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General Tabletop Discussion
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How Important is Magic to Dungeons and Dragons? - Third Edition vs Fourth Edition
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<blockquote data-quote="ExploderWizard" data-source="post: 4769511" data-attributes="member: 66434"><p>I think magic is important to any edition of D&D. One problem</p><p>with magic in 4E is that its so common that it's become more mundane.</p><p>Part of this problem started in 3E with the item crafting rules and all</p><p>of the +x to something slotted items that a PC could hardly be able to</p><p>do without.</p><p> </p><p>Once magic becomes so common there isn't a lot left that seems </p><p>really magical. Advanced technology can be magical if the principles</p><p>that it works on are unknown. In a fantasy world without gunpowder, </p><p>a flintlock pistol is effectively a magic item. Once the knowledge of how</p><p>to make and use these pistols becomes known then they become simply </p><p>weapons.</p><p> </p><p>Character abilities work the same way. If a non magic using character such as</p><p>a fighter performs feats that can only be explained as magic, and yet the ability</p><p>is labeled as non-magical, we have supernatural effects that have become mundane. </p><p>Every 4E class has abilities which would be magical or supernatural in any previous edition.</p><p>The only difference between magic/ non-magic that we have is a power source. </p><p>If the power source says that it isn't magical then the observer must be mistaken because</p><p>what just happened didn't really happen.</p><p> </p><p>The whole concept of a spellcaster is meaningless if everyone has powers that </p><p>can do the kinds of things that spells do. Magic isn't a very mysterious force when</p><p>Grok the fighter can use rituals as well as the wizard. Adventurers are all just superheroes </p><p>with different schticks and costumes. </p><p> </p><p>I know there are many who will disagree with this assessment and I will ask: What makes</p><p>magic "magical" to you?</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="ExploderWizard, post: 4769511, member: 66434"] I think magic is important to any edition of D&D. One problem with magic in 4E is that its so common that it's become more mundane. Part of this problem started in 3E with the item crafting rules and all of the +x to something slotted items that a PC could hardly be able to do without. Once magic becomes so common there isn't a lot left that seems really magical. Advanced technology can be magical if the principles that it works on are unknown. In a fantasy world without gunpowder, a flintlock pistol is effectively a magic item. Once the knowledge of how to make and use these pistols becomes known then they become simply weapons. Character abilities work the same way. If a non magic using character such as a fighter performs feats that can only be explained as magic, and yet the ability is labeled as non-magical, we have supernatural effects that have become mundane. Every 4E class has abilities which would be magical or supernatural in any previous edition. The only difference between magic/ non-magic that we have is a power source. If the power source says that it isn't magical then the observer must be mistaken because what just happened didn't really happen. The whole concept of a spellcaster is meaningless if everyone has powers that can do the kinds of things that spells do. Magic isn't a very mysterious force when Grok the fighter can use rituals as well as the wizard. Adventurers are all just superheroes with different schticks and costumes. I know there are many who will disagree with this assessment and I will ask: What makes magic "magical" to you? [/QUOTE]
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