Post/Author/DateTime	Post
necrosnoop110 06-06-04, 11:34 PM	I am looking to create a Dwarf Wizard for my next campaign. Normally I create characters from the mechanical side first. I hammer out all the abilities, equipment, and what not - then I'll work out an idea for his personality and background. This time I want to do the reverse come up with a concept then work out the mechanical details. I know I want him to be good and all wizard. Other than that I am open to suggestions. Anyone have any unique character concepts for a dwarf wizard? Thanks, Necrosnoop
dorkknight23 06-07-04, 12:07 AM	Well, dwarven society tends to be rather patriarchal and frowns on arcane spellcasters. I can see an intelligent, young, and somewhat rebellious (either NG or CG) female Dwarf who (against her family's wishes) chose to study magic. She could also have particular issues with Moradin, and choose to worship some goddess or another. She'd basically be an outcast amongst her community, a good excuse to adventure. She could have been taught by a powerful master in a very one-on-one matter (the higher her intelligence score, the more plausible this sounds to me.) She could also received a kind of scholastic learning of magic amongst a more magic-friendly race (gnomes perhaps, or elves [I can almost picture an iconoclastic dwarven woman who worships Sehanine Moonbow and suffixes her name with "Elf-Friend."])
necrosnoop110 06-07-04, 11:47 PM	Thanks dorkknight23 those are some good ideas to consider. The outcast would give a dwarf wizard a sound reason to adventure. But is there any plausible reason for a dwarf wizard to come from within a dwarven society?
WarDragon 06-08-04, 01:07 AM	Well, I'd imagine there are a few Dwarven wizards; the other Dwarves just don't talk about them. :rolleyes: Anyway, how about a Dwarven child who was always embarassingly weak and clumsy; far too much so to complete the warrior training Dwarves prize so highly. In his desperation to prove his worth, he starts taking magic lessons on the sly from a wizard in a nearby community of some other race? Or even teaches himself, from books in the "forbidden" section of the city library?
Trydan 06-08-04, 07:02 AM	Originally posted by necrosnoop110 But is there any plausible reason for a dwarf wizard to come from within a dwarven society? There are rare cases of most vocations or professions in every race, and Dwarven Wizards are right up there with Elvish coal-miners and Half-Orc ballet-dancers. I think that wizards in dwarven society would fall into four categories: Social outcasts Eccentrics, tolerated, but isolated Secret agents (funded secretly by the governments and clan chieftains. Craftsmen, who use magic as a sideline in order to imbed abilities into forged axes, helms, etc.
allenchan 06-08-04, 02:46 PM	Originally posted by Trydan There are rare cases of most vocations or professions in every race, and Dwarven Wizards are right up there with Elvish coal-miners and Half-Orc ballet-dancers. Sweet! Which book is that PrC in? :angel: lol
WarDragon 06-08-04, 04:09 PM	Oh, I just had another idea. How about a Dwarf who starts out as a completely typical example of Dwarfness (beards, booze, axes and hammers), and then sees a Wizard or Sorcerer in battle as either friend or foe, and is just so impressed he MUST learn to make those big booms himself? This would be a pretty good background for an Eldritch Knight, actually. Oh, and; Half Orc ballet dancers? :uh-huh: :eek:
Gemstone 06-09-04, 03:43 AM	Half-orc balette dancers Sweet! I want them now! They must have high BAB and great ref saves. But about the dwarf... what if he was born with an urge to become more powerful than any other dwarf? In his quest for power, he stumbled upon a book of power and when he opened it, his mind was cleared and as exchange, he was given the gift of magic. So before becoming a mage, he was a reknown high level fighter. That could prove interesting when returning to his former home and everybody asks themselves: "How could he be so great in fights?"
necrosnoop110 06-09-04, 03:49 AM	WarDragon How about a Dwarf who starts out as a completely typical example of Dwarfness (beards, booze, axes and hammers), and then sees a Wizard or Sorcerer in battle as either friend or foe, and is just so impressed he MUST learn to make those big booms himself? This would be a pretty good background for an Eldritch Knight, actually. Thanks WarDragon I like this idea. I am gonna go with that. I always wanted use the Eldritch Knight PrC anyway so this will give me a good reason. I am starting at sixth level so I'm thinking Fighter 1/ Wizard 5 Some questions: Who was that wizard he saw in battle? After seeing this wizard how did he go about learning magic? How did his clansmen respond his new interest in magic? How did he use this new change to also become an adventurer? (All are welcome to help me answer these questions)
Trydan 06-09-04, 04:37 AM	Originally posted by allenchan Sweet! Which book is that PrC in? :angel:I think it is from the Book of Vile Dancers, but I'm not sure. Back to the dwarven-wizard, though... the character may want to keep his wizardry a secret, and deliberately try to bluff. For example, he could create illusionary platemail to make him look like a fighter, and carry a staff or rod (which has an illusionary axe-head). Spells could be attributed to the chaotic, intelligent "axe", and the dwarf "fighter's" supposed quest may be to try to determine the nature of this axe.
necrosnoop110 06-09-04, 02:18 PM	Name: Baindoth Ironslasher Race/ Gender/ Age: Dwarf/ Male/ ? Alignment: CG Religion: ? Single Defining Class: Eldritch Knight Description: ? Greatest Strength: ? Greatest Weakness: ? Traits and Mannerisms: ? Modus Operandi: ? Background: A Dwarf who starts out as a completely typical example of Dwarfness (beards, booze, axes and hammers), and then sees a Wizard or Sorcerer in battle as either friend or foe, and is just so impressed he MUST learn to make those big booms himself? This would be a pretty good background for an Eldritch Knight, actually. Quote: ?
WarDragon 06-10-04, 12:20 PM	Originally posted by necrosnoop110 Thanks WarDragon I like this idea. I am gonna go with that. I always wanted use the Eldritch Knight PrC anyway so this will give me a good reason. I am starting at sixth level so I'm thinking Fighter 1/ Wizard 5 Some questions: Who was that wizard he saw in battle? After seeing this wizard how did he go about learning magic? How did his clansmen respond his new interest in magic? How did he use this new change to also become an adventurer? (All are welcome to help me answer these questions) I'm glad you like it! Knowing that someone will be playing a character I inspired gives me a Warm Fuzzy Feeling. :angel: Ahem. Since I just made the idea up on the spot, I guess I can help with the details the same way. The Wizard who impressed him could have been (among other things): one of the Elves/Humans his people regularly ally with against periodic Orc raids; a Sorcerer amongst the Kobold den they were clearing out; an evil spellcaster who foolishly tried to attack the clan from without; perhaps you witnessed a Mage Duel in a big, cosmopolitan city while accompanying a trade caravan; or if all else fails, it could be the Arcanist in your adventuring party (though it really would work best if the mage were higher level). How did his clansmen respond? Well, since Dwarves don't really like magic but are typically good, it could have been anything from reluctant support to outright hostility and exile. Mybe he's adventuring to spare them the discomfort of the "black sheep in the clan," while also trying to prove his worth. Hmm; I seem to have answered question three without realizing it. Well, hope that helps. Good luck with the character!