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Ghost King
Learned Scribe
USA
253 Posts |
 Posted - 06 Aug 2009 : 10:01:43
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Cardoc,
While I'm certainly not a specialist in 2nd Ed. magic system or the wizard - I do have a couple of suggestions:
A generalist wizard is always good with backing-up another wizard's spell power, especially one that is focused in something specific. You can pick up the slack where needed and don't have to worry about being barred from any particular school or spell usually (except those allowed specifically for specialized wizards, which I don't think there are any spells like that to my knowledge).
You can dabble a little bit in every school an offensive spell here, a defensive spell there, and a couple of spells to just generally run the middle of the road that if you're creative with can be crippling or death to your foe.
But if that isn't your cup of tea there is always the conjurationist that is over looked quite often. On the surface they look rather weak in comparison, but if you know how to utilize the school can wreak havoc in combat. You can bring in temporary allies, mimic another caster's spells, etc. to aid your fellow adventurers and in most cases probably change the tide of the battle. (Don't know if the school is the same as it is in 3rd...so this may or may not be a grand idea).
That said if you want a more direct approach sometimes Evocation is just what the situation calls for. With a fire mage already in play, coupled with an evocationist's ability to access ANY evocation spell, you two would be a literal battery of destruction. Down side is while evocationists do have the ability to use some good defensive magic you'll favor more of the offensive variety most of the time. We have a speciality priest so we probably are covered on the defensive end for the most part so really a little more fire power isn't a bad thing. The down side is if you're ever caught without her you'll be in a tight pinch. But on the upside, if you can get off your spells before the enemy hits you they are probably taking a dirt nap or going to at least know they fought you long after you're dead/unconcious.
These aren't really any suggestions, but I've never seen a transmuter, diviner, or abjurationist in a gaming group. Could be interesting to see, but usually aren't super great in the early levels offensively or spell selection wise (again just experience with 3rd here so might be better or worse in 2nd I have no clue).
But just to state a fact in the Realms history - the Chosen (who are wizards) and most villian types that are wizards (haven't read all the lore or books so excuse the naive statement if I'm making one) are all generalist wizards to my knowledge. Usually a sure sign they have a higher survivability and versitility then their specialized cousins. That is if they make it past that fifth level bar (in 3rd I think it is 9th in 2nd, but that's just from heresy) the generalist is a potent wizard to be reckoned with as well as any other wizard. However, the edge they have is they aren't limited to learn everything about magic in those later levels, which means they can pick up spells specifically designed to counter the specialist wizards if they are prepared and know what type of wizard they are. A generalist wizard is not so easy to prepare against. He/she could always have any number of combination of spells to fight/defend with in his/her arsenal.
In short, I suppose my strongest suggestion is a generalist wizard for you to play. But it is your character so play whatever you enjoy playing. The group will adapt according I'm sure.
Side-note: I'm not sure if a kit exists in 2nd Ed. for a Cormyrian War Wizard, but a friend of mine played an evocationist that was one (again in 3rd) and showed us the awesome power of one. If you decide to go that route that would probably be my second suggestion to play. |
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Hoondatha
Great Reader
USA
2449 Posts |
Posted - 06 Aug 2009 : 13:18:41
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Much of what GK says is true. The advantage of the generalist is that they can cast any spell. The disadvantage, especially at low levels, is that they can hardly cast anything because their spells memorized is so low. Specialists get a boost with that, their extra spell memorized is easily their best feature, but 2e specialists often get hammered with forbidden schools (illusionists are perhaps the best example: necromancy, eh ok. evocation, ow. abjuration? OW).
The other thing to keep in mind is that blasting is a lot more effective in 2e than in 3e. In 3e, casters focus on battlefield control and the so-called Save-or-Lose. Monster hit points ratchet up much faster than blasting spells, so that blasting isn't an effective option. That's not the case in 2e. We're playing in the hey-day of the fireball and the lightning bolt.
That said, it's probably a good idea to decide what kind of wizard you want to be. We already have someone who, by definition, will be a blaster (one free fireball all the time? Sure, thanks!), so blasting can likely take second place to something else. Are you obsessed with finding out hidden secrets, and want to focus on divination? Do you come from a northern city that keeps getting hammered by orcs and are therefore obsessed with defense (and therefore abjuration)? Or are you more of a middle-of-the-road, I'll-read-anything-I-can-get-my-hands-on kind of guy, and therefore a generalist? Characters tend to pick schools, spells, and specializations because they compliment their existing personalities, or because they embody who they want to become. |
Doggedly converting 3e back to what D&D should be...
Sigh... And now 4e as well. |
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Hoondatha
Great Reader
USA
2449 Posts |
Posted - 06 Aug 2009 : 23:22:43
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I've been updating the spreadsheet (I'll put it in my sig momentarily), and thought I'd give an update on where the four PC's for which I have near-complete character sheets stand. As always, please check my work and let me know if I missed anything. Please also check the ID section, several characters have blank spots that need filling in.
