D&D (2024) Martial vs Caster: Removing the "Magical Dependencies" of high level.

[Yaarel]

IIRC, “grit” was used in Pathfinder for the Gunslinger mechanics (similar to the Battlemaster’s Superiority Dice). Matt Mercer even ported it over for Percy’s Gunslinger subclass when CR converted to 5e. I wouldn’t mind if WotC borrowed that for new Fighter mechanics. They might need to change it from “grit” to something like “determination”, but all this “grit and determination and heart” start to sound like hockey talk mumbo jumbo.

Determination doesnt really allow humans to jump over 300 meter chasms.

 

[Yaarel]

And so explain to me how grit and determination (aka willpower) is somehow lesser than the force of one's soul.... aka willpower?

Because the ones soul is nonmagical but is able to produce magical effects, whence ki and psionics.

Also, references to "determination" in the sense of directly manifesting magical effects by means of willpower, is Psionic magic.

Ki is more body oriented, attuning the subtle forces and influences of the life of ones own body. Perhaps Ki can be the Martial power source, making the Monk a Martial class after all. The Elemental Monk seems less about the body, and more about the ether and other four elements, thus seems more Psionic. But it is fine if the Elemental Monk is a Psionic subclass for a Martial Monk class. Ki would allow the Martial character to phase thru objects, interact with forces, glide and fly, and so on.

 

[Yaarel]

Exactly the way they recover the DNA might as well be magic. The way the clowning works with super fast growth to adult knight as well be magic.

Cloning an adult can literally be a computer printout. Such as printing out a functional heart, except an entire body.

The DNA is partially reconstructed to fill in the missing gaps. If I recall correct, Jurassic Park used modified frog DNA to do this. They probably should have used bird DNA.

 

[HammerMan]

Cloning an adult can literally be a computer printout. Such as printing out a functional heart, except an entire body.

The DNA is partially reconstructed to fill in the missing gaps. If I recall correct, Jurassic Park used modified frog DNA to do this. They probably should have used bird DNA.

Again gi find places where scientists rip into it. This is bad science at best and pure science fantasy at worst. In no way is it hard sci-fi.

 

[Yaarel]

Again gi find places where scientists rip into it. This is bad science at best and pure science fantasy at worst. In no way is it hard sci-fi.

The problem with "cloning" is, it is simply a genetic twin, a normal human individual enjoying human rights and personal freedoms.

Re a printout, the newborn adult would lack any memories, and would be infantile.

On the other hand, if a printout of a body lacked a brain, it might allow for a brain transplant from the DNA donor. This wouldnt solve the problem of aging by itself, since the brain itself and even the telomeres of the DNA suffer from the earlier aging. But, it could help many humans who suffer from devastating injuries.

 

[Yaarel]

What are peoples feelings about D&D using the term "ki", in the context of cultural appropriation?

Generally, I find it to be a useful near-universal term, whose meaning is relatively clear, and that applies to any Martial class including any superhuman feats. But if D&D employs it, it would also reuse it in contexts that might misrepresent Japanese meaning? (And similarly other cognates such as Chinese qi.)

If it is necessary to avoid this potential problematic if misrepresentation, maybe use a term like "aura" or "lifeforce". The Greek term would actually be psukhe (psyche), but modern psychology appropriated it to emphasize the unconscious aspects of the mind. But now psyche seems almost synonymous with mind in English. I like "aura" best, as its mystical capacities are clearer since it is more than muscle.

 

[Yaarel]

Again gi find places where scientists rip into it. This is bad science at best and pure science fantasy at worst. In no way is it hard sci-fi.

With regard to reconstructing DNA, supercomputers are about ready to do this now. It will also unleash a new era of medicine, since AI can test how a chemical affects a living body virtually before ever testing it on actual living animals, including humans.

 

[Minigiant]

What are peoples feelings about D&D using the term "ki", in the context of cultural appropriation?

Generally, I find it to be a useful near-universal term, whose meaning is relatively clear, and that applies to any Martial class including any superhuman feats. But if D&D employs it, it would also reuse it in contexts that might misrepresent Japanese meaning? (And similarly other cognates such as Chinese qi.)

If it is necessary to avoid this potential problematic if misrepresentation, maybe use a term like "aura" or "lifeforce". The Greek term would actually be psukhe (psyche), but modern psychology appropriated it to emphasize the unconscious aspects of the mind. But now psyche seems almost synonymous with mind in English. I like "aura" best, as its mystical capacities are clearer since it is more than muscle.

D&D already uses aura in a known magical tone.

In D&D, ki is lifeforce. Lifeforce is good. It is a bit clunky for a general repeated term to me however.

Vitality? A fighter could have Vitality equal to their Constitutions score? Action surge, Second Wind,and Indomitable could cost Vitality?

 

[Yaarel]

D&D already uses aura in a known magical tone.

In my mind, the aura of a Paladin is actually the ki of the Paladin, even if using the Divine magic of an oath to magically enhance the ki. That the Paladin attunes a soul of holiness seems part of the D&D traditions.

In D&D, ki is lifeforce. Lifeforce is good. It is a bit clunky for a general repeated term to me however.

For me, terms like "lifeforce" (Hebrew nefesh) and "mindforce" (Norse hugar) are familiar enough. I guess I got used to it. It seems fine as a technical term.

Moreover there are comparable synonyms that allow a less repetitive style of diction.

"aura", "lifeforce", "force of life", "influence of a living body", "bodily soul", "soul aura", "bodily aura", "aura of lifeforce", "vitality", "vitality of the body", "vitality of the soul", plus "ki", "ki aura". Etcetera.

Vitality? A fighter could have Vitality equal to their Constitutions score? Action surge, Second Wind,and Indomitable could cost Vitality?

I might want to focus on the Constitution bonus to hit points as being strictly physical "meat" points.

Then "vitality" is the more nonphysical aspects of hit points.

In any case, I like the term "vitality" when refer to the bodily forces and influences of a soul.

 

[Hussar]

Which one do you want to use? Once you pick one, it informs how the class is built and what abilities it can logically have. You can't just say, "there will be  something, but it doesn't matter what". That's the same as not offering any narrative at all.

Why one? Other classes are not so limited.