D&D General Neurodivergence & Magic

[Sparky McDibben]

Something I was thinking about today. I have two kids on the Spectrum, and I got to wondering how neurodivergence interacts with magic, especially magic that impacts one's cognition. See, I'd figure that different kinds of brains must need different kinds of magic, and even identical spells might manifest very differently. And I was thinking about what that looks like.

Is there a spell that reduces the need for echolalia? Is that a good thing? What if, instead of needing to stim, someone could create illusory sensory inputs directly into themselves? What impact does that have on them? Do they become more withdrawn? More social?

I think a lot of this is just description and roleplay. I am very leery of the tendency to describe neurodivergent traits as a "superpower," for example. But I could also see an argument for saying that you might get a bonus of some kind to specific spells or schools of magic while giving you disadvantage to one or two other traits (like a couple of skills, for example). That validates a player's decision to portray their character in a certain way by leaning into it, but not so much that it's a min-max target.

I don't know - I go back and forth on this kind of stuff. Anyone else seen this kind of representation at a table?

 

[aco175]

I guess things depends on how you view magic. Is it more wizardry and you must gather the right materials and say the right words and study the right words and markings. Is it more Sorcerer in that you are born with it and suddenly you know how to do it without learning the right rules like wizards. Do you make a deal with the devil like warlocks and that power imparts something like a spark of their essence into you to know things. Does your god reach down from the heavens to lay his blessings upon you and your faith is enough to make things go. Or, are they all the same thing?

Maybe all psionics users are on the spectrum somehow.

 

[Sparky McDibben]

I guess things depends on how you view magic. Is it more wizardry and you must gather the right materials and say the right words and study the right words and markings. Is it more Sorcerer in that you are born with it and suddenly you know how to do it without learning the right rules like wizards. Do you make a deal with the devil like warlocks and that power imparts something like a spark of their essence into you to know things. Does your god reach down from the heavens to lay his blessings upon you and your faith is enough to make things go. Or, are they all the same thing?

Maybe all psionics users are on the spectrum somehow.

So that's a perfectly valid question! Personally, I was looking more at how a spellcaster's own mind might interact with that magic. So if the magic is a beam of light, and the caster is a prism, how does neurodivergence affect the prism? And how does the light change the prism as a result?
Hopefully that metaphor made sense!

 

[aco175]

So that's a perfectly valid question! Personally, I was looking more at how a spellcaster's own mind might interact with that magic. So if the magic is a beam of light, and the caster is a prism, how does neurodivergence affect the prism? And how does the light change the prism as a result?
Hopefully that metaphor made sense!

Goes back to if you think all magic is the same beam of light or are all of the casters practicing different types.

Maybe each class learns magic differently and some classes are easier for people to learn. I mean a warlocks brain could work in ways that make it easier for demons or fey lords to have their way inside. Maybe some people see magic like sorcerers do and it is easier for them where others must work the formulas.

I would not want to add a system for casters if I was the DM. If it is too good, then others would want to play with a PC on the spectrum and that might lead to poor roleplay that comes across as making fun of someone. If it does not add anything, then it is just flavor and the players can describe their PC in their own way.