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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ixal" data-source="post: 8780713" data-attributes="member: 7030132">You left out clerics and paladins. Basically the mainority of spellcasters require extensive training. Most do not and would thus already be around once a social hirarchy forms.And the guy who can make water appear, close wounds with a touch or make things burn with his hand is a very good contender for the top spot as he is "better" than normal peopleYou should stop thinking in terms of HP, skill checks and who would be stronger.Spellcasting allows a person to do things the vast majority of people can't do. It literally makes them superhuman in their eyes. And thats the real power, not how much damage a fireball does. By appearing superhuman they can claim to be better than other people which is why they should rule and not others.Spellcasting, the ability to do things ordinary persons can't do is a very big plus on the list of reasons why you should rule and not someone else and why people should follow you.And you conveniently leave out all the older systems of government with divine rule like the Pharao of Egypt or the concurrent ones to Rome like Zoroastrianism and Judaism with divine rule.Not that Rome did not have imperial cults worshipping the emperor as divine and keeping Egypt in check by merging the role of Pharao and Emperor.And from there Christianity adopted this concept, except now the rulers are not gods themselves but divinely sanctioned.It did happen. From mass revolts in China after natural disasters to nobles backing other candidates.Legitimacy was one of the core components what made monarchies work. Without giving the people a reason why you are superior to them things fell apart quickly.You are confusing skill with legitimacy. Just because someone is a bad ruler doesn't mean he is illegitimate.Yes, vassalage in ancient Egypt...And as you saod yourself, the reliance on a divine mandate increased over time. So would the requirements of spellcasting (=the fantasy version of divine right)No it enforces it even more. The one casting spells must obviously be favored by the gods (unless he is not a divine caster which 99% of people would't be abke to tell).Just look at the proliferation of court rituals and the great lengths nobles had to go to appear proper. They did not do this because they wanted to go through all this but because it was expected of nobles to behave that way. And once enough nobles conformed to a ritual others had to adapt it.The same would happen to spellcasting, the ultimate "I am better than ordinary persons" and thus sign that you should rule over them.So, now your turn to defend your position...</blockquote>

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