D&D 5E What high-level spells could warp society?

[TwoSix]

We cribbed info from "Magical Medieval Society" and made an excell sheet for the larger kingdoms.

Ex: 10% of population was class level 1 equivalent, half of that was level 2, half level 3, etc.

Of the 10%, 6% were fighters, 2% rogues, 1% cleric, 1% mage.

Repeatedly halving population to determine class levels seemed a pretty common house rule back in the day.

Yea, I'm approaching it slightly differently; this is more of a decay of what levels are reachable in certain classes by the greater population.

I'm imagining there will plenty of high level NPCs who are something like wizard 10/rogue 4, because they've capped out on the progression they can reach for wizardry. And since this is ultimately about just explaining the setting, I don't need character facing rules to limit spell slots or anything like that. A 20th level sorcerer PC is just one of those one in a million potential people.

 

[Micah Sweet]

I think it can work even with your preferences. Assume a population of 100,000,000 people. Out of those, only a small subset are born with the right mindset/desire/talents to become an adventurer.

The PCs you play are simply a random sampling OF that subset. That's how it's worked for every version of D&D since the beginning; you've never been forced to roll up 14 farmers before you roll the guy who actually WANTS to adventure.

That works, so long as it isn't presented as "PCs are special...somehow" and that a similarly trained NPC can do anything a PC can (and vice versa).

 

[SkidAce]

Here is one we updated to 3rd Edition. It got cumbersome to track anything below cities/kingdom.

I've also toyed with the idea of a simple equation i.e Highest Class Levels=population*something/something that I can do on the fly.

But like @TwoSix said, it needs to be more o a setting conceit, too much work for gain otherwise. (I do know that my evil empire has 8 20th level wizards, so there's that, hehe.

 

[SkidAce]

Yea, I'm approaching it slightly differently; this is more of a decay of what levels are reachable in certain classes by the greater population.

I'm imagining there will plenty of high level NPCs who are something like wizard 10/rogue 4, because they've capped out on the progression they can reach for wizardry. And since this is ultimately about just explaining the setting, I don't need character facing rules to limit spell slots or anything like that. A 20th level sorcerer PC is just one of those one in a million potential people.

I am interested in seeing your equation versus my existing population. (Yes, I'm a big nerd)

 

[TwoSix]

I am interested in seeing your equation versus my existing population. (Yes, I'm a big nerd)

Right now, trying to avoid e because it makes the calculations uglier. Where I'm at right now is, assuming population P, is that the population that can cast level X spells is:

P(x) = P* 8 ^ -(0.75*X+0.25)

That gives:
1 in 8 people can cast 1st level spells
1 in 180 can do 3rd level spells
1 in ~20,000 can do 6th level spells
1 in ~2,000,000 can do 9th level spells

 

[Micah Sweet]

Right now, trying to avoid e because it makes the calculations uglier. Where I'm at right now is, assuming population P, is that the population that can cast level X spells is:

P(x) = P* 8 ^ -(0.75*X+0.25)

That gives:
1 in 8 people can cast 1st level spells
1 in 180 can do 3rd level spells
1 in ~20,000 can do 6th level spells
1 in ~2,000,000 can do 9th level spells

I really need to pick up that Magical Medieval Society book. Is it on Drivethru?

 

[TwoSix]

I really need to pick up that Magical Medieval Society book. Is it on Drivethru?

I'd ask @SkidAce. This is just me using some analytical tools I have at my desk.

 

[SkidAce]

Right now, trying to avoid e because it makes the calculations uglier. Where I'm at right now is, assuming population P, is that the population that can cast level X spells is:

P(x) = P* 8 ^ -(0.75*X+0.25)

That gives:
1 in 8 people can cast 1st level spells
1 in 180 can do 3rd level spells
1 in ~20,000 can do 6th level spells
1 in ~2,000,000 can do 9th level spells

Fascinating. Will research over the course of the day.

Thank you.

 

[SkidAce]

I really need to pick up that Magical Medieval Society book. Is it on Drivethru?

It is on Drivethru, here is the link. There were websites that used to do the calculations for you, let me see if I can find them.

DriveThruRPG

www.drivethrurpg.com

 

[SkidAce]

Right now, trying to avoid e because it makes the calculations uglier. Where I'm at right now is, assuming population P, is that the population that can cast level X spells is:

P(x) = P* 8 ^ -(0.75*X+0.25)

That gives:
1 in 8 people can cast 1st level spells
1 in 180 can do 3rd level spells
1 in ~20,000 can do 6th level spells
1 in ~2,000,000 can do 9th level spells