Thoughts please.... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Thoughts please.... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Archamorden
10-17-03, 02:23 PM I don't get to play much....as I DM normally. However, I decided to play a true wizard...and want to play him well with an interesting driving story and personality. I will post his stats, if anyone can give me any thoughts or ideas on what you could "see" in these cold hard stats, that would be great.

Veonynn
Human Wizard lvl 5
Chaotic Neutral
6' 185 lbs, light blue eyes, dark hair, pale skin.
Str: 12 ( I rolled very well and put my lowest score here. High for a wizard so I play it that Veonynn quickly realized the toll that countless hours of study would take on his physique, so he would hike high into the mountains to study his spell book...being a determined human, he did it daily.)
Dex: 18 ( Naturally quick...he was always nimble with his fingers and hands...he valued the artistic quality of magics somantic side. Like a dedicated and stubborn dancer, he practiced the subtle movements until they were virutually perfect. This improved his dexterity with his hands. Natural speed, he always possesed.)
Con: 14 ( (I added my 4th lvl point here) A welcome side effect to the "hiking to study" regimine. Also, probably somewhat naturally healthy.
Int: 18 ( don't know if this needs explaining or how I would explain it)
Wis: 13
Cha: 13
Feats: Scribe Scroll
Combat Casting
Quicken Spell
Spell Penetration and Alertness...(From Familiar. A cat named Bergam)
I also have one to pick.
Archamorden
10-17-03, 02:24 PM ...I am going to write his back story today..and will check back to this board for ideas and inspiration.

Thanks,
Archamorden
eudas
10-17-03, 03:22 PM i dunno, looks like a promising, if somewhat individualistic, student who seems to be well on his way to fulfilling his potential.

i would portray him as somewhat friendly (13cha), healthy (12str/14con), intelligent (18int) yet thoughtful and introspective, (13wis), and of course deft with the required somatics (18dex). he's that guy that everybody wants to be. =)

please avoid the crossbow. =)
i picture him in blue robes for some reason... probably the light blue eyes.

he doesn't necessarily have to have any particularly amazing background.. unless you want him to.. he could just be a child of a minor noble or well-to-do merchant family who showed promise in front of his tutors, and he wound up apprenticed at the appropriate age to a wizard.

eudas
Archamorden
10-17-03, 03:31 PM good insight...thank you.

Anyone else?
Mr. VanderMeer
10-17-03, 06:08 PM I could see this character as the son of a noble. Athletic and handsome he has always been popular and liked. His amazing ability to learn and his athletic ability made him as capable on the sportsfield as he was in history class.
But his true love, he discovered quickly; magic. He found old tomes and read them until he could read no more. For diversion he would hike, swim, play some sort of ball games or mingle among the other residents of his fathers keep. And he was good at all of these things, but always it was magic that he excelled at.

His father expects him to get ready to take his place when the time is there. That prospect sort of frightens Veonynn. So he has decided to start traveling, to see and experience as much as possible before he has to settle down and rule his fathers domain. If possible he would avoid that dreadful fate all together. And what better way to live to the fullest than be joining a group of adventurers? Of course he seeks for quests that will gain him glory, but he is also always on the lookout for knowledge of magic and special items. There is a certain selfisness to his chosen path, as it is a means to escape the consequences and responsibilities of his noble heritage and also a way to gain magical power.
Trydan
10-18-03, 11:45 AM Hmm... I'm not sure for what exactly the original post was asking. If it was ideas for a background or history, then I would go with something reasonably ordinary, but put a twist into one of his mountain hikes... an event, perhaps, that changed the course of his life. There are several possibilities here.

Perhaps he fell or tripped and was injured. Perhaps it was days before he was rescued.
Perhaps he got lsot. Badly lost.
Perhaps he sighted a nymph, dryad, or some other fey.
Perhaps a young woman, hopelessly in love with the enigmatic and athletic character, would follow him into the mountains. And one day, he notices that he is being followed.
Perhaps he is ambushed by monsters/bandits/etc.
Perhaps he stumbles across some ruins, that have been hidden for centuries.
Perhaps he finds an old mine, and decides to explore.

