D&D (2024) The Cleric should be retired

[Yaarel]

Sure, but PCs are not children going to war or being sent off to die in war. The vast majority of the time, they are exceptional individuals who go off on their own. Even if you do take 18 to be the age of majority, that would only apply to humans. Rabbit folk might hit the age of majority at 2.

The parents would be unethical if allowing their children to die by dragon.

I consider approximately 20 to be the age of majority for both Humans and Elves.

 

[Yaarel]

According to 5e, Humans, Elves, Dwarves, Gnomes, Halflings, and Tiefling all reach adulthood at the same rate, about the age of 20.

Dragonborn and Half-Orcs reach adulthood about 15.

 

[Maxperson]

The parents would be unethical if allowing their children to die by dragon.

Then a lot of parents die as unethical people during dragon attacks on a town or city. Kinda sucks to be them, since they can't avoid it.

I consider approximately 20 to be the age of majority for both Humans and Elves.

Why would elves be 20? They live to be several times older than humans. Regardless, though, age doesn't equate to power tier.

 

[Yaarel]

Then a lot of parents die as unethical people during dragon attacks on a town or city. Kinda sucks to be them, since they can't avoid it.

Why would elves be 20? They live to be several times older than humans. Regardless, though, age doesn't equate to power tier.

Longevity is different from maturity.

Hopefully medical technology will keep reallife humans alive for centuries in the near future.

Elves are a thought experiment about eternal youth.

 

[Maxperson]

Longevity is different from maturity.

Yes it is. However, elves are a completely different species and would almost surely not mature at the same rate. They could hit maturity at the age of 4 or 103 for all we know. Maturing any non-human race at the same rate as humans is likely to be incorrect.

Hopefully medical technology will keep reallife humans alive for centuries in the near future.

Alive isn't the concern. Quality of life also has to be good.

 

[M.L. Martin]

The problem isn't that the cleric has no role, but that it has three of them--vampire hunter, wonder-working saint, and Knight Templar--mashed together uneasily. Even then, it could work, but it's been further mashed up with 'priest of Symbiotic Henotheistic Pagan Deities', and with the emphasis on the religious details and the rise of Christophobia in the hobby, it's harder and harder to keep all those together.

 

[Mistwell]

The problem isn't that the cleric has no role, but that it has three of them--vampire hunter, wonder-working saint, and Knight Templar--mashed together uneasily. Even then, it could work, but it's been further mashed up with 'priest of Symbiotic Henotheistic Pagan Deities', and with the emphasis on the religious details and the rise of Christophobia in the hobby, it's harder and harder to keep all those together.

It may have begun that way but it has it's own D&D-centric identity at this point. Armored warrior, healer and curer of ailments disease poisons and curses, dealers of awe dread and radiant punishment.

In terms of popularity, it's upper part of the middle of the pack. More popular than Artificer, Ranger, Druid, Paladin, Sorcerer, Monk, Bard. As popular as Barbarian and Wizard. Less popular than Warlock, Rogue, and Fighter. So it's tied for forth most popular class according to DNDBeyond data. That data isn't perfect of course, but as the best data we have it does show it appears to have a pretty strong place in the game right now in terms of what players play.

 

[M.L. Martin]

It may have begun that way but it has it's own D&D-centric identity at this point. Armored warrior, healer and curer of ailments disease poisons and curses, dealers of awe dread and radiant punishment.

True, and probably connected to the fact that for the past quarter-century, D&D has primarily been about being D&D. On the original premise, I'd support it if we were back at the planning for 2nd Edition again, but at this point, the genre has become its own thing, and the official game is brand first, game third.

 

[Yaarel]

Yes it is. However, elves are a completely different species and would almost surely not mature at the same rate. They could hit maturity at the age of 4 or 103 for all we know. Maturing any non-human race at the same rate as humans is likely to be incorrect.

Alive isn't the concern. Quality of life also has to be good.

5e explicitly says, Elves mature at the same rate as Humans. Around 20 years of age.

 

[Maxperson]

5e explicitly says, Elves mature at the same rate as Humans. Around 20 years of age.

Does it say that about all races? And even if you accept that, it age still doesn't equate to level or tier.