Subject: MYSTARA-L Digest - 22 Sep 2006 to 27 Sep 2006 (#2006-158) From: MYSTARA-L automatic digest system Date: 28/09/2006, 17:00 To: MYSTARA-L@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM Reply-to: Mystara RPG Discussion There is 1 message totalling 84 lines in this issue. Topics of the day: 1. Sorcerers in Mystara ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp The Mystara Homepage: http://www.pandius.com To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 26 Sep 2006 01:25:00 -0400 From: David Knott Subject: Re: Sorcerers in Mystara One point to consider in deciding about the inclusion of sorcerers in Mystara is the extent to which the mechanics behind that class and the wizard class are evident in the source material. For example, elves and human magic-users typically have high intelligence, average charisma, and spellbooks -- so those who are noted as having those traits have to be wizards and not sorcerers. On the other hand, dragons and fairy spellcasters (of the races described in PC1: Tall Tales of the Wee Folk) clearly work best as sorcerers (for dragons) or witches (for fairies) if you want to keep the conversion work to a minimum. In a similar way, there are clear similarities between the Ethengarian hakomon and the wu jen from Oriental Adventures. That leaves the wokani of the monster races up for grabs. Their limited levels, limited intelligence and charisma scores, requirement to be multi-classed, limited spell selection, and general illiteracy make them very likely candidates to be low level sorcerers. In Ylaruam, I could see their antagonism to Glantrian ways causing them to outlaw wizardry but permit sorcerers who refrain from learning or casting spells of the Necromancy school or that have the Fire descriptor. In Glantri, the requirements for graduation from the Great School of Magic can only be met by a wizard of level 9+. The granting of the status of prince to Kol (who in some sources is only a 5th level wokan and/or a divine spellcaster) definitely reflects a lowering of their pre-WotI standards. In the Northern Reaches, the Moridswerg seem to make the most sense as being derro sorcerers, from the little bit of information given about them. Among the Atruaghin clans, magic-users of some clans suffer a serious XP penalty. Could the reason be that they are actually sorcerers and not wizards and thus gain access to higher level spells later? In the Hollow World, the Hutaakan wokani clearly stand apart from those of the monster races who dominate the outer world Broken Lands. I suspect that their wokani are actually wizards. On the other hand, Antalian magic-users have a better weapon and armor selection than other magic-users but are social outcasts. They seem to be very likely candidates for the battle sorcerer class described in Unearthed Arcana. In summary: 3E introduced a dichotomy in the major arcane spellcasting classes that did not exist before. Exploring that dichotomy in the world of Mystara suggests that it might be racially based -- few if any races have a free choice between sorcerer and wizard. For most races, one of those classes (at most) is available while the other is unknown -- so gaining even 1st level in the unknown class would require a character to acquire training from a most unusual source. ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp The Mystara Homepage: http://www.pandius.com To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ------------------------------ End of MYSTARA-L Digest - 22 Sep 2006 to 27 Sep 2006 (#2006-158) ****************************************************************