Help with ravenloft wizard background! - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Help with ravenloft wizard background!

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
undercover
Jul 28, 2004 8:57:25 Not sure if the Character Development is the best board for this, or if it's allowed to repost, but here it comes...

Help wanted!

I've never played in Ravenloft before, so any help is appreciated. Let me tell a bit of this character:
he's a human diviner opposed school necromancy;
refuses to even memorize a direct damage spell (most evocation effects) because he believes this is a gross way to use magic, a true wizard must be more subtle and effective;
I'm toying with the idea of making him of gypsy heritage, so he'd carry a gypsy deck and use it for fortunetelling, helping him decide which spell to use/memorize and so on;
if the DM allows I'd like to trade the familiar for bonus feat(s), if not I'd take a hawk;
loves divination and illusions;
gearing towards loremaster/6 archmage/5, perhaps more of loremaster;
I've heard a bit about Barovia so was thinking of Zeidenburg as his hometown;
perhaps make him middle aged (38-40y, we're starting at 5th level);
if the DM allows a nice power, not Innocent anymore;
true neutral with one foot in tradition and another in family as high values.
Thanks for any input.
#2
zombiegleemax
Jul 29, 2004 7:07:08 Its funny b/c thats really close to the next character I want to play...though mine would be a wizard then multiclass to a cleric

I would look at the wizardry domains...dementlieu (sp), darkon, all that kind of stuff.

Wizards aren't very welcome in most of the core.

I'd esp. look at dementlieu if he likes illusions.
#3
undercover
Jul 29, 2004 13:28:50 Thanks for the advice. I guess I'll end up with Darkon then, because Dementlieu's culture isn't much in synch with the character's personality.
#4
zombiegleemax
Jul 29, 2004 15:35:23 If he is opposed to casting evocation spells why isnt that his barred school?
#5
undercover
Jul 29, 2004 17:43:32 Not all the school, only direct damagind spells. Gust of wind, wind wall, darkness, light, etc are still within his style, and they are all evocation.
#6
Mortepierre
Jul 30, 2004 2:55:21
Originally posted by Undercover
I'm toying with the idea of making him of gypsy heritage, so he'd carry a gypsy deck and use it for fortunetelling, helping him decide which spell to use/memorize and so on.
If the DM allows I'd like to trade the familiar for bonus feat(s), if not I'd take a hawk

Go for Half-Vistani (Canjar tribe) then. And if you're serious about getting a familiar, beg till your DM allows you to take the Dispassionate Dread Companion feat...
#7
undercover
Jul 30, 2004 3:13:34
Originally posted by Mortepierre
[...]Dispassionate Dread Companion feat...

What's that???
#8
zombiegleemax
Jul 30, 2004 11:28:56 That makes a bit more sense! Is it a feasible thing to do especially if you are the only mage in the group?
#9
undercover
Jul 30, 2004 11:56:54 Well, I may be the only mage in the group, but surely ain't the only source of damage. Considering that, with a bit of luck, divination and illusion can greatly help discovering the perils ahead and setting the battlefield to the group's advantage, I believe that to be more powerful than a couple fireballs can ever be. Even if I'm wrong, I'm more on this for RP's concerns than power-wise.
#10
Mortepierre
Jul 30, 2004 19:51:20
Originally posted by Undercover
What's that???

If you ask, then your DM clearly hasn't told you about a few things yet .. which is a good thing for a game set in RL, mind you ;)

Just forget I ever mentioned it. Oh, and good luck...
#11
zombiegleemax
Jul 31, 2004 20:50:20 I agree that being a half-vistani of the canjar tasque looks like your best fit. However the vistani half of your family will never fully embrace you (even partial acceptance is far from a sure thing). On the other hand since Ravenloft is traditionally a low magic world with most populations held in a state of ignorance and or powerlessness being half-vistani is a great way to account for magical training (though it won't make you popular in many places). Borca (sort-of), Darkon, Dementlieu, Hazlan and (to a lesser extent) Mordent also have traditions of learning that include wizardry. They all have different cultures, Mordant or Borca might also fit your PC.

Barovia is among the most backwards and supersticious of the core domains FYI. No reason why you couldn't come from Zeidenburg but its not the sort of place that would not welcome someone of magical talents...and that devil Strahd, Barovia's ruler, has a bad way of encouraging the "known to be learned" into *donating* their spellbooks to his library.

You should be aware as a potential 5th level caster that some spells just don't work that well in RL as part of the setting. For example there is no mortal way for a spellcaster to discern the moral component of someones alignment (ie. you can't ever detect evil). Divinations get tweaked more often than any other school except necromancy. On the other hand since determining where a threat is coming from is often half the battle (or more) your divinations taht do work are likely to be much more usueful than in a typical FR-esque campaign.

