For those of you who may be considering playing wizard or bard characters. When it comes to magic I will be using the Campaign Setting Guide to determine if certain races will have the ability to be an arcane spell caster. If your choice of race is speciffically stated as not having any spell casters, do not assume your character will be the first from a race that has no mages. Humans nor elfs will be teaching your character unless they are of their own race, and your character is not going to magically fall into learning to cast spells on their own, as some sort of mentor ship is required. So all arcane spell casters (Wizards and Bards) will fall under the campaign restrictions. If you really want to play an arcane caster, please do yourself a favor and make a character form a race that has such magic weilders. Humans are the most prolific members of the Wizards of High Sorcery, turning to magic for any number of reasons: curiosity, ambition, lust for power, natural talent, or simply for a love of knowledge. Human drive, creativity, and adaptability are well suited for the study of magic. Magic is as natural to the elves as breathing or blinking. Elves view magic in much the same light as they would any aspect of nature, as a gift to be nurtured and guided toward perfect harmony with the world. Elves tend to be White Robe wizards. Any elf who shows inclination toward embracing Red or Black Robes is deemed an outcast dark elf. Those who choose to follow the path of Neutrality or Evil sacrifice both homeland and family to follow the magic. Dwarven wizards are extremely rare, but not unheard of. Dwarves of the Theiwar and Daegar clans were once seen at the Towers of High Sorcery, preparing to take their Test of High Sorcery or engaging in the study of magic. Dwarves from other clans occasionally show an aptitude for magic, but since magic is highly distrusted by dwarves, these dwarves are usually outcasts. Gnomes exhibit a marked disdain for magic, preferring instead to rely on science and technology. Gnomes are capable of using magic, but few realize they have the potential. There are stories of gnomes whose experiments and inventions show capabilities “not explainable by modern scientific principles,” but they are never accused of being wizards—a phrase that is a deadly insult to a gnome. Kender and magic are like oil and fire—a potentially dangerous combination. No kender has ever taken the Test of High Sorcery (nor does there seem to be any willingness among the wizards to allow a kender to take the test). Though kender may be interested in the effects of magic, they are unable to summon the necessary focus required by any who want to master the magical arts. With this knowledge: If you are making a gnome or kender please scratch the idea of being a wizard. If you make a dwarf character who is a wizard, your character will be an outcast of their people.