GK: Pick a bonus language, provide an age.
Brynweir: Pick a bonus language, and the spells you'll start with.
Tyr: Done, I think.
Mogrim: Need an age, pick extra proficiencies
Arivia and Cardoc both have significant parts of the characters that haven't been submitted, but everything I know should be up there.
As for backgrounds, I believe those for GK, Brynweir, and Tyr are done. Cardoc, Arivia, and Mogrim all need to contact me with more info.
Since it seems like the PC's are clumping into two or three groups (GK, Brynweir, Tyr, then maybe Cardoc and Mogrim, with Arivia the wild card), it would be possible for me to start the campaign with those who are done and bring in everyone else as characters get finalized. You wouldn't actually head toward the dungeon, or get XP, until everyone was assembled, but it would give you a chance to get a feel for your characters. What do you think?
edit: Well, I added the link to the spreadsheet, but I couldn't make it nice and clean like Barshevy did. Anyone know how to truncate web links within sigs? The way you do it on the forum doesn't work. |
Doggedly converting 3e back to what D&D should be...
Sigh... And now 4e as well. |
Edited by - Hoondatha on 06 Aug 2009 23:38:19 |
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Brynweir
Senior Scribe
USA
436 Posts |
Posted - 07 Aug 2009 : 00:22:01
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| Well, being as impatient a person as I am, I think that sounds like a GREAT idea. |
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Cardoc
Seeker
59 Posts |
Posted - 07 Aug 2009 : 04:10:42
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| Thanks for the suggestions all. I am quite familiar with 2E and have played "generalist" mages before, but thought I'd try my hand at a kit since I'd never used one before. However, since I don't own the Wizard's Handbook and for the sake of expediency I think I'll forego using a kit this time, although I may choose a specialization. Everything else should be filled out by the weekend and I can get my char into the action. |
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Cardoc
Seeker
59 Posts |
Posted - 07 Aug 2009 : 05:03:37
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Rereading some of the early posts now for guidance on house rules, character creation, etc. I seem to have used a different roll system for my stats than Hoondatha originally indicated (4d6 using highest 3, as opposed to 3d6 x 12 and choosing from that set). Let me know if I need to change that at all, but my stats aren't overpowered at all so I hope not.
Also, upon further review it looks like I'll be sticking with a generic mage, no specialization for me. The restrictions are just too steep imho, and I don't have the stats for most of the options anyway.
Some other questions for Hoon:
quote:
10) Proficiencies! I forgot proficiencies. We will be using proficiencies, along with the optional rule of using the # Languages Known column as bonus NWP slots. Everyone starts knowing Common, their racial language (if any), and one bonus of the player's choice. Extra languages must be bought as normal. Oh, and if you know any modern language you automatically know its written component. Personally, I think that speaking/read-write split is one of 2e's stupidest rules. Only for ancient languages do you have to pay twice to both speak and read/write.
Adding my # of languages (7) to NWP gives me a total available slots of 11, yes? Does using these extra slots for NWPs subtract from the max # of languages my character can learn in the future? (Not that this is likely to come up anytime soon but...)
We do not need to spend a NWP on read/write for any of our languages? In other words, its just assumed we are all literate?
What do you mean when you say "Extra languages must be bought as normal"? How do we go about learning new languages beyond those we're allowed to start with. (Again, this likely won't affect us anytime soon but curiosity gets the best of me.) |
Edited by - Cardoc on 07 Aug 2009 05:11:33 |
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Hoondatha
Great Reader
USA
2449 Posts |
Posted - 07 Aug 2009 : 13:26:39
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Cardoc: As long as you rolled your stats using some approved method, and are happy with them, I don't have a problem. Your stats look fine.
NWP and languages work like this: you automatically have Common and either your racial or regional language if you come from a place that has one (ie: Mulhorand). You also get one free language of your choice, to reflect the multi-racial aspect of the Realms. Yes, I'm assuming everyone is literate unless you specifically say otherwise, OR unless you take some sort of ancient language. Ancient languages require two slots to be able to both speak and read/write.
Yes, you have 11 proficiency slots. If you want to learn more languages, just spend one slot/modern language and you know it. No, using the bonus NWP's from intelligence doesn't affect how many you can evenutally learn down the road, though with your Int, I'm not sure you'll get enough NWP's over your career to max languages anyway.
Here are chargen, you can pick whatever languages you like, no matter how outlandish (though you might have to justify it in your backstory). Once we're playing, you can choose to spend a newly-acquired NWP on a language when going up in levels. You'll need some context to do it, however. For example, you can't suddenly learn fire giant if you haven't encountered any and don't have any fire giant books, but if you've been fighting with duergar off and on for the past level or two, then you could learn duergar. You could also learn languages in a similar family, ie: a dwarf could learn duergar or derro, or someone who knows orc could learn goblin. I'm not going to be too terribly strict about this, I just want a little logic.
