Editing Specialist Wizard (section)

=Spiritual Successors=
Being that the Specialist Wizard was the answer [[TSR]] came up with for creating and representing more specific archetypes of spellcaster, the idea would be explored further in subsequent editions, creating entirely new classes that took their own distinctive approaches to arcane magic. Exactly where you draw the line between "entirely new methodology" and "ultra-specialists" can get a little debateable, though.

[[Sorcerer (Dungeons & Dragons)|Sorcerers]] were the first of the new breed of specialist wizards, representing magic-users whose powers came to them intuitively and innately, freeing them of the mechanics of [[Vancian Casting]]. They were basically just wizards with a smaller spell pool and no need to study their spells in downtime, but they could easily be flavored in much the same way as a classic specialist wizard by picking the appropriate spells.

[[Warlock]]s are magic-users whose powers stem from pledges they or their ancestors swore to various supernatural beings. In 3rd edition, they were a kind of Sorcerer 2.0, relying on at-will energy blasts and a small arsenal of spell-like abilities, but in subsequent editions they developed into fully fledged casting classes in their own rights.

[[Wu Jen]]s are [[Oriental Adventures|"Asian"]] [[elementalist]]s who draw their powers from the five elemental schools of Earth, Water, Fire, Wood and Metal.

[[Warmage]]s are [[gish|warrior-mages]] who train in both spellcasting and combat, rigorously drilling the principles of a small, specific array of Abjuration, Evocation and Transmutation spells into their minds until they can cast them instinctively. This meant that every warmage automatically knew its entire selection of spells and just needs the right character level to use them. Ironically, this made them both simpler sorcerers and also the weakest full caster class in 3rd edition, because the Warmage "spell pool" never grew in subsequent books the way that other casters did.

[[Beguiler]]s are specialists in the arts of magical deception, focusing on blending Enchantment and Illusion magic so they can control the minds of those around them.

[[Dread Necromancer]]s are... well, they're [[Necromancer]]s 2.0. That's literally it; somebody decided the classic style Necromancer just wasn't living up to its archetypal potential and so they made a better one.

[[Category: Dungeons & Dragons Mechanics]] [[Category: Gamer Slang]]