Is this bad roleplaying?

[Lord Pendragon]

I like katanas, so several of my PCs have used them. If playing a water-mage is what makes D&D fun for you, then I say more power to you. There is no reason why someone should have to play several different types of PC, if they only really enjoy playing one.

Besides, since the part of the PC that you are interested in is mainly a combat-theme, there's plenty of room for customizing this PC to be different from your former water-mage. Perhaps he became a water-mage for different reasons. Perhaps he's a different race, as someone else suggested. etc. etc.

And even if he were exactly the same, it wouldn't matter to me. If your group likes playing with you, they'll like playing with you regardless of your choice of PC. And if they don't, then you have bigger problems than your next character.

 

[SamuraiY]

Ravellion

Change the character's gender

That's a good idea. I'm sueprised I didn't think of it myself. I'll give it a try

 

[Angcuru]

to me, it seems easier for a woman to role-play a guy than for a guy to role-play a girl. just my perspective.

 

[jmucchiello]

If you've been playing a water mage named Ed for the last 20 years in 50 different campaigns and you want to come back to the game as a water mage named Ed. Go for it. As long as it's fun for you. Ignore the name-callers who say it's lame.