Why is the Vancian system still so popular?

[Surmos]

Question in the thread is about as direct as i can be.

I’m noticing a correlation to the amount of people that like the Vancian magic system as well as the option for At-Will powers for Vancian casters.

Why is this system so preferred in comparison to the AEDU(Powers) system? Especially if its likely the new Vancian system will allow for At-Will abilities anyway?


My goal isn't to sound ignorant, but since [FONT=&quot]the announcement of D&D next and viewing the poll regarding the choice of the Vancian system (as well as popular opinions), I can’t quite understand why this system seems so significantly better than the power system that is currently in place in 4E. I’m not even a fanboy of this system, but I have to admit there is a degree of balance using AEDU that I hadn’t seen in previous editions of the game.[/FONT]

 

[ggroy]

Inertia.

 

[Savage Wombat]

Because players who like non-4e Wizards like options. They like the ability to have one set of abilities today and a different set tomorrow, if needed.

Also, personally anyway, having the ability to learn and release a magical effect feels more like a spell. Having an ability I can use as many times a day as I want feels more like a super-power.

 

[Kynn]

Grognard nostalgia.

Plus it's pretty easy to use.

 

[Kynn]

Because players who like non-4e Wizards like options. They like the ability to have one set of abilities today and a different set tomorrow, if needed.

Well, you can do that in 4e also.

 

[Savage Wombat]

Well, you can do that in 4e also.

Not to nearly the same degree.

 

[dkyle]

The flexibility and options are often cited, but I have no problem with having those things; the AEDU system could easily allow greater flexibility. In fact, 4E Wizards can gain quite a bit of flexibility in spell choice. What really limits them is the lack of flexibility of the spells themselves, and limited reasons to favor one over the other on a given day, not the AEDU system.

What ruins Vancian for me is its the emphasis on Daily resources. I think those are fundamentally bad game mechanics, and make it nearly impossible to have balance with classes based on at-will abilities. Class balance becomes extremely unstable, and highly dependent on how aggressively DMs push day-length. There should be no more than a smattering of them; even 4E has too many of them, I feel.

 

[GX.Sigma]

Because D&D wizards have always used vancian magic. So if the 5e wizard doesn't use vancian magic, then it won't "feel like D&D" to some degree. "Feeling like D&D" is basically the main goal of the new edition (there's a lovely explanation somewhere on the web, but I can't find it).

It's not my absolute favorite magic system (nor is AEDU), but if it's D&D, vancian is mandatory.

 

[Oni]

For me it provides more excitement and variety that the AEDU system does by leaps and bounds. And while it isn't my favorite spellcasting system of all time it IS D&D. Remove Vancian casting and it's just not the same game anymore. I like having alternatives, because I might not always want to use it, but it MUST be there.

 

[TimA]

I'd like to see BOTH systems take a long walk off a short cliff. But if i had to pick between the 2 of them vancian is better. the powers system just doesnt feel magical at all and far, far, too limiting.