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Dennis
Great Reader

9933 Posts

Posted - 10 Dec 2013 :  13:13:46  Show Profile Send Dennis a Private Message  Reply with Quote

I'm old-school. Don't want my wizard to have fighter skills.

Every beginning has an end.
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Alruane
Senior Scribe

USA
434 Posts

Posted - 10 Dec 2013 :  13:22:03  Show Profile Send Alruane a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Keeping to the archetype I see? Good, I usually do as well. Haha

" I wonder if you are destined to be forgotten. Will your life fade in the shadow of greater beings?"
~Joneleth Irenicus

"Wisdom? My dear boy, wisdom is knowing that you do not know everything. Wisdom is realizing, a wise man ALWAYS has questions. Not answers."

~Alruane
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
Moderator

USA
36991 Posts

Posted - 10 Dec 2013 :  14:39:27  Show Profile Send Wooly Rupert a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Dennis


I'm old-school. Don't want my wizard to have fighter skills.



My Gandalf/Elminster knockoff was created as an NPC. I'll be revisiting him at some point to revamp his backstory, but the fighter thing will remain. It seems a not unreasonable thing to me: he wanted to study magic, but found himself lacking all resources save for an older sibling with a spare sword. Later on, after swinging his sword for several levels, then he found himself alone again, with resources, and decided it was time to pursue magic.

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Alruane
Senior Scribe

USA
434 Posts

Posted - 10 Dec 2013 :  14:56:39  Show Profile Send Alruane a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert

quote:
Originally posted by Dennis


I'm old-school. Don't want my wizard to have fighter skills.



My Gandalf/Elminster knockoff was created as an NPC. I'll be revisiting him at some point to revamp his backstory, but the fighter thing will remain. It seems a not unreasonable thing to me: he wanted to study magic, but found himself lacking all resources save for an older sibling with a spare sword. Later on, after swinging his sword for several levels, then he found himself alone again, with resources, and decided it was time to pursue magic.



By all means it makes sense, actually very interesting to be sure. But it's interesting he is an NPC as well, wouldn't mind hearing the back story when you finish it.

" I wonder if you are destined to be forgotten. Will your life fade in the shadow of greater beings?"
~Joneleth Irenicus

"Wisdom? My dear boy, wisdom is knowing that you do not know everything. Wisdom is realizing, a wise man ALWAYS has questions. Not answers."

~Alruane
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hashimashadoo
Master of Realmslore

United Kingdom
1159 Posts

Posted - 10 Dec 2013 :  15:12:32  Show Profile  Visit hashimashadoo's Homepage Send hashimashadoo a Private Message  Reply with Quote
I guess I've always had a fondness for Kartak Spellseer. The guy is pretty much the only founding member of the Twisted Rune who is still alive and kicking...or at least kicking. I've always found it odd that he hasn't had more written about him. Every source just says 'refer to the module Castle Spulzeer for more on Kartak'. Well, that's all very well and good for his history but I want to find out what he's up to after said castle disappeared into the Demiplane of Dread.

Does he still get transported to the Castle for 24 hours a year? Would that even be possible after the events of The Forgotten Terror? Lords of Darkness makes it clear that he's still around but nothing is noted of the projects of any of the Runemasters. Considering that Kartak is both one of the oldest members of the organization and the closest thing to 'the face' of the Runemasters, I think there should be more on him.

I do also quite like Gromph Baenre...not to say I only like evil wizards.

When life turns it's back on you...sneak attack for extra damage.

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Alruane
Senior Scribe

USA
434 Posts

Posted - 10 Dec 2013 :  15:54:24  Show Profile Send Alruane a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Don't you love when they don't have many writings on your favored character or lore in general?!

" I wonder if you are destined to be forgotten. Will your life fade in the shadow of greater beings?"
~Joneleth Irenicus

"Wisdom? My dear boy, wisdom is knowing that you do not know everything. Wisdom is realizing, a wise man ALWAYS has questions. Not answers."

~Alruane
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Dennis
Great Reader

9933 Posts

Posted - 10 Dec 2013 :  17:47:46  Show Profile Send Dennis a Private Message  Reply with Quote

Not that I dislike fighter wizards. I even like Kvothe, Elminster, and Martris Drayke, all of whom have relatively good fighter skills (especially Kvothe). It's just that somehow the fighter side takes away the sense of awe that a wizard is supposed to evoke. That is why I'm partial to the likes of Pug, Telamont, Larloch, and Szass Tam.

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Alruane
Senior Scribe

USA
434 Posts

Posted - 10 Dec 2013 :  17:57:48  Show Profile Send Alruane a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Yes exactly, the arcane and mysterious nature loses it's feeling when they are not PURE. So I agree with that.

