Grey Elf Wizard [Archive] - Wizards Community

Grey Elf Wizard [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
slasherdan
07-19-04, 09:01 AM I'm looking to start a Grey Elf Wizard.

Why? I like the +2 INT .... but I'm still looking at the Human with the extra feat. Nothing like Spell Penetration at first level ..... Ran into a Drow in a APL2 game and the party Wizard couldn't hurt the Drow Cleric because he couldn't overcome the SR of the Drow.

Anyway ..... does anyone have any suggestions?? I realize that I should consider playing a party defensive roll .... basically pick a few spells to cast on the party with maybe a offensive spell or two. I also see myself creating my own scrolls between games until I reach higher levels.

Does anyone have suggestions that have successful wizards??

Thanks for your time and input.
StevieS
07-19-04, 10:59 AM Hi

Grey Olves make potent wizards, the +2 int is great and the -2 str is no loss at all.

Provided you keep your con high, I have 14 con, then you have enough HP to survive and good dex is always useful.

Grey Olves can play any kind of wizard, pick a style that you like as they can do any of them. Personally I'd recommend finding a PrC that you like and build towards that, Wiz5/PrC10 is usually a good combo.

It might be good to hang-on till Complete Arcane is out and approved before you build too far though.

Cheers

Stevie
slasherdan
07-19-04, 11:06 AM What is the release date for Complete Arcane???
StevieS
07-19-04, 01:59 PM Sorry, I've no idea but I'd imagine within the next six months or so. My wiz PC can't wait :D
kenobi65
07-19-04, 02:09 PM Originally posted by slasherdan
What is the release date for Complete Arcane???

According to EN World, the release date for the book itself is November '04. Obviously, the "acceptance" date for LG to incorporate it would be some time after that.
slasherdan
07-19-04, 02:20 PM Do you think it would be bad to make a few minor changes to your character after the book is accepted in LG to gain a Prestige Class???
StevieS
07-19-04, 02:26 PM It wouldn't be bad it would be cheating.

However there is likely to be some form of rebuild when the old builder books are removed and we use the new Complete books only, at that stage you may be able to shuffle skills & feats to meet your pre-reqs.
Platinum
07-19-04, 11:51 PM Wizards die most often due to crits + lack of hp.
...or almost as often they fail a fort save.

Fix: pick a race that gives a con bonus as this increases both fort and hp! NEVER play an elf wiz that has -2 Con or one lucky arrow to the forehead will send you back to character creation land. Dwarves get a bonus to most fort saves and rat familiars help too, but that's just my 2cp.

Tip for the day: Don't die.
StevieS
07-20-04, 05:25 AM Then again a Dwur has less Int so casts spells less effectively than a Grey Olve not to mention is slower and pig ugly.

The secret to being a good Wiz is to play smart and not getting hit IMO, I got to 11th level before taking any melee damage ever and only died when the DM rolled 33d6 for damage from the infamous snorkeling Hydra equiped with a periscope and a bulldozer (don't ask!).

But as you say, just my 2cp :D
slasherdan
07-20-04, 09:43 AM I heard there is this guy out there with a Dwarf Wizard who's like .... 12th Lvl and has over 100 hp ....
Sieylianna
07-20-04, 11:50 AM Originally posted by StevieS
The secret to being a good Wiz is to play smart and not getting hit IMO, I got to 11th level before taking any melee damage ever and only died when the DM rolled 33d6 for damage from the infamous snorkeling Hydra equiped with a periscope and a bulldozer (don't ask!).

My grey elf wizard has been reasonably successful at avoiding damage so far. She took 225 points of damage (cumulative) in the two round "End Game" module at APL 12. That exceeded the total amount she had taken in her career to that point. Since then there have been firestorms, dragons breath and various other unpleasantries, but she is still alive and kicking.

She presently has 91 hit points and false life (1d10+10) is a daily buff spell. She crafted an amulet of health +4 to raise her con to a 16. She's had a +4 cloak since the end of year 2 and purchased a luck stone this year - saving throws are vital.

She made it to 13th prior to 3.5 conversion (presently 15th), which also helped. She had a toad familiar and the toughness feat in 3.0 (both dropped at conversion). Both of those saved her life more than once.

Ed
Southernskies
07-21-04, 04:30 AM Originally posted by slasherdan
I heard there is this guy out there with a Dwarf Wizard who's like .... 12th Lvl and has over 100 hp ....

Not surprising. There's local Gnome Sorcerer with 84 hp.

