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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Henry" data-source="post: 5310497" data-attributes="member: 158">Minor quibble, but 2E and earlier forms of D&D many times didn't use PC classes to create NPCs or monsters, either -- they sometimes did, but if it wasn't a human or "demi-human" race (like elf, halfling, or dwarf) they were a stat block not too dissimilar to the way 4E does it. 3E is the first version to always treat monsters with the same gradient consistency as PCs.I'll agree with your major point, though -- if we were, for the sake of argument, going to translate Merlin to 4E PC stats, the important thing is to figure out what you're trying to emulate, and then pick the classes or stats that best model that. In Merlin's case, I'd say look at the abilities you're emulating -- are we looking at the old stories, from Both La Morte d'Artur and even prior (some of the Ambrosius and Merlinus Caledonensis stuff that preceded being linked with "King Arthur")? Or are we looking at the lgends closer to graphic novels and comics, or the D&D stuff?If we're looking at the written legends, then Merlin had a lot of confusing powers - I'd fathom him an illusionist almost before I'd call him a Wizard. Actually, the Merlin as mentioned in folklore (depending on sources):<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Had giants for friends, who helped him build Stonehenge</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Recited poetry</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Wrote prophecy (or maybe had prophetic visions, I'm a little unclear on this)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Could shapechange into multiple forms (animal and man)</li> </ul>Not so much on the Meteor Swarms, Time Stops, and Cloudkills, though.Based on the original stories, Merlin in 4E terms would not be a wizard at all! He would probably instead be... get this... a Bard, near as I see it, both in 3E terms (the 3.5 bard could do a lot of this) and in 4E, either a Hybrid Druid/Bard, OR a Bard, but with Druid Multiclass feats.Neat thing is, if you really wanted some fun, have a look at one of the Bard Class features: Multiclass Versatility You can take MORE than one multiclass! So, Merlin the Bard, takes Arcane Initiate, Initiate of the Old Faith, Then the Full set of Novice Power, Acolyte Power, and Adept Power, and Old Merlin can use damn well whatever funky spell, evocation, or utility you please for him for story purposes! His Bardic abilities serve him well for things like making buddies with giants, having minor prophetic moments to help allies in combat, and even covering him and allies with mind-befuddling illusory guises.Now, Merlin was supposedly a Cambion, a half-man half-demon. Sound like Tiefling, anyone? Hmm, Tieflings get a bonus to Intelligence and Charisma... Perfect for the legendary Bard/Wizard! He'd just need to nix those damned Hellboy-Sized horns on the stereotypical Tiefling head, maybe trim that tail down (maybe the local barber could dock his tail... <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f609.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)"  data-smilie="2"data-shortname=";)" />) Or, leave him with the D&D-style horns and tail, to come as a shock to PCs when they hear these legends about the "famous" Merlin and get in for rude shock when they meet him in person...</blockquote>

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