What's with the druids n' rangers? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

What's with the druids n' rangers?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
zombiegleemax
Aug 01, 2005 7:08:23 Okay, I'm pretty clear on where the magic-using classes get their power from:

Clerics: Belief, in anything at all.
Paladins: Good.
Wizards: They're hackers, magic is the code.
Sorcs: They're virii, if you continue the metaphor.
Psions: The astral.

But this still leaves the rangers and druids, who get their power from, erm, where? From nature itself? But how is nature granting them this power? Are they just learning to access it? I heard something about it being a "force" as opposed to a "power".
#2
ripvanwormer
Aug 01, 2005 12:54:10 All divine spellcasters get their spells from belief. Clerics get their spells from belief in the gods, forces, or philosophies, while druids and rangers get it from gods or from belief in nature as a force.

That's not all there is to it, though. Divine spellcasters don't get spells from belief alone, or there would be 1st level characters who could cast 9th level spells if only they believe enough. They earn their spells through training and experience.

There's more to it than that, even, since gods have the power to refuse their clerics, druids, or rangers from getting spells at any time, and spellcasters dedicated to a deity lose their spells if their deity dies. Their faith is channeled through the god, philosophy, or force before it returns in spell form.
#3
eldersphinx
Aug 01, 2005 13:18:19 Supporting note -

Planescape canon answer is as Rip's posted. Which isn't surprising, as he's apparently got the entire product line memorized.

Larger metaphysical answer is that the 'source' of arcane or divine power has never been really closely defined, in order to allow individual settings and GMs to rework things as needed. Want clerics to have to engage in some sort of sacrament ritual, consuming a symbolic representation of their deity's flesh and blood to cast spells? Feel free. Care to argue that druidic powers come from the earth itself, and they have to be in contact with rock or soil to use their powers? Go for it. Shape the flavor that suits your campaign. No Planescape fan is likely to argue with that! :D
#4
ripvanwormer
Aug 01, 2005 13:20:39
Shape the flavor that suits your campaign. No Planescape fan is likely to argue with that! :D

Not me, anyway.
#5
zombiegleemax
Aug 01, 2005 13:31:23 I disagree! And I also disagree with using still living babies as a fuel source!

So remember, a vote for individual DM choice is a vote for the terrified wailing of children as they are burnt for warmth. Can YOU live with THAT on your conscience?
#6
zombiegleemax
Aug 02, 2005 1:58:28 As a DM... Yes :P
#7
richard_k
Aug 02, 2005 4:55:38 IN an old campaign i made most of the casters had to have some kind of focus. Priests had to have holy symbol in hand, wizard's there staff. But with druids and rangers i found it a little difficult so i came up with that they picked an element (water or earth mostly as fire and air are hard to hold) and that was there focus object. Though in the end i think my druid player got something or rather (its been a while) that gave him a huge fire resistance. SO he said his foucs element was fire and set him self a light and had the wizard do some permanency to it so it was non stop (think Ignus from PS:T). Happy days with imaginative players...sigh.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax Aug 01, 2005 7:08:23	Okay, I'm pretty clear on where the magic-using classes get their power from: Clerics: Belief, in anything at all. Paladins: Good. Wizards: They're hackers, magic is the code. Sorcs: They're virii, if you continue the metaphor. Psions: The astral. But this still leaves the rangers and druids, who get their power from, erm, where? From nature itself? But how is nature granting them this power? Are they just learning to access it? I heard something about it being a "force" as opposed to a "power".
#2 ripvanwormer Aug 01, 2005 12:54:10	All divine spellcasters get their spells from belief. Clerics get their spells from belief in the gods, forces, or philosophies, while druids and rangers get it from gods or from belief in nature as a force. That's not all there is to it, though. Divine spellcasters don't get spells from belief alone, or there would be 1st level characters who could cast 9th level spells if only they believe enough. They earn their spells through training and experience. There's more to it than that, even, since gods have the power to refuse their clerics, druids, or rangers from getting spells at any time, and spellcasters dedicated to a deity lose their spells if their deity dies. Their faith is channeled through the god, philosophy, or force before it returns in spell form.
#3 eldersphinx Aug 01, 2005 13:18:19	Supporting note - Planescape canon answer is as Rip's posted. Which isn't surprising, as he's apparently got the entire product line memorized. Larger metaphysical answer is that the 'source' of arcane or divine power has never been really closely defined, in order to allow individual settings and GMs to rework things as needed. Want clerics to have to engage in some sort of sacrament ritual, consuming a symbolic representation of their deity's flesh and blood to cast spells? Feel free. Care to argue that druidic powers come from the earth itself, and they have to be in contact with rock or soil to use their powers? Go for it. Shape the flavor that suits your campaign. No Planescape fan is likely to argue with that! :D
#4 ripvanwormer Aug 01, 2005 13:20:39	Shape the flavor that suits your campaign. No Planescape fan is likely to argue with that! :D Not me, anyway.
#5 zombiegleemax Aug 01, 2005 13:31:23	I disagree! And I also disagree with using still living babies as a fuel source! So remember, a vote for individual DM choice is a vote for the terrified wailing of children as they are burnt for warmth. Can YOU live with THAT on your conscience?
#6 zombiegleemax Aug 02, 2005 1:58:28	As a DM... Yes :P
#7 richard_k Aug 02, 2005 4:55:38	IN an old campaign i made most of the casters had to have some kind of focus. Priests had to have holy symbol in hand, wizard's there staff. But with druids and rangers i found it a little difficult so i came up with that they picked an element (water or earth mostly as fire and air are hard to hold) and that was there focus object. Though in the end i think my druid player got something or rather (its been a while) that gave him a huge fire resistance. SO he said his foucs element was fire and set him self a light and had the wizard do some permanency to it so it was non stop (think Ignus from PS:T). Happy days with imaginative players...sigh.