Who would want to play a non-caster?

[Sekhmet]

I love fighter-types because I'm a weapons kind of guy. Sure I could use Spiritual Hammer or the wizard equivalent knife, but to me and my characters, there's not better feeling than taking down the bad guy and pulling your blade from his beat-less heart.

A little late to the party, but how about reaching out a spectral hand to grasp around his heart and drain the life from him?
Vampiric Touch ftw.

 

[Jhaelen]

Given all that casters can do, what rational person would want to play a non-caster. Given that casters can fly, teleport, shapechange etc. etc. etc. and basically alter reality who would choose to play a non-caster?

A real world example being who would choose to be a manual laborer when they can be a CEO.

Your question seems to imply that everyone chooses character classes with a single goal: creating the most powerful character possible.

That's not everyone's goal and I think it's entirely rational to play a character you enjoy identifying with, regardless of the character's power.

I also think you have no clue what being a CEO involves. I know just enough about it that I wouldn't _ever_ want to have the job of a CEO.

 

[ProfessorCirno]

Because Tome of Battle hasn't been foolishly banned, thus giving you fun and playable options for a non-caster.

 

[Particle_Man]

I also think you have no clue what being a CEO involves. I know just enough about it that I wouldn't _ever_ want to have the job of a CEO.

I would, just long enough to secure the million dollar+ retirement package after a short period of totally shoddy and substandard CEOing, since I would have no idea how to do the job at all well.

 

[billd91]

A little late to the party, but how about reaching out a spectral hand to grasp around his heart and drain the life from him?
Vampiric Touch ftw.

Meh. Just doesn't have the same visceral appeal.

And that's why I play a particular type of character - because I feel like doing so. I have a lot of fun with non-casters... and so, apparently, do 3/4 of the players at my table.
Of course, we're also the type of group in which plenty of people are more than willing to play non-Jedi characters in the Star Wars games we've played too.

Sometimes, wielding oddball powers just doesn't hold a candle to brandishing a sword (or blaster).

 

[Particle_Man]

I thought the appeal of Jedi was that they had swords. Very cool glowing swords that make sounds and can cut through anything except another similar sword.

 

[billd91]

I thought the appeal of Jedi was that they had swords. Very cool glowing swords that make sounds and can cut through anything except another similar sword.

Even that's a small consolation if you feel more like a scoundrel who shoots first when bounty hunters try to extort or threaten him.

 

[Dandu]

You mean shoot defensively in reaction to being attacked, of course.

I would, just long enough to secure the million dollar+ retirement package after a short period of totally shoddy and substandard CEOing, since I would have no idea how to do the job at all well.

No, I think you got the gist of it.

 

[Meatboy]

Maybe if you play lots of high level campaigns casters are the bees knees so to speak. But I find that when starting at low levels they seem to die fast and often. The 1d4 damage from magic missile is kind of iffy or even if you have sleep you'd best hope that the orc doesn't make their save because their 1d12+3 damage great axe WILL make short work of a caster regardless of being a wizard, cleric or what have you.

 

[Dandu]

To be fair, most classes stand a fair chance of dying at low levels. A cleric with d8 hit dice has as much HP as a monk or ranger, and more than a rogue or bard would.