Either way, these are all the sorts of ideas that could explain why he starts "adventuring". They could also explain why he carrys a certain talisman, or perhaps uses a certain expression or turn of phrase. Maybe it could help explain his choice of spells.

Anyway, I hope that helps... good luck with the character. It sounds good so far, and has a lot of potential.
Winternova
10-18-03, 12:33 PM I've seen charisma described as roughly a 'sense of self' in some texts. Maybe with his above average charisma and wisdom, he's one of those 'know thyself before thine enemy' kinda guys. with the high intelligence, he'd sure have the vocabulary for it. His high dexterity, and constitution could result from his practicing Tai Chi, Yoga, or similar artform - An above average strength resulting from these practices. With his alignment, he'd be highly individualistic, perhaps a wildly eccentric philosphic recloose - very frightening to some in town, despite his demeanor. Maybe he was exiled because of it, or simply fooled into leaving by some very slick ne'erdowells who had planned to ambush him, and push him around, or just trick him into going down some godforsaken mineshaft, or something.
Archamorden
10-21-03, 05:29 PM Thanks...

I do agree that in this case I want to play a strong sense of self.
Here's a question for you guys:
How would a Chaotic Neutral character view ressurection?
Or better yet...give me some ideas of how THIS character's "chaotic neutralness" might display itself.
Kalidor187
10-22-03, 12:09 AM There is no prevailing view on how any one alignment views resurrection (or more relevant- death). This is how my 'mind's eye' sees the character.

Veonynn loves life. He enjoys going into the wilderness to see applications of what he's read in books. He became fascinated with the way different creatures existed in harmony without rules imposed on them by an outside authority. They just did what came to them naturally. Enjoy opportunity to enjoy life should be seized, therefore, ressurection is just another one of these opportunities.

Veonynn liked the way different animals walked interacted with each other and how each of them, even among their own species, was distinct. The pattern of feathers on a peacock, the way a squirrel would toss its food out of a tree, then run to retrieve it, etc. This behavior was not malicious or considerate; it just was.

Veonynn enjoys walking through 'civilization' viewing it as an overlarge anthill. People from all walks of life intermingle and go about their daily routines. One of the things that really gets under his skin, though, is when someone declares 'you can't do that'. He will walk the streets and , when something strikes his fancy, purchase an item that is atypical for the inhabitants, but is strangely suited to him.

He may occassionally engage with city guards and ask why they choose to take orders from someone else. Are you not capable of deciding for yourself how to defend the city? Is it really that hard to close the portcullis? How long do you spend doing this? If you spend so much time working, when do you enjoy life? Do you do anything other than drink at the local pub? Have you ever taken a walk though the forest or hiked a mountain and felt the wind on your face? What good is defending a city if you cannot enjoy the benefits? Why wait until you retire? Is there really anything wrong with walking through the forest now? Perhaps you should consider reading a book or painting during your off-time. This would be a subtle way to get creative juices follow and unlock the individual locked within.

Veonynn is just as likely to experiment with people as well. During his hikes, he would move fruit fallen from trees and place them beneath other trees, just to see how the animals of the forest would react. He is also apt to do this with humans. He would cast Mage Hand and move around the wares on a merchant's table and watch as the merchant placed it back. When the merchant turned his back, it would move again and again the merchant would place it in its correct place. The merchant would look around, but see no one snickering, so he would shrug his shoulders, until it happened again. Now the merchant his hiding behind the curtain of his stand, waiting for the object to move again, peeking from behind it, then hiding.

When he tires of the city, he may attempt to leave and is told by the guards that no one can leave until dawn for the safety of the city. He simply smiles and pats the guard on the cheek saying, "You're a good boy." Then casts gaseous cloud and leaves anyway.
Archamorden
10-22-03, 11:34 AM Interesting....good take on it all...

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Archamorden 10-17-03, 02:23 PM	I don't get to play much....as I DM normally. However, I decided to play a true wizard...and want to play him well with an interesting driving story and personality. I will post his stats, if anyone can give me any thoughts or ideas on what you could "see" in these cold hard stats, that would be great. Veonynn Human Wizard lvl 5 Chaotic Neutral 6' 185 lbs, light blue eyes, dark hair, pale skin. Str: 12 ( I rolled very well and put my lowest score here. High for a wizard so I play it that Veonynn quickly realized the toll that countless hours of study would take on his physique, so he would hike high into the mountains to study his spell book...being a determined human, he did it daily.) Dex: 18 ( Naturally quick...he was always nimble with his fingers and hands...he valued the artistic quality of magics somantic side. Like a dedicated and stubborn dancer, he practiced the subtle movements until they were virutually perfect. This improved his dexterity with his hands. Natural speed, he always possesed.) Con: 14 ( (I added my 4th lvl point here) A welcome side effect to the "hiking to study" regimine. Also, probably somewhat naturally healthy. Int: 18 ( don't know if this needs explaining or how I would explain it) Wis: 13 Cha: 13 Feats: Scribe Scroll Combat Casting Quicken Spell Spell Penetration and Alertness...(From Familiar. A cat named Bergam) I also have one to pick.
Archamorden 10-17-03, 02:24 PM	...I am going to write his back story today..and will check back to this board for ideas and inspiration. Thanks, Archamorden
eudas 10-17-03, 03:22 PM	i dunno, looks like a promising, if somewhat individualistic, student who seems to be well on his way to fulfilling his potential. i would portray him as somewhat friendly (13cha), healthy (12str/14con), intelligent (18int) yet thoughtful and introspective, (13wis), and of course deft with the required somatics (18dex). he's that guy that everybody wants to be. =) please avoid the crossbow. =) i picture him in blue robes for some reason... probably the light blue eyes. he doesn't necessarily have to have any particularly amazing background.. unless you want him to.. he could just be a child of a minor noble or well-to-do merchant family who showed promise in front of his tutors, and he wound up apprenticed at the appropriate age to a wizard. eudas
Archamorden 10-17-03, 03:31 PM	good insight...thank you. Anyone else?
Mr. VanderMeer 10-17-03, 06:08 PM	I could see this character as the son of a noble. Athletic and handsome he has always been popular and liked. His amazing ability to learn and his athletic ability made him as capable on the sportsfield as he was in history class. But his true love, he discovered quickly; magic. He found old tomes and read them until he could read no more. For diversion he would hike, swim, play some sort of ball games or mingle among the other residents of his fathers keep. And he was good at all of these things, but always it was magic that he excelled at. His father expects him to get ready to take his place when the time is there. That prospect sort of frightens Veonynn. So he has decided to start traveling, to see and experience as much as possible before he has to settle down and rule his fathers domain. If possible he would avoid that dreadful fate all together. And what better way to live to the fullest than be joining a group of adventurers? Of course he seeks for quests that will gain him glory, but he is also always on the lookout for knowledge of magic and special items. There is a certain selfisness to his chosen path, as it is a means to escape the consequences and responsibilities of his noble heritage and also a way to gain magical power.
Trydan 10-18-03, 11:45 AM	Hmm... I'm not sure for what exactly the original post was asking. If it was ideas for a background or history, then I would go with something reasonably ordinary, but put a twist into one of his mountain hikes... an event, perhaps, that changed the course of his life. There are several possibilities here. Perhaps he fell or tripped and was injured. Perhaps it was days before he was rescued. Perhaps he got lsot. Badly lost. Perhaps he sighted a nymph, dryad, or some other fey. Perhaps a young woman, hopelessly in love with the enigmatic and athletic character, would follow him into the mountains. And one day, he notices that he is being followed. Perhaps he is ambushed by monsters/bandits/etc. Perhaps he stumbles across some ruins, that have been hidden for centuries. Perhaps he finds an old mine, and decides to explore. Either way, these are all the sorts of ideas that could explain why he starts "adventuring". They could also explain why he carrys a certain talisman, or perhaps uses a certain expression or turn of phrase. Maybe it could help explain his choice of spells. Anyway, I hope that helps... good luck with the character. It sounds good so far, and has a lot of potential.
