Master/Apprentice

[Scribble]

So I was thinking about what level a Wizard would be in order to have an apprentice... I thought probably high level... But then I thought, why?

Wizards, like all classes start at 1st level right? So presumable your character was an apprentice before 1st level... So why couldn't your "master" be 1st level?

Theoretically all he needs to do is teach you the fundamentals, the wizardly skills... And then send you on your way right?

 

[Kahuna Burger]

So I was thinking about what level a Wizard would be in order to have an apprentice... I thought probably high level... But then I thought, why?

Wizards, like all classes start at 1st level right? So presumable your character was an apprentice before 1st level... So why couldn't your "master" be 1st level?

Theoretically all he needs to do is teach you the fundamentals, the wizardly skills... And then send you on your way right?

It's something the game doesn't address well, imo. I mean, there is no such thing as an unleveled human (or any other phb race) by the RAW, so what is an apprentice wizard?

If I had to describe that training period in game terms, I would probably make apprentice wizards adepts or commoners depending on how far along they were in their studies. It doesn't flow well in leveling terms, but that's life. A starting apprentice is a commoner, then he or she becomes an adept then a journeyman wizard at first level.

In purely metagame terms a Master wizard is 6th level at least so he can take Leadership. That's if apprentices and your journeyman are good for anything.

 

[Scribble]

It's something the game doesn't address well, imo. I mean, there is no such thing as an unleveled human (or any other phb race) by the RAW, so what is an apprentice wizard?

If I had to describe that training period in game terms, I would probably make apprentice wizards adepts or commoners depending on how far along they were in their studies. It doesn't flow well in leveling terms, but that's life. A starting apprentice is a commoner, then he or she becomes an adept then a journeyman wizard at first level.

In purely metagame terms a Master wizard is 6th level at least so he can take Leadership. That's if apprentices and your journeyman are good for anything.

It does have an apprentice level... At least 3.0 did, not sure if it stuck around in 3.5, as I don't have my DM's Guide nearby...

I guess it just gets ignored a oot, as most people hate 1st level enough... Who would want to play 0th!

 

[Kahuna Burger]

It does have an apprentice level... At least 3.0 did, not sure if it stuck around in 3.5, as I don't have my DM's Guide nearby...

I guess it just gets ignored a oot, as most people hate 1st level enough... Who would want to play 0th!

I don't recall an apprentice level, though I remember the multiclassed first level character option.

 

[Raylis]

So I was thinking about what level a Wizard would be in order to have an apprentice... I thought probably high level... But then I thought, why?

Wizards, like all classes start at 1st level right? So presumable your character was an apprentice before 1st level... So why couldn't your "master" be 1st level?

Theoretically all he needs to do is teach you the fundamentals, the wizardly skills... And then send you on your way right?

because a 1st level wizard is too busy amasing all that power and gold so he can buy that tower.

 

[Quartz]

Isn't this the Leadership feat?

 

[wingsandsword]

I don't recall an apprentice level, though I remember the multiclassed first level character option.

That was the "apprentice level" rules, you were a 1st level Character with two classes, and were "Apprentice level" in both of them.

I always treated it as if you were 1st level with an NPC class (like the typical person) and were taught the principles of a class by somebody with that class (i.e. 1st level in it) then you could eventually pick up the class yourself and the NPC effectively Retrains per PHBII to their new class.

Now, how long that training takes probably varies a lot by the class and the level of the teacher, a 1st level Wizard or Monk may take four or five years to teach a novice to 1st level themselves (and would probably learn enough about their own art to make 2nd level in the process), while I figure a 20th level Fighter could have somebody swinging a sword like a pro in a week of dedicated training.

Now, as to what level is it considered socially acceptable and expected to take on apprentices? I usually say 5th or 6th level. In old 1e AD&D, a Monk was a "Master" at 6th level, and by 6th level a character can take Leadership, cast 3rd level spells if they are a primary spellcaster, and generally have all their class-defining abilities by that level.

 

[Scribble]

But what about your average backwater town... Would/should there be a 6th level wizard there?

 

[WayneLigon]

But what about your average backwater town... Would/should there be a 6th level wizard there?

Your average backwater town is just that. Your hero comes from the one town that does have a mid-level wizard living off in a ruined tower, shunned by the simple folk save when they need him for some wizardly business.

I usually said that a person had to be at least sixth level to take an apprentice. I would probably now say about 7th or 8th; whatever level in the Star Wars RPG means you're not a padawan anymore

 

[Eric Tolle]

The DM's guide has rules for 0-level characters; those would be close enough to apprentices for my taste. First level would then be journeyman status, where the master would keep the former apprentice on as an assistant- making it curious why so many wizards are off wandering the world.

I wouldn't think that a wizard needs to be 6th level to take on an apprentice, any more than an expert blacksmith would. That would especially be the case in a small village, where the highest level wizard may be 1st. level.

Hmm. There's a motivation for a wandering 1st. level wizard. "I already know more than that old fool. I need to find a better teacher."