The importance of magic

[Infinnitum]

I'm DMing a new party, and no one wants to play a spell-caster, I had a hard time to get one of them to play a healer.
The party is at lvl 2, they are Paladin, Samurai, Rouge, Ranger and Druid.

I want to teach them that is good to play spell-casters, but I'm runing out of ideas, so anything will be welcomed.

[Morty]

Druid is already spellcaster. If you mean arcane spellcasters, on 2nd level the team can do alright without them. But if you really want to convince them, it's simple show them wizard/sorcerer spell list so they can see sheer versatility of arcanist and their ability to do things noone else can. Though on the other hand, on 2nd level wizards and sorcerers are far from impressive.

[Setra]

Tell them the cheese.

[Ranis]

Make encounters that would be very difficult to beat without the use of a spellcaster. And hint about how nice it would be the whole time.

And another note, get your player the hell away from Samurai ASAP. They are the absolutely worst class ever made by WotC.

[Kaelaroth]

In my opinion, I think their party is fine as it is, and there is actually no need to force them in arcanism.

However, if you still feel it is needed, and they can't be persuaded, throw a sorcerer at them as a villain soon. Give him a nice set of henchmen, and freedom to decimate. Magic Missile will destroy them.

On the other hand, you could include a few friendly arcanists as NPCs who temporarily help out. Make them powerful, and inspire your PCs.

[Spiryt]

I don't exactly get it.

Druid IS spellcaster, and if nobody wants to play another caster why force them to do so ?

Wizards are way more powerful than other classes, but fortunately there is still no duress to play one.

Better convice your Samurai to play another class. He won't play character he (probably) want to play ( who the hell get the idea that intimidating foes fits Samurai ) and will be instead completely weak.

[Infinnitum]

Druid is already spellcaster.

I know that he is a spellcaster, but it is going to be used as melee and .

However, if you still feel it is needed, and they can't be persuaded, throw a sorcerer at them as a villain soon. Give him a nice set of henchmen, and freedom to decimate. Magic Missile will destroy them.

That's a good idea, a lvl 4 sorcerer will be a good villain for a dungeon now.

The problem was that the druid didn't want to play druid, the other convinced him, and he is not healing much either, only meleeing.

[Proven_Paradox]

Just go at them like normal. For a while, that party will be just fine (other than the samurai, of course) but when they get to higher levels, they'll start dieing. Remind them how much a spell-caster would have helped things in situations where they sustain heavy casualties.

[ALOR]

I'm DMing a new party, and no one wants to play a spell-caster, I had a hard time to get one of them to play a healer.
The party is at lvl 2, they are Paladin, Samurai, Rouge, Ranger and Druid.

I want to teach them that is good to play spell-casters, but I'm runing out of ideas, so anything will be welcomed.

you can't really force anyone to play a spellcaster. Often in my groups games thier isn't a pure spellcaster or healer. Basicly what i do is give them lots of healing supplies and just custom tailor the adventures so that they can succed without a spellcaster.
If your really intrested in getting them into playing spellcasters i would suggest a class like warmage, dread necromancer, sorcerer or warlock. Very little book keeping needed with these class's , no spell research needed for the most part and they will get to see how powerful magic using class's can be without having to do thier homework

[Dan_Hemmens]

Once again I'm genuinely amazed that people are responding to this thread by saying "you should put them in situations where they will suffer because nobody chose to play a spellcaster."

Surely the point of a role-playing game is that you play the character you want to play, not the party niche you think needs filling?

[rollfrenzy]

Once again I'm genuinely amazed that people are responding to this thread by saying "you should put them in situations where they will suffer because nobody chose to play a spellcaster."

Surely the point of a role-playing game is that you play the character you want to play, not the party niche you think needs filling?

QFT

It's thier game too, if they don't like spellcasters, there's no need to punish them with difficult situations, or try to force them, or teach them a lesson. As long as everybody has fun, let it go.

Edit:
If you start taking things too seriously you end up sounding like This Guy

[Infinnitum]

Surely the point of a role-playing game is that you play the character you want to play, not the party niche you think needs filling?

Sure the point is to have fun, but they all wanted to be melee, and I was worry they would die again without a healer (the time they die was because the tried to enter into a orc-fortress).

Ah, thanks all for your replies !!

[Overlard]

Once again I'm genuinely amazed that people are responding to this thread by saying "you should put them in situations where they will suffer because nobody chose to play a spellcaster."

Surely the point of a role-playing game is that you play the character you want to play, not the party niche you think needs filling?

DMs trying to influence class choice doesn't sit well with me. I was present when a DM "helped" his player make a character:

Player: I'm gonna play a halfling barbarian.
DM: No you're not, that's a terrible choice. Besides, there's already 2 frontliners.
Player: How about a halfling druid?
DM: We've already got a ranger and a cleric. I think those bases are covered.
Player: Hmm, I haven't played a rogue in a while. I think I'll be a dwarvern rogue,
DM: Well, there's already a rogue. A human one specialising in traps, locks and social situations. But there's no-one with a scout type role. How about a ninja?
Player: I'm not a fan of ninjas. I could play the scout class.
DM: I don't like the skirmish rules, so no.
Player: A bard?
DM: They're not very scouty are they? A ninja would be perfect.
Player: Are you going to let me play anything but a ninja?
DM: Well, a ninja fits in well, so I don't see why you would want to play anything else.

The player made a ninja whose background was that his society forced him on pain of death to train that way, and that he feared divine retribution should he ever turn from the ninja path.

If a party lacked a rogue, would you put loads more traps in to show them they need one? If they lacked someone with social skills, would you require constant diplomacy rolls?

Continue the game as before, don't specifically punish them for playing what they want to play.

[ALOR]

The player made a ninja whose background was that his society forced him on pain of death to train that way, and that he feared divine retribution should he ever turn from the ninja path.

now thats a great background given the situation, great story.

[Infinnitum]

Got the point, thanks guys.

Should I close the thread?

[Leon]

Dont force them to follow a path that they dont want class wise, you can do without Arcane casters quite hapiliy - particulay with the Druid in the party