Wizard vs. Sorcerer

The morning bus is populated mostly by students. Headed directly to the main campus, it is a very efficient bus route. On the way, we pass within a block of a local high school that many bus riders attend.

In no mood to force others to listen to my music, I am very conscientious of how loud my earphones are for the morning commute. Instead of completely drowning out the noise, I allow some to filter through and just remember that it is public transportation, after all. Being that is the case, I overhear conversations from time to time. Some are absolutely mundane. Some, however, begin with sentences like, "You can't tell me a 10th level Sorcerer is more powerful than a 9th level Wizard."

The conversation was happening behind me. I didn't want them to stop, so without turning I pulled out my earphones. I nonchalantly turned as though I were staring out the other window and did a quick size-up of the high schoolers. The immediate stereotypical image that formed in my head turned out to be true: matted hair, drab, loose fitting clothes, screen print of a dragon on one's shirt.

"If a level 10 Sorcerer could do any more than +20 damage, then I could agree. But they CAN'T"

"Right, but you're forgetting that at level 10, you have an automatic +3 saving throw against destruction magic"

"It doesn't matter! A Sorcerer can't effectively block against a level 9 elemental spell anyway!"

"I admit it would be close, but they could counter with paralyze that would automatically give them two more die rolls. The wizard wouldn't stand a chance."

I smirked at their enthusiasm. The conversation went on for a bit longer, neither side relinquishing any ground. Later that day, their theories would surely be tested in a spectacular display of LARPing. One could imagine, anyway.

And then it hit me: I understood everything they were saying. Thanks to years of RPGing on my part, I knew precisely what they meant by "destruction magic", "saving throw", and "+20". In fact, I thought of my Elder Scrolls: Oblivion game at home and how I hadn't played in awhile. The smirk on my face was not just to delight in their nerdiness, it was also because I delighted in my nerdiness. I'm such a nerd! The fact that I don't actively play D&D doesn't save me from the fact that I'm a complete and utter nerd. Truly, since I know precisely why they think the distinction between a wizard and sorcerer was worthy conversation is a testament to that fact.

Nerds forever!