Why wouldn't Someone Learn Magic...

[taliesin15]

These are the same societies that hold on to 'magical thinking.' The same societies that try to influence the weather, fertility (crops, animals, humans), and in the case of non-Muslim Africa and South Asia still perform traditional religious observations that the West refer to as 'superstitious' and 'witchcraft.'

Actually a good point, but the systems of magic are quite different. That's a far cry from the Western Magical Tradition of Medieval Europe where you had Emperors practicing alchemy, Queen Elizabeth's Astrologer using a "shewstone" to speak with angels using an obscure sigil-based language that is more or less the model for AD&D magic. Does the poor farmer have the resources to obtain the powdered amber, squid ink and poppy oil to draw the magic circle to summon a demon to do his bidding? Does she have the wherewithal to learn how to Gematrically derive the hidden patterns of the music of the spheres and so on?

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

All those people are gnomes in real life.

 

[Arashi Ravenblade]

The reasons are simple. I'll use myself as an example. I quite College during my second semester, i got horrible grades in high school, and am currently unemployed. The reason? It's all too much dang work and i dont have the mind for it nor the motivation, despite the fact that i tested above average during my IEP tests for IQ and Learning disability in 10th and 12th grade.
So while in a world where it would seem natural for everyone to learn magic, not every one has the will, drive or the intellect to learn magic, at least not Arcane. I would be much more suited to use things like Divine magic or psionics, since it doesnt really rely on personal effort (Studying and so forth), though some of you may disagree.

 

[Janx]

as a tangent on "real world magic users", most folks here in the US haven't heard of the Pennsylvani Dutch tradition. Salem didn't wipe out all the witches, nor were all the witches "not christian" (at least by their own belief, they were christian). These folks still exist today. Much of their practices are symbol stuff. Anyway, the point I'm making, is that even in America, through its entire history, there have been folks practising magic. It's not just for 3rd world countries.

Just providing a little technical info. Let's not get into any religious discussion over it...

 

[Griffith Dragonlake]

Actually a good point, but the systems of magic are quite different. That's a far cry from the Western Magical Tradition of Medieval Europe where you had Emperors practicing alchemy, Queen Elizabeth's Astrologer using a "shewstone" to speak with angels using an obscure sigil-based language that is more or less the model for AD&D magic. Does the poor farmer have the resources to obtain the powdered amber, squid ink and poppy oil to draw the magic circle to summon a demon to do his bidding? Does she have the wherewithal to learn how to Gematrically derive the hidden patterns of the music of the spheres and so on?

Agreed. But the poor farmer's wife did know a few charms to protect against 'elf-shot' and how to placate faeries. The farmer himself most likely performed rituals to ensure a bountiful crop and fertile yardstock. All in all a combination of cantrips and orisons. Not exactly game breaking.

 

[Quickleaf]

In a world where magic really does exist, and can do the things it does in D&D, why would someone ever choose not to learn how to cast spells?

Ten Reasons Why You Might Not Learn Magic
1. Your culture/religion is superstitious of magic and fears magic-users.
2. Magic is outlawed and witch-hunters track down and torture magic-users. Conversely, magic may be so desired that all magic-users are drafted by the imperial army.
3. You have a relationship or belief that holds you back from learning magic. For example, your rival sibling learned magic already and you couldn't compete to his/her expertise.
4. A council strictly regulates who may learn magic and require a deadly test. Alternately, magical mentors are extremely rare and may be dying out.
5. Magical components and education are cost prohibitive (and magical training may require a decade or more). Sorcerous magic may be more easily accessible, but only to those with the proper bloodline - which may be lots of trouble.
6. There are dangerous consequences to using magic. (Not in D&D core, but a staple of fantasy fiction, e.g. Ursula K LeGuin's Earthsea series)
7. Spell lists are extremely limited in the campaign world (perhaps to "support magic"), or magic can fail, or magic doesn't work in all places equally. Thus magic's power is severely curtailed.
8. There are limits on multi-classing in the campaign world, representing an "innate gift" for magic, or other barriers to becoming a magic-user.
9. "With great power comes great responsibility." Being able to wield cosmic earth-bending power comes with temptations, moral dilemmas, and duties that few can fathom. For example, you might shift toward a True Neutral alignment, be required to choose between your nation and your magical order, or learn the horrifying truth that magic-users are all that stands between reality and alien spirits.
10. The character tried to learn magic but failed his/her apprenticeship, and was forced to leave his mentor in shame. Perhaps they failed a test, lacked the necessary wisdom (or intelligence), or misused their magical ability and had it stripped from them.

 

[Odhanan]

In a world where magic really does exist, and can do the things it does in D&D, why would someone ever choose not to learn how to cast spells? Even just one level... For everyday purposes some of the 0th level spells seem pretty darn handy.

It almost seems like not learning to cast spells would be the equivalent of not learning to read...

Why, in a world dominated by science, wouldn't everybody be a scientist, or at least a graduate in science? That's the same reason: because people have different inclinations, because a society cannot function with only one thing, even if it's magic, and because knowing some theoretical principles is one thing, being a practician is another that generally requires a lot of practice, training (thus funds to get the training) and intellect.

 

[fusangite]

Agreed. But the poor farmer's wife did know a few charms to protect against 'elf-shot' and how to placate faeries. The farmer himself most likely performed rituals to ensure a bountiful crop and fertile yardstock. All in all a combination of cantrips and orisons. Not exactly game breaking.

If you want a setting/system that represents this very well, you should really check out Runequest. (Check out my review.)

 

[Nifft]

"Nine times from Ten, an Elf Maiden is not impressed by my Recitation of Charm Person. But oh, that Tenth time, tis Magic True!"

-- N

 

[Griffith Dragonlake]

If this were the case, why would anyone ever take a level in Commoner? By extension, wouldn't Commoners routinely take levels in Aristocrat? Indeed, why take a level in an NPC class at all, unless one's status as a PC or NPC is a matter of biological fact?I don't automatically permit these things. As a GM, I allow people to take cleric levels if they have ingratiated themselves with a specific temple of a specific god. The same goes from druid levels. For wizard levels, there has to be some initial access to a library. Sorcerors are born with innate talents, according to the RAW itself.Then put some brakes on it.

The RAW is silent on your right as a GM to make classes fit into some kind of social order. The fact that the RAW does not mention the sociological dimension of class advancement does not either permit or prohibit it. The rules are silent; and where the rules are silent, the DM should speak.

IIRC the RAW says that adventuring (PC) classes are only available to adventurers. All others must use the NPC classes. A commoner who becomes a blacksmith probably takes levels in expert. A commoner who achieves a ledership position in the community probably takes levels in aristocrat. An blacksmith (expert) who wishes to gain an edge on the competition might take a level in adept.

As GMs we can indeed apply brakes wherever and whenever we wish. Personally I don't like the system for adding other classes in 3.x. For that matter, I never liked in AD&D or AD&D 2nd Ed. how 9th level fighters could automagically start taking levels in wizard. When I told my players that they would have to study for years, there was a great wailing and gnashing of teesh. And that was back in '78. To suggest that now just produces laughter. Like it or not, there is a limit to what the GM can change without player revolt.

As far as NPCs having class levels, I find it patently absurd that a 20th level carpenter has 70 hit points -- comparable to an 8th level fighter with a 14 Con. But this is the game we choose to play.