Learned or Inherent Magic?

[zarionofarabel]

If you can only choose one, which one?

Learned Magic - Anyone, with sufficient time and effort, can learn how to use magic and cast spells.

Inherent Magic - Only people born with particular attributes (or whatever) can learn how to use magic and cast spells.

 

[Kobold Stew]

equal opportunity; democratic access; perseverence over genetics rewarded.

Learned all the way.

 

[Minion X]

equal opportunity; democratic access; perseverence over genetics rewarded.

Learned all the way.

No, no. This kind of power can only be trusted to the sage and chosen few, and their descendants brought up from birth to steward this noble tradition. If any rabble could wield the forces of creation, it would result in anarchy and chaos.

 

[Kobold Stew]

"Any rabble" won't put in the work required. There's no anarchy or chaos from the threat of being too educated.

 

[aco175]

I was thinking that you needed something inherent, but then I realized it was not 1e/2e and that you needed minimum scores to qualify, thus it used to weed out the riffraff.

 

[Minion X]

"Any rabble" won't put in the work required. There's no anarchy or chaos from the threat of being too educated.

Gormenghast begs to differ. Imagine what Steerpike would have done if he had known Fireball and Charm Person.

 

[Tigris]

equal opportunity; democratic access; perseverence over genetics rewarded.

Learned all the way.

I mean learning is also pretty heavily influenced by genetics rewards. (And by the money of the parents).

If you can only choose one, which one?

Learned Magic - Anyone, with sufficient time and effort, can learn how to use magic and cast spells.

Inherent Magic - Only people born with particular attributes (or whatever) can learn how to use magic and cast spells.

Hmm in general I prefer inherent magic. Rewarding "nerds" (people who spend a lot of time learning) just feels for me boring.


However, I do prefer inherent magic when its "you have a talent for a specific kind of magic" and not "only rare people have a talent for magic".


So is it for you important that "inherent" means that only phew have magic? If yes I will vote learned (else inherent).


I do think both can lead to interesting magic systems Witch Hat Atelier has a great "everyone can do magic" system, but in dungeons and dragons I would get rid of Wizards over Sorcerers any day.

 

[GMMichael]

equal opportunity; democratic access; perseverence over genetics rewarded.

Learned all the way.

I think you just defined bureaucracy.

 

[Kobold Stew]

I think you just defined bureaucracy.

Or I said that Last Jedi is better than The Rise of Skywalker. One of the two, for sure.

 

[MNblockhead]

I like to mix it up from campaign to campaign, sometime one, sometimes another, sometimes both, depending on the system and world building, but since I must choose, I would go with learned. As a DM I find learned magic systems to provide excellent hooks for adventure. As a player, I find the more crunchy character development more satisfying.