From Generic to Characterful? [Archive] - Wizards Community

From Generic to Characterful? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Werrwaaa
12-12-06, 09:32 PM So in an upcoming game I am going to be playing an Elven Wizard. Generic. What do I do about it? How do I take your average Elf and make him something special?

The world he will be in is one polarized by power. The spell casters deemed themselves high class citizens because of their abilities, those who did not fit into their image of success or accomplishment eventually revolted. Now the continent is divided, with the casters dominating the north and the non-casters dominating the south. Race has long since stopped being a dividing line, and cities are made up of almost equal amalgams of all races. In the continent's center, the city of Pegasus rises, where peoples of all kinds meet, work and live together.
CrimsonPhoenix
12-12-06, 09:43 PM Just to be different, you could be a champion for the rights of the non-casters in your setting. Not necessarily on their side of this divide, but working in the caster portion of the world towards piece and not destruction of those they consider enemies.

Obviously something of the sort would be just a start, but it might get you going in the right direction.
Werrwaaa
12-12-06, 09:47 PM Hmm, i kinda like it. Maybe I can talk to my DM and set up some kind of story as a government official in Pegasus.
YamiSouru
12-13-06, 12:33 AM "Magic is just a game. i will use it as such!" Maybe the elf could veiw magic as a fancifull game, enjoying the way the energies of the world bend around a few simple word sand gestures. his curiosity drives him to discover the true purpose of magic, and come hell or high water he will do it, yet when ever he has mastered a rule of magic he hears the voice in his head ask "but what else can it do?"

well theres a idea you can do, kind of campaign generic though. hope you enjoy
Adolph_Kheebler
12-13-06, 02:45 AM Self-hating mage. Have you believe that magic is the root of all evil in the world and it must be stopped. The basic philosophy is to use the tools of the enemy to bring it down. Be the sworn enemy of other mages and have a vow to give up magic only when Boccob/Mystra/whatever other equivalent god of magic exists in your current pantheon falls. I played a psion/wizard/cerebremancer with that kind of mentality. He was actually rather fun as his memory was pretty bad and quite often he'd forget whether he hated magic or psionics.
Lord of the Ninth
12-13-06, 04:23 AM You could also be an arrogant man of the old guard. You firmly believe that mages ought to be the ruling class. After all, wizards tend to be more intellient and better educated than the rest of the world, not to mention that their training teaches them more about responsible resource management and advanced planning than any other class.

Especially when you compare the magocracy to the traditional hereditary monarchy, magocracy isn't that abhorrent of a concept. It's a largely merit based system with an educated elite and a decent chance for social mobility (assuming magical education is affordable).

I think it's important that your top two defining characteristics aren't 'elf' and 'wizard.' In fact, were I you, I would try and take elf out of my top three, so it would be like my character is a '____, _______, wizard who happens to be an elf'

And pick something cool to put in the blanks. If you cannot think of anything go to page 128 of the DMG and read through the 99 NPC traits listed there (it says 100 but one is missing).

Also, are you a specialist wizard? And if not, why the devil not? (+1 spell per day for every level is awesome). Your specialty, or even just your preferences in spell selection even if you're a generalist, can end up saying a lot about your character.

For example, you could become an abjurer to better protect yourself from peasant rabble. Or you could become an illusionist because you find much of reality displeasing, so you like to dress things up. Or you could be a transmuter who also dislikes reality but wants to actually fix things.

Conjurers and necromancers can enjoy having special friends, and necromancer elves are a bit of an oddity. Enchanters might be manipulative bastards, or they might use enchantment to make up for otherwise poor people skills.
Werrwaaa
12-13-06, 12:29 PM Also, are you a specialist wizard? And if not, why the devil not? (+1 spell per day for every level is awesome). Your specialty, or even just your preferences in spell selection even if you're a generalist, can end up saying a lot about your character.

I am going to be a Generalist Wizard, taking the racial substitution level for Elves from Races of the Wild. It will give me an extra spell per day of my highest level, so while it isn't quite specializing, it's still pretty nice.

