This has come up from one of our players, and I too am interested on some thoughts about this.
Is it possible for a non-magic character to "learn" to become a wizard? In other words, can a fighter learn to use wizardry magic and thus become a wizard?
I say no, because you are "born" with magic, it isn't something you learn. A non magic character may learn how to use a magic item, but not learn to become a magic user.
Only Sorcerers and some bards are born with magic. Warlock’s get theirs from deals, other bards and wizards study. So yes, you can multi-class into a wizard if you’re a barbarian, or fighter.
However, it is not uncommon for some people to make a rule saying that you can’t. Why? Because it doesn’t fit their world.
Someone can also multi-class into Sorcerer if the player has compelling reasons why their sorcery bloodline origin remained dormant for so long. It isn't like at birth an infant with bloodline origin suddenly manifests their powers. It can be similar to X-Men, when it takes a "trigger" for their bloodline origin to manifest, whether it is puberty, some disaster, et cetera.
Heck, a bloodline could actually be something they aren't born with. Perhaps a Wild Magic Sorcerer was born normally, but gets hit by a Wild Magic Explosion that changes them at the genetic level? Really anything is possible.
So, the answer is yes? Anyone can become a mage and learn magic even if they have no mage bloodline of any type. So a normal everyday human could essentially become a scorcerer or even a mystic?
.....yes. Certainly. I’ve got a 16 Fighter 4 Magic-User, and he has no magic blood whatsoever. A Half-Orc can be ordinary one day, then the next day find his wild magic cast Fireball on his house while he was sleeping! And how do you think wizards work? Why would they need books if their magic were natural?
It is all about the story you and your players want to tell. I'd hardly call any player character a "Normal" everyday human as they possess extra-ordinary abilities, even if exclusively martial:
Perhaps this human came across an ancient artifact touched by an entity from the far-realm that awakens his or her mind to the mystical?
Or a dragon grants its boon, allowing the character to drink from an arcane goblet filled with the dragon's magically infused blood, granting it the draconic bloodline?
Or a powerful arcane storm passes through and the character is struct by an arcane lightning bolt, granting them the storm bloodline?
The possibilities are only limited by the narrowness of the player and GM's imagination.
So, the answer is yes? Anyone can become a mage and learn magic even if they have no mage bloodline of any type. So a normal everyday human could essentially become a scorcerer or even a mystic?
A normal person can become a Wizard through study. A normal person can become a Bard through practice. A normal person can become a Warlock by making a pact. A normal person can become a sorcerer because the blooodline manifests within them. A normal person can become a Cleric, Paladin, Druid, Ranger, Monk, Eldritch Knight, etc, through the proper training.
There is nothing in the books that prohibits a "normal person" from achieving anything they desire with the exception of Ability Scores. Anything that would prohibit a "normal person" from achieving the ability to cast spells would be purely setting/DM dependent.
Lots of good answers here - but I think they're restating the general consensus in the books, published adventures, and online forums - which isn't wrong, but I think the most accurate answer is: "how does magic work in your world setting?"
In your world, are Wizards both with magical innate magical talent, or can anyone learn how to manipulate magic? With Wizards, we assume that it takes training and practice, and knowledge of arcane theory - but is that channeling an innate ability, or creating a new skill ( and, if it's learnable, what don't vastly more people learn at least a little magic? ).
Or is only a matter of practicality: anyone could theoretically learn magic, just as anyone in our world can theoretically learn how Quantum Mechanics work - but few people have the opportunity, dedication, education, and desire to learn something that complex?
I tend to lean toward the "Arcane & Wild magic ( as opposed to Divine or Pact magic ) is an innate talent that you either have, or do not have - like perfect pitch, or a photographic memory" - but that's purely a personal interpretation and design choice for my current campaign world. That seems to be the way you're leaning as well.
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This has come up from one of our players, and I too am interested on some thoughts about this.
Is it possible for a non-magic character to "learn" to become a wizard? In other words, can a fighter learn to use wizardry magic and thus become a wizard?
