Chances of passing on sorcerer potential [Archive] - Wizards Community

Chances of passing on sorcerer potential [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Dunamin
09-28-06, 12:51 PM A player I DM for has occasionaly expressed his wishes, that one or more of his character's future children follow in his footsteps and become established sorcerers.
This has lead us to (not entirely serious) speculation on what the chances are of developing sorcerer powers if one or both parents are sorcerers.

What do you people think?
RobbyPants
09-28-06, 12:54 PM It's really up to you. If you think about it, every PC has that potential, in that they can multiclass into sorcerer any time they want (although it may not be a good idea ;)).

This doesn't mean that every person in the world has the "potential" though. If you're playing the whole "draconic heritage" thing, than I'd think any child of a sorcerer has the potential.
PolasKasDorion
09-28-06, 12:57 PM Would make since to me.. since a sorcerer's power is in the blood, so to speak. Makes me think of a Children of the Jedi thing... or maybe Charmed... .love that show.

Could make for a really cool set of characters... a lineage of sorcerous blood.
Richmud
09-28-06, 01:26 PM Well when its a pair of dragonblood sorcs the chances of having a child with sorcerous powers is quite high, in fact at that point there is a chance the child with be a spellscale
Dunamin
09-28-06, 01:33 PM If you think about it, every PC has that potential, in that they can multiclass into sorcerer any time they want (although it may not be a good idea ;)).

This doesn't mean that every person in the world has the "potential" though. If you're playing the whole "draconic heritage" thing, than I'd think any child of a sorcerer has the potential.
When characters multiclass into sorcerers or paladins, they are assumed always to have had the potential or call. The characters as such don't really have any choice in whether these options are open to them, though if they happen to be PCs, their chances are vastly better, of course ;).

It's really up to you.
Naturally. My inquiry was not really about whether a DM should impart any choice in the matter, but merely what you thought about the probabilities in the presented scenarios.

Thanks for the input!
RobbyPants
09-28-06, 01:43 PM Naturally. My inquiry was not really about whether a DM should impart any choice in the matter, but merely what you thought about the probabilities in the presented scenarios.

Thanks for the input!

I guess all I was getting at was: are you assuming they need draconic heritage?

If so, than I'd rule if the parent has it, the child does too (unless it can eventually get "too diluted").

If not, then there is nothing really specifying one way or the other. Perhaps it's a "mutation", similar to in X-men. You could assign a % chance.

Personally, I'd assume everyone has the potential, it's whether or not they've found out how to tap into it. And obviously those with more forceful personalities (high Cha) are much more likely to master such a gift.

Hopefully that's a little more useful :)
Dunamin
09-28-06, 02:07 PM I guess all I was getting at was: are you assuming they need draconic heritage?
I generally play with sorcerer powers stemming from heritage of a highly magical creature, such as a dragon.

If so, than I'd rule if the parent has it, the child does too (unless it can eventually get "too diluted").

If not, then there is nothing really specifying one way or the other. Perhaps it's a "mutation", similar to in X-men. You could assign a % chance.

Personally, I'd assume everyone has the potential, it's whether or not they've found out how to tap into it.
It's an interesting view, though I work with an opposing option - that only a select few have the potential, and even less ever develop their powers to an effective degree. Not that these are considerations I impose on PCs, of course.

Actually, I'm considering introducing my players to a society with strict rules on mating, due to the governing body having an almost manic desire to increase the chances of fostering capable sorcerers to serve them.
JulesCARV
09-28-06, 02:32 PM My take, if the question came up:

If the child has sorcererous ancestry, the child has a % chance of having sorcerous potential equal to 5 x (charisma - 8).

So, for instance, a child with a charisma of 11 has a 15% chance of being able to be a sorcerer. A child with 18 charisma has a 50% chance of being able to be a sorcerer. Note that regardless of whether the child is, or can be, a sorcerer himself, if she has sorcerous ancestry, so do her children, and they might be sorcerers even if she doesn't have the potential.

