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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Hussar" data-source="post: 2929675" data-attributes="member: 22779">Actually, no I don7t have to consider this.  Since this is a RAW discussion, this factor doesn't enter into the equation.  They don't defect since the demographics rules say they don't.There is a significant difference here between applying the RAW and questioning the assumptions that the RAW are built upon.  I have no interests in the latter.  It's not an issue here for me.  The question on the table is how do the factors described in RAW affect a world?  Sure, you can change the RAW which will then change the results of how those rules affect the setting.  Of course you can do that.  But, that's not the issue.  The point here is that we are looking at how the rules of the setting as defined by the RAW affect that setting.To use a real world example.  Take any experiment.  In that experiment, you must control almost all the variables (or as many as you can) and then see what happens when you change a small number of things.  If you don't control the variables, then the experiment will fail.  You must have a baseline.In DnD, that baseline is the RAW.  You can change that baseline, I'm not implying that you can't.  But, if you do, then that changed baseline is now your baseline.  You can't change the baseline and then apply it back to the old system.  That's cheating.  <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=";)" />So, back to the original point, now that I've meandered quite a bit.  It doesn't matter WHY the peasants stay on the farm.  It doesn't matter WHY they don't take up adventuring.  The physics of the setting - the RAW - states that they do so.Now, a point RC brings up is very valid.  A spell is actually not 100 gp.  A spell is caster level*spell level*10.  Plus, of course, any raw materials and the like.  This pretty much takes it out of the hands of the vast majority of the populace and places it pretty squarely in the aristocracy.  So, why isn't the aristocracy going to utilize it?RC claims that the aristocracy must be concerned about the casters growing in power.  However, that again is changing the baseline.  We don't have to worry about that since the demographics show that this isn't true.  Casters are actually pretty darn rare and high level casters even moreso.  YOu need at least a hamlet  to find a cleric of maximum 6th level (druid as well, however, it is unlikely) and a village (minimum 400 people) before you can find a 5th level wizard (again, fairly unlikely).  According to the demographics, you actually can't randomly find a wizard over 10th level and that's in a major city.The RAW equates a fairly low magic setting actually.  With a limit of 10th level wizzies, finding someone to make you a magic sword is going to be very tricky.  Finding people who are going to be able to single handedly take over the country is even more difficult.  A 10th level wizard is powerful, true, but, not that powerful.However, Even in a hamlet, I can find 3rd level wizards and clerics without too much difficulty.  Granted, the majority of the population does not live in hamlets or larger, but rather in smaller places, but, all I need for my purposes - low level, permanent magic - is a third level cleric or wizard.The RAW provides me with that.  It does not provide RC with his nation toppling mages.  Yes, the RAW also states that the DM is free to add in higher level NPC's.  Of course that's fine.  However, that's going to vary wildly from campaign to campaign and is beyond the scope of my point.</blockquote>

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