
 #define MIN_VERSION CURSETYPE_VERSION   /* minimal datafile we support */
-#define RELEASE_VERSION FIX_WATCHERS_VERSION    /* current datafile */
+#define RELEASE_VERSION UNIQUE_SPELLS_VERSION    /* current datafile */