Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Romulan_Knight 01-02-07, 02:24 AM	what classes would you do the Fellowship of the ring as?
Ranger REG 01-02-07, 02:46 AM	Wizard: Gandalf, Saruman, Elrond, Arwen Ranger: Aragorn, Faramir Fighter: Aragorn, Faramir, Boromir, Gimli, Legolas, Elrond Rogue: Frodo, Bilbo, Samwise Bard: Merry, Pippin
Romulan_Knight 01-02-07, 05:42 AM	Wizard: Gandalf, Saruman, Elrond, Arwen Ranger: Aragorn, Faramir Fighter: Aragorn, Faramir, Boromir, Gimli, Legolas, Elrond Rogue: Frodo, Bilbo, Samwise Bard: Merry, Pippin Personally I would not say Gandalf is a Wizard, He seems more like a Battle Sorcerer to me with maybe a couple levels in Fighter, Though, I have no other working of how he fights except from the movies, The books don't eleberate much on their fighting styles except what weapons they have and then not much on how they use them. I would agree with your Samwise, Frodo, Aragorn, Faramir, Boromir, Gimli, Legolas as being those respective classes. Though I would have Pippin and Merry as Rogue/Fighters or even Bard, Bard/Fighters as they progress.
Ryu Katsuragi 01-03-07, 01:56 PM	Gandalf I'd say is an Eldritch Knight, purely by the picture in the DMG. ;)
Prime32 01-11-07, 01:45 PM	You know, I thought Gandalf was more like a paladin. He doesn't cast that many spells for a wizard (most of them are on the paladin list). Oh, and he has Aura of Courage, though that could be his ring...
Romulan_Knight 01-11-07, 05:37 PM	Gandalf as a Paladin O_O, Now I have seen and heard everything.
Alpha_Moose 01-11-07, 08:14 PM	Bump (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=324911)
Jedi_Councilman 04-28-07, 05:48 AM	I also thought of Paladin as a possibility for Gandalf. He even has a special mount!
greatmoat 04-28-07, 05:05 PM	Are you aware of the fact that LotR characters were never intended to fulfill D&D niche roles, which are mainly related to dungeon exploration?
Ranger REG 04-28-07, 05:49 PM	Are you aware of the fact that LotR characters were never intended to fulfill D&D niche roles, which are mainly related to dungeon exploration? Well, they did go into Moria. :P Frodo and Samwise did go into Cirith Ungol (aka Shelob's lair). Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli went to seek the Men under the Mountain. Besides, the core classes are not fit for dungeon explorations. The Factotum (from Dungeonscape) is fit for dungeon explorations.
arcanejazz 05-03-07, 08:19 AM	Hm. I never thought about Gandalf as a Paladin, but it DOES make sense. The Maiar (Gandalf's race) are all physically powerful, despite their aged appearance. Their magic is strong, but have few actual known spells, and are actually divine in nature (the order of Istari are divine beings, after all). He carries a good-aligned longsword with demonbane, and a staff of clouting and telekinesis... ... I think I am going to make a character build for Gandalf. *nods*
Darth Sephiroth 05-09-07, 12:07 AM	Gandalf as an Paladin makes sense with displayed abilities. (I can also see him as a Favored Soul with some modifications). Aasimaar would fit him for a race. Aaragorn fits as a Spell-less Ranger. Not sure about Race, but perhaps Human with a Celestial bloodline. Frodo and Bilbo seem to be either Rogues or Wilderness Rogues, possibly swapping 1/2 sneak attack for feats. Legolas fits as a Wood Elf Scout with tons of ranks in jump, tumble, and balance. Gimly is seems to be a Dwarf Fighter, possibly aiming for Dwarven Defender
Giradius 05-23-07, 10:57 PM	Sorry but I had to chuckle when i saw Gandalf being labeled a paladin :D ...But i think Assimar is quite accurate (with a changed favoured class, see below) Despite the fact that generally Lord of the rings is a low magic setting Gandalf does in fact do quite a bit of Magic including fire based attack spells when fighting worgs and goblins in the hobbit ,i think probably used some magic in his epic character partys little trip into Dol Guldur, lightning bolts or weather control when battling the Nazgul, some of form of wall of force spell on the bridge of khazad dum (although it could be some form of fiendish turning)he animates water (or perhaps summons elementals) when the Ford of rivendell rises up to destroy the nazgul, fear on Grima wormtongue, a whole host of utlility spells to try and open the Gates of Moria like knock and so forth, and i expect quite a few minor divinations not to mention prestidigitation. The Middle earth setting is quite well established and i suspect that either new classes must be created or existing ones must be modified, I would make Gandalf a Sorceror (a spontaneous spell caster whose spell list is based on what he knows,) use the power point rules instead of spell slot rules (found in unearthed arcana) with a modified Imbued Staff (from dragon magazine 338) this replaces the familiar class feature and grants a staff that grows in power as the character does. combine this with a more "restrained" and customised arcane spell list that focuses less on evocation/illusion/conjuration/transmutation and more on divination/abjuration and enchantment. also a few classes from eberron and faerun might be worth a look for elements to include, (i think saruman would have a few levels of artificer), PS- Gandalfs mount was gained through his interaction with the rohirim AFTER he escaped Isengard, so has nothing to do with his being a memeber of the Istari and is probably more like a cohort with the leadership feat (which he most likely has, think Butterbur in Bree, and all the other little followers he must have around)
