Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Kharne 07-03-03, 02:23 PM	Hello folks. I've recently realized that i've only played 3 characters in 3rd ed for more than 1 or 2 game sessions and only one of those has gotten above 6th level (that's in the campaign i'm running now...an NPC that I play when one of the other players runs a game or two. So...i've decided that it's time someone else ran for a while and one of my players has nicely agreed to run the next campaign. I've decided to play a wizard that will jump into shadow adept after 5 levels. Here is my character concept. Set in Forgotten Realms, my character has political aspirations and realized that most of the powerful political movers were, in the past, adventurers. This is the reason my character is adventuring. He has little real desire to do good and help people, except that.... "he should". :cool: I'm imagining LN. Ultimately, everything he does is filtered through his mind on whether it would make him look better and add to his chances of landing in a position of power. If he saw someone suffering, it wouldn't particularly move him emotionally other than the fact that a "hero" really would care and thus he would act accordingly. My plan is for none of the other players to ever realize that he is anything other than a NG "do-gooder". This leads to the first feat i'm finding to be important for him...Versatile (sp?) from OA. This feat will make Diplomacy and Sense Motive class skills for him. Shadow Adept will later add Bluff to this list. :D One other thing i'm imagining for this character is that he would see carrying a sword as the "heroically dashing" thing to do. Would it be worthwhile to spend the feat to be able to use it? I'd rather not take levels in another class and slow down my spell progression. Lastly, his reason for tapping into the Shadow Weave is that he sees it as an easy way to achieve more power. I've spoken with my DM about this and he has agreed to let Shar see this as something that could benefit them and thus her people will leave him be for the most part (they may hope to have leverage if he ever ends up in a position of power). The other thing that my DM suggested was allowing me to take the Shadow Weave Magic feat as my 5th level Wizard bonus feat and helping to explain where he might have found out about the Shadow Weave in order to tap into it. So, without further ado...my chars planned progression so far: *************************** House Rules that might be important: 0-level Spells are cast on the fly Half-Elves can have a bonus feat, skill points, or elven weap. prof. Scribe Scroll can be switched out for another appropriate feat All characters get 2 extra skill points per level All feats with odd stat prereqs are reduced by one *************************** Point by Character 32pts Human Wizard Str: 12, Dex: 14, Con: 12, Int: 15, Wis: 12, Cha: 14 Wiz1- Scribe Scroll, Versatile, (open feat) Wiz2- Wiz3- (open feat) Wiz4- Wiz5- Shadow Weave Magic Wiz5/ShAd1- Shadow Feats, (open feat) Wiz5/ShAd2- Wiz5/ShAd3- Wiz5/ShAd4- (open feat) Basically, here are the questions I have regarding this character: 1.) Should I make him Str 10 and Int 16? 2.) Is LN an appropriate alignment for what I mentioned? 3.) Should I use my open feats for Spell Focus in the Shadow schools or should I look at Metamagic? 4.) Will it be worthwhile to take a feat for a sword or should I just wield one with the penalty? 5.) Any other suggestions to further flesh out my character? Thanks for any help, Kharne One more note: Please keep in mind that this will be one of the first Wizard characters i've ever played
Shadow Adept 07-04-03, 12:36 AM	I'd like to help you out because the more knowledgeable members of this board helped me with a similar question. 1.) Should I make him Str 10 and Int 16? It really depends on how much power you are prepared to sacrifice for style. Even a Str of 8 wont hinder you in any significant way (same goes for charisma) while Int goes into nearly every aspect of your character: Skills, Save DCs, Bonus spells. 2.) Is LN an appropriate alignment for what I mentioned? Absolutely. I compliment you to your well-rounded background story. :) 3.) Should I use my open feats for Spell Focus in the Shadow schools or should I look at Metamagic? Spell Focus and Greater Spell Focus (Enchantment) taken at first level is very powerful: Sleep (level 1 spell) and hold person (level 3 spell) are instant death to anyone who fails his save which will be rather frequent. Charm person is strong too and fits the concept nicely. Enchantment continues to be frighteningly effective until level 13 where you can look forward to strong necromancy spells. Other useful feats are: Spellcasting Prodigy (FR, level 1 only), Improved Initiative, Empower Spell (Metamagic), Craft Wondrous Item; 4.) Will it be worthwhile to take a feat for a sword or should I just wield one with the penalty? Spending a feat on martial weapon proficiency: longsword and actually using it will probably get you killed (low AC and HP) but if you consider playing an elf (or half-elf using your house rule) you'll get it for free plus the rather *useful* longbow proficiency as an added benefit. You will run out of attack spells fast at low levels and with the bow and your good Dex you can still dish out serious damage plus you can enchant it later to be flaming shocking and whatnot. 5.) Any other suggestions to further flesh out my character? How about taking a raven as familiar? They speak one language and you can have him mock your character all the time about what a pompous hypocritical "hero" he is, thus describing your character to the other players.