I really like all the suggestions so far, and will work something out from them. Any more suggestions are still welcome though! :) Thanks guys.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Werrwaaa 12-12-06, 09:32 PM	So in an upcoming game I am going to be playing an Elven Wizard. Generic. What do I do about it? How do I take your average Elf and make him something special? The world he will be in is one polarized by power. The spell casters deemed themselves high class citizens because of their abilities, those who did not fit into their image of success or accomplishment eventually revolted. Now the continent is divided, with the casters dominating the north and the non-casters dominating the south. Race has long since stopped being a dividing line, and cities are made up of almost equal amalgams of all races. In the continent's center, the city of Pegasus rises, where peoples of all kinds meet, work and live together.
CrimsonPhoenix 12-12-06, 09:43 PM	Just to be different, you could be a champion for the rights of the non-casters in your setting. Not necessarily on their side of this divide, but working in the caster portion of the world towards piece and not destruction of those they consider enemies. Obviously something of the sort would be just a start, but it might get you going in the right direction.
Werrwaaa 12-12-06, 09:47 PM	Hmm, i kinda like it. Maybe I can talk to my DM and set up some kind of story as a government official in Pegasus.
YamiSouru 12-13-06, 12:33 AM	"Magic is just a game. i will use it as such!" Maybe the elf could veiw magic as a fancifull game, enjoying the way the energies of the world bend around a few simple word sand gestures. his curiosity drives him to discover the true purpose of magic, and come hell or high water he will do it, yet when ever he has mastered a rule of magic he hears the voice in his head ask "but what else can it do?" well theres a idea you can do, kind of campaign generic though. hope you enjoy
Adolph_Kheebler 12-13-06, 02:45 AM	Self-hating mage. Have you believe that magic is the root of all evil in the world and it must be stopped. The basic philosophy is to use the tools of the enemy to bring it down. Be the sworn enemy of other mages and have a vow to give up magic only when Boccob/Mystra/whatever other equivalent god of magic exists in your current pantheon falls. I played a psion/wizard/cerebremancer with that kind of mentality. He was actually rather fun as his memory was pretty bad and quite often he'd forget whether he hated magic or psionics.
Lord of the Ninth 12-13-06, 04:23 AM	You could also be an arrogant man of the old guard. You firmly believe that mages ought to be the ruling class. After all, wizards tend to be more intellient and better educated than the rest of the world, not to mention that their training teaches them more about responsible resource management and advanced planning than any other class. Especially when you compare the magocracy to the traditional hereditary monarchy, magocracy isn't that abhorrent of a concept. It's a largely merit based system with an educated elite and a decent chance for social mobility (assuming magical education is affordable). I think it's important that your top two defining characteristics aren't 'elf' and 'wizard.' In fact, were I you, I would try and take elf out of my top three, so it would be like my character is a '____, _______, wizard who happens to be an elf' And pick something cool to put in the blanks. If you cannot think of anything go to page 128 of the DMG and read through the 99 NPC traits listed there (it says 100 but one is missing). Also, are you a specialist wizard? And if not, why the devil not? (+1 spell per day for every level is awesome). Your specialty, or even just your preferences in spell selection even if you're a generalist, can end up saying a lot about your character. For example, you could become an abjurer to better protect yourself from peasant rabble. Or you could become an illusionist because you find much of reality displeasing, so you like to dress things up. Or you could be a transmuter who also dislikes reality but wants to actually fix things. Conjurers and necromancers can enjoy having special friends, and necromancer elves are a bit of an oddity. Enchanters might be manipulative bastards, or they might use enchantment to make up for otherwise poor people skills.
Werrwaaa 12-13-06, 12:29 PM	Also, are you a specialist wizard? And if not, why the devil not? (+1 spell per day for every level is awesome). Your specialty, or even just your preferences in spell selection even if you're a generalist, can end up saying a lot about your character. I am going to be a Generalist Wizard, taking the racial substitution level for Elves from Races of the Wild. It will give me an extra spell per day of my highest level, so while it isn't quite specializing, it's still pretty nice. I really like all the suggestions so far, and will work something out from them. Any more suggestions are still welcome though! :) Thanks guys.