Gnome Sor8
Con 22 (including stat boost items)
Toad Familiar
Improved Toughness

There's on 4 hp difference per level between a barbarian and a sorceror after 1st level; the rest is all Con and feats.
SirDusk
07-23-04, 10:05 PM that latest LGCS Grey Elves get -2 str, +2 dex, -2 con, +2 int...
SgtHulka
07-26-04, 10:17 AM Originally posted by Platinum
Wizards die most often due to crits + lack of hp.
...or almost as often they fail a fort save.

Why fort saves?

I've got a Dwarf Wizard about to hit third level, and I've got an 18 con so my fort is +4. I've already been hit by lightning twice, and I know that an evil wizard could have blasted me with a fireball if the rest of the party hadn't gotten in the way, so I was thinking I'd go with a Weasel and Lightning Reflexes to pump my Reflex Save +4. However, I'd definitely reconsider if you point out why fort saves are more common and important than reflex.
rexfelis
08-10-04, 12:08 PM If you take 51 or more points of damage from a single source, you have to make a DC 15 fort save or die.

Wizards will typically try their best to stay away from sources of damage like that, and have Fire Resistance vs the ever-popular area damage spells, but eventually ... WHAM! Fort save or die. Most wizards can't make Fort or Reflex saves too well.

Well-worded Contingency spell anyone? "If I am ever about to be struck by something that could reduce my HP by 50%, then activate my Blink spell :)
Sieylianna
08-10-04, 12:18 PM Originally posted by rexfelis
If you take 51 or more points of damage from a single source, you have to make a DC 15 fort save or die.

Wizards will typically try their best to stay away from sources of damage like that, and have Fire Resistance vs the ever-popular area damage spells, but eventually ... WHAM! Fort save or die. Most wizards can't make Fort or Reflex saves too well.

Well-worded Contingency spell anyone? "If I am ever about to be struck by something that could reduce my HP by 50%, then activate my Blink spell :)

But in order to take that 51 points of damage from a single source, you've probably already failed a reflex save. Disintegrate and the orb spells from T&B are the only direct damage fortitude saving throws I can think of. This is where energy buffer (T&B) comes into play.

Wizards can also craft cloaks of resistance and one should be your first project.

Ed
rexfelis
08-11-04, 01:08 AM My point is: there is a 15%-20% chance that an Empowered spell will kill the typical wizard if he fails a reflex save, which happens often enough in Living Greyhawk.

Even though a 12th level Wizard might have a Resist Fire spell, a Cloak of Resistance +4 and Gloves of Dexterity +2 and Amulet of Health +2 and a False Life or Heroes' Feast giving him enough HP to barely survive a failed reflex save, the Fort save can still kill him.

His fort save might be +11 if he is a non-elf with the above items.

So eventually the wizard dies to a Fort save (or not having the correct Resist up) and spend more time playing down in APL until get can craft a CON and DEX +4 amulet/gloves :)
dunkirk_delvai
09-07-04, 03:04 PM heres the thing rex

building the elf wizard is a good idea. primarily because they have the affinity. but im gonna agree dan. you need that fortitude. truthfully. it all comes down to the person. theres really no way to make a perfect character. each class and Press class is so unique that you can go in several directions. my only advice is that you read your books and come up with a concept for the character. base it around your concept and find a party to fill in for your short comings.
mzprox
09-28-04, 11:45 AM I also want to be a grey elf wizard and I think i will be a diviner specialist and using one of the diviner variant from unearthed arcana: sacrifice the divination bonus spells for presience(ex). The price is high but it can help to survive some fort or reflex saving throw :)
Simpi
09-28-04, 12:15 PM I also want to be a grey elf wizard and I think i will be a diviner specialist and using one of the diviner variant from unearthed arcana: sacrifice the divination bonus spells for presience(ex). The price is high but it can help to survive some fort or reflex saving throw :)

Expect that Unearthed Arcana is not used in Living Greyhawk.....

S.H, Naerie webslave
mzprox
09-28-04, 12:31 PM huh, I'm new here :)
Can you tell me what kind of sourches can be used? Or where can i find the list :)
Simpi
09-28-04, 01:20 PM huh, I'm new here :)
Can you tell me what kind of sourches can be used? Or where can i find the list :)

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=lg/downloads

Download Campaign Sourcebook. Currently, only 'Complete Books' & 'Splat books' are available for player use and 'splat books' will retire shortly. Stuff from these Books (if it's allowed) can be taken from 3rd level onwards.

