Wizard: Essential Class or Scared Cow

[Delta]

Ugh! So then, in your games, every person from an uncivilized culture has to have levels in the Barbarian class or they aren't really barbarians? Every single knight has to have levels in the Knight class? People go around calling themselves Rogues? People make a distinction between Warriors and Fighters?... People refer to themselves as Fighter/Rogue/Wizards when describing their professions? People refer to their alignments, levels, and hit points, and discus their +1 longswords and the like?! ... I am very curious as to where you get the notion that those of us who would never use game mechanics terminology in-character (which includes everyone I have ever gamed with) want to get rid of the class based system.

Again, my claim to in-game usage is in this discussion solely about class titles, not anything else. To expand the discussion, I'd say that game-term names are used in-game, while numbers would not be. I play core-rules only; I also think that the more classes you add to the game dilutes the core elegance of the system, so I avoid that. So, in my gaming:

- Yes, barbarians are only called barbarians if they have that class.
- There is no Knight class; I still use the D&D tradition for knighthood to be a reward title.
- Yes, people call themselves Rogues (unless lying or equivocating).
- I don't recognize NPC classes like Warrior.
- Yes, people call themselves Fighter/Rogue/Wizard.
- Yes, people definitely refer to alignments by name (see Elric novels, Gygax novels, detect evil spells, etc.)
- People would not refer to a numerical level or hit points.
- People would refer to a +1 longsword as a "faintly magical longsword" (as per detect magic).

It's basically just keeping things simple, and not having to engage in big-W, little-W linguistic contortions.

 

[Warren Okuma]

- People would refer to a +1 longsword as a "faintly magical longsword" (as per detect magic).

Question: After the sword has been Identified, what does the wizard tell the party? This is a +1 sword?

What do you call a +2 sword?

I'm curious, how does everyone else describe plusses?

I just say it's a +1 sword, or +2 etc...

 

[Brennin Magalus]

How scared is this cow, exactly?

LOL

 

[Brennin Magalus]

My problem is that we have a wizard and sorcerer class. I just don't think the differences between the two classes warrant a separate class. To me, the differences are almost cosmetic, and could be represented by a feat or a substitution level etc.

The sorcerer still reeks of a 3.0 gimmick to me. I'm sure we could have one magic-user class, and have the option of being a prepared or spontaneous caster.

If one has to go, I vote for the wizard (to go).

 

[Bloosquig]

In general I dislike all the classes. When walking down the street how many level 3 Bankers do you see? If a banker goes to some karate classes do they gain levels in Martial Artist? The whole class system is beginning to irk me so I say they're ALL scared cows. Run little burgers-on-legs run! Because I'm coming for YOU!

 

[Warren Okuma]

In general I dislike all the classes.

Ah, you want a classless game. I suspect you support Gandalf Marx. "Down with all classes!"

When walking down the street how many level 3 Bankers do you see?

HInt, DnD is not real. It is a game. DnD doesn't even pretend to be real. It's a Gygaxian psychosis with rules.

If a banker goes to some karate classes do they gain levels in Martial Artist?

Why not? DnD is not real. Levels is part of the DnD laws of reality in this strange dimension.

The whole class system is beginning to irk me so I say they're ALL scared cows. Run little burgers-on-legs run! Because I'm coming for YOU!

Look! A 15th level carnivore!

 

[Edena_of_Neith]

It's a Gygaxian psychosis with rules.

Does that mean we Gamers are all psychotics?

 

[Warren Okuma]

Does that mean we Gamers are all psychotics?

Woof?

 

[KrazyHades]

Pardon me, but I think you're forgetting about the best wizard of all time!

RINCEWIND!

 

[Tonguez]

Pardon me, but I think you're forgetting about the best wizard of all time!

RINCEWIND!

Lol yes and again - nothing like the DnD wizard (which is ironic considering that the Wizards are a lampoon of such)