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Message: <blockquote data-quote="JohnSnow" data-source="post: 2914466" data-attributes="member: 32164">Well, it all depends on whether "magic" is something anyone can do, or whether it's something you have to have some form of "gift" for. IF anyone can do it or learn to, you're right that magic is just a career.But, if you have to have a gift, magic is more likely to be viewed differently. People are mistrustful of that which is strange. Combine this with the old adage: "power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely," and you have the makings of a world where most people don't want to hear about "magic users," have no interest in going to them for help, and are more likely to turn them over as dangerous threats than go to them for help raising the town. These are people who, at the heights of their power can read your thoughts, get into anything you own, and basically TAKE anything they WANT. It's not a stretch of human nature to assume people would mistrust letting ANYONE have that power.As such, most peasants would avoid them. Most people in power would try to control them, suppress them, or kill them before they became a threat.I won't go into ALL the fictional examples, but consider just a few:1. In the Wheel of Time series, only some people can channel. Men who can have a tendency to go crazy. As a result, while commoners recognize that channeling is real, they don't go seeking channelers out for help - unless they have no choice. The Seanchan go one step further and leash ALL channelers (wilders anyway) so they can't be a threat. They don't acknowledge that those who can control channelers could learn to channel. It's anathema to their society.2. In the X-Men comics, only some people have mutant powers. Those who don't have them react very naturally by distrusting those that do. To the extent that they can, they try to persecute those people before they can become a real threat. They figure that what can't be brought to heel should be eliminated. A few mutants with really scary powers is enough to convince "the powers that be" that ALL mutants are dangerous.3. In Star Wars, only some people have the necessary connection to use the Force. As a result, when the Jedi are hunted down and killed, it takes only a generation for people to conclude it's a "hokey" "ancient religion." Belief in it is more a matter of faith than fact, as few people have ever really SEEN anyone do" jedi stuff." Those who are old enough to remember are dismissive of the force because acknowledging its power is inherently dangerous.So, how do you change the "flavor of magic" in D&D? You can simply make one rule: while players can choose any character type they want, magic isn't, by default, something anyone can learn.Once it's "restricted," basic human nature makes magic rare and less likely to be used. Even if a wizard seems benevolent, who hasn't heard stories? How can you trust anyone with this level of power and moreover, why should you?Especially when anybody who shows any talent whatsoever can be whacked before they become a real threat. <img src="http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/devious.png"  class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":]" title="Devious    :]" data-shortname=":]" /></blockquote>

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