D&D (2024) Ranger playtest discussion

[Zubatcarteira]

Wizards in HP are born with their power, they can use it instinctually as children, and just go to school to learn to control it. More like a Sorcerer.

 

[James Gasik]

Weird how despite HP being a global phenomenon there hasn't been anyone clamoring to make wizards play like that.

Oh right, because HP wizards are actually not that strong.

Really? They can use their magic all day long without cost, there's spells for everything, especially in the expanded material, you can make magical objects and potions, harvest magical materials, and talented wizards don't even need wands! Plus you can throw out curses and death spells at will that apparently don't even have saving throws!

 

[ersatzphil]

Also man the amount of Ged/Sparrowhawk erasure from D&D players is nuts. Far more of an actual Wizard than either of those two jerks!

It's also insane to me how little-known the Earthsea novels seem to be among the current D&D community, particularly as the Moonshae Isles were more or less explicitly "let's put an Earthsea region into the Forgotten Realms". Though at the same time, I remember Sparrowhawk's best friend (who's name escapes me) singing a song to heal his wounds - very bard-y.

 

[James Gasik]

Wizards in HP are born with their power, they can use it instinctually as children, and just go to school to learn to control it. More like a Sorcerer.

Sorcerers don't even need that. Given that they don't seem to use mana, I'm more inclined to think they're Psions, lol.

 

[Haplo781]

Really? They can use their magic all day long without cost, there's spells for everything, especially in the expanded material, you can make magical objects and potions, harvest magical materials, and talented wizards don't even need wands! Plus you can throw out curses and death spells at will that apparently don't even have saving throws!

That's a 3.5 warlock.

 

[James Gasik]

It's also insane to me how little-known the Earthsea novels seem to be among the current D&D community, particularly as the Moonshae Isles were more or less explicitly "let's put an Earthsea region into the Forgotten Realms". Though at the same time, I remember Sparrowhawk's best friend (who's name escapes me) singing a song to heal his wounds - very bard-y.

I brought up Earthsea the other day to a friend of mine, and she was like "oh, like the Miyazaki movie?!".

I sighed. I mean, I like Studio Ghibli as much as the next fellow, but there's so much more to Earthsea...

A lot of the fantasy I read as a kid seems to have been forgotten, like the Shannara stuff- Druids like Allanon are obviously Wizards!

 

[James Gasik]

That's a 3.5 warlock.

Close, though their Hexes are far less limited, since one Wizard can learn a ton of them. Either way though, I wouldn't call them weak- sure, a gun could take one out, but it's not like there aren't magical creatures like giants and dragons in their world too.

 

[Haplo781]

Close, though their Hexes are far less limited, since one Wizard can learn a ton of them. Either way though, I wouldn't call them weak- sure, a gun could take one out, but it's not like there aren't magical creatures like giants and dragons in their world too.

Well my point is that they don't get to break reality over their knees the way D&D casters can - no wish, plane shift, no AoEs, disguise self is only available via potion ane higher level polymorph effects don't seem to exist, etc.

We'd hear a lot less about MCD if casters were only able to do what HP wizards can.

 

[Minigiant]

Put simply: I think a lot of people want non-magical characters to be able to do cool things and have interesting choices. It's not about gaming the system, its about a fantasy in which people who aren't wizards also get to be interesting.

I think there are people who want an exploration character with combat strength and an combat character with exploration strength.

The issue is Exploration past Tier 2 in D&D is magical. Full Stop.

So it's two group fighting for the soul of the class.

 

[Neonchameleon]

It's also insane to me how little-known the Earthsea novels seem to be among the current D&D community, particularly as the Moonshae Isles were more or less explicitly "let's put an Earthsea region into the Forgotten Realms". Though at the same time, I remember Sparrowhawk's best friend (who's name escapes me) singing a song to heal his wounds - very bard-y.

A Wizard of Earthsea was published in 1968 - 54 years ago. By the standards of fantasy books from the 1960s it's very well known.