Castle is causing me problems [Archive] - Wizards Community

Castle is causing me problems [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Gaelyk
11-06-06, 08:43 AM One of my DM has decided that he would like to run a Castle Ravenloft Game. Here's the thing that's a kicker, we have to have one of each type of class, ie 1 Melee Combatant, 1 Arcane type character, One Divine Type Character & 1 Trap Finder. Also, Base races only! Well, the Divine spot has been taken up already and one of the other players is afraid to play Spellcasters. This is causing me to be stuck on which type of character to play. if anyone has any good ideas, please let me know, the race I'm probally gonna go dwarf, unless someone can think of some cool combo in a reply post. I have less than a month to get this character ready.
jamesnero
11-06-06, 09:07 AM elven wizard take the sub levels in races of the wild and your all good.
Gaelyk
11-06-06, 09:17 AM Aren't Elven Wizards usually cliche? Almost everyone I know plays an elf? I'm trying to make an interesting character, one that will be memorable, exciting & fun. I also forgot to mention the DM is startiing us off at 5th Level.
Thynass
11-06-06, 10:05 AM A character is not defined by their race, class or skills. If you want a "memorable, exciting and fun character," you don't have to have some cool/strange/powerful abilities, be an unsual race or race/class combination or anything of the sort. Some of the most memorable, exciting and fun characters I have ever seen have been single class, core race characters.

I am intreagued, though; what is the motivation for your DM defining what character types can be played (i.e. one warrior, one arcane spell caster etc.)?
Iddig Ap Nil
11-06-06, 01:09 PM Aren't Elven Wizards usually cliche? Almost everyone I know plays an elf? I'm trying to make an interesting character, one that will be memorable, exciting & fun. I also forgot to mention the DM is startiing us off at 5th Level.As has been mentioned, it's what the player puts into the characters that makes it exciting, interesting, and memorable, not the numbers on the paper. Elven wizards are cliche, yes. But so are dwarven fighters, going to taverns, and carrying the halfling/gnome in ones pocketses.:)
Reversefigure4
11-06-06, 03:16 PM Well, anything less than the cliche is obvious. Dwarf Wizard, Dwarf Rogue, Gnome Fighter...
Gaelyk
11-06-06, 03:31 PM Quite true ladies & gentlemen. What you put into your character is what makes it unique, this I understand and agree with. As for what my DM's request for the 4 types, it's so he has the major basics covered. Personally I think if none of us want to play a spellcaster or cleric, that's up to us. No arcane, doesn't mean he can't throw spellcasters agains us. No "Band Aid" means we make the choice to rely upon natural healing, scrolls & potions. I see your point guys. Guess in the end what I'm really asking is if anyone has any sort of character concepts That they could suggest, with a little bit of flavor put in(ie: Elven wizard with **** familiar whohas *** feat and weilds a *** and anything else you may think of. I've been pondering the Elven Wizard since I read that post and am trying to think of ways to make the character interesting, any other suggestions anyone has I would greatly appreciate and thank you for your input as fellow gamers. Hey, if your peers aren't gonna give you the kick in the ***** and help you out, noone will. Once again, thanks guys
:confused:
epifreak
11-06-06, 04:15 PM Well, as was said above, anything aside from the norm is usually a good start, so maybe a gnome wizard (nothing special so far) who absolutely abhors(sp?) the use of illusions. Make him a specialist and ban illusion. He believes that they are intolerably dishonest; anyone who uses them earns his ire. Anyway, it's just a high-level concept thought.
ChaoticGood
11-06-06, 04:22 PM If you're considering the Elven Wizard, then don't forget that you get free weapon proficiencies as a racial characteristic. I would suggest you specialize in Transmutation, take a lot of buff spells and become a melee caster. Essentially, you will spend the first round or two of combat casting buff spells on the party's fighter-type, then cast something like bull's strength, bear's endurance, or Tenser's transformation on yourself before going in with your rapier as a second-line Dex-based fighter.

Abilities: But your highest stat in Dex, second-highest in Int, third highest in Con. Put most of your stat-ups into Int until it reaches 19 or 20... After that, it won't matter too much, as you'll only occasionally be casting spells on the enemy.

Skills: Max out Concentration and take cross-class skills in Tumble to help you navigate the battlefield.

Feats:
1st level - Combat Casting
3rd level - Weapon Finesse

You probably won't need Spell Focus (transmutation) or Spell Penetration until you can learn "offensive" spells, like baleful polymorph, but plan ahead so that you'll have them when you need them.

Alternatively, if you have access to Complete Warrior and your DM allows it, you could take one level of Swashbuckler to both up your BAB and get Weapon Finesse for free, not to mention cheaper ranks in Tumble! It will also allow you to wear light armor, so you can take Still Spell as your 3rd level feat and prepare some spells to work without any chance of spell failure. Losing one spellcaster level in order to make your build more effective isn't that devastating as a Wizard, because you'll still have access to 3rd-level spells when you level up.

Equipment: A masterwork or magical rapier is a must. Get yourself some bracers of armor and gloves of Dexterity ASAP, to up your defenses. An amulet of natural armor and a ring of protection will also help... You won't have a lot of hit points, so you'll have to make sure you don't get hit too often. If you get down to say, 10 hit points, it's time to back out of combat. Hopefully, you'll have given the Cleric enough time to patch up the Fighter for another round with the monster.
Magus888
11-06-06, 05:49 PM If are going to go the combat wizard route, remember that true strike and hold portal have no somatic components, so you can cast them in armour. +20 to hit and the ability to lock doors between you and an enemy should hold you till you can use still spell.
Leress
11-06-06, 06:49 PM Feats:
1st level - Combat Casting
3rd level - Weapon Finesse

I would suggest Skill focus Concentration instead of Combat Casting, because it not situational.
Gilganarz_the_reporter
11-06-06, 07:10 PM Quite true ladies & gentlemen. What you put into your character is what makes it unique, this I understand and agree with. As for what my DM's request for the 4 types, it's so he has the major basics covered. Personally I think if none of us want to play a spellcaster or cleric, that's up to us. No arcane, doesn't mean he can't throw spellcasters agains us. No "Band Aid" means we make the choice to rely upon natural healing, scrolls & potions. I see your point guys. Guess in the end what I'm really asking is if anyone has any sort of character concepts That they could suggest, with a little bit of flavor put in(ie: Elven wizard with **** familiar whohas *** feat and weilds a *** and anything else you may think of. I've been pondering the Elven Wizard since I read that post and am trying to think of ways to make the character interesting, any other suggestions anyone has I would greatly appreciate and thank you for your input as fellow gamers. Hey, if your peers aren't gonna give you the kick in the ***** and help you out, noone will. Once again, thanks guys
:confused:

Seriosuly, I haven't read the module, but I could see why someone would immediately want to go cleric.

They would be the ones that SURVIVE.
Manic Man
11-06-06, 08:49 PM Well if you want a memorable character, make his a few traits. Like after every combat, he places a coin on the ground to give thanks to the earth gods for being alive. Or you could take out a lemon and suck on it before memorizing spells, a habit from your apprentice days when you were always asleep on your feet
Skeeve
11-07-06, 09:05 PM I would suggest Skill focus Concentration instead of Combat Casting, because it not situational.

Ordinarily, I'd agree with you, but Combat Casting will lead to Abjurant Champion, which would mesh very well with this style of play.
Leress
11-11-06, 07:33 PM Ordinarily, I'd agree with you, but Combat Casting will lead to Abjurant Champion, which would mesh very well with this style of play.

Ohh...I didn't know that was an option. Combat Casting it is.
Neutronium_Dragon
11-12-06, 05:58 AM Honestly, elves don't make very good wizards mechanically, and especially with what you'll be facing, a d4 hit die combined with a Con penalty is going to make for a rather short career.