Now, as for charisma scores: I'd use the following ability generation system: first, take away all of the charisma increases from enhancement, level increases, racial modifiers, Tomes of Leadership and Influence, etc, leaving the level 1, pre-racial modifier charisma scores of both parents.

Now add the charisma of both parents together, subtract 20 from the sum, and divide the result by four (rounding up if the result ends with .5 or .75, down if the result ends in .25).

Now, for the child's score, roll 3d6, and add the result above. Then add racial modifiers.

This gives a mix of parental influence and regression toward the mean, but has the unfortunate feature of sometimes allowing kids to have ability scores over 18. I'd just say "if the result is over 18, reroll."

So, for an example: suppose two humans, one of them with sorcerous ancestry, have a kid. The father has 16 base charisma. The mother has 13 base charisma. Add them together to get 29, and subtract 20 for 9. Divide 9 by 4, for 2.25. Round down to 2.

Then, to generate the child's charisma, roll 3d6 + 2.

Say you got an 11 on the 3d6 roll, for a base charisma of 13. Now the kid has a 25% chance of being a potential sorcerer.
Dunamin
09-28-06, 02:44 PM I haven't looked too closely into the logic on your formula yet, but it seems awesome Jules!

Thanks!
journeyman777
09-28-06, 03:00 PM There is a spell in "Book of Eldrich Might" that perma-kills the caster to immediately grant one of his decendants a level of Sorcerer. It makes for an interesting way to retire the character, if nothing else.
hiryuu
09-28-06, 04:06 PM A player I DM for has occasionaly expressed his wishes, that one or more of his character's future children follow in his footsteps and become established sorcerers.
This has lead us to (not entirely serious) speculation on what the chances are of developing sorcerer powers if one or both parents are sorcerers.

What do you people think?

