I had a thought about restricting the type of magic user Humans could be based upon their lineage, and whether or not they are "pure" Humans.
Primarily what I was thinking of doing is making it so that pure Humans can not be Sorcerers. Humans that have a pure Human lineage can still use magic, but can only be either Wizards; who's magic comes from many years of study, or a Warlock; those Humans who don't want to spend years learning to use magic, and cheat by acquiring their magic from a pact with a powerful being. Also; because of the time it takes to learn magic, Human Wizards tend to be older, whereas Human Warlocks; lacking the patients to learn, tend to be younger. Wizards are also more powerful than Warlocks because they understand the magic they are using; thus, have a more extensive spell list (including higher-level spells), whereas Warlocks tend to be more potent, by channelling the magic of their patron, meaning that their recovery time is that of the being whose magic they are channelling - mechanically represented by their short rest recovery.
It would still be possible for Humans to be sorcerers if their lineage included a member of the magical races; Dragons, Elves, Giants, Genasi, or one of the fiendish races. Powerful beings like Gods, Archfiends, Genies, certain Dragons and the likes, could curse pure Humans with magic and transform them into sorcerers. I imagine that other Humans would hunt these sorcerers; because they both hate, and despise them. Even more so than they hate and despise Warlocks. Warlocks have cheated to get their magic, but they are not bad people, beyond cheating, whereas you can't be a sorcerer without either doing something terrible enough to be cursed; or one your ancestors doing something highly taboo, and having children with another race. Either way, if you're a Human sorcerer, then you keep that very much to yourself and guard that secret with your life because if others found out, your life would over - literally.
There are also Clerics whose magic is divine. Clerics are highly respected, as they are closer to the Gods, from whom they receive their magical ability. I should say though that characters can be a Cleric of a good or evil God; and that both are equally respected, as the people; Humans at least believe that good and evil are necessary parts of existence, and only by knowing both good and evil, can you find balance, and free yourself from influences of both. For this reason, Clerics are a particularly special class and hold much sway in Human society, especially amongst the worshipers of their specific God, but also amongst the general population as well. Humans, in general, tend to want to obey their Clerics wherever possible, as a Cleric speaks in the name of not only their own specific God but in the name of all Gods - whether they be good or evil. It is only the interpretation of the words that are different, depending on whose voice Cleric speaks in.
That's about all I have for now, but if love to hear what you all think of my world-building ideas.
Hi,
I had a thought about restricting the type of magic user Humans could be based upon their lineage, and whether or not they are "pure" Humans.
Primarily what I was thinking of doing is making it so that pure Humans can not be Sorcerers. Humans that have a pure Human lineage can still use magic, but can only be either Wizards; who's magic comes from many years of study, or a Warlock; those Humans who don't want to spend years learning to use magic, and cheat by acquiring their magic from a pact with a powerful being. Also; because of the time it takes to learn magic, Human Wizards tend to be older, whereas Human Warlocks; lacking the patients to learn, tend to be younger. Wizards are also more powerful than Warlocks because they understand the magic they are using; thus, have a more extensive spell list (including higher-level spells), whereas Warlocks tend to be more potent, by channelling the magic of their patron, meaning that their recovery time is that of the being whose magic they are channelling - mechanically represented by their short rest recovery.
It would still be possible for Humans to be sorcerers if their lineage included a member of the magical races; Dragons, Elves, Giants, Genasi, or one of the fiendish races. Powerful beings like Gods, Archfiends, Genies, certain Dragons and the likes, could curse pure Humans with magic and transform them into sorcerers. I imagine that other Humans would hunt these sorcerers; because they both hate, and despise them. Even more so than they hate and despise Warlocks. Warlocks have cheated to get their magic, but they are not bad people, beyond cheating, whereas you can't be a sorcerer without either doing something terrible enough to be cursed; or one your ancestors doing something highly taboo, and having children with another race. Either way, if you're a Human sorcerer, then you keep that very much to yourself and guard that secret with your life because if others found out, your life would over - literally.
There are also Clerics whose magic is divine. Clerics are highly respected, as they are closer to the Gods, from whom they receive their magical ability. I should say though that characters can be a Cleric of a good or evil God; and that both are equally respected, as the people; Humans at least believe that good and evil are necessary parts of existence, and only by knowing both good and evil, can you find balance, and free yourself from influences of both. For this reason, Clerics are a particularly special class and hold much sway in Human society, especially amongst the worshipers of their specific God, but also amongst the general population as well. Humans, in general, tend to want to obey their Clerics wherever possible, as a Cleric speaks in the name of not only their own specific God but in the name of all Gods - whether they be good or evil. It is only the interpretation of the words that are different, depending on whose voice Cleric speaks in.
That's about all I have for now, but if love to hear what you all think of my world-building ideas.
Cheers
Foxes XD
A caffeinated nerd who has played TTRPGs or a number of years and is very much a fantasy adventure geek.