Adding apprentices. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Adding apprentices. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
syrinth
10-11-07, 11:49 PM There is something that I'm thinking of doing and would like some insight. Keep in mind that this is solely from a roleplaying perspective and I'm well aware of the weakness here :P

I want to give mages(sorcerers, wizards and others like them) the "ability" to take on an apprentice for free. Technically this would be a class feature I suppose but optional and apprentices wouldn't just pop out of nowhere.

Once a mage gains access to level 4 spells they may take on an apprentice. This apprentice is a level 1 commoner who will, eventually, trade in his commoner level for whatever your base class is. The apprentice siphons off a small portion of your exp to level/levels over an extremely long period of time. (for those who don't bring apprentices into battle) At no point in time may an apprentice have more levels than one third of the levels that you possess. The apprentice may leave at any time *since they are an NPC but if treated well won't be leaving for a long period of time* to find their own path. If this happens then they are treated as being helpful to you and you are free to take on another one.

Now, this is as I said mostly for roleplaying such that it's not even really a class feature. I brought it up to one of my players who thought it would be unfair because he can apparently absorb a hit for you or some such thing. *shrug*

I'm curious to know what your thoughts on this are. Also, I'm considering allowing other classes a similar option and would be interested to know what you think of that as well.
vorpo
10-11-07, 11:57 PM Think what if you ARE the apprentice. Personally, if I were an apprentice, I'd be one to a wizard that has settled so that I can actually LEARN methodically or through helping the master in experiments or whatnot.

I do think there are people will be willing to be an apprentice to adventuring wizards, but very few.

Sorcerers, on the other hand, uses innate magic. So, even less people would be apprentice to sorcs than wizs, I would think.
syrinth
10-12-07, 12:00 AM blast, probably should have mentioned that all casteres in my campaign go through training including sorcs... >_>

Yes, sorcs have innate magic but the magical community deems it to be very, VERY important that everyone with such talents be taught how to control it to avoid any... unpleasantness.

And yeah, it would require a fair bit of roleplay in order to get an apprentice. :P

I'm mostly just wondering if anyone else thinks it's somehow unfair of me to do this.
vorpo
10-12-07, 12:44 AM blast, probably should have mentioned that all castares in my campaign go through training including sorcs... >_>

Yes, sorcs have innate magic but the magical community deems it to be very, VERY important that everyone with such talents be taught how to control it to avoid any... unpleasantness.

And yeah, it would require a fair bit of roleplay in order to get an apprentice. :P

I'm mostly just wondering if anyone else thinks it's somehow unfair of me to do this.

I said "even less people" not "no one". :P

Evil character probably won't second-thought of using the apprentice as a meat shield.:rolleyes: Other than that, I think it doesn't have much mechanical flaw.
Wih
10-12-07, 12:56 AM There are some pretty spiffy rules in DMGII for master/apprentice stuff. It gives you some bonuses and eventually turns into a virtual leadership feat, kinda.
syrinth
10-12-07, 02:44 AM Oh really?

I don't have that one >_> should probably look into it.
McPoyo
10-12-07, 08:37 AM I've always just used Leadership. It usually works pretty well if you use the followers instead of the Cohort for it, especially if running a mage school with multiple students.

Then again, I suppose the Cohort could just represent your favored and most talented student who gets to learn from your side in practical magic application...
Lord_Tirian
10-12-07, 08:44 AM I've always just used Leadership. It usually works pretty well if you use the followers instead of the Cohort for it, especially if running a mage school with multiple students.

Then again, I suppose the Cohort could just represent your favored and most talented student who gets to learn from your side in practical magic application...
Ditto. That's pretty much the point of the Leadership feat. Use it, sprinkle 'Apprentice flavour' on it, be happy.

Cheers, LT.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
syrinth 10-11-07, 11:49 PM	There is something that I'm thinking of doing and would like some insight. Keep in mind that this is solely from a roleplaying perspective and I'm well aware of the weakness here :P I want to give mages(sorcerers, wizards and others like them) the "ability" to take on an apprentice for free. Technically this would be a class feature I suppose but optional and apprentices wouldn't just pop out of nowhere. Once a mage gains access to level 4 spells they may take on an apprentice. This apprentice is a level 1 commoner who will, eventually, trade in his commoner level for whatever your base class is. The apprentice siphons off a small portion of your exp to level/levels over an extremely long period of time. (for those who don't bring apprentices into battle) At no point in time may an apprentice have more levels than one third of the levels that you possess. The apprentice may leave at any time since they are an NPC but if treated well won't be leaving for a long period of time to find their own path. If this happens then they are treated as being helpful to you and you are free to take on another one. Now, this is as I said mostly for roleplaying such that it's not even really a class feature. I brought it up to one of my players who thought it would be unfair because he can apparently absorb a hit for you or some such thing. shrug I'm curious to know what your thoughts on this are. Also, I'm considering allowing other classes a similar option and would be interested to know what you think of that as well.
vorpo 10-11-07, 11:57 PM	Think what if you ARE the apprentice. Personally, if I were an apprentice, I'd be one to a wizard that has settled so that I can actually LEARN methodically or through helping the master in experiments or whatnot. I do think there are people will be willing to be an apprentice to adventuring wizards, but very few. Sorcerers, on the other hand, uses innate magic. So, even less people would be apprentice to sorcs than wizs, I would think.
syrinth 10-12-07, 12:00 AM	blast, probably should have mentioned that all casteres in my campaign go through training including sorcs... >_> Yes, sorcs have innate magic but the magical community deems it to be very, VERY important that everyone with such talents be taught how to control it to avoid any... unpleasantness. And yeah, it would require a fair bit of roleplay in order to get an apprentice. :P I'm mostly just wondering if anyone else thinks it's somehow unfair of me to do this.
vorpo 10-12-07, 12:44 AM	blast, probably should have mentioned that all castares in my campaign go through training including sorcs... >_> Yes, sorcs have innate magic but the magical community deems it to be very, VERY important that everyone with such talents be taught how to control it to avoid any... unpleasantness. And yeah, it would require a fair bit of roleplay in order to get an apprentice. :P I'm mostly just wondering if anyone else thinks it's somehow unfair of me to do this. I said "even less people" not "no one". :P Evil character probably won't second-thought of using the apprentice as a meat shield.:rolleyes: Other than that, I think it doesn't have much mechanical flaw.
Wih 10-12-07, 12:56 AM	There are some pretty spiffy rules in DMGII for master/apprentice stuff. It gives you some bonuses and eventually turns into a virtual leadership feat, kinda.
syrinth 10-12-07, 02:44 AM	Oh really? I don't have that one >_> should probably look into it.
McPoyo 10-12-07, 08:37 AM	I've always just used Leadership. It usually works pretty well if you use the followers instead of the Cohort for it, especially if running a mage school with multiple students. Then again, I suppose the Cohort could just represent your favored and most talented student who gets to learn from your side in practical magic application...
Lord_Tirian 10-12-07, 08:44 AM	I've always just used Leadership. It usually works pretty well if you use the followers instead of the Cohort for it, especially if running a mage school with multiple students. Then again, I suppose the Cohort could just represent your favored and most talented student who gets to learn from your side in practical magic application... Ditto. That's pretty much the point of the Leadership feat. Use it, sprinkle 'Apprentice flavour' on it, be happy. Cheers, LT.