Should Clerics and Druids Be Vancian?

[Dausuul]

The title of the thread pretty much sums it up. There's obviously a large contingent of people who strongly want Vancian wizards. But what about the divine casters? Should they also use the Vancian mechanic, as has been the case in previous editions? Or should they take a different approach? If the latter, is there a particular approach you'd like to see?

 

[Hassassin]

I don't want to say either "Yes, they should" or "No, they shouldn't". I won't insist either way, as long as they are fun to play. Both would also be fine.

I do want a Vancian wizard, but am not opposed to non-Vancian alternatives.

 

[Sammael]

Clerics, yes. They pray to their gods and receive a tiny fraction of their power every day.

Druids, no. They epitomize the raw natural forces. They should still have daily limits but shouldn't be forced to memorize their powers.

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[Ahnehnois]

Good topic. I've never like Vancian for divine casters.

I use spontaneous casting for divine casters, which I think is great because it allows clerics to differentiate strongly. Not everyone can or should or does take every healing spell, so there's a great deal of diversity. A cleric focused on divinations is very different from one focused on combat. It's a significant balance factor because unlike wizards, clerics had a ridiculous variety of spells to choose from every day. Taking away that versatility reduces the CODzilla factor a bit. There's also more of a sense of casting in real time. It seems strange that a cleric can't pray when he needs something right now.

I'd advocate a system with equal or more flexibility, and save Vancian for the wizards.

 

[Jack7]

Not to me. Clerics should be performing wonders and miracles, not doing magic.

Druids, I guess it depends on whether they are worshiping deities or nature. To me that would tell.

 

[Alaxk Knight of Galt]

Voted no, but that no has qualifications

0. At least one type of Arcane Caster should use Vancian Magic. If that happens, I'm okay with all sorts of alternatives moving forward.
1. I'm not oppose to Clerics and Druids having Vancian Magic
2. Arcane is the Power Source I most associate with Vancian Magic. I'd really like to see Divine and Primal/Nature use a different spell casting method.

 

[keterys]

Players should have the option for Vancian and Non-Vancian casting for each type of caster. I'll consider anything else a failure.

 

[SKyOdin]

I would like to see Clerics and Wizards using different spell systems, whether it is Vancian or not. There is some basis in history for it, at least, since Clerics and Paladins have always used other subsystems than Vancian magic for their unique abilites: Turn Undead and Smite Evil.

 

[Guest 85555]

Personally I would like divine magic to feel different. So non-vancian for divine casters would be fine with me. However since they are trying to unite D&D fans I saw hold off on these kinds of innovations in 5e, keep them vancian.

 

[MarkChevallier]

Yes, as a default. 5E is not about innovation and change; 4E was, and it split the market. 5E is about unification. To an extent, it has to un-sacrifice some sacred cows. Clerics and Druids were Vancian in BECMI, 1E, 2E and 3E and semi-Vancian in 4E (if by Vancian you mean fire-and-forget magic).

We are not writing a Fantasy Heartbreaker here, and neither are WoTC; they're trying to write a D&D that keeps the feel of D&D sufficiently to recapture and reunify a broken market.

Non-Vancian options will be available, I have no doubt, for those that want them.