S.H, Naerie webslave
mzprox
09-28-04, 01:47 PM Thanx :)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
slasherdan 07-19-04, 09:01 AM	I'm looking to start a Grey Elf Wizard. Why? I like the +2 INT .... but I'm still looking at the Human with the extra feat. Nothing like Spell Penetration at first level ..... Ran into a Drow in a APL2 game and the party Wizard couldn't hurt the Drow Cleric because he couldn't overcome the SR of the Drow. Anyway ..... does anyone have any suggestions?? I realize that I should consider playing a party defensive roll .... basically pick a few spells to cast on the party with maybe a offensive spell or two. I also see myself creating my own scrolls between games until I reach higher levels. Does anyone have suggestions that have successful wizards?? Thanks for your time and input.
StevieS 07-19-04, 10:59 AM	Hi Grey Olves make potent wizards, the +2 int is great and the -2 str is no loss at all. Provided you keep your con high, I have 14 con, then you have enough HP to survive and good dex is always useful. Grey Olves can play any kind of wizard, pick a style that you like as they can do any of them. Personally I'd recommend finding a PrC that you like and build towards that, Wiz5/PrC10 is usually a good combo. It might be good to hang-on till Complete Arcane is out and approved before you build too far though. Cheers Stevie
slasherdan 07-19-04, 11:06 AM	What is the release date for Complete Arcane???
StevieS 07-19-04, 01:59 PM	Sorry, I've no idea but I'd imagine within the next six months or so. My wiz PC can't wait :D
kenobi65 07-19-04, 02:09 PM	Originally posted by slasherdan What is the release date for Complete Arcane??? According to EN World, the release date for the book itself is November '04. Obviously, the "acceptance" date for LG to incorporate it would be some time after that.
slasherdan 07-19-04, 02:20 PM	Do you think it would be bad to make a few minor changes to your character after the book is accepted in LG to gain a Prestige Class???
StevieS 07-19-04, 02:26 PM	It wouldn't be bad it would be cheating. However there is likely to be some form of rebuild when the old builder books are removed and we use the new Complete books only, at that stage you may be able to shuffle skills & feats to meet your pre-reqs.
Platinum 07-19-04, 11:51 PM	Wizards die most often due to crits + lack of hp. ...or almost as often they fail a fort save. Fix: pick a race that gives a con bonus as this increases both fort and hp! NEVER play an elf wiz that has -2 Con or one lucky arrow to the forehead will send you back to character creation land. Dwarves get a bonus to most fort saves and rat familiars help too, but that's just my 2cp. Tip for the day: Don't die.
StevieS 07-20-04, 05:25 AM	Then again a Dwur has less Int so casts spells less effectively than a Grey Olve not to mention is slower and pig ugly. The secret to being a good Wiz is to play smart and not getting hit IMO, I got to 11th level before taking any melee damage ever and only died when the DM rolled 33d6 for damage from the infamous snorkeling Hydra equiped with a periscope and a bulldozer (don't ask!). But as you say, just my 2cp :D
slasherdan 07-20-04, 09:43 AM	I heard there is this guy out there with a Dwarf Wizard who's like .... 12th Lvl and has over 100 hp ....
Sieylianna 07-20-04, 11:50 AM	Originally posted by StevieS The secret to being a good Wiz is to play smart and not getting hit IMO, I got to 11th level before taking any melee damage ever and only died when the DM rolled 33d6 for damage from the infamous snorkeling Hydra equiped with a periscope and a bulldozer (don't ask!). My grey elf wizard has been reasonably successful at avoiding damage so far. She took 225 points of damage (cumulative) in the two round "End Game" module at APL 12. That exceeded the total amount she had taken in her career to that point. Since then there have been firestorms, dragons breath and various other unpleasantries, but she is still alive and kicking. She presently has 91 hit points and false life (1d10+10) is a daily buff spell. She crafted an amulet of health +4 to raise her con to a 16. She's had a +4 cloak since the end of year 2 and purchased a luck stone this year - saving throws are vital. She made it to 13th prior to 3.5 conversion (presently 15th), which also helped. She had a toad familiar and the toughness feat in 3.0 (both dropped at conversion). Both of those saved her life more than once. Ed
Southernskies 07-21-04, 04:30 AM	Originally posted by slasherdan I heard there is this guy out there with a Dwarf Wizard who's like .... 12th Lvl and has over 100 hp .... Not surprising. There's local Gnome Sorcerer with 84 hp. Gnome Sor8 Con 22 (including stat boost items) Toad Familiar Improved Toughness There's on 4 hp difference per level between a barbarian and a sorceror after 1st level; the rest is all Con and feats.
