Backgrounds for Sorcerers... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Backgrounds for Sorcerers... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
BladeMage_1
04-09-06, 12:52 AM One of my players has made a sorcerer character but he has come to a stop when deciding a background for him. Are there any sites/links for backgrounds for sorcerers? if so, where can I find these?

-thanks in advance
Pandaemoni
04-09-06, 01:19 AM I'm not sure of any site with basics "lists" os possible backgrounds, but tell the player to post on the Character Development Board. If he gives some details about the character, abilities, feats, skills, spell selection themes, his thoughts on ideas he likes and I'm sure they could come up with something he likes.
DegenerateElite
04-09-06, 01:45 AM I don't know if you've seen Races of the Dragon but it's a great resource offering tons of material for a sorceror trying to become more in touch with his draconic heritage.
Heroes of Horror has a nifty class relating to demonic sorcery, Fiend Blooded.
My character has integrated the two. He's a spellscale seeking to unlock the sorcerous power and the physical perfection offered by his dragonic ancestry. The Fiend Blooded works nicely because it is easily adaptable to such a role, simply replacing fiend with dragon ^.^

I would often create character builds and create a character around the classes, but as of late my DM has stressed the importance of developing character depth. This time i took a page from a friends book and looked for pictures before planning the character. My personal inspiration was a mixture of Graz'zt from BOVD, this http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/12167839/, and this http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/9078134/.
kelvinaw273
04-09-06, 02:54 AM While sorcery may come froma draconic herritage, essentially a sorcerer can have any background. One day they woke up as a hormonal teenager and accidently blew half the house down and set the neighbourhood on fire. At that point, they knew they were different (and so did the neighbourhood).

It can work really well if you want to run an angst laden rejected teenager.

Hang on, doesn't that sum up most new D&D players?
Hariman
04-09-06, 01:48 PM There's the classic Draconic origins. See Races of the Dragon for more.

There is also the "Evolved" origin. That character represents a "Next Step" for the race. (or at least for a subrace) Major Cheese factor on this one.

There's the "Infantile Brush" explanation. Like the mother was exposed to magic during pregnancy or as a baby the character was exposed, awakening sorcerous powers.

There's the "Experiment Victim or Volunteer" origin. The character, whether by or against his will, was experimented on, leaving him with sorcerous powers. He might or might not be persued by the person/people who did the experimenting.

There's the "Descended from something other than a dragon" origin. Illithid Grafted Great Great Great Grandpa, Grandma was a Fey, Rakshasa, and other powerful races are good for this. (Celestials and Fiends, Demons and elementals are good too)

And the DM's dream, the "Chosen One" explanation. the character was chosen by a God, Deity, or something for some silly purpose. Not that the character should care, he just wants to live out a normal life.

That should cover a good number of backstories.
Doopliss
04-09-06, 01:53 PM (Celestials and Fiends, Demons and elementals are good too)Incedentally, during all my time on these boards I've never heard of a Sorceror with celestial heritage. Fiends, Elementals, Dragons... Not one celestial... :confused:
kelvinaw273
04-09-06, 04:54 PM And the DM's dream, the "Chosen One" explanation. the character was chosen by a God, Deity, or something for some silly purpose. Not that the character should care, he just wants to live out a normal life.

Nah, that's Favoured Soul ...
Hariman
04-09-06, 10:58 PM Incedentally, during all my time on these boards I've never heard of a Sorceror with celestial heritage. Fiends, Elementals, Dragons... Not one celestial... :confused:

Well, it's an option. It would at least be unique. A character not pious enough to get divine magie, yet with enough magic in the blood from the celestial to have a natural knack for arcane magic.

As for Favored Soul being the chosen one, why can't a God, Deity or a greater power choose an arcane caster over a divine caster once in a while?

