Difference between revisions of "Caster supremacy"
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(Created page with "'''Caster Supremacy''' is the tendency, in many fantasy RPGs, for magic-using focussed characters to be outright better than any other character in the game. This usually oc...") |
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* underestimate the real-life effectiveness of mundane skills or the meaning of high statistic values (for example, the lead designer of Pathfinder estimating the difficulty of a seasoned warrior catching a weapon fastened by a cord, by considering how difficult it was for them to catch their mouse when it was tied to their wrist) | * underestimate the real-life effectiveness of mundane skills or the meaning of high statistic values (for example, the lead designer of Pathfinder estimating the difficulty of a seasoned warrior catching a weapon fastened by a cord, by considering how difficult it was for them to catch their mouse when it was tied to their wrist) | ||
* treat in-game abstractions as reality when judging the effect of mundane skills (for example, the lead designer of D&D 5e ruling that it was unreasonable to reduce a PC's hitpoint damage by shouting to inspire them to fight because doing so could not heal wounds, even though HP is an acknowledged abstraction including the PC's fighting capacity as well as physical injury) | * treat in-game abstractions as reality when judging the effect of mundane skills (for example, the lead designer of D&D 5e ruling that it was unreasonable to reduce a PC's hitpoint damage by shouting to inspire them to fight because doing so could not heal wounds, even though HP is an acknowledged abstraction including the PC's fighting capacity as well as physical injury) | ||
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| + | == Examples == | ||
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| + | * In ''Dungeons & Dragons'' 3.5th edition and prior, the ''Knock'' first level spell can do the work of a 20th level Rogue. | ||
| + | * In ''Dungeons & Dragons'' 5th edition and prior (except 4th edition), the ''Alarm'' first level spell can ''defeat'' a 20th level Rogue. | ||
Revision as of 15:51, 10 July 2019
Caster Supremacy is the tendency, in many fantasy RPGs, for magic-using focussed characters to be outright better than any other character in the game.
This usually occurs because the designer, GM and/or players have an existing preconception of what mundane or martial characters are capable of, but have no such conception for magic. Thus, magic using characters are designed without a restriction that other characters have, and no similar restriction is introduced to balance them.
This is usually further amplified by the tendancy to
- underestimate the real-life effectiveness of mundane skills or the meaning of high statistic values (for example, the lead designer of Pathfinder estimating the difficulty of a seasoned warrior catching a weapon fastened by a cord, by considering how difficult it was for them to catch their mouse when it was tied to their wrist)
- treat in-game abstractions as reality when judging the effect of mundane skills (for example, the lead designer of D&D 5e ruling that it was unreasonable to reduce a PC's hitpoint damage by shouting to inspire them to fight because doing so could not heal wounds, even though HP is an acknowledged abstraction including the PC's fighting capacity as well as physical injury)
Examples
- In Dungeons & Dragons 3.5th edition and prior, the Knock first level spell can do the work of a 20th level Rogue.
- In Dungeons & Dragons 5th edition and prior (except 4th edition), the Alarm first level spell can defeat a 20th level Rogue.
