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dtgreene: In a fantasy setting, where magic does indeed exist (and can be proven to exist), an atheist would believe in magic. (We're assuming a setting where the existence of deities can't be proven.)

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This happens in Final Fantasy Tactics; a character's Faith stat, which can be changed permanently in either direction, affects the character's ability to cast spells, and *also* affects the power of spells cast on the character. A character with only 3 Faith (out of 100) is nearly immune to magic, and can therefore be very effective for fighting against enemy spellcasters (and probably doesn't even need a Chameleon Robe if you have a 97 Faith character casting CT5 Holy every turn).

(SaGa Frontier 2 has a similar mechanic, except with steel interfering with magic rather than a character trait, and not as dramatic an effect (even though, according to the plot, it *should* have a more significant effect than it actually does in gameplay).)

Also, I would argue that an atheist not wanting to use magic in a fantasy setting would be like an atheist not wanting to use technology in the real world; I don't see it happening. (Remember, the situation of "magic" in a fantasy world is different because it actually exists, just like everything else in the fantasy world exists.)
1. Some might be in denial and just flat out choose not to believe in/use magic/the help of gods or deities...even with proof(I've known some who are this way on both sides, believers and non-believers).

2. Again, they might not want to use it because they are against it in general/principle and/or they feel that using/acknowledging it would somehow invalidate/tarnish their "beliefs" and thus not use it on principle/because they choose not to change their mindset out of stubbornness.
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GameRager: Again, they might not want to use it because they are against it in general/principle and/or they feel that using/acknowledging it would somehow invalidate/tarnish their "beliefs" and thus not use it on principle/because they choose not to change their mindset out of stubbornness.
In other words, just like dtgreene said, like someone not using technology in our world.
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GameRager: Again, they might not want to use it because they are against it in general/principle and/or they feel that using/acknowledging it would somehow invalidate/tarnish their "beliefs" and thus not use it on principle/because they choose not to change their mindset out of stubbornness.
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Cavalary: In other words, just like dtgreene said, like someone not using technology in our world.
It might sound like a silly reason but i've known people irl that are THAT stubborn as to their beliefs and how they practice them. :|
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Cavalary: Druids aren't exactly religious, more spiritual I'd say.
Druids worship Nature as a whole living being (kind of Pantheism), so they ARE religious.

On topic:
Paladin - elite melee fighter plus spells for healing/protection/support in general.
Ranger - ranged fighter, probably with some tricks, like traps or special shots
Druid - uses magic connected with nature. Specifically, living nature - I wouldn't expect storms or earthquakes (that would be more shaman), but instead summoning animals, plants instantly grow, etc. Brewing various potions (healing, support or even offensive) also possible.
Ninja - fighter with high dodge ratio, but low HP/defense. Various tricks - backstab, illusion magic, poison - are also expected.
Samurai - a melee fighter, probably damage dealer and strongest class in one-on-one combat in general. Prefers swords, but also can use spears and other kind of cutting/stabbing weapons.
Bard - support class, with various "songs" buffing/debuffing friends/enemies.
Goof-off - I would expect something akin Wild Mage in BGEE. Only "wild surge" (an unexpected side-effect that can be good or bad) happens more often and has a chance to happen along with every action, except most basic ones.
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GameRager: If you think about it as I just wrote, having a non-faith based person/character wielding magic(of any sort) would make as much sense as a vegan wearing natural leather armor/wielding bone weapons.
I thought about it a bit. You're right both things make sense and are entirely possible. Magic has very little to do with faith in particular diety (that's why mage and cleric are different classes). And diet has nothing to do with weapons.
Post edited May 18, 2019 by LootHunter
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LootHunter: I thought about it a bit. You're right both things make sense and are entirely possible. Magic has very little to do with faith in particular diety (that's why mage and cleric are different classes). And diet has nothing to do with weapons.
I cannot tell if this is sarcastic or not....but to better explain: Some vegans won't wear leather(made from animals) so they wouldn't wear leather armor or wield bone weapons in some cases(if they're animal bones). Also( at least in Arcanum/spellforce maybe as well) some games make it so that using too much magic will make you bad at using/not able to use tech and vice versa.
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GameRager: to better explain: Some vegans won't wear leather(made from animals) so they wouldn't wear leather armor or wield bone weapons in some cases(if they're animal bones). Also( at least in Arcanum/spellforce maybe as well) some games make it so that using too much magic will make you bad at using/not able to use tech and vice versa.
Again, what's connection between what you eat and what you wear? Sure, some vegans can simply abhore to touch dead animal flesh. But there can as well be a vegan who simply doesn't eat meat for some reasons. In fact, I think, in BG there was armore made of some monster and only druids could wear it, because nature product.

And there is no connection between faith and magic whatsoever. Unless your faith forbids you to use magic.
I just wish there was an evil version of the paladin. Not anti-paladin nutters and fallen knights, those are just rabid dogs. I mean a lawful holy (cursed?) fighter that serves an evil deity, for example Asmodeus the lord of Hell in D&D.
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GameRager: to better explain: Some vegans won't wear leather(made from animals) so they wouldn't wear leather armor or wield bone weapons in some cases(if they're animal bones). Also( at least in Arcanum/spellforce maybe as well) some games make it so that using too much magic will make you bad at using/not able to use tech and vice versa.
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LootHunter: Again, what's connection between what you eat and what you wear? Sure, some vegans can simply abhore to touch dead animal flesh. But there can as well be a vegan who simply doesn't eat meat for some reasons. In fact, I think, in BG there was armore made of some monster and only druids could wear it, because nature product.