Giradius 05-23-07, 11:25 PM	I almost forgot, Gandalf wields a sword due to the general lack of truly offensive magic in the setting, but that does not make him a fighter, perhaps he uses augmenting magic in combat like true strike, bulls strength etc. either way all the Istari are epic characters with some possible multiclassing and prestige classes Gandalf (sorceror,Loremaster, and maybe Bard much of middle earths magic is based around music) Saruman (sorceror,artificer,corrupted wizard) Radaghast (Sorceror, Druid,tamer of beasts or animal lord) a few other ideas Legolas (ranger,deepwood sniper) Aragorn (Ranger,modified Paladin, he fights, heals, has maiar blood as he is one of the dunedain) Frodo (rogue) Bilbo (Rogue or Burglar if you prefer with maybe a few levels of expert or even Bard t represent the lore he learned from the elves) Sam (commoner or expert...he is just a gardener, with maybe levels of Ranger later on as he "Toughens up") The Witch king (wraith or maybe shade, with levels of sorceror (modified like the Istari wizards but more focused on necromancy/enchantment etc) and maybe blackguard (Sauron is an evil outsider after all) thats enough from me for now...
Drizztrocks 02-17-08, 07:59 PM	Has anyone considered this: Gandalf is a Multiclass of a Paladin and a wizard or warmage {perhaps both}. Or maybe full warmage would make sense, because warmages have more physical prowess then wizards but also less spells. Though I have to say that big blue ray Gandalf shot out of his Staff in The Return of the King sure looked like a smite evil.... Oh, and i have always found the concept of Gandalf being another race {other then part celestial, distintly though} and have always thought of him as a human. I think I will settle on the idea of Gandalf as a multi-class Paladin/Warmage.
Alpha_Moose 02-19-08, 07:37 PM	Here (http://merp.com/)'s a good site that includes essays about Middle Earth magic. There's also the links in my sig that will include some stuff (if anyone wants the older pdfs I saved a few). And this (http://www.glyphweb.com/ARDA/) site is a complete encyclopedia of Middle Earth. Now the easiest way to stat Gandalf is to take a Solar Angel (http://www.systemreferencedocuments.org/35/sovelior_sage/monstersA.html#solar-angel), change it to cast as a Druid instead of Cleric, have him stay in a human form only, and put some restrictions on his abilities (not mechanically so, he just shouldn't use most of them). As Olorin he probably would be a lesser deity or something and could easily match Sauron (maybe not at his full power though). When he was sent over he was severely limited in power. If someone wanted to play as Gandalf it would be better to use the Ardent from Complete Psionics. Take the Nature and Good mantles definitely, maybe some others like Communication, Elements, or Guardian. Take a few levels in Swordsage to represent some combat ability and lack of armor. Elan would probably work well as the race. As for the rest; Aragorn is most likely some combo of Marshal and Ranger (using certain (http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=738077) remakes (http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=752414)), maybe with some type of Bloodline (http://www.systemreferencedocuments.org/35/sovelior_sage/unearthedBloodlines.html#celestial) considering his elven ancestry. Boromir is a Crusader most likely, with maybe some Warblade or Fighter. Gimli's a Warblade/Fighter. Legolas is a Crusader (http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=771597)/Fighter focusing on archery (duh), but don't use the normal D&D Elf for him. Maybe something like just a higher point buy for ability scores, resistances and immunities (like to disease), and gain Wild Empathy as a Druid. The hobbits all started as Commoners or Experts (Aristocrat in Frodo's case) and latter gained some martial classes. Rogue or Swordsage (if you want to push it) probably in the case of Sam, Fighter/Warblade for Merry and Pippin (both did become knights by the end, and Pip killed a troll by himself). Frodo is odd, considering he never seems to gain any experience in combat all through the book. This is most likely do to the Ring's effects on him.