Does that answer your questions? |
Doggedly converting 3e back to what D&D should be...
Sigh... And now 4e as well. |
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Ghost King
Learned Scribe
USA
253 Posts |
Posted - 07 Aug 2009 : 14:36:54
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As for the inquiry earlier Mal is 120 years old and I'll just have him know orc since elves usually like to know what their immortal enemies are saying to each other in the battlefield. And start whenever you like I'm ready to go.
Deity (if it must be known) is Corellon Larethian.
Edit (just in case you missed it from earlier in the thread):
quote:
Originally posted by Ghost King
Physical Description: Malythiir stands 6'2'' and weighs 157 pounds, and looks highly agile and atheletic from his years in the woods as a scout in Cormanthor. He has silver-white shoulder length hair, green eyes with golden flecks, and his skin is fair tinged with blue and looks to be the age of 120 by elven perception. He dresses as a wilderness scout should with brown, grey, and green clothing to blend into his surroundings. He carries two longswords on each side of his hips and his two shortswords on his back with his gear. He always looks prepared to head off at a moments notice and usually can be seen in his leather armor to hold testiment to this truth.
Also from Cormanthor not Cormyr. |
Edited by - Ghost King on 07 Aug 2009 14:42:35 |
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Tyr
Learned Scribe
225 Posts |
Posted - 07 Aug 2009 : 18:41:28
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yeah, i'm ready to go too!
Btw I forgot to put up a deity for Burt, which will be Gaerdal Ironhand. |
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Brynweir
Senior Scribe
USA
436 Posts |
Posted - 08 Aug 2009 : 00:40:30
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I don't remember posting Lorelei's either. I was going to go with Hanali Celanil unless that was a problem...?
And I'm pretty sure I'm ready to go. |
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Cardoc
Seeker
59 Posts |
Posted - 08 Aug 2009 : 05:11:35
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| Anyone know if there is a Halfling language? I'm struggling to choose my second language, but would like it to be something relevant to my character. As he is from Amn, and there are alot of halflings there, I thought that would make sense. But I can't find any info anywhere on halfling languages. |
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Joran Nobleheart
Senior Scribe
USA
495 Posts |
Posted - 08 Aug 2009 : 05:29:42
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Isn't it somewhere stated that the halfling (or gnome?) language is unavailable because it's kept a secret, or some such? Or was that just my old DM being a jerk? Again.
...Yeah, he's a jerk, LOL.  |
Paladinic Ethos
Saint Joran Nobleheart |
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Hoondatha
Great Reader
USA
2449 Posts |
Posted - 08 Aug 2009 : 05:41:51
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Yes, there is a halfling language. Check the 2e Revised Campaign Book (the blue one), page 25 for a list of common languages. I haven't been able to find any details about it, however.
Also, seeing as you're from Amn, Thorass would probably be considered your "native" tongue, besides Common. Lands of Intrigue mention that Thorass is used in contracts and other official documents, and among the merchants, despite its being abandoned elsewhere for the Common tongue.
I have some thoughts on the background you sent, I'll be responding shortly. |
Doggedly converting 3e back to what D&D should be...
Sigh... And now 4e as well. |
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Cardoc
Seeker
59 Posts |
Posted - 08 Aug 2009 : 06:43:33
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| Noted, thanks. I'll likely be adding both of those as my starting languages then. Also, after looking at halflings in the PHB it does state that there is a halfling language. |
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Cardoc
Seeker
59 Posts |
Posted - 08 Aug 2009 : 18:06:59
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| Anyone have access to a list of additional non-weapon proficiencies for wizards/mages? I know some new profs are listed in some of the handbooks, but I don't own the wizard's handbook. I'm having trouble finding enough relevant/useful NWPs to take from the list in the Player's Handbook. |
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Hoondatha
Great Reader
USA
2449 Posts |
Posted - 08 Aug 2009 : 18:30:57
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Oddly enough, the Wizard's Handbook doesn't have any new proficiencies. I guess they used the space for all the new spells instead. I'll take a look through my library to see if there are some other books I could recommend.
edit: Found a master list of all 2e proficiencies. Here:
http://www.rpg.net/etrigan/files/nwpindx.txt
Let me know if you need any of the books. |
Doggedly converting 3e back to what D&D should be...
Sigh... And now 4e as well. |
Edited by - Hoondatha on 08 Aug 2009 18:39:52 |
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Cardoc
Seeker
59 Posts |
Posted - 08 Aug 2009 : 21:34:27
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| That's a hell of a list, thank you. The only downside is I'm not certain what all of those profs do, but I can make my best guess and if it ever comes up in-game, I'm sure we'll figure it out. |
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Hoondatha
Great Reader
USA
2449 Posts |
Posted - 09 Aug 2009 : 02:03:07
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| Let me know what you're interested in, and I can probably send you the details. Be aware that we aren't necessarily using all the proficiencies from Skills and Powers and Spells and Magic, since some of them deal with alternate versions of being a wizard, but feel free to ask, and between us, we'll work it out. |
Doggedly converting 3e back to what D&D should be...
Sigh... And now 4e as well. |
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Hoondatha
Great Reader
USA
2449 Posts |
Posted - 09 Aug 2009 : 15:46:33
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| Just a quick note to say that while I would normally start the game for at least some of you this week, I'm going to be down in Austin, TX for the SAA conference all week. I won't get back until next Sunday, and I'm not certain what kind of internet connectivity I'm going to have. So Arivia, Mogrim, and Cardoc have another week to finish work on their characters, and we'll likely get started a week from Monday. In the mean time, I'll do my best to answer any questions that come up. |
Doggedly converting 3e back to what D&D should be...
Sigh... And now 4e as well. |
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Hoondatha
Great Reader
USA
2449 Posts |
Posted - 15 Aug 2009 : 20:10:43
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| Hi again. Well, Mogrim and Arivia seem to have gone MIA. I'll be getting the game started on Monday for everyone else, and in the mean time have found two new players to round out the group. Hopefully they'll introduce themselves shortly. |
Doggedly converting 3e back to what D&D should be...
Sigh... And now 4e as well. |
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Joran Nobleheart
Senior Scribe
USA
495 Posts |
Posted - 15 Aug 2009 : 20:27:33
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quote:
Originally posted by Hoondatha
Hi again. Well, Mogrim and Arivia seem to have gone MIA. I'll be getting the game started on Monday for everyone else, and in the mean time have found two new players to round out the group. Hopefully they'll introduce themselves shortly.
Hello. I'll be one of the players joining in. I'll actually be playing my paladin from Cormyr Joran Nobleheart. I'm really looking forward to playing with all of you.  |
Paladinic Ethos
Saint Joran Nobleheart |
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Ghost King
Learned Scribe
USA
253 Posts |
Posted - 16 Aug 2009 : 02:30:06
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| Cool, welcome aboard! It will be interesting to see a Purple Knight being played along side the group if indeed that is what you'll be playing. See you all on Monday. |
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Joran Nobleheart
Senior Scribe
USA
495 Posts |
Posted - 16 Aug 2009 : 03:25:42
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quote:
Originally posted by Ghost King
Cool, welcome aboard! It will be interesting to see a Purple Knight being played along side the group if indeed that is what you'll be playing. See you all on Monday.
Well, I'm not playing a Purple Dragon Knight, as that would be require my playing the father of my character. 
I look forward to joining you all, and I hope that Joran gets along well with all of your characters. |
Paladinic Ethos
Saint Joran Nobleheart |
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Hoondatha
Great Reader
USA
2449 Posts |
Posted - 16 Aug 2009 : 03:34:46
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At least he won't be having to deal with Nagrath...
(yes, I promise to keep my blood-thirsty gnome somewhere far away) |
Doggedly converting 3e back to what D&D should be...
Sigh... And now 4e as well. |
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Joran Nobleheart
Senior Scribe
USA
495 Posts |
Posted - 16 Aug 2009 : 04:06:58
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Ah, I was rather wondering about him...
It's a shame that Valthorin couldn't go along for this. I really hope that Barshevy is able to come back soon and that all is well. |
Paladinic Ethos
Saint Joran Nobleheart |
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Jocepi
Acolyte
USA
11 Posts |
Posted - 16 Aug 2009 : 04:35:35
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| Hello folks, I am the other one that will be joining the cast of characters. Looking forward to some great adventures. |
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Tyr
Learned Scribe
225 Posts |
Posted - 16 Aug 2009 : 08:20:14
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| Hey Joran and Jocepi, welcome to the team :) |
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Joran Nobleheart
Senior Scribe
USA
495 Posts |
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Tyr
Learned Scribe
225 Posts |
Posted - 16 Aug 2009 : 19:29:37
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| lol, didn't know that. Gonna be fun playing with you again |
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Hoondatha
Great Reader
USA
2449 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2009 : 03:42:41
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| The spreadsheet has been updated with Joran's information, as well as more info on Felgaris. Jocepi's character isn't done yet, so I'll be bringing him in a bit later. Expect to see the game thread some time tomorrow evening. I'll link to it in this thread, but it'll be over in the Inn. |
Doggedly converting 3e back to what D&D should be...
Sigh... And now 4e as well. |
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Dark Ways and Darker Secrets OOC Thread