And there is no connection between faith and magic whatsoever. Unless your faith forbids you to use magic.
Many hardcore vegans won;t use ANY animal product...even eggs/milk/clothing made from animals/etc.

And there might not be a standardized connection between the two, but some games feature it as a mechanic. This is one of the points I was trying to make(as to a possible reason why a non-believer might not use/be able to use such magic).
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LootHunter: Again, what's connection between what you eat and what you wear? Sure, some vegans can simply abhore to touch dead animal flesh. But there can as well be a vegan who simply doesn't eat meat for some reasons. In fact, I think, in BG there was armore made of some monster and only druids could wear it, because nature product.

And there is no connection between faith and magic whatsoever. Unless your faith forbids you to use magic.
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GameRager: Many hardcore vegans won;t use ANY animal product...even eggs/milk/clothing made from animals/etc.

And there might not be a standardized connection between the two, but some games feature it as a mechanic. This is one of the points I was trying to make(as to a possible reason why a non-believer might not use/be able to use such magic).
this might be of interest: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-38980352
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Enebias: I just wish there was an evil version of the paladin. Not anti-paladin nutters and fallen knights, those are just rabid dogs. I mean a lawful holy (cursed?) fighter that serves an evil deity, for example Asmodeus the lord of Hell in D&D.
It already exists for quite a while and is called Blackguard.
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GameRager: Many hardcore vegans won;t use ANY animal product...even eggs/milk/clothing made from animals/etc.

And there might not be a standardized connection between the two, but some games feature it as a mechanic. This is one of the points I was trying to make(as to a possible reason why a non-believer might not use/be able to use such magic).
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amok: this might be of interest: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-38980352
Well obviously people aren;t going to throw their money away. ;)
Paladin - Melee Tank with some healing ability, and generally low damage capability.
Ranger - A lot of toys to play with. Should have two routes available: Bow or dual wield melee. Should also get a pet.
Druid - Really cool priest class. Some good damage and healing. Pet class.
Ninja - Lethal glass cannon melee type. Must be careful when fighting multiples.
Samurai - Dual wield/2H melee damage type, almost a tank but does not utilize a shield. Not much impression either way.
Bard - Best class evar! Usefulness can vary from worthless to OP, but it's still the best evar!

I would play them all, but favorites go Bard, Druid, Paladin, Ranger, then Ninja or Samurai are equal.
Post edited May 18, 2019 by qwixter
By the way, here are some of the various interpretations of the classes I've seen in actual RPGs:

* Paladin:

AD&D 2e: Available to starting characters, but requires a 10 Charisma (only 1/54, or just under 2%, chance of rolling this by the (then) standard stat rolling method. Basically fighters with some minor special abilities and minor cleric spellcasting (not enough to be a true hybrid), though they give up the ability to specialize in weapons (though that only matters if weapon proficiencies are being used).

Ultima 3: Functions as a hybrid here, though one could argue that the spellcasting ability of hybrids is more limited than it should be (though their fighting ability is just as good in practice).
Might and Magic series: Available to starting characters. Function as true hybrids here, being able to fight well and cast spells decently; in MM3 and the Xeen series, they even get access to every spell a cleric does (but have only half of the game's MP equivalent).

Final Fantasy 4: Most resembles the AD&D version to some extent. Not available at the start (one doesn't become a Paladin; one has to *earn* that title), but gets the ability to Cover along with minor White Magic (not enough to be a hybrid). One could say that this class is a combination of the FF1 Knight (minor white magic) and the FF3 Knight (Cover ability). Gets a lot of unique equipment, a lot more than you see in other interpretations of this class.

Wizardry: Doesn't have a class called Paladin, but does have a Lord class, which is basically the same concept. Can fight like a Fighter, and has the best spellcasting ability of any hybrid (gets 7th level spells, the highest in the game, at level 16).

Dragon Quest 6: A hybrid of Martial Artist (!) and Cleric; must master both classes to gain access. Has well-balanced stats (no stat penalties, making this one of the better classes to use as a final class), has high agility (and I think high strength), and one of their most useful abilities is a wind attack that hits all enemies and doesn't cost any MP to use (needless to say, very useful, and that's even before the DS remake buffed it). Definitely not the slow tank you see in other games, including Dragon Quest 9.

* Ranger:

AD&D 1e: Basically a fighter with abilities from other classes, includgin both magic-user and druid spells. Available to new characters, I believe. Spellcasting ability is too low to classify this version as a hybrid, however.

Might and Magic series: Basically a Fighter/Druid hybrid. In MM4-5, the closest you get to a jack-of-all-trades character.

Ultima 3: A true jack-of-all-trades character, being essentially a hybrid of all 4 of the basic classes, and actually does so pretty well.

* Druid:

AD&D: Similar to a cleric, but with shapeshifting and a different spell list.

Might and Magic series: In MM3, has a unique spell list (including the rather important Walk on Water spell). Later on, acts more like a Cleric/Sorcerer hybrid, getting a subset of both caster's spells. Not that good in the Xeen games (especially since, for whatever reason, they don't get Teleport and therefore can't replace a Sorcerer in terms of mandatory spells), but in MM6 I've heard they get more of the game's MP equivalent than other classes.

Ultima 3: Again, act as Cleric/Wizard hybrids. Spell access is maybe more limited than it should be, but unlike every other class, a Druid with good scores in both casting stats can recover 2 MP at a time. (Note that, in the Amiga and (I believe) Atari ST versions, Rangers get that benefit (making Druids pointless in that version), and in the NES and cartridge MSX versions, Druids don't get this advantage.)

Edit: Added information on Dragon Quest 6 Paladin. I'll do the other classes later (this post might be getting too long).
Post edited May 20, 2019 by dtgreene