Noegythnibin 02-21-08, 07:53 AM	BTW, if anyone is in the Virginia or DC area & would like to join a Middle-earth D&D chronicle, check out my post over in the Gamer Classifieds:) Middle-earth is a great setting for a game & a lot of fun. Thanx!
Giradius 02-23-08, 10:07 PM	Hello everyone, I have created a custom class for the Istari wizards, using elements from the bard, sorceror, and warlock classes, and adding a few modified variant rules. It is fairly low magic, (as middle earth is quite low magic in the third age, not as much during the war of wrath), so the wizards have no spells higher than level 6, they also get a staff that increases in power as they gain levels (giving them the telekinetic combat abilities seen in the film, i know they arnt in the book, but they are quite cool and if you dont like them you can leave them out), there are rules for breaking your staff (as gandalf did to destroy the bridge of khazad dum) and destruction of the staff leading to a great loss in magic power (as happened to saruman), they have many buff abilities that both saruman and gandalf have used (gandalf on bilbo, and the fllowship, as well as king theoden, saruman on grima wormtongue, king theoden and the uruk hai). Hopefully i will post it tommorow. Although the Istari had divine origins, they were forbidden to use their salient powers, the Valar forbid them to oppose might with might, and so they were limited to those powers of magic that could be found in middle earth. Saruman the white went mainly among men, and learning many crafts and skills of hand. Gandalf went mainly among the elves and learned much lore from them, but unlike saruman who settled in Nan Curunir the wizards vale, gandalf would wander and travel constantly earning him the name Mithrandir among the elves. Rhadaghast went into the forests of mirkwood and dwelt in Rhosgobel, enamoured and devoted to the plants and animals that are the domain of his Valar mistress, he eventually forsook his mission seeing men as crass and destructive beings and looked only toward protecting his precious forests and its inhabitants. I am currently working on a Istari Maiar race, so far I think i will give them access to maybe two divine domains as they increase in hit die (like some outsiders), these domains will be relevant to the particular Valar the Wizards serve, Saruman as Maiar of Aule the Smith will have some sort of Artiface and knowledge domains, Rhadaghast will have plants and animals, Gandalf possibly good, and knowledge. I think describing Gandalf as a lesser deity is a bit strong, the valar are deities, and they serve the over god Illuvatar, Olorin is a maiar, which in Middle earths cosmology is more akin to an arch angel than a full blown god. one final thing any suggestions for a spell list for the wizard class, fairly small and subtle, mostly enchantment and druidic type spells i was thinking.
Alpha_Moose 02-23-08, 11:40 PM	I think describing Gandalf as a lesser deity is a bit strong, the valar are deities, and they serve the over god Illuvatar, Olorin is a maiar, which in Middle earths cosmology is more akin to an arch angel than a full blown god. The Valar and Maiar weren't exactly perfectly strict separations. I remember reading that during his height of power Sauron was more powerful than Morgoth was during his weakest. The Valar certainly would be greater deities and more powerful, but statistically speaking it's useful to describe the Maiar as also having Divine Rank. I'd probably give some of the Elves a couple too, as they were able to challenge the Maiar and at some points the Valar (like during the battle between Fingolfin and Morgoth). Of course, as Gandalf he wouldn't be a lesser deity. Maybe demigod, but probably quasi-diety. Most of what he did was just inspire and organize Men, plus a bit of fire every now and then. any suggestions for a spell list for the wizard class, fairly small and subtle, mostly enchantment and druidic type spells i was thinking. That's probably good. The Druid spell list, plus some others like Suggestion works well.
Ninja_Overlord 02-25-08, 02:06 AM	I think Alpha_Moose is probably on the right track with Gandalf being statted as a modified Solar. The classes used in a playable LotR Character might be tough to pick. The thing is, you want to pick a class that represents the general abilities and archetype of the character, not attempt to replicate each and every ability the character is seen performing--Gandalf does not need a "Flaming Pinecone" spell. The suggestions Alpha_Moose made sound pretty good, but I haven't really had time to think about specifics yet. I do suggest, however, that it might be a good idea to stat most of the characters as gestalts. That would make things a lot easier, IMO.