Well, first Solomon has to determine if they have the sorcerer gene, and if they do, they'll send out their death-ninja squads to have a cleric scream in your child's face for awhile. If the cleric explodes, you have a sorcerer on your hands.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Dunamin 09-28-06, 12:51 PM	A player I DM for has occasionaly expressed his wishes, that one or more of his character's future children follow in his footsteps and become established sorcerers. This has lead us to (not entirely serious) speculation on what the chances are of developing sorcerer powers if one or both parents are sorcerers. What do you people think?
RobbyPants 09-28-06, 12:54 PM	It's really up to you. If you think about it, every PC has that potential, in that they can multiclass into sorcerer any time they want (although it may not be a good idea ;)). This doesn't mean that every person in the world has the "potential" though. If you're playing the whole "draconic heritage" thing, than I'd think any child of a sorcerer has the potential.
PolasKasDorion 09-28-06, 12:57 PM	Would make since to me.. since a sorcerer's power is in the blood, so to speak. Makes me think of a Children of the Jedi thing... or maybe Charmed... .love that show. Could make for a really cool set of characters... a lineage of sorcerous blood.
Richmud 09-28-06, 01:26 PM	Well when its a pair of dragonblood sorcs the chances of having a child with sorcerous powers is quite high, in fact at that point there is a chance the child with be a spellscale
Dunamin 09-28-06, 01:33 PM	If you think about it, every PC has that potential, in that they can multiclass into sorcerer any time they want (although it may not be a good idea ;)). This doesn't mean that every person in the world has the "potential" though. If you're playing the whole "draconic heritage" thing, than I'd think any child of a sorcerer has the potential. When characters multiclass into sorcerers or paladins, they are assumed always to have had the potential or call. The characters as such don't really have any choice in whether these options are open to them, though if they happen to be PCs, their chances are vastly better, of course ;). It's really up to you. Naturally. My inquiry was not really about whether a DM should impart any choice in the matter, but merely what you thought about the probabilities in the presented scenarios. Thanks for the input!
RobbyPants 09-28-06, 01:43 PM	Naturally. My inquiry was not really about whether a DM should impart any choice in the matter, but merely what you thought about the probabilities in the presented scenarios. Thanks for the input! I guess all I was getting at was: are you assuming they need draconic heritage? If so, than I'd rule if the parent has it, the child does too (unless it can eventually get "too diluted"). If not, then there is nothing really specifying one way or the other. Perhaps it's a "mutation", similar to in X-men. You could assign a % chance. Personally, I'd assume everyone has the potential, it's whether or not they've found out how to tap into it. And obviously those with more forceful personalities (high Cha) are much more likely to master such a gift. Hopefully that's a little more useful :)
Dunamin 09-28-06, 02:07 PM	I guess all I was getting at was: are you assuming they need draconic heritage? I generally play with sorcerer powers stemming from heritage of a highly magical creature, such as a dragon. If so, than I'd rule if the parent has it, the child does too (unless it can eventually get "too diluted"). If not, then there is nothing really specifying one way or the other. Perhaps it's a "mutation", similar to in X-men. You could assign a % chance. Personally, I'd assume everyone has the potential, it's whether or not they've found out how to tap into it. It's an interesting view, though I work with an opposing option - that only a select few have the potential, and even less ever develop their powers to an effective degree. Not that these are considerations I impose on PCs, of course. Actually, I'm considering introducing my players to a society with strict rules on mating, due to the governing body having an almost manic desire to increase the chances of fostering capable sorcerers to serve them.
JulesCARV 09-28-06, 02:32 PM	My take, if the question came up: If the child has sorcererous ancestry, the child has a % chance of having sorcerous potential equal to 5 x (charisma - 8). So, for instance, a child with a charisma of 11 has a 15% chance of being able to be a sorcerer. A child with 18 charisma has a 50% chance of being able to be a sorcerer. Note that regardless of whether the child is, or can be, a sorcerer himself, if she has sorcerous ancestry, so do her children, and they might be sorcerers even if she doesn't have the potential. Now, as for charisma scores: I'd use the following ability generation system: first, take away all of the charisma increases from enhancement, level increases, racial modifiers, Tomes of Leadership and Influence, etc, leaving the level 1, pre-racial modifier charisma scores of both parents. Now add the charisma of both parents together, subtract 20 from the sum, and divide the result by four (rounding up if the result ends with .5 or .75, down if the result ends in .25). Now, for the child's score, roll 3d6, and add the result above. Then add racial modifiers. This gives a mix of parental influence and regression toward the mean, but has the unfortunate feature of sometimes allowing kids to have ability scores over 18. I'd just say "if the result is over 18, reroll." So, for an example: suppose two humans, one of them with sorcerous ancestry, have a kid. The father has 16 base charisma. The mother has 13 base charisma. Add them together to get 29, and subtract 20 for 9. Divide 9 by 4, for 2.25. Round down to 2. Then, to generate the child's charisma, roll 3d6 + 2. Say you got an 11 on the 3d6 roll, for a base charisma of 13. Now the kid has a 25% chance of being a potential sorcerer.
Dunamin 09-28-06, 02:44 PM	I haven't looked too closely into the logic on your formula yet, but it seems awesome Jules! Thanks!
journeyman777 09-28-06, 03:00 PM	There is a spell in "Book of Eldrich Might" that perma-kills the caster to immediately grant one of his decendants a level of Sorcerer. It makes for an interesting way to retire the character, if nothing else.
hiryuu 09-28-06, 04:06 PM	A player I DM for has occasionaly expressed his wishes, that one or more of his character's future children follow in his footsteps and become established sorcerers. This has lead us to (not entirely serious) speculation on what the chances are of developing sorcerer powers if one or both parents are sorcerers. What do you people think? Well, first Solomon has to determine if they have the sorcerer gene, and if they do, they'll send out their death-ninja squads to have a cleric scream in your child's face for awhile. If the cleric explodes, you have a sorcerer on your hands.