What do you call an illiterate wizard?

[gizmo33]

Why not use the sorcerer class with intelligence as the key spellcasting ability instead of charisma?

Because it might be that the earlier "pre-literate" conceptions of magic were based on personality force and magnetism, and not intelligence per se. The idea of a wizard memorizing formulas and manipulating reality in a pseudo-scientific fashion (with "laws of magic") and so on, like a lot of the modern imagery of the fantasy wizard, belongs more in a pseudo-Renaissance era. So the intelligence/charisma divide between literate and non-literate wizards seems appropriate to me, although I imagine many sorcerers are intelligent just as many wizards are charismatic.

Personally I really hope in 4e WotC gets over the rigid definition of wizardry, sorcery, divine, and arcane casters and instead focuses on formulaic v. spontanenous casting as well as power sources (personal, summoned/pact, channeled, etc.).

That would be awesome - take all the best ideas that have circulated and combine them into a big rulebook. Something tells me however, that they'll go the 3E route, and just republish older ideas with reworked mechanics in various splat-books over time.

 

[Jhaelen]

What do you call an illiterate wizard? … A sorcerer!

I don't see a problem with illiterate wizards. IMC I use a homebrew variant 'Wind Wizard'. I got the idea from an Ars Magica sourcebook about a finnish magical tradition.

They use knotted strings instead of scrolls/spellbooks. Casting a spell involves untying the knots that have been made during preparation. They gain Use Rope as a class skill instead of Decipher Script. They also get the eschew materials feat instead of the scribe scrolls feat and have to specialize in a 'school' consisting of air/weather related spells which includes a couple of druid spells. Forbidden schools are two out of abjuration, enchantment & illusion.

Works quite well and it's a fun alternative to the bookish standard wizards

 

[Dioltach]

Why do wizards need to be literate? Replace a spellbook with a staff carved by the wizard, who can then study the strange symbols and shapes to regain their spells. Or let them tattoo these images onto their flesh, or the flesh of a slave/apprentice.

I just love the idea of tatooed slaves! Getting a new slave who's fat enough to have a 9th level spell fit his skin ... Not to mention the grissly possibilities for an evil wizard when the slave dies: a room full of flayed skins springs to mind.

On a more serious note, yes, I'd probably go with a rune staff or rune stones.

 

[dmccoy1693]

Are we talking before or after he gets hacked in half by a barbarian?

Some suggestions: paperweight, dart thrower, an armorless warrior with a bad fort save, BAB and weapon choices, or my personal favorite: a cat's familiar.

 

[Tonguez]

They use knotted strings instead of scrolls/spellbooks. Casting a spell involves untying the knots that have been made during preparation.

Hey thats exactly what I did for a preliterate 'scroll replacement' the addition of rope use and eschew materials is kewl too and something I will adopt