My first question is about the Wizards' robes. Are WoHS required to wear their robes at all times. It would seem silly for black robes to wear their robes publicly given the likely reaction that others would have.
A second question, as this is fairly ambiguous in the campaign setting, is when it is decided what color robes a Wizard receives? For example, the aforementioned character doesn't see herself as evil, and I was thinking it would be revealed at the end of the test.
Finally, does anyone have any suggestions how to have a cohesive party with a Solamnic Knight and a black-robed Wizard? I'm hoping the lawful alignment will be helpful, but I don't know if it'll be enough. I'm thinking of trying to get the knight to swear to protect me, meaning that he'd have to break his word to get me out of the group.
As for wizards, yeah, they generally wear their colors all the time, as a matter of pride. However, they don't neccesarily need to be robed unless they are going to the tower, or want to be seen as a wizard.
Generally, though, you can get away with wearing mostly your color on normal clothing, like Dunbar Mastarsmate did, or in your case, a black vest and pants or something. Black belt around the waist.
Think about it though. Why play LE in dragonlance?
If your in the middle of a terrible war versus Tahkisis (War of the Lance) and your black robed magician is against her, I think it's safe to assume that they can find a place fighting with the Knights, they won't be trusted or liked but they may find a place within the war if your word is true. After the War Raistlin lived in palanthus and wasn't mobbed by Solamnic Knights when he walked form his tower to the Great Library to meet Crysania & Astinus.
During times of peace, dealing a black robe is much different. People have the luxury to stand on their high horses, to indulge their moral views and make examples of others. It would be far more difficult to include yourself in a party of Solamnics unless you had something they needed or wanted or perhaps were a representative of the Wizards (but then I would question why an organisation of Intelligent individuals would send an evil person to interact with a good aligned organisation).
Arandur
Originally posted by talinthas
Generally, though, you can get away with wearing mostly your color on normal clothing, like Dunbar Mastarsmate did, or in your case, a black vest and pants or something. Black belt around the waist.
Wasn't Dunbar the head of the WHITE Robes?
Arandur
The game we're playing is in the 5th age, so, at least according to the campaign setting, the issues between the KoS and the WoHS aren't as prevalent. Hell, the new 5th age book has a prestige class for Solamnic mages/sorcerers.
I fully expect alignment to be an issue, but I'm hoping to find a way around it. For example, my character's father is a Knight and an ambassador from Solamnia (in Nordmaar). I'm thinking that if my character's father can get the character who wants to be a Knight to swear to protect me, the aspiring Knight's word will be enough to keep the group together. Also, I'm thinking that 4 levels adventuring together before the test where my alignment will be revealed will help minimize issues.
Anyway, thanks for the feedback.
Being lawful in alignment will help you a lot. One suggestion to build on this is to take the Honor-bound feat. A Solamnic Knight may not like you the best, but if you act honorably, they will at least respect you.
Arandur also had a great idea that "the enemy of my enemy is my friend". If you're playing in the Chaos War, and you're looking to beat the Thorn Knights, a black robe would fight them same as a Solamnic.
Also consider building some sort of relationship between the two. Are they siblings or childhood friends? If one's male and one's female, then perhaps there's some sort of love interest.
One of my favorites is the life debt. Perhaps, for whatever reason, the knight was rescued by the black robe, and he pledged his life to the black robe.
What I think would be equally interesting is if the knight character was still a squire, and his application to the knighthood was turned down since he was working with a black robed wizard (assuming the wizard takes the Test first).
If you look at the Companions, two of their number turned to evil. In amongst that, good and evil worked together (especially with Caramon and Raistlin). Remember, characters are far more than alignments. Alignment is a guide; what your character is will decide the fate of the game.
Good luck with this! I hope you find that this will be a truly memorable role-playing experience.
KoS would kill a Black robe before even hearing the wizards name.
Actually, unless that Knight observed a Black Robe wizard breaking the law or engaging in some act of villainy, or was responding to reliable reports of the same, such an action would be considered murder- probably grounds for expulsion from the Solamnic order as well. Many Black robes are ambitious, cold-hearted bastards who nevertheless abide scrupulously by the local civil laws of the area in which they reside. A knight who sees a Black robe in the street, strides up, and lops his/her head off, is most definitely not acting in a Lawful Good manner.
I think they most definately hated and loathed the fact, but they didn't even attempt to lay some sort of siege to it, nor did they attack either of the Black Towers masters as they walked the streets. Then again I must admit I have read about a tenth of the novels you have ;)
Arandur
To me, ignore knights vs wizards. This is a simple case of alignment conflict. You have a good person and a bad person in the party, and there's bound to be conflict because of it. Now look to legends and notice how Tracy and Margaret delt with alignment conflict. You have Raistlin (evil) and Crysania (good?) and Caramon (good). They travel together as a party and even built an army to the Dwarfgate wars.
Notice, Raistlin uses blackmail on caramon. "Do what I say, and i'll return you to Tika." Heck, there's emotional blackmail with the sarcastic use of "brother." Notice how he twists Crysania. "We're in this together. together we'll defeat Takhisis." Also notice Caramon's and Crysania's motivations. "I will turn him from evil." Use motivations like these to get a wizard of the black robes and a knight of Solamnia in the party. they may have the same goals, which won't bring trust, but they will bring camraderie. I'd say raise the CR of the party's enemies, so that knight and wizard will be pushed to their limits. Nothing says, "I'll let you live" then knowing that you need each other. Once the quest is done, you can go back to fighting each other.
As you can see, Legends had it's character resolve their conflict at the end of the story. and that character evolution made the legends a really great book. that i hope will make your role-playing experience better in the long run.
but i doubt that astinus and elistan would let them.
Astinus?!
Pfft! I'd like to see an army come anywhere NEAR the Shoikan Grove! And I'd like to see them stand up to the Master of the Tower if they even got within a foot of it.
Ah, the horrible bloody torment. Even the Spectral Minions could never be stopped by any type of army. And Paladine/Kiri-Jolith/Takhisis/Sargonnas/etc. have no jurisdiction within the Grove. Its Nui or nothin'.
Arandur
Originally posted by Arandur
What about the Tower of Palanthus Tal? Both Dalamar and Raistlin were Black Robes and lived in the heart of a Solamnic city.
I think they most definately hated and loathed the fact, but they didn't even attempt to lay some sort of siege to it, nor did they attack either of the Black Towers masters as they walked the streets. Then again I must admit I have read about a tenth of the novels you have ;)
Arandur
Like the knights could have done squat to Raistlin or Dalamar. The knights would've been slain like kittens swimming in a barrel of piranha. :D