D&D 5E Q&A February 14th: Lines, Finding Spells & Fighter Identity

[Klaus]

http://community.wizards.com/dndnex...t_qa:_lines,_finding_spells__fighter_identity

 

[GX.Sigma]

Finding spells as treasure is not as cool when you (a) need to spend money to copy it, and (b) you cant even read it if you dont have read magic. Why dont all wizards get read magic for free?

 

[Klaus]

Why dont all wizards get read magic for free?

I agree with you there. Read Magic and Detect Magic are the most basic of spellcasting abilities. They ought to be free cantrips (although I quite liked the skill-based version of Detect Magic in 4e).

 

[Chris_Nightwing]

They shouldn't really even be spells, just a thing you do, an ability check even.

There is *so* much complaining on the WotC boards that Fighters don't get their own special cupcakes. I sympathise a little, they have only a background choice to rely on to get better at talking or knowing things but I don't think they need some special ability to themselves for this. No, instead I just think the skill system needs tidying up and better defining, spells that involve interaction need limiting and rituals should be opened to all.

 

[Klaus]

The mention of the "Way of the Warrior" is interesting, and could be mined for more Fighter abilities. If anything, the Fighter relies upon himself, upon what he knows: this arm, this hand and the sword it wields, this beating heart and the will that moves this body. Let that self-reliance be the Fighter's center motif. That ought to distinguish him from the Barbarian (rage), Monk (ki), Paladin (faith) and Ranger (nature).

 

[I'm A Banana]

I'm into their description of the warrior as an archetype in and of itself, and I'm inclined to agree. Klaus's elaboration of "self reliance" is pretty great, too. I also find this mashes up well with D&D history, when Fighters had the best saves: nothing phases a fighter. They are determinators. In exploration, they wade into the thorny vines and cut their way through, they keep marching long past the point of exhaustion, they bend bars, lift gates, and beat down the door. In interaction, they are no-nonsense, not easily fooled, and strong-willed.

Where barbarians are superstitious, fighters are practical. Where monks are esoteric, fighters are concrete. Where paladins are lofty, fighters are realistic. Where rangers are flighty, fighters are reliable. That's not a bad archetype.

I also wonder how realistic it would be to run a NEXT game where the only abilities you ever received were in the form of treasure. Wizards had no spells, fighter had no maneuvers, rogues had no tricks, unless they quested for them....I find the concept strangely alluring.

 

[gyor]

(although I quite liked the skill-based version of Detect Magic in 4e).

I've been saying this for along time, having wizards or even other magic using classes that can't read magic or detect magic makes no sense.

 

[Garthanos]

I've been saying this for along time, having wizards or even other magic using classes that can't read magic or detect magic makes no sense.

I said that in 1980 or so.... it took till 4e to see it in D&D.

 

[Garthanos]

I also wonder how realistic it would be to run a NEXT game where the only abilities you ever received were in the form of treasure. Wizards had no spells, fighter had no maneuvers, rogues had no tricks, unless they quested for them....I find the concept strangely alluring.

Zero level adventure 101. So we follow CuCulaine as he travels about seeking out the mentors which taught him his martial maneuvers/feats.

 

[I'm A Banana]

Zero level adventure 101. So we follow CuCulaine as he travels about seeking out the mentors which taught him his martial maneuvers/feats.

Pfft, only zero level? Naaah, I want this to be the whole game, perhaps.