There are a number of god and deity based arcane prestige classes. I just can't think of any right now. At least not beyond the various "Thrall of" prestige classes.
Catra
04-09-06, 11:19 PM I'm not particularly fond of having a character be more proficient with magic because of their blood type. Genetics has nothing to do with your soul, which is apparently where your spellcasting ability is supposed to come from but doesn't.

For instance, my character was struck by lightning as a child, and now uses lightning magic. Lightning wasn't the cause of his magical ability, but it was the catalyst. I could see how surviving something like a dragon's breath attack could be the catalyst for a fire-specialized sorcerer, or getting caught in the blast of an unstable magic item could be the catalyst for a non-specialized sorcerer.

What's so important about bloodline? Really, the only use I can see in it is access to prestige classes that let you turn into half-creatures, such as Dragon Disciple.
kelvinaw273
04-10-06, 02:49 AM I'm not particularly fond of having a character be more proficient with magic because of their blood type. Genetics has nothing to do with your soul, which is apparently where your spellcasting ability is supposed to come from but doesn't.

For instance, my character was struck by lightning as a child, and now uses lightning magic. Lightning wasn't the cause of his magical ability, but it was the catalyst. I could see how surviving something like a dragon's breath attack could be the catalyst for a fire-specialized sorcerer, or getting caught in the blast of an unstable magic item could be the catalyst for a non-specialized sorcerer.

What's so important about bloodline? Really, the only use I can see in it is access to prestige classes that let you turn into half-creatures, such as Dragon Disciple.

Sez who? Draconic backgrounds have a knack for sorcery, so maybe it IS genetic rather than spiritual. Or maybe it is both. It is MAGIC for heaven's sakes ...
Catra
04-10-06, 12:28 PM Yes, but just like magical spell components and how vampires can't enter a place unless they're invited, it all goes back to an illogical tradition or myth. In this case, that somehow because you had the right kind of blood in you (e.g. you had the right ancestors) that you were more special than 'commoners'.

WoTC has basically twisted that tradition to include magical bloodlines, because obviously since your great great great grandfather was a celestial, you should certainly have a great affinity for magic, right?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
BladeMage_1 04-09-06, 12:52 AM	One of my players has made a sorcerer character but he has come to a stop when deciding a background for him. Are there any sites/links for backgrounds for sorcerers? if so, where can I find these? -thanks in advance
Pandaemoni 04-09-06, 01:19 AM	I'm not sure of any site with basics "lists" os possible backgrounds, but tell the player to post on the Character Development Board. If he gives some details about the character, abilities, feats, skills, spell selection themes, his thoughts on ideas he likes and I'm sure they could come up with something he likes.
DegenerateElite 04-09-06, 01:45 AM	I don't know if you've seen Races of the Dragon but it's a great resource offering tons of material for a sorceror trying to become more in touch with his draconic heritage. Heroes of Horror has a nifty class relating to demonic sorcery, Fiend Blooded. My character has integrated the two. He's a spellscale seeking to unlock the sorcerous power and the physical perfection offered by his dragonic ancestry. The Fiend Blooded works nicely because it is easily adaptable to such a role, simply replacing fiend with dragon ^.^ I would often create character builds and create a character around the classes, but as of late my DM has stressed the importance of developing character depth. This time i took a page from a friends book and looked for pictures before planning the character. My personal inspiration was a mixture of Graz'zt from BOVD, this http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/12167839/, and this http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/9078134/.
kelvinaw273 04-09-06, 02:54 AM	While sorcery may come froma draconic herritage, essentially a sorcerer can have any background. One day they woke up as a hormonal teenager and accidently blew half the house down and set the neighbourhood on fire. At that point, they knew they were different (and so did the neighbourhood). It can work really well if you want to run an angst laden rejected teenager. Hang on, doesn't that sum up most new D&D players?
Hariman 04-09-06, 01:48 PM	There's the classic Draconic origins. See Races of the Dragon for more. There is also the "Evolved" origin. That character represents a "Next Step" for the race. (or at least for a subrace) Major Cheese factor on this one. There's the "Infantile Brush" explanation. Like the mother was exposed to magic during pregnancy or as a baby the character was exposed, awakening sorcerous powers. There's the "Experiment Victim or Volunteer" origin. The character, whether by or against his will, was experimented on, leaving him with sorcerous powers. He might or might not be persued by the person/people who did the experimenting. There's the "Descended from something other than a dragon" origin. Illithid Grafted Great Great Great Grandpa, Grandma was a Fey, Rakshasa, and other powerful races are good for this. (Celestials and Fiends, Demons and elementals are good too) And the DM's dream, the "Chosen One" explanation. the character was chosen by a God, Deity, or something for some silly purpose. Not that the character should care, he just wants to live out a normal life. That should cover a good number of backstories.
Doopliss 04-09-06, 01:53 PM	(Celestials and Fiends, Demons and elementals are good too)Incedentally, during all my time on these boards I've never heard of a Sorceror with celestial heritage. Fiends, Elementals, Dragons... Not one celestial... :confused:
kelvinaw273 04-09-06, 04:54 PM	And the DM's dream, the "Chosen One" explanation. the character was chosen by a God, Deity, or something for some silly purpose. Not that the character should care, he just wants to live out a normal life. Nah, that's Favoured Soul ...
Hariman 04-09-06, 10:58 PM	Incedentally, during all my time on these boards I've never heard of a Sorceror with celestial heritage. Fiends, Elementals, Dragons... Not one celestial... :confused: Well, it's an option. It would at least be unique. A character not pious enough to get divine magie, yet with enough magic in the blood from the celestial to have a natural knack for arcane magic. As for Favored Soul being the chosen one, why can't a God, Deity or a greater power choose an arcane caster over a divine caster once in a while? There are a number of god and deity based arcane prestige classes. I just can't think of any right now. At least not beyond the various "Thrall of" prestige classes.
Catra 04-09-06, 11:19 PM	I'm not particularly fond of having a character be more proficient with magic because of their blood type. Genetics has nothing to do with your soul, which is apparently where your spellcasting ability is supposed to come from but doesn't. For instance, my character was struck by lightning as a child, and now uses lightning magic. Lightning wasn't the cause of his magical ability, but it was the catalyst. I could see how surviving something like a dragon's breath attack could be the catalyst for a fire-specialized sorcerer, or getting caught in the blast of an unstable magic item could be the catalyst for a non-specialized sorcerer. What's so important about bloodline? Really, the only use I can see in it is access to prestige classes that let you turn into half-creatures, such as Dragon Disciple.
kelvinaw273 04-10-06, 02:49 AM	I'm not particularly fond of having a character be more proficient with magic because of their blood type. Genetics has nothing to do with your soul, which is apparently where your spellcasting ability is supposed to come from but doesn't. For instance, my character was struck by lightning as a child, and now uses lightning magic. Lightning wasn't the cause of his magical ability, but it was the catalyst. I could see how surviving something like a dragon's breath attack could be the catalyst for a fire-specialized sorcerer, or getting caught in the blast of an unstable magic item could be the catalyst for a non-specialized sorcerer. What's so important about bloodline? Really, the only use I can see in it is access to prestige classes that let you turn into half-creatures, such as Dragon Disciple. Sez who? Draconic backgrounds have a knack for sorcery, so maybe it IS genetic rather than spiritual. Or maybe it is both. It is MAGIC for heaven's sakes ...
Catra 04-10-06, 12:28 PM	Yes, but just like magical spell components and how vampires can't enter a place unless they're invited, it all goes back to an illogical tradition or myth. In this case, that somehow because you had the right kind of blood in you (e.g. you had the right ancestors) that you were more special than 'commoners'. WoTC has basically twisted that tradition to include magical bloodlines, because obviously since your great great great grandfather was a celestial, you should certainly have a great affinity for magic, right?