" I wonder if you are destined to be forgotten. Will your life fade in the shadow of greater beings?"
~Joneleth Irenicus

"Wisdom? My dear boy, wisdom is knowing that you do not know everything. Wisdom is realizing, a wise man ALWAYS has questions. Not answers."

~Alruane
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
Moderator

USA
36991 Posts

Posted - 10 Dec 2013 :  20:25:07  Show Profile Send Wooly Rupert a Private Message  Reply with Quote
So the fact that Gandalf wielded Glamdring means he no longer invokes awe?

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Alruane
Senior Scribe

USA
434 Posts

Posted - 10 Dec 2013 :  20:43:14  Show Profile Send Alruane a Private Message  Reply with Quote
That he does, just not as much as one that never touched a sword or shield in their life. It's all a matter of personal perspective. I love Gandalf and what he does throughout the novels, and I love Elminster, and so on.

" I wonder if you are destined to be forgotten. Will your life fade in the shadow of greater beings?"
~Joneleth Irenicus

"Wisdom? My dear boy, wisdom is knowing that you do not know everything. Wisdom is realizing, a wise man ALWAYS has questions. Not answers."

~Alruane
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Drustan Dwnhaedan
Learned Scribe

USA
324 Posts

Posted - 10 Dec 2013 :  22:46:06  Show Profile Send Drustan Dwnhaedan a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Okay, it took me a while to work out which characters I liked best (too many choices!). Here's what I finally decided;

1: Storm Silverhand
2: Alustriel Silverhand
3: Elminster
4:Liriel Baenre
5:Danilo Thann
6: This one's actually a tie between Khelban and Laeral (couldn't decide between the two)
7: The Simbul
8: Sylune Silverhand (some of you might have noticed certain recurring themes here...)
9: Gromph Baenre
10: Manshoon

And a couple honorable mentions;
1: My first (FR) PC ever, Zatahl Sylwynon, gold elf swordmage ( when I first joined my gaming group, my DM was running a 4e campaign set in 1285 D.R.) and devote worshipper of Eilistraee (yes, you read that right; a gold elf who worships Eilistraee).
2:Felix (an original creation of my DM's), an Illithilich information broker working out of Skullport and (sort of*) pen pal of Elminster.


*'Sort of' because they would write 'important' scrolls, which were then entrusted in my character's care. After attempting to deliver the first scroll resulted in considerable frustration (My character had to deal with Lhaeo for a couple hours. After a couple of hours he decided he had had enough, burned the scroll, said something along the lines of, "If the Old Sage wants to read that ******* scroll, then he better be able to read ******* ashes," and stormed off. This led to Felix teleporting over, handing him a copy of the scroll, and warning him to, "never do that again"), my character simply carried them around with him (after a certain amount of time, the scrolls would just disappear, replaced by a 'response' scroll). Felix finally revealed the nature of these 'important' scrolls towards the end of the campaign; basically, Elminster and Felix had been criticizing one another for their respective smoking habits (Eliminster with his pipes, Felix with his hookah).

Edited by - Drustan Dwnhaedan on 10 Dec 2013 22:46:55
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Alruane
Senior Scribe

USA
434 Posts

Posted - 10 Dec 2013 :  23:29:48  Show Profile Send Alruane a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Okay Drustan, first of all: I love that list of Arcane Users.

Secondly: That part about Zatahl Sylwynon your gold elf swordmage being pen pals with Elminster, and the two criticizing each other about their respective smoking habits. Clever and very funny actually, but the best part is the fact that the scrolls were 'Important'. Well done Drustan, well done.

" I wonder if you are destined to be forgotten. Will your life fade in the shadow of greater beings?"
~Joneleth Irenicus

"Wisdom? My dear boy, wisdom is knowing that you do not know everything. Wisdom is realizing, a wise man ALWAYS has questions. Not answers."

~Alruane
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High

Australia
31799 Posts

Posted - 11 Dec 2013 :  01:28:24  Show Profile Send The Sage a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Dennis


Not that I dislike fighter wizards. I even like Kvothe, Elminster, and Martris Drayke, ...
Elminster's something of a special case.

Keep in mind, also, that much of the experience Elminster has gained, along with many of the skills he's learnt, through the long centuries of his life, aren't aspects of his character he can always directly call upon.

From pg. 48 of the Heroes' Lorebook:-
quote:
Elminster has been a fighter, a thief, and a priest (a priestess, actually) before he became a mage. However, all the skills he picked up in those classes have been neglected over the years and are no longer available to him.

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Alruane
Senior Scribe

USA
434 Posts

Posted - 11 Dec 2013 :  11:14:21  Show Profile Send Alruane a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Correct Sage! In the first book of the series, Elminster, Making Of A Mage he was many things before Mystra came to him in that temple. He was a farmer of a sorts, a simple villager. Then he became a brigand after the mages dragon attack, then a simple thief, and so on. So he was many things at first, but through his many long years of ONLY using magic...his other skills have dwindled down to literally nothing. He MAY be able to recall said skills, but I doubt it.

" I wonder if you are destined to be forgotten. Will your life fade in the shadow of greater beings?"
~Joneleth Irenicus

"Wisdom? My dear boy, wisdom is knowing that you do not know everything. Wisdom is realizing, a wise man ALWAYS has questions. Not answers."

~Alruane
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Dennis
Great Reader

9933 Posts

Posted - 11 Dec 2013 :  13:50:05  Show Profile Send Dennis a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert

So the fact that Gandalf wielded Glamdring means he no longer invokes awe?
Probably, probably not. As Alruane said, it's all a matter of perspective. People may readily think that a wizard who also takes a sword is either a relatively weak one or has no full confidence in his Art. They may think, "His spells will likely fizzle, and so he'd just grab and swing a sword instead." In comparison, they may think of pure wizards as perfectly confident that they can depend on their Art at all times.

Every beginning has an end.
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Dennis
Great Reader

9933 Posts

Posted - 11 Dec 2013 :  13:55:27  Show Profile Send Dennis a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage

quote:
Originally posted by Dennis


Not that I dislike fighter wizards. I even like Kvothe, Elminster, and Martris Drayke, ...
Elminster's something of a special case.

Keep in mind, also, that much of the experience Elminster has gained, along with many of the skills he's learnt, through the long centuries of his life, aren't aspects of his character he can always directly call upon.

From pg. 48 of the Heroes' Lorebook:-
quote:
Elminster has been a fighter, a thief, and a priest (a priestess, actually) before he became a mage. However, all the skills he picked up in those classes have been neglected over the years and are no longer available to him.

I was referring the "old" Elminster, the one in E:TMoaM. I pretty much took the hint that he abandoned his fighter side as he never (AFAIR) ever swings a sword in the later novels (EiH, the Shandril saga, RotA, and the Sage of Shadowdale series).

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Alruane
Senior Scribe

USA
434 Posts

Posted - 11 Dec 2013 :  16:42:59  Show Profile Send Alruane a Private Message  Reply with Quote
To be honest, if anything, the last thing he would be good at (outside of his wizard class) is a Cleric or Priest(priestess in Myth Drannor). Because after that book he did not change nor do anything else that differentiated his wizard class.

" I wonder if you are destined to be forgotten. Will your life fade in the shadow of greater beings?"
~Joneleth Irenicus

"Wisdom? My dear boy, wisdom is knowing that you do not know everything. Wisdom is realizing, a wise man ALWAYS has questions. Not answers."

~Alruane
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Alruane
Senior Scribe

USA
434 Posts

Posted - 12 Dec 2013 :  00:22:19  Show Profile Send Alruane a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by The Arcanamach

quote:
With lightning no less! Even though Liches are immune to electricity!

That still bugs me.

quote:
I never knew Catti-Brie used magic!

That is a recent development (recent as in books, not the timeline).

The Simbul almost single handedly held the Red Wizards of Thay at bay (they tried to conquer Aglarond numerous times). She is known to have slain thousands of Thayvian soldiers whilst fighting solo (all at once that is). She was reworked into a sorceress under 3e (a move I disliked and never incorporated into my homebrew Realms).



Well seeing as how I said that there are a couple things you might need to know:

1. I have just NOW started reading the Icewind Dale trilogy, so I only knew Drizzt and his companions VAGUELY through games and minor excerpts. Therefore, I never knew much about Catti-Brie to begin with.

And

2. I have been out of the D&D loop since I was 14 maybe? That was the last time I truly cracked open a source book or core rule book. Not to mention the only real lore I truly know about FR is minor things about Baldur's Gate, a few things of Waterdeep, and various books on Elminster. My knowledge on this realm is not as vast as others, hence joining this site and learning as much as I can. So forgive my lack of knowledge and comprehension on Realms based lore and history.

" I wonder if you are destined to be forgotten. Will your life fade in the shadow of greater beings?"
~Joneleth Irenicus

"Wisdom? My dear boy, wisdom is knowing that you do not know everything. Wisdom is realizing, a wise man ALWAYS has questions. Not answers."

~Alruane
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Alruane
Senior Scribe

USA
434 Posts

Posted - 24 Dec 2013 :  07:45:48  Show Profile Send Alruane a Private Message  Reply with Quote
I would say Akar Kessell is a Arcane User and everything but, technically he was a nothing who found Crenshinibon by chance and became powerful THROUGH it. Not that he is my favorite, but still. Just throwing that out there to anyone whom says him in the off chance.

" I wonder if you are destined to be forgotten. Will your life fade in the shadow of greater beings?"
~Joneleth Irenicus

"Wisdom? My dear boy, wisdom is knowing that you do not know everything. Wisdom is realizing, a wise man ALWAYS has questions. Not answers."

~Alruane
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