Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 _Satyesu_ Sep 17, 2014 9:01:00	Is there a way to, say, make an abjurer who focuses on protection spells like shield different from one who specializes in warding spells like protection from evil?
#2 mellored Sep 17, 2014 9:20:01	You can change is backgounds, races, ability scores, feats, and what spells you have prepaired.   Otherwise every abjurer is the same as the next.
#3 CCS Sep 17, 2014 9:21:21	I'm going to go out on a limb here & imagine that it'd begin with carefully selecting spells.....
#4 DemoMonkey Sep 17, 2014 9:51:59	Decorative hats?
(Reply to #4) arnwolf666	DemoMonkey wrote:
#6 pauln6 Sep 17, 2014 16:38:29	There are loads of ways to differntiate them.  Race, sex, stats, alignment, traits, bonds, flaws, equipment, backgrounds, skills, feats, multi-classing, and spell selection.  That's just on paper and is not an exhaustive list.  Your PC's personality and how you role play them are important.  We do need more feats to choose from though.
#7 Devilbass Sep 17, 2014 20:00:21	If you want to differentiate wizards of the same school, simply plug them into this equation:      wizard difference of subclass (s) = the limit as level apporaches zero of   [f(subclass + level) - f(level)]/level.   But in all seriousness, I think there are a number of tools that exist to achieve what you it sounds like you want.  With the class and subclass systems working the way they do, you will have to look beyond the options presented within them to truly make each character distinct. Spell Selection:  I think there are two things I would do here to differentiate the the two wizards.  The first is exactly as stated in the OP: have one abjurer select skills that are more protective in nature, and the other select spells that do more warding.  The second thing I would do is perhaps have each have a couple other sort of signature spells that are off-school, and just make each select different ones. Background/Skills: Having a different selection of skills can certainly help differentiate each character, as they become more useful in different situations.  If one of your abjurer is a more persuasive, smooth talker than the other, that will likely be noticeable in game. Race: Probably one of the most obvious things you can do to distinguish one from the other.  Not only would each character have a different set of abilities based on their race that could change how they are played mechanically, but I also think that each is likely to be role-played differently, which would help to emphasize the different feel of each that is being achieved mechanically.  For example, if one abjurer is Halfling, it is likely to feel different mechanically compared to a Dragonborn abjurer, and it is probably a safe bet they wouldn't be role-played the same way. Feats: Feats offer a good way to expand a character's capability, and you could certainly give each character a different set of feats to help distinguish them from one another.  For example, one abjurer with the Alert feat will often be able to use his abilities to better effect, as he can make sure they're activated before anyone else has acted, while the other may be slightly better at offensive magic due to the Spell Sniper feat.  Or maybe one has the resilient feat, giving him/her further survivability; a nice compliment to some abjurer  features.  I will agree with pauln6 that a few more feats to choose from would be nice.   One thing I got thinking of specifically in regards to abjurers is that you could actually make one that focuses on melee as their form of offense.  Arcane Ward essentially gives the abjurer HP equal to a Fighter's, with the added benefit of recharging some of the Ward's HP anytime an abjuration spell is used.  Shocking Grasp is much less risky to use as an abjurer than as most other wizard subclasses.
#8 Arawn76 Sep 18, 2014 1:56:41	The only way to differentiate between any wizard, specialist or not, is by there choice of spells. And the tactics they use . All other options are differences of character.
#9 knightserpent Sep 18, 2014 4:51:33	My son uses an Abjurer strictly for Melee combat. He is a mountain dwarf, has medium armor currently, a shield and battle axe.  He is much more survivable than anything around.  IF he gets hit, he pops a shield and is missed, then has shield points to go through.  Pretty good idea.  Easily combatted by aoe spells and effects like traps, so it's really no problem.  I'm working some sort of background tweaks of a shield dwarf to a SHIELD Dwarf, and a mystical form of dwarven defender.
(Reply to #9) arnwolf666	knightserpent wrote:
#11 Wuzzard Sep 18, 2014 7:45:21	Obviously, you distinguish by character name.
#12 Brock_Landers Sep 18, 2014 11:00:32	Arawn76 wrote: