DnD War Wizard

Physical fitness and athleticism is typically not associated with characters who are trained in magic.  The reasoning is that they have spent years researching and practicing their trade that they didn’t have time or interest in physical activities. It makes sense if you think about it.  Kids who only study, play video games, and don’t get involved in anything that pushes their muscles aren’t usually strong.  So, you can see why a caster who has studied every day and night for years is kind of frail.

Yet, there are situations where you might need to have your wizards physically fit.  I mean they have the endurance, agility, and strength to not be a pushover.  One of the possible situations is when you are creating a fictional sport in a fantasy world.  At least if you are having a magical side to things, which isn’t necessary.  The addition simply opens more doors and makes it feel more suited to a world of magic.  You see this when science-fiction takes a modern sport and adds tech in the future.  Only this is another world that has no experience with whatever you’re basing your creation off of.

This creates an issue in terms of the type of casters since you now need them to have magical and physical ability.  You can vary the levels of each character so some are better at one than the other.  This can help you avoid any questions about how a character who has done nothing more than read books indoors is able to run for more than five minutes without getting winded.  Endurance and strength spells are always an option, but that’s pretty much a copout.  It takes away any incentive for the characters to train or practice, which weakens the whole concept.

I did think of one caster type where an average or higher level of physicality could be explained.  This would be those who studied combat magic in a way that requires them to be moving while fighting.  This isn’t a perfect solution, but it could explain how these characters are able to use powerful magic and be in shape.  Keep in mind that I don’t mean ripped like a body builder.  You’re probably looking at those built for speed, reflexes, and endurance since they are trained to dodge spells.  If the sport you are creating requires brawn then this might not work out.

With my own potential creation, I’m leaning towards having magic be within the equipment and arena.  This means the characters don’t need to know spells, which allows for a greater variety of backgrounds.  I can have those who studied magic and others who trained their bodies.  Each will find a way to utilize the tools they are given, which will be universal.  For example, a weightlifter and a caster can both use a helmet that is enchanted to communicate with teammates.  They can also use mount harnesses that prevent falling if I decide to continue with Clutch Ball.  My point is that physical fitness won’t be necessary for the magic, but will be needed for other aspects such as not getting tired during a match.

It’s all about balancing though.  When is it not?  The trick is to allow for both magic and athleticism, but not have one be more essential than the other.  If magic can win every game without effort then it’s too much.  If athleticism allows characters to circumvent any spells and enchantments with no effort then that side is too strong.  Each category needs its own purpose within the sport.