Ice Themed Sorc [Archive] - Wizards Community

Ice Themed Sorc [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Sir Ringe
04-05-05, 04:00 AM I just dug up a concept character that I think I want to play now that I think about it. I want to create an ice themed/slightly silver dragonish character (either human or elf. The Uldra looks interesting from frostburn, but DM doesn't like level adjustments).

What I came up with so far is just levels or sorc, until I can get up to Elemental Savant from Complete Arcane.

The feats that I'm taking most likely for sure are:
Draconic Heritage[Silver]
Piercing Cold (Frostburn)
Energy Substitution[Ice]
Draconic Power
Spell Thematics[Snow] (From Magic of Faerun, I think. I know it's kind of useless, but it adds a lot to the style of the character)

Feats that I'm considering
Cold Focus (Frostburn. Useful considering all elemental spells I cast as Elemental Savant will be [cold] descripted)
Draconic Breath (kind of too dragonish, I want to focus to be ice, not silver dragons)
Lord of Uttercold (Complete Arcane. While it is an ice metamagic feat that sounds cool, I kind of associate using negative energy as evil, and I don't want this character to be evil)

A lot of the casting feats relating to cold from Frostburn only work in cold weather, which this campaign probably won't be set in. :P So I'm outta luck there.

As for familiars, I'm looking for a feat or a variant that would give me a ice mephit or something similar as a familiar, does anyone know of something like that? Frostburn has arctic animals, but I'm looking for something with a little more spice.

Beyond that I don't know what other feats I can take to flesh this character out. This game will be more roleplaying oriented as opposed to combat, so I can afford to take things like Spell Thematics and other feats/PrCs that add to the style of the character. Anyone have anymore suggestions, either PrC or featwise? I'm pretty much allowed to use any book, as long as I'm not out to break the game, but it all has to be okay'ed by the DM first. Everything above except for Lord of Uttercold has been okay'ed.
UMCPWintermute
04-05-05, 10:56 AM If you've already got Frostburn (as it seems from your mention of the Uldra), then I highly recommend taking the Frost Mage prestige class. It's a very good class. The free metamagic feat is somewhat good (when you need to punch through someone's cold resistance, you take a full round action to cast the spell), and the free spells are excellent - especially Frostfell. The one downside to it is that because you gain the cold subtype, you're more vulnerable to fire, but that's the price of things.

I have a sorcerer I built up recently for an epic campaign that was Sorcerer/FrostMage/Eidoloncer - I took the Draconic Heritage [silver] and Draconic Power feats, as well as the Snowcasting and Frozen Magic feats from Frostburn. I also picked up the Spell Penetration feats and Elemental Substitution/Admixture.

It's a very fun character - let me know if you need any more help.
TheMightyMcClaw
04-05-05, 09:08 PM Here's an idea: Don't be from an arctic environment. From what I can see, a sorcerer who can summon hail and freezing cold is not appreciated in those areas.
Instead, go the opposite route - play as an ice sorcerer who comes from an extremely warm climate. He could hail from a jungle, the desert, or some tropical archipeligo. I think it would put an interesting twist on the whole ice mage idea.
Sir Ringe
04-05-05, 11:59 PM UMCPWintermute: I took a look at the frost mage, and while it has a lot of potential, I don't really see any part of this campaign taking place in sub-zero temperatures, or blizzards, and surviving one is a requirement for taking the class. I had trouble finding the Eidoloncer class in Frostburn? Am I looking in the right place?

TheMightyMcClaw: Thanks, that does seem much more interesting than just another sorceror from the snowtopped mountains. I think coming from a tropical island would be a good idea, especially with the water elemental aspect that's at the end of Elemental Savant.

I'm also looking for a familiar that is more interesting than just a regular animal. Where can I find a familiar feat that kind of goes along with the theme? Where can I find feats that give better familiars in general?
Skyrocket
04-06-05, 12:29 AM Improved Familer will get you an ice mephit familer.
Sir Ringe
04-06-05, 12:33 AM Sorry, what book is that out of?
Trydan
04-06-05, 02:26 AM Here are some ideas for spells (all from PHB): Ice Storm, Wall of Ice, Cone of Cold, Ray of Frost and Sleet Storm.
Skyrocket
04-06-05, 02:56 AM Sorry, what book is that out of?

