D&D General D&D, magic, and the mundane medieval

[doctorbadwolf]

Learning some math or physics does not a mathematician or physicist make. What you are describing with the person learning some math is a person who took the magic initiate feat and got a few cantrips.

That’s literally what I have been saying! You don’t have to be a Wizard as such to have a few Arcane spells! If 1 in 1000 are PC class level full casters, much more than that are spellcasters!

That's not a spellcaster. Spellcasters have a PhD in spellcasting.

Says who? How do you reconcile half and 1/3 casters with that? Someone with Ritual Caster? Sure they are simultaneously spellcasters and not PhD equivalents in Spellcasting.

So yes, the heights of professional advancement can in fact rationally be the floor for becoming a spellcaster.

Even if we accept the truly bizarre definition of spellcaster that you seem to be using, no. A level 1 Wizard is nowhere near the height of anything. They’re at the end of apprenticeship/beginning of journeyman level, at best. Bachelor degree holders, perhaps.

 

[Oofta]

Mediaeval farmers, builders, etc did not use mathematics. They used folk knowledge and techniques.

Even if they did understand basic math, there's a huge gap between understanding basic math and being a mathematician. Knowing the basics of anatomy does not a surgeon make, basics of physics a physicist, the basics of magic a wizard.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

I don't feel as though you're addressing anything I wrote. I didn't say anything about inborn traits. If you can't train someone because they don't want to be trained, doesn't that just mean that not everyone can be trained?

no someone saying "it didn't come easy and isn't worth it"
is not the same as "i can't learn this"

 

[GMforPowergamers]

Mediaeval farmers, builders, etc did not use mathematics. They used folk knowledge and techniques.

I think it is splitting hairs to argue if they know math or do math without knowing it...

 

[GMforPowergamers]

Knowing some basic math =/= mathematician, though.

again I don't want to argue over spliting hairs... especially out what I told you right away was a guess...

 

[GMforPowergamers]

Knowing basic arithmetic doesn't make you a mathematician. I know basic maths but I wouldn't, nor would anyone else, call me a mathematician.

fine I give up... some one give a definition for what level of math you need to be a mathematician (I knew a set of twins that freshman year went to mathamatics camp, and as of today I know more math then they did then)

 

[MGibster]

One of the greatest wizards in history, Rincewind, only knew one spell.

 

[Cadence]

fine I give up... some one give a definition for what level of math you need to be a mathematician (I knew a set of twins that freshman year went to mathamatics camp, and as of today I know more math then they did then)

For a lot of the sciences it feels like a job in industry or government wouldn't involve statistician/mathematician/biologist/physicist/etc.. as the title if it didn't require at least a bachelors in it or closely related field. In academia as a self descriptor it feels like it would typically be someone with a Ph.D. in that or adjacent field unless they've done a lot of research and work that they're equivalent to one.

 

[Maxperson]

fine I give up... some one give a definition for what level of math you need to be a mathematician (I knew a set of twins that freshman year went to mathamatics camp, and as of today I know more math then they did then)

I'd say PhD level. Maaaaaaybe, a Masters degree.

 

[Maxperson]

One of the greatest wizards in history, Rincewind, only knew one spell.

More accurately, one spell knew him.