Wotc Sorcerer Fluff - Poll
- Thread starter Stormonu
- Start date
Someone
Adventurer
I feel it's too specific. It's a good writing for a given campaign setting or the equivalent of a prestige class, but not for a base class. I'd like to have a wizard "equivalent" without Vancian casting as an alternative - less flavor loaded class abilities, easier to adapt to standard settings. The sorcerer comes with too much mechanical baggage.
Falling Icicle
Adventurer
While I like that they're trying to come up with cool fluff for the sorcerer, I just don't like the whole two souls thing. A possessed sorcerer would be fine as one possible sorcerous origin, but that explanation does not fit at all with other sorcerer types, like those who inherit their power from a dragon ancestor. It's fine for a sorcerer's power to be a wild thing that they struggle to control. I've always seen them that way since 3.0. But I just don't like the idea that all sorcerers become physically more monstrous as they cast spells or that they have this second soul that's constantly trying to take them over.
What if I just want to play a 3.x style sorcerer who has an innate gift for magic as opposed to learning it by study? I can't really play that kind of character anymore. Now I'm forced to fight with a second soul and gradually mutate into something freakish the more spells I cast each day. I simply have no interest in playing such a character.
So, my vote is that it's just too specific and restricting. While it's important for character classes to have a theme and focus, they also need to be able to support a wide variety of different concepts within that theme. A possessed sorcerer should only be one possible concept, not something all sorcerers have to be.
What if I just want to play a 3.x style sorcerer who has an innate gift for magic as opposed to learning it by study? I can't really play that kind of character anymore. Now I'm forced to fight with a second soul and gradually mutate into something freakish the more spells I cast each day. I simply have no interest in playing such a character.
So, my vote is that it's just too specific and restricting. While it's important for character classes to have a theme and focus, they also need to be able to support a wide variety of different concepts within that theme. A possessed sorcerer should only be one possible concept, not something all sorcerers have to be.
CleverNickName
Limit Break Dancing (He/They)
I voted 3, because I neither agree nor disagree, but the part about it being usable doesn't really apply to us. For years, we have used the MP system for spellcasting from Unearthed Arcana, which effectively makes the sorcerer and warlock classes obsolete.
Other people seem to like them, though.
Other people seem to like them, though.
I generally really like it, especially because most of the flavor the player is free to do with as he wishes.
Maybe you just use the mechanics, and really tone down the transformation.
Maybe you go all the way, even so much as your second soul leads to a second personality.
And of course, everything in between.
Maybe you just use the mechanics, and really tone down the transformation.
Maybe you go all the way, even so much as your second soul leads to a second personality.
And of course, everything in between.
It would make sense to have two main types of sorcerous origin: Heritage and Possessed. The first would be all the 'blood of the' types and natural talents, and would have full control over what happens when spending willpower. They'd suit players who wanted a traditional style sorcerer.
The second type, Possessed, would be sorcerers as they've been defined here: with a second soul, struggling with an internal magical entity. They'd have uncontrolled manifestations after spending enough willpower. Of course, there'd have to be a balancing mechanic, such as a bit more willpower for the heritage sorcerers to make up for the lack of manifestations.
Furthermore, I believe WotC are just gonna have to roll the sleeves up and produce a spellpoint wizard, probably via an arcane tradition. Doing so will give them a great deal of goodwill if they get it right.
The second type, Possessed, would be sorcerers as they've been defined here: with a second soul, struggling with an internal magical entity. They'd have uncontrolled manifestations after spending enough willpower. Of course, there'd have to be a balancing mechanic, such as a bit more willpower for the heritage sorcerers to make up for the lack of manifestations.
Furthermore, I believe WotC are just gonna have to roll the sleeves up and produce a spellpoint wizard, probably via an arcane tradition. Doing so will give them a great deal of goodwill if they get it right.
variant
Adventurer
I don't like the sorcerer fluff because it's too narrow for an entire class. It fits for one type of sorcerer, but not others. What if I wanted a sorcerer that is simply descendant of an ancient bloodline of powerful wizards where magic was literally infused into them? Or a sorcerer whose bloodline was simply chosen? The idea of the sorcerer needs to be broader.
I do like that it gives a set definition for what willpower means in D&D.
I do like that it gives a set definition for what willpower means in D&D.
I dislike it. As I posted in another thread, I think the core of the sorceror concept should be this quote from D&D's most infamous sorceror:
"Yes, I am a sorceror--and this magic is in my bones, not cribbed off of 'Magic for Dummies.' And I can keep casting the same friggin' spell at you until you roll over and die."
I don't like the idea that the sorceror has to struggle with the entity that grants her power. That's the warlock's gig. The sorceror's power doesn't come from a separate entity; it's part of her, blood and bone. She doesn't have to wrestle for control of it any more than the fighter has to wrestle for control of his sword arm.
The funny thing is, if you switch the magic systems of the sorceror and warlock classes, they work much better. The sorceror gets the ability to cast spells at will, no bookkeeping, no hassle--you just do it. And the warlock's magic becomes a tug-of-war with a powerful and inhuman being.
"Yes, I am a sorceror--and this magic is in my bones, not cribbed off of 'Magic for Dummies.' And I can keep casting the same friggin' spell at you until you roll over and die."
I don't like the idea that the sorceror has to struggle with the entity that grants her power. That's the warlock's gig. The sorceror's power doesn't come from a separate entity; it's part of her, blood and bone. She doesn't have to wrestle for control of it any more than the fighter has to wrestle for control of his sword arm.
The funny thing is, if you switch the magic systems of the sorceror and warlock classes, they work much better. The sorceror gets the ability to cast spells at will, no bookkeeping, no hassle--you just do it. And the warlock's magic becomes a tug-of-war with a powerful and inhuman being.