Winternova 10-18-03, 12:33 PM	I've seen charisma described as roughly a 'sense of self' in some texts. Maybe with his above average charisma and wisdom, he's one of those 'know thyself before thine enemy' kinda guys. with the high intelligence, he'd sure have the vocabulary for it. His high dexterity, and constitution could result from his practicing Tai Chi, Yoga, or similar artform - An above average strength resulting from these practices. With his alignment, he'd be highly individualistic, perhaps a wildly eccentric philosphic recloose - very frightening to some in town, despite his demeanor. Maybe he was exiled because of it, or simply fooled into leaving by some very slick ne'erdowells who had planned to ambush him, and push him around, or just trick him into going down some godforsaken mineshaft, or something.
Archamorden 10-21-03, 05:29 PM	Thanks... I do agree that in this case I want to play a strong sense of self. Here's a question for you guys: How would a Chaotic Neutral character view ressurection? Or better yet...give me some ideas of how THIS character's "chaotic neutralness" might display itself.
Kalidor187 10-22-03, 12:09 AM	There is no prevailing view on how any one alignment views resurrection (or more relevant- death). This is how my 'mind's eye' sees the character. Veonynn loves life. He enjoys going into the wilderness to see applications of what he's read in books. He became fascinated with the way different creatures existed in harmony without rules imposed on them by an outside authority. They just did what came to them naturally. Enjoy opportunity to enjoy life should be seized, therefore, ressurection is just another one of these opportunities. Veonynn liked the way different animals walked interacted with each other and how each of them, even among their own species, was distinct. The pattern of feathers on a peacock, the way a squirrel would toss its food out of a tree, then run to retrieve it, etc. This behavior was not malicious or considerate; it just was. Veonynn enjoys walking through 'civilization' viewing it as an overlarge anthill. People from all walks of life intermingle and go about their daily routines. One of the things that really gets under his skin, though, is when someone declares 'you can't do that'. He will walk the streets and , when something strikes his fancy, purchase an item that is atypical for the inhabitants, but is strangely suited to him. He may occassionally engage with city guards and ask why they choose to take orders from someone else. Are you not capable of deciding for yourself how to defend the city? Is it really that hard to close the portcullis? How long do you spend doing this? If you spend so much time working, when do you enjoy life? Do you do anything other than drink at the local pub? Have you ever taken a walk though the forest or hiked a mountain and felt the wind on your face? What good is defending a city if you cannot enjoy the benefits? Why wait until you retire? Is there really anything wrong with walking through the forest now? Perhaps you should consider reading a book or painting during your off-time. This would be a subtle way to get creative juices follow and unlock the individual locked within. Veonynn is just as likely to experiment with people as well. During his hikes, he would move fruit fallen from trees and place them beneath other trees, just to see how the animals of the forest would react. He is also apt to do this with humans. He would cast Mage Hand and move around the wares on a merchant's table and watch as the merchant placed it back. When the merchant turned his back, it would move again and again the merchant would place it in its correct place. The merchant would look around, but see no one snickering, so he would shrug his shoulders, until it happened again. Now the merchant his hiding behind the curtain of his stand, waiting for the object to move again, peeking from behind it, then hiding. When he tires of the city, he may attempt to leave and is told by the guards that no one can leave until dawn for the safety of the city. He simply smiles and pats the guard on the cheek saying, "You're a good boy." Then casts gaseous cloud and leaves anyway.
Archamorden 10-22-03, 11:34 AM	Interesting....good take on it all...