I can't recall for certain. I think it's in Completee Arcane.
UMCPWintermute
04-06-05, 09:07 AM Eidoloncer is out of Ghostwalk - it's the ghost spellcaster class. The character I built up died and continued adventuring.

Anyways, you could set your character aside (with the DMs permission) for a while to have him go journey to the frozen regions of the world for training, at which point in time he could survive a blizzard and come back with his first level in Frost Mage.

If you're travelling in non-frozen areas, the Frost Mage can be very very useful, as a lot of monsters won't expect getting cold spells dumped on them (more used to fireball, lightning bolt, etc.).
mosep
04-07-05, 05:26 AM Put survival of a blizzard in your character background. Thats when your character discovered the talent for cold spells.
HypnoticMonk
04-09-05, 06:35 PM I did something similar in 1st edition ... without truly changing a single spell. How? Apply "cold" like special effects to regular spells.

Magic Missile - looks like a icicle
Grease - icy surface
Web - ice "webbing"
Glitterdust - ice crystals
Hold Person - Frozen Blue in a thin layer of ice
etcetc...

You don't really have to alter anything about the spells themselves other than what they look like when they go off. ( For example, fire had the same effect on both a standard Web spell and one like I cast [where the monsters gets caught in an ice lattice])
Ashianyl
04-10-05, 07:12 AM Spell Thematics[Snow] (From Magic of Faerun, I think. I know it's kind of useless, but it adds a lot to the style of the character)

Spell Thematics is originally from Magic of Faerun, but it is updated in Player's Guide to Faerun, which now allows you to nominate one spell / level to be enhanced to look different. The selected spell increases is casted one level higher and the spellcraft DC to identify the spell is increased by 5(makes it harder to counterspell).

As for some RP style points... maybe you could bargain with the DM to allow your character to be cursed with a permanent Chill Touch effect that you can't turn off. Imagine not knowing the simple pleasures of warm stew and hot chocolate. Mortals spurn your icy touch, and your only companion and friend is an Ice Mephit who is irritating as hell, but about the only one who is willing to be your companion.

If you go along with this idea, you can also fit in the Lord of Uttercold feat, which could be part of the maturity of your character's heritage and allow your DM to plan for a campaign that involves discovery of your unique heritage (and lots of nasty surprises along the way).

Hope you like these ideas.

:)
SpoonyBard
04-10-05, 11:51 AM I'd advise Draconic Breath. I know it may not seem like much when you've got all those evocation spells, but Draconic Breath can't be countered and doesn't allow for spell resistance. Also, it's easier to aim than something like fireball (coldball) most of the time.
Dark Kyosuke
04-11-05, 11:31 AM Put survival of a blizzard in your character background. Thats when your character discovered the talent for cold spells.

Clever, but slightly cheap.

However, since the player is going for theme and not power, any good DM would allow it.

Also, you might convince your DM to allow your energy-based spells to be Cold rather than whatever they were originally. I doubt that'd be too powerful, but again, you're trying to stick to a theme.
Sir Ringe
04-11-05, 02:11 PM Dark Kyosuke: I'm already taking Energy Substitution so I can change all the energy spells I'm picking to be substituted to cold.

Ashianyl: I like your idea, I'll ask my DM to see if I can take a penalty or something to get chill touch. I also like TheMightyMcClaw's idea about having a character that doesn't come from an arctic environment and I think those to fit well together.

Thanks for all the help guys, I'll put something together later and post it up here to see what you guys think. :)
SpoonyBard
04-11-05, 02:16 PM Also, you might convince your DM to allow your energy-based spells to be Cold rather than whatever they were originally. I doubt that'd be too powerful, but again, you're trying to stick to a theme.

That'll happen anywhen when he becomes an Elemental Savant.
Dark Kyosuke
04-11-05, 11:34 PM That'll happen anywhen when he becomes an Elemental Savant.