I say no, because you are "born" with magic, it isn't something you learn. A non magic character may learn how to use a magic item, but not learn to become a magic user.
Ummm... a Wizard is EXACTLY that. Someone born without magic but learns it through study. Their main ability score is Intelligence to reflect this.
...cryptographic randomness!
Only Sorcerers and some bards are born with magic. Warlock’s get theirs from deals, other bards and wizards study. So yes, you can multi-class into a wizard if you’re a barbarian, or fighter.
However, it is not uncommon for some people to make a rule saying that you can’t. Why? Because it doesn’t fit their world.
Extended Signature! Yay! https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/off-topic/adohands-kitchen/3153-extended-signature-thread?page=2#c21
Haven’t used this account in forever. Still a big fan of crawling claws.
Someone can also multi-class into Sorcerer if the player has compelling reasons why their sorcery bloodline origin remained dormant for so long. It isn't like at birth an infant with bloodline origin suddenly manifests their powers. It can be similar to X-Men, when it takes a "trigger" for their bloodline origin to manifest, whether it is puberty, some disaster, et cetera.
Heck, a bloodline could actually be something they aren't born with. Perhaps a Wild Magic Sorcerer was born normally, but gets hit by a Wild Magic Explosion that changes them at the genetic level? Really anything is possible.
So, the answer is yes? Anyone can become a mage and learn magic even if they have no mage bloodline of any type. So a normal everyday human could essentially become a scorcerer or even a mystic?
.....yes. Certainly. I’ve got a 16 Fighter 4 Magic-User, and he has no magic blood whatsoever. A Half-Orc can be ordinary one day, then the next day find his wild magic cast Fireball on his house while he was sleeping! And how do you think wizards work? Why would they need books if their magic were natural?
Extended Signature! Yay! https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/off-topic/adohands-kitchen/3153-extended-signature-thread?page=2#c21
Haven’t used this account in forever. Still a big fan of crawling claws.
It is all about the story you and your players want to tell. I'd hardly call any player character a "Normal" everyday human as they possess extra-ordinary abilities, even if exclusively martial:
The possibilities are only limited by the narrowness of the player and GM's imagination.
A normal person can become a Wizard through study. A normal person can become a Bard through practice. A normal person can become a Warlock by making a pact. A normal person can become a sorcerer because the blooodline manifests within them. A normal person can become a Cleric, Paladin, Druid, Ranger, Monk, Eldritch Knight, etc, through the proper training.
There is nothing in the books that prohibits a "normal person" from achieving anything they desire with the exception of Ability Scores. Anything that would prohibit a "normal person" from achieving the ability to cast spells would be purely setting/DM dependent.
Lots of good answers here - but I think they're restating the general consensus in the books, published adventures, and online forums - which isn't wrong, but I think the most accurate answer is: "how does magic work in your world setting?"
In your world, are Wizards both with magical innate magical talent, or can anyone learn how to manipulate magic? With Wizards, we assume that it takes training and practice, and knowledge of arcane theory - but is that channeling an innate ability, or creating a new skill ( and, if it's learnable, what don't vastly more people learn at least a little magic? ).
Or is only a matter of practicality: anyone could theoretically learn magic, just as anyone in our world can theoretically learn how Quantum Mechanics work - but few people have the opportunity, dedication, education, and desire to learn something that complex?
I tend to lean toward the "Arcane & Wild magic ( as opposed to Divine or Pact magic ) is an innate talent that you either have, or do not have - like perfect pitch, or a photographic memory" - but that's purely a personal interpretation and design choice for my current campaign world. That seems to be the way you're leaning as well.
My DM Philosophy, as summed up by other people: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rN5w4-azTq3Kbn0Yvk9nfqQhwQ1R5by1/view
Disclaimer: This signature is a badge of membership in the Forum Loudmouth Club. We are all friends. We are not attacking each other. We are engaging in spirited, friendly debate with one another. We may get snarky, but these are not attacks. Thank you for not reporting us.