SirDusk 07-23-04, 10:05 PM	that latest LGCS Grey Elves get -2 str, +2 dex, -2 con, +2 int...
SgtHulka 07-26-04, 10:17 AM	Originally posted by Platinum Wizards die most often due to crits + lack of hp. ...or almost as often they fail a fort save. Why fort saves? I've got a Dwarf Wizard about to hit third level, and I've got an 18 con so my fort is +4. I've already been hit by lightning twice, and I know that an evil wizard could have blasted me with a fireball if the rest of the party hadn't gotten in the way, so I was thinking I'd go with a Weasel and Lightning Reflexes to pump my Reflex Save +4. However, I'd definitely reconsider if you point out why fort saves are more common and important than reflex.
rexfelis 08-10-04, 12:08 PM	If you take 51 or more points of damage from a single source, you have to make a DC 15 fort save or die. Wizards will typically try their best to stay away from sources of damage like that, and have Fire Resistance vs the ever-popular area damage spells, but eventually ... WHAM! Fort save or die. Most wizards can't make Fort or Reflex saves too well. Well-worded Contingency spell anyone? "If I am ever about to be struck by something that could reduce my HP by 50%, then activate my Blink spell :)
Sieylianna 08-10-04, 12:18 PM	Originally posted by rexfelis If you take 51 or more points of damage from a single source, you have to make a DC 15 fort save or die. Wizards will typically try their best to stay away from sources of damage like that, and have Fire Resistance vs the ever-popular area damage spells, but eventually ... WHAM! Fort save or die. Most wizards can't make Fort or Reflex saves too well. Well-worded Contingency spell anyone? "If I am ever about to be struck by something that could reduce my HP by 50%, then activate my Blink spell :) But in order to take that 51 points of damage from a single source, you've probably already failed a reflex save. Disintegrate and the orb spells from T&B are the only direct damage fortitude saving throws I can think of. This is where energy buffer (T&B) comes into play. Wizards can also craft cloaks of resistance and one should be your first project. Ed
rexfelis 08-11-04, 01:08 AM	My point is: there is a 15%-20% chance that an Empowered spell will kill the typical wizard if he fails a reflex save, which happens often enough in Living Greyhawk. Even though a 12th level Wizard might have a Resist Fire spell, a Cloak of Resistance +4 and Gloves of Dexterity +2 and Amulet of Health +2 and a False Life or Heroes' Feast giving him enough HP to barely survive a failed reflex save, the Fort save can still kill him. His fort save might be +11 if he is a non-elf with the above items. So eventually the wizard dies to a Fort save (or not having the correct Resist up) and spend more time playing down in APL until get can craft a CON and DEX +4 amulet/gloves :)
dunkirk_delvai 09-07-04, 03:04 PM	heres the thing rex building the elf wizard is a good idea. primarily because they have the affinity. but im gonna agree dan. you need that fortitude. truthfully. it all comes down to the person. theres really no way to make a perfect character. each class and Press class is so unique that you can go in several directions. my only advice is that you read your books and come up with a concept for the character. base it around your concept and find a party to fill in for your short comings.
mzprox 09-28-04, 11:45 AM	I also want to be a grey elf wizard and I think i will be a diviner specialist and using one of the diviner variant from unearthed arcana: sacrifice the divination bonus spells for presience(ex). The price is high but it can help to survive some fort or reflex saving throw :)
Simpi 09-28-04, 12:15 PM	I also want to be a grey elf wizard and I think i will be a diviner specialist and using one of the diviner variant from unearthed arcana: sacrifice the divination bonus spells for presience(ex). The price is high but it can help to survive some fort or reflex saving throw :) Expect that Unearthed Arcana is not used in Living Greyhawk..... S.H, Naerie webslave
mzprox 09-28-04, 12:31 PM	huh, I'm new here :) Can you tell me what kind of sourches can be used? Or where can i find the list :)
Simpi 09-28-04, 01:20 PM	huh, I'm new here :) Can you tell me what kind of sourches can be used? Or where can i find the list :) http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=lg/downloads Download Campaign Sourcebook. Currently, only 'Complete Books' & 'Splat books' are available for player use and 'splat books' will retire shortly. Stuff from these Books (if it's allowed) can be taken from 3rd level onwards. S.H, Naerie webslave
mzprox 09-28-04, 01:47 PM	Thanx :)