So it will (hadn't checked the book prior to posting, silly me). Making it a perfect choice, actually. Requirments are kinda steep, but the class is worth it (looks like, anyway).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Sir Ringe 04-05-05, 04:00 AM	I just dug up a concept character that I think I want to play now that I think about it. I want to create an ice themed/slightly silver dragonish character (either human or elf. The Uldra looks interesting from frostburn, but DM doesn't like level adjustments). What I came up with so far is just levels or sorc, until I can get up to Elemental Savant from Complete Arcane. The feats that I'm taking most likely for sure are: Draconic Heritage[Silver] Piercing Cold (Frostburn) Energy Substitution[Ice] Draconic Power Spell Thematics[Snow] (From Magic of Faerun, I think. I know it's kind of useless, but it adds a lot to the style of the character) Feats that I'm considering Cold Focus (Frostburn. Useful considering all elemental spells I cast as Elemental Savant will be [cold] descripted) Draconic Breath (kind of too dragonish, I want to focus to be ice, not silver dragons) Lord of Uttercold (Complete Arcane. While it is an ice metamagic feat that sounds cool, I kind of associate using negative energy as evil, and I don't want this character to be evil) A lot of the casting feats relating to cold from Frostburn only work in cold weather, which this campaign probably won't be set in. :P So I'm outta luck there. As for familiars, I'm looking for a feat or a variant that would give me a ice mephit or something similar as a familiar, does anyone know of something like that? Frostburn has arctic animals, but I'm looking for something with a little more spice. Beyond that I don't know what other feats I can take to flesh this character out. This game will be more roleplaying oriented as opposed to combat, so I can afford to take things like Spell Thematics and other feats/PrCs that add to the style of the character. Anyone have anymore suggestions, either PrC or featwise? I'm pretty much allowed to use any book, as long as I'm not out to break the game, but it all has to be okay'ed by the DM first. Everything above except for Lord of Uttercold has been okay'ed.
UMCPWintermute 04-05-05, 10:56 AM	If you've already got Frostburn (as it seems from your mention of the Uldra), then I highly recommend taking the Frost Mage prestige class. It's a very good class. The free metamagic feat is somewhat good (when you need to punch through someone's cold resistance, you take a full round action to cast the spell), and the free spells are excellent - especially Frostfell. The one downside to it is that because you gain the cold subtype, you're more vulnerable to fire, but that's the price of things. I have a sorcerer I built up recently for an epic campaign that was Sorcerer/FrostMage/Eidoloncer - I took the Draconic Heritage [silver] and Draconic Power feats, as well as the Snowcasting and Frozen Magic feats from Frostburn. I also picked up the Spell Penetration feats and Elemental Substitution/Admixture. It's a very fun character - let me know if you need any more help.
TheMightyMcClaw 04-05-05, 09:08 PM	Here's an idea: Don't be from an arctic environment. From what I can see, a sorcerer who can summon hail and freezing cold is not appreciated in those areas. Instead, go the opposite route - play as an ice sorcerer who comes from an extremely warm climate. He could hail from a jungle, the desert, or some tropical archipeligo. I think it would put an interesting twist on the whole ice mage idea.
Sir Ringe 04-05-05, 11:59 PM	UMCPWintermute: I took a look at the frost mage, and while it has a lot of potential, I don't really see any part of this campaign taking place in sub-zero temperatures, or blizzards, and surviving one is a requirement for taking the class. I had trouble finding the Eidoloncer class in Frostburn? Am I looking in the right place? TheMightyMcClaw: Thanks, that does seem much more interesting than just another sorceror from the snowtopped mountains. I think coming from a tropical island would be a good idea, especially with the water elemental aspect that's at the end of Elemental Savant. I'm also looking for a familiar that is more interesting than just a regular animal. Where can I find a familiar feat that kind of goes along with the theme? Where can I find feats that give better familiars in general?
Skyrocket 04-06-05, 12:29 AM	Improved Familer will get you an ice mephit familer.
Sir Ringe 04-06-05, 12:33 AM	Sorry, what book is that out of?
Trydan 04-06-05, 02:26 AM	Here are some ideas for spells (all from PHB): Ice Storm, Wall of Ice, Cone of Cold, Ray of Frost and Sleet Storm.
Skyrocket 04-06-05, 02:56 AM	Sorry, what book is that out of? I can't recall for certain. I think it's in Completee Arcane.
UMCPWintermute 04-06-05, 09:07 AM	Eidoloncer is out of Ghostwalk - it's the ghost spellcaster class. The character I built up died and continued adventuring. Anyways, you could set your character aside (with the DMs permission) for a while to have him go journey to the frozen regions of the world for training, at which point in time he could survive a blizzard and come back with his first level in Frost Mage. If you're travelling in non-frozen areas, the Frost Mage can be very very useful, as a lot of monsters won't expect getting cold spells dumped on them (more used to fireball, lightning bolt, etc.).
mosep 04-07-05, 05:26 AM	Put survival of a blizzard in your character background. Thats when your character discovered the talent for cold spells.
HypnoticMonk 04-09-05, 06:35 PM	I did something similar in 1st edition ... without truly changing a single spell. How? Apply "cold" like special effects to regular spells. Magic Missile - looks like a icicle Grease - icy surface Web - ice "webbing" Glitterdust - ice crystals Hold Person - Frozen Blue in a thin layer of ice etcetc... You don't really have to alter anything about the spells themselves other than what they look like when they go off. ( For example, fire had the same effect on both a standard Web spell and one like I cast [where the monsters gets caught in an ice lattice])
Ashianyl 04-10-05, 07:12 AM	Spell Thematics[Snow] (From Magic of Faerun, I think. I know it's kind of useless, but it adds a lot to the style of the character) Spell Thematics is originally from Magic of Faerun, but it is updated in Player's Guide to Faerun, which now allows you to nominate one spell / level to be enhanced to look different. The selected spell increases is casted one level higher and the spellcraft DC to identify the spell is increased by 5(makes it harder to counterspell). As for some RP style points... maybe you could bargain with the DM to allow your character to be cursed with a permanent Chill Touch effect that you can't turn off. Imagine not knowing the simple pleasures of warm stew and hot chocolate. Mortals spurn your icy touch, and your only companion and friend is an Ice Mephit who is irritating as hell, but about the only one who is willing to be your companion. If you go along with this idea, you can also fit in the Lord of Uttercold feat, which could be part of the maturity of your character's heritage and allow your DM to plan for a campaign that involves discovery of your unique heritage (and lots of nasty surprises along the way). Hope you like these ideas. :)
SpoonyBard 04-10-05, 11:51 AM	I'd advise Draconic Breath. I know it may not seem like much when you've got all those evocation spells, but Draconic Breath can't be countered and doesn't allow for spell resistance. Also, it's easier to aim than something like fireball (coldball) most of the time.
Dark Kyosuke 04-11-05, 11:31 AM	Put survival of a blizzard in your character background. Thats when your character discovered the talent for cold spells. Clever, but slightly cheap. However, since the player is going for theme and not power, any good DM would allow it. Also, you might convince your DM to allow your energy-based spells to be Cold rather than whatever they were originally. I doubt that'd be too powerful, but again, you're trying to stick to a theme.
Sir Ringe 04-11-05, 02:11 PM	Dark Kyosuke: I'm already taking Energy Substitution so I can change all the energy spells I'm picking to be substituted to cold. Ashianyl: I like your idea, I'll ask my DM to see if I can take a penalty or something to get chill touch. I also like TheMightyMcClaw's idea about having a character that doesn't come from an arctic environment and I think those to fit well together. Thanks for all the help guys, I'll put something together later and post it up here to see what you guys think. :)
SpoonyBard 04-11-05, 02:16 PM	Also, you might convince your DM to allow your energy-based spells to be Cold rather than whatever they were originally. I doubt that'd be too powerful, but again, you're trying to stick to a theme. That'll happen anywhen when he becomes an Elemental Savant.
Dark Kyosuke 04-11-05, 11:34 PM	That'll happen anywhen when he becomes an Elemental Savant. So it will (hadn't checked the book prior to posting, silly me). Making it a perfect choice, actually. Requirments are kinda steep, but the class is worth it (looks like, anyway).