Hope you enjoy RL!

-Eric Gorman

PS - I wouldn't worry too much about your build into very high levels. IME most RL camapaign stop well short of becoming an archmage.
PPS - I don't know what powers your DM is offereing you in echange for "innocence" but it sounds awfully like a devils bargain to me. You are warned!
#12
undercover
Aug 01, 2004 5:07:17 Hey, thanks for the advice!

I was concerned about the half-vistani because of a certain domain (not sure which) that hunts them down like crazy. Another factor is that charisma hit, if I want to seek knowledge everywhere speaking to people and convincing them to help me seems important. But as you see, there's some conection between the character and the vistani, maybe I'll embrace these difficulties, not sure yet.

As I'm not sure about which domain he'll hail from. At first Darkon seemed appropriate but with that negative wave and all travel will be much more dangerous than, say, Dementlieu.
Here's the background I came up for him (Pyotr Engelskirchen):

Pyotr will indeed be middle aged, and married to Ana. Together they had a little girl named Isabella. An important event happened when Isabela was only 1 year old. She was crawling freely near the road by Pyotr's home when a rider came storming the way. When the rider noticed the child he tried to avoid her, but the horse irked at the sudden move and throwed the rider from the saddle.
Isabela was safe and the rider, a neighbour, had only minor injuries. Nonetheless he got angry and started calling names. Pyotr could not stand that and said "One more word against Isabela from your filthy mouth and may your tongue rot and fall, may lepra leave you in half!" The Dark Powers heard him. A curse was laid. The rider, on his turn, spouted "Do your worst, you miserable rat, anything you do to me that little bastard shall suffer the consequences!" Again the Dark Powers heard, both curses taking effect immediately. The rider quickly developed lepra and in a couple months his tongue fell, he was also very ill and his life in danger. Isabela developed a horrible scar on her forehead, forever marring the young girl's beauty, and provoking wracking pain on full moons.
Fearing repercussions from the town's folk against his family, Pyotr took them to a bigger town, Karg. As the child grew the kids started mocking her. Pyotr made her use a headband to hide the scar, and used another himself to make her feel more comfortable. But every now and then it would ressurface, he had to do something. Seeing that nothing could lift this curse from her, he decided to travel, focused on gathering lore on the Dark Powers that allowed him to remove the curse from his little girl.
From place to place he'd read all he could find, talk to the wise and seek strange places, always taking notes and writing books on what he found. Every now and then he'd return to see his family, and always his mind was bent in finding the answers.
#13
rotipher
Aug 18, 2004 17:31:46 Ixnay on the "researching the Dark Powers" idea; most ordinary people in RL don't even know there ARE such things, apart from the generic "forces of darkness"/"things Man was not meant to know" that turn up in any superstitious culture's folklore. But he could certainly research curses, and how people have broken them in the past.
#14
Mortepierre
Aug 19, 2004 2:38:40
Originally posted by HvF
Barovia is among the most backwards and supersticious of the core domains FYI. No reason why you couldn't come from Zeidenburg but its not the sort of place that would not welcome someone of magical talents...and that devil Strahd, Barovia's ruler, has a bad way of encouraging the "known to be learned" into *donating* their spellbooks to his library.

You know, I have been thinking about that...

Why not Immol? It's far enough from other Barovian towns. It's not linked to the Svalich Road. Its population includes Forfarians and Thaani. Plus GazI states that it's increasingly trading with Hazlan AND that the burgomaster is dedicated to enlarging his library.

Sounds to me like it would be the perfect candidate for a Barovian sorcerer/wizard (not to mention druid, psion or psychic warrior)
#15
zombiegleemax
Aug 19, 2004 8:31:54 Checking out the Dark Powers usually ends up with the person going insane, or someone else (like Azalin) coming around, beating you up, and taking the information themselves.
On the other hand going that route would seem to be in sync with your character, but being a Half-Vistani you might realize that's a dangerous, near-impossible and probably fatal path. Looking into curses in general might be a good idea for your guy,but seeing how the Dark Powers are involved, you're probably S.O.L..
On the other hand Barovia is a good place to start as a Half-Vistani, seeing how Strahd gets along with them so well.
#16
undercover
Aug 19, 2004 14:38:25 Thanks a lot, this is just getting better and better (even though I don't know half of what you guys are saying, need to read more 'bout Ravenloft...). Keep posting.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 undercover Jul 28, 2004 8:57:25	Not sure if the Character Development is the best board for this, or if it's allowed to repost, but here it comes... Help wanted! I've never played in Ravenloft before, so any help is appreciated. Let me tell a bit of this character: he's a human diviner opposed school necromancy; refuