Pregen error with Wizard.

Post/Author/DateTimePost
#1

Evenglarexi

Jul 03, 2014 23:30:46

Someone has probably posted this earlier, but on the off chance that I'm the only one to notice....

 

The wizards background is acolyte, but clearly his traits and flaws and all of that are those of the sage.

#2

pukunui

Jul 03, 2014 23:49:12

That's not really an error. You don't have to pick from the traits and flaws listed for your background. You can make up your own if you want, or perhaps just pick from one of the other lists.

(Reply to #2)

Evenglarexi

pukunui wrote:
#4

Nicodaudel

Jul 04, 2014 0:06:30

This sort of mixing and matching is hinted at in the section "Customizing a Background" (Basic PDF, p. 36). The authors also specifically say on page 35: "Each background ... includes suggested characteristics that you can use to spark your imagination. You're not bound to those options, but they're a good starting point" ("Personal Characteristics"). For example, the pre-gen Wizard's Personality Traits take from both the Sage ("polysyllabic words") and the Acolyte ("dealing with people") lists. In that sense, I'm glad to see one of the Starter Set pre-gens illustrating that backgrounds don't have to include things exactly as they're listed in the book. It's an early (and straightforward) example of tinkering to achieve a certain vision of your character.

#5

pukunui

Jul 04, 2014 0:23:23

Evenglarexi wrote:
#6

Nicodaudel

Jul 04, 2014 0:18:35

We can call it an error, mistake, or oversight, but no one with the Starter Set - not even a new DM or player - would discover the discrepancy unless and until s/he had compared the wizard with the Basic rules. At which point, they'd come across the two sections I cited in my last post - i.e. the two sections that explain why it's okay to mix and match, tinker, etc.

#7

The_White_Sorcerer

Jul 04, 2014 4:24:02

I actually really like this, because it's an example of an alternate way to use those tables. Note that the wizard is an acolyte of Oghma (god of knowledge), so rolling on/picking from the sage tables sounds pretty appropriate.