If you want something a little unusual but not too odd, try a halfling wizard. This actually works pretty well mechanically; you've got good defenses and there isn't anything which really hurts you.
draco1119
11-12-06, 07:57 AM Ordinarily, I'd agree with you, but Combat Casting will lead to Abjurant Champion, which would mesh very well with this style of play.
I was thinking Bladesinger, myself, but I agree with this choice for a PrC.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Gaelyk 11-06-06, 08:43 AM	One of my DM has decided that he would like to run a Castle Ravenloft Game. Here's the thing that's a kicker, we have to have one of each type of class, ie 1 Melee Combatant, 1 Arcane type character, One Divine Type Character & 1 Trap Finder. Also, Base races only! Well, the Divine spot has been taken up already and one of the other players is afraid to play Spellcasters. This is causing me to be stuck on which type of character to play. if anyone has any good ideas, please let me know, the race I'm probally gonna go dwarf, unless someone can think of some cool combo in a reply post. I have less than a month to get this character ready.
jamesnero 11-06-06, 09:07 AM	elven wizard take the sub levels in races of the wild and your all good.
Gaelyk 11-06-06, 09:17 AM	Aren't Elven Wizards usually cliche? Almost everyone I know plays an elf? I'm trying to make an interesting character, one that will be memorable, exciting & fun. I also forgot to mention the DM is startiing us off at 5th Level.
Thynass 11-06-06, 10:05 AM	A character is not defined by their race, class or skills. If you want a "memorable, exciting and fun character," you don't have to have some cool/strange/powerful abilities, be an unsual race or race/class combination or anything of the sort. Some of the most memorable, exciting and fun characters I have ever seen have been single class, core race characters. I am intreagued, though; what is the motivation for your DM defining what character types can be played (i.e. one warrior, one arcane spell caster etc.)?
Iddig Ap Nil 11-06-06, 01:09 PM	Aren't Elven Wizards usually cliche? Almost everyone I know plays an elf? I'm trying to make an interesting character, one that will be memorable, exciting & fun. I also forgot to mention the DM is startiing us off at 5th Level.As has been mentioned, it's what the player puts into the characters that makes it exciting, interesting, and memorable, not the numbers on the paper. Elven wizards are cliche, yes. But so are dwarven fighters, going to taverns, and carrying the halfling/gnome in ones pocketses.:)
Reversefigure4 11-06-06, 03:16 PM	Well, anything less than the cliche is obvious. Dwarf Wizard, Dwarf Rogue, Gnome Fighter...
Gaelyk 11-06-06, 03:31 PM	Quite true ladies & gentlemen. What you put into your character is what makes it unique, this I understand and agree with. As for what my DM's request for the 4 types, it's so he has the major basics covered. Personally I think if none of us want to play a spellcaster or cleric, that's up to us. No arcane, doesn't mean he can't throw spellcasters agains us. No "Band Aid" means we make the choice to rely upon natural healing, scrolls & potions. I see your point guys. Guess in the end what I'm really asking is if anyone has any sort of character concepts That they could suggest, with a little bit of flavor put in(ie: Elven wizard with ** familiar whohas * feat and weilds a * and anything else you may think of. I've been pondering the Elven Wizard since I read that post and am trying to think of ways to make the character interesting, any other suggestions anyone has I would greatly appreciate and thank you for your input as fellow gamers. Hey, if your peers aren't gonna give you the kick in the *** and help you out, noone will. Once again, thanks guys :confused:
epifreak 11-06-06, 04:15 PM	Well, as was said above, anything aside from the norm is usually a good start, so maybe a gnome wizard (nothing special so far) who absolutely abhors(sp?) the use of illusions. Make him a specialist and ban illusion. He believes that they are intolerably dishonest; anyone who uses them earns his ire. Anyway, it's just a high-level concept thought.
ChaoticGood 11-06-06, 04:22 PM	If you're considering the Elven Wizard, then don't forget that you get free weapon proficiencies as a racial characteristic. I would suggest you specialize in Transmutation, take a lot of buff spells and become a melee caster. Essentially, you will spend the first round or two of combat casting buff spells on the party's fighter-type, then cast something like bull's strength, bear's endurance, or Tenser's transformation on yourself before going in with your rapier as a second-line Dex-based fighter. Abilities: But your highest stat in Dex, second-highest in Int, third highest in Con. Put most of your stat-ups into Int until it reaches 19 or 20... After that, it won't matter too much, as you'll only occasionally be casting spells on the enemy. Skills: Max out Concentration and take cross-class skills in Tumble to help you navigate the battlefield. Feats: 1st level - Combat Casting 3rd level - Weapon Finesse You probably won't need Spell Focus (transmutation) or Spell Penetration until you can learn "offensive" spells, like baleful polymorph, but plan ahead so that you'll have them when you need them. Alternatively, if you have access to Complete Warrior and your DM allows it, you could take one level of Swashbuckler to both up your BAB and get Weapon Finesse for free, not to mention cheaper ranks in Tumble! It will also allow you to wear light armor, so you can take Still Spell as your 3rd level feat and prepare some spells to work without any chance of spell failure. Losing one spellcaster level in order to make your build more effective isn't that devastating as a Wizard, because you'll still have access to 3rd-level spells when you level up. Equipment: A masterwork or magical rapier is a must. Get yourself some bracers of armor and gloves of Dexterity ASAP, to up your defenses. An amulet of natural armor and a ring of protection will also help... You won't have a lot of hit points, so you'll have to make sure you don't get hit too often. If you get down to say, 10 hit points, it's time to back out of combat. Hopefully, you'll have given the Cleric enough time to patch up the Fighter for another round with the monster.
Magus888 11-06-06, 05:49 PM	If are going to go the combat wizard route, remember that true strike and hold portal have no somatic components, so you can cast them in armour. +20 to hit and the ability to lock doors between you and an enemy should hold you till you can use still spell.
Leress 11-06-06, 06:49 PM	Feats: 1st level - Combat Casting 3rd level - Weapon Finesse I would suggest Skill focus Concentration instead of Combat Casting, because it not situational.
Gilganarz_the_reporter 11-06-06, 07:10 PM	Quite true ladies & gentlemen. What you put into your character is what makes it unique, this I understand and agree with. As for what my DM's request for the 4 types, it's so he has the major basics covered. Personally I think if none of us want to play a spellcaster or cleric, that's up to us. No arcane, doesn't mean he can't throw spellcasters agains us. No "Band Aid" means we make the choice to rely upon natural healing, scrolls & potions. I see your point guys. Guess in the end what I'm really asking is if anyone has any sort of character concepts That they could suggest, with a little bit of flavor put in(ie: Elven wizard with ** familiar whohas * feat and weilds a * and anything else you may think of. I've been pondering the Elven Wizard since I read that post and am trying to think of ways to make the character interesting, any other suggestions anyone has I would greatly appreciate and thank you for your input as fellow gamers. Hey, if your peers aren't gonna give you the kick in the *** and help you out, noone will. Once again, thanks guys :confused: Seriosuly, I haven't read the module, but I could see why someone would immediately want to go cleric. They would be the ones that SURVIVE.
Manic Man 11-06-06, 08:49 PM	Well if you want a memorable character, make his a few traits. Like after every combat, he places a coin on the ground to give thanks to the earth gods for being alive. Or you could take out a lemon and suck on it before memorizing spells, a habit from your apprentice days when you were always asleep on your feet
Skeeve 11-07-06, 09:05 PM	I would suggest Skill focus Concentration instead of Combat Casting, because it not situational. Ordinarily, I'd agree with you, but Combat Casting will lead to Abjurant Champion, which would mesh very well with this style of play.
Leress 11-11-06, 07:33 PM	Ordinarily, I'd agree with you, but Combat Casting will lead to Abjurant Champion, which would mesh very well with this style of play. Ohh...I didn't know that was an option. Combat Casting it is.
Neutronium_Dragon 11-12-06, 05:58 AM	Honestly, elves don't make very good wizards mechanically, and especially with what you'll be facing, a d4 hit die combined with a Con penalty is going to make for a rather short career. If you want something a little unusual but not too odd, try a halfling wizard. This actually works pretty well mechanically; you've got good defenses and there isn't anything which really hurts you.
draco1119 11-12-06, 07:57 AM	Ordinarily, I'd agree with you, but Combat Casting will lead to Abjurant Champion, which would mesh very well with this style of play. I was thinking Bladesinger, myself, but I agree with this choice for a PrC.