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Bards Should Be Half-Casters in 5.5e/6e
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<blockquote data-quote="Yaarel" data-source="post: 8391354" data-attributes="member: 58172"><p>Merlin is a composite of two separate somewhat historical figures, a Roman military leader and a bard called Merlin. The magical traditions are mainly Celtic bardic ones. Merlin compares to Taliesin, a bard with extremely powerful magic.</p><p></p><p>The word "wizard" means someone who knows magic, a generic term.</p><p></p><p>One of traditions says Merlin is the son of an "incubus". Given the provenance of place and time, this probably relates to later Scottish traditions of witches and elves, making Merlin something like a half elf. Nevertheless, the Merlin tradition probably demonizes the incubus, whence "cambion". But even then this is part of the Celtic magical concept ot the union of opposites, where this demon Merlin kinda sorta gets baptised as a Christian. In an other union of opposites, Merlin is born as an elder, and becomes more youthful as he ages.</p><p></p><p>I have no opinion about a reallife warlock. Besides the fact that (certain) communities referred to male witches as "warlock", everything else is obscure.</p><p></p><p>The term "druid" came to mean a generic term for mage. What the original druid is originally, we can guess at. They are a priestly caste (sacred family) who served Celtic gods, whose social role probably resembles Irish Catholic priests, and who in times of war fought magically and did not use weapons.</p><p></p><p>Some things are clear. Merlin is a bard.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>My approach is, when using a reallife cultural heritage term, make sure one knows what one is talking about. Make sure knowledgeable people from that culture consider the use of the term reasonable.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>I feel D&D doesnt entitle gamers to violate other peoples cultures.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>I agree the term "music mage" is bland. But obviously the term "bard" wouldnt work if the result is something that isnt what a bard is. Think about the concept, then try come up with a catchy (accurate) name for it.</p><p></p><p>It is so easy to not use a specific term from someone elses culture. If one wants to use it, do it accurately.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Yaarel, post: 8391354, member: 58172"] Merlin is a composite of two separate somewhat historical figures, a Roman military leader and a bard called Merlin. The magical traditions are mainly Celtic bardic ones. Merlin compares to Taliesin, a bard with extremely powerful magic. The word "wizard" means someone who knows magic, a generic term. One of traditions says Merlin is the son of an "incubus". Given the provenance of place and time, this probably relates to later Scottish traditions of witches and elves, making Merlin something like a half elf. Nevertheless, the Merlin tradition probably demonizes the incubus, whence "cambion". But even then this is part of the Celtic magical concept ot the union of opposites, where this demon Merlin kinda sorta gets baptised as a Christian. In an other union of opposites, Merlin is born as an elder, and becomes more youthful as he ages. I have no opinion about a reallife warlock. Besides the fact that (certain) communities referred to male witches as "warlock", everything else is obscure. The term "druid" came to mean a generic term for mage. What the original druid is originally, we can guess at. They are a priestly caste (sacred family) who served Celtic gods, whose social role probably resembles Irish Catholic priests, and who in times of war fought magically and did not use weapons. Some things are clear. Merlin is a bard. My approach is, when using a reallife cultural heritage term, make sure one knows what one is talking about. Make sure knowledgeable people from that culture consider the use of the term reasonable. I feel D&D doesnt entitle gamers to violate other peoples cultures. I agree the term "music mage" is bland. But obviously the term "bard" wouldnt work if the result is something that isnt what a bard is. Think about the concept, then try come up with a catchy (accurate) name for it. It is so easy to not use a specific term from someone elses culture. If one wants to use it, do it accurately. [/QUOTE]
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