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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Yaarel" data-source="post: 9686767" data-attributes="member: 58172">I call this kind of Wizard flavor the "protoscientist". I dont think the Wizard can specialize into it until the Psion class comes into existence. The original Magic-User was, and the current Wizard continues to be, the every-kind-of-magic class. It hoards all of the resources and aspects of magic, including the Psion with its innate magic directly willed by mind over reality. Once the Psion comes into existence, the original Magic-User can truly radiate into the separate classes, while the Psion inherits the aspect of personal innate magic.Then the Non-Psion Wizard can double down as the protoscientist. It has little or no personal magic power. Instead, all magic is external natural forces of creation, and none of it is personal. It would precisely specialize in material components such as specific minerals or plants within peculiar quasi-scientific formulas, that include motions of bodyparts that correspond to the twelve constellations, and other aspects of sympathetic magic. Some formulas might require the substance of "ether" understood as the Wizards own soul added in the form of a mental intention during the procedure. But even this isnt personal magic, but merely an ingredient within the cosmic apparatus. Rituals would often be elaborate ceremonies that might involve anything from phases of the moon to extracting a single drop from a cauldron of complex ingredients culled in complex scenarios over specific lengths of time.The Warlock and the Sorcerer are neither fish nor fowl. They are neither personal magic nor cosmic magic. They came into existence during 3e for the purpose of being a place for alternative gaming mechanics instead of vancian spellcasting mechanics. The vancian Wizard never ceased being the every-magic class. Now in 5e, vanican is gone, and all magic spontaneous. The 5e Wizard is the 3e Sorcerer. Warlock is still distinguished mechanically, by Short Rest refresh versus Long Rest. But the flavor concepts of both Warlock and Sorcerer are muddled, often redundant. The Warlock is said to draw on external power yet wields it personally. The Sorcerer is said to draw on personal power yet depends on memorizing external spell components, external transformative origins, dragon bloodlines and planar radiations. Same as the Warlock.None of these lore entanglements can clearly resolve until the Psion exists and its personal magic divorces from the rest of the classes. Then the Wizard can no longer be the every-kind-of-magic class. Finally, the Wizard, Sorcerer, Warlock, Cleric, Druid, and Bard, each settle into their respective in-setting flavor niches.Where primal and psionic are two sides of the same coin, perhaps reorganize the mages into the following power sources.Psionic (soul): Psion, Bard.Primal (nature beings): Sorcerer, Druid.Divine (human sciences): Cleric, Warlock.Arcane (physical sciences): Wizard, Swordmage.This arrangement serves as starting point to individuate the mage classes into distinctive identities.</blockquote>

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