Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 MikeWizard425 Jul 14, 2015 15:23:05	I roleplay a level 6 human wizard who, unless he feels his life is directly threatened, does not want to do harm to any living creature/thing. Consequently I have selected very few spells that do damage (shocking grasp/thunderwave) and try to avoid using them as much as possible. To compensate, I chose more spells that allow me to be fast (longstrider, phantom steed, jump, haste, expeditious retreat), deflect attacks/bolster armour (Feather fall/shield/Mage armour/gust of wind), cause confusion (color spray), hide (rope trick) and decieve (alter self), and just roleplay (light, message, prestidigiation, tensers floating disk) to name a few.  The issue I'm having is that because of this pacifist concept. I expend my spell slots at a very fast rate and am mostly unwilling to add new spells that do damage as I progress in level. I rejected the school of necromancy all together for example. For a single fight, this setup has been relatively ok, but when our group jumps  room to room and can't rest it becomes highly problematic. By contrast, my Bard in my other game, has fewer spells but is more willing to swing a rapier (with positive results) as an action. Even if my wizard were willing to swing his quarterstaff, it does very little damage (-1 strength)  Another difficulty I'm having is that I feel like my characters high intelligence (20) is not optimized because, although it allows me to prepare a high amount of spells, I am still limited by the in game mechanic of spell slots.  This got me to thinking of what some better ways to roleplay a pacifist PC are (if any), whether I designed my character in the wrong way (suggestions welcome) or if theres something inherently flawed with the wizard in 5e.  Suggestions, comments, and discussion are most welcome.
#2 mellored Jul 14, 2015 16:47:31	illusion an enchantment spells (hypnotic pattern) are good. or consider being a life cleric.
#3 Treantmonklvl20 Jul 14, 2015 17:26:29	MikeWizard425 wrote:
#4 Macv12 Jul 14, 2015 17:50:15	All good things start with Minor Illusion. The problem with illusions is, it's not how clever you are at using them, it's how generous the DM feels about making them work. Have a chat with your DM about how you're feeling ineffective, and that you're looking at illusion magic. They should be willing to work with you to help you shine a little more.   EDIT: well, no, any magic really. Make sure the DM knows that you don't feel like you're sharing the spotlight. Whatever solution you choose. They need to be aware of that so they can take it into account when designing challenges and such.
(Reply to #3) MikeWizard425	This was outstanding. Do you have anything similar for a Bard?
#6 Yunru Jul 15, 2015 6:10:12	There's a big, stickied thread full o' the stuff. In this very forum no less. >_>
#7 jaappleton Jul 15, 2015 7:07:00	You can help your party and not harm the enemy, while still being a Wizard. You focused on spells to help yourself. Instead, why not focus on spells that debuff/control? Create difficult terrain for your enemies. Blind them. Use spells like "Wall of ______" to hold enemies off. Spells like that will go farther, especially any that require Concentration.
#8 Ralif_Redhammer Jul 15, 2015 7:35:34	That’s a really cool concept. I’ve thought about playing a pacifist cleric in the past, but have always shied away from it at the last minute.   I agree, Illusion spells will probably give you a wealth of non-lethal/non-offensive options.
#9 Shatnersbassoon Jul 15, 2015 8:00:28	I played a pacifist wizard for an entire campaign and it was great fun! If you're gonna be a pacifist, wizards are such a good choice because they offer so much variety. When you rule out damaging spells, I found other spells that in previous years I would have maybe overlooked.    As as has been pointed out in other threads, being a wizard in combat can be so much more than simply being a cannon!   Even though my party moaned during EVERY fight that they didn't have a REAL wizard, I think I was appreciated!   And I took great satisfaction in not taking a single life over the whole campaign.   Enjoy!
#10 Clutchbone Jul 15, 2015 15:21:38	MikeWizard425 wrote:
#11 Danny_Montanny Jul 16, 2015 15:43:28	Someone who advocates "I won't harm someone, but you guys go a head and bash his brains in" isn't a pacifist. You're justifying violence which is the complete opposite of what pacifism is.   What you might be is confused. Somehow justifying that you're not a part of the violence taking place because you chose not to act in accordance with it. Or you just might be a coward. Which is completely fine! I've played many a cowardly characters to great effect and fun for all.   With that being said, there's nothing wrong with advocating life. Even for those that do evil, if you somehow believe them redeemable. Associating with violence, and violent people, makes you far from a pacifist, however.
#12 mellored Jul 17, 2015 7:03:05	people use crappy logic to justify their actions all the time. no reason a PC can't as well.
#13 Elfcrusher Jul 17, 2015 7:08:58	Ralif_Redhammer wrote:
#14 Shatnersbassoon Jul 17, 2015 9:21:49	I agree, pacifist is the wrong word. Non violent probably describes it better.   You could think up so many reasons why a character would abhor violence and killing.    'There are alternatives to fighting'   - Obi Wan Kenobi
#15 Yunru Jul 17, 2015 9:44:20	"There are alternatives to fighting: Killing. Fighting implies resistance." - IDK, Wrex or someone :P
#16 Elfcrusher Jul 17, 2015 11:08:09	A few years ago some guy got a World of Warcraft character to max level without killing anything (or having anybody kill anything for him).  He did it via: Quests that don't require killing anything Zone discovery XP Resource gathering Impressive, if crazy.
(Reply to #15) Shatnersbassoon	Yunru wrote:
#18 BoldItalic Jul 17, 2015 14:52:07	Why is this wizard adventuring? Answer that, and it might become clearer. What are his goals? Can he achieve those goals on his own, without teaming up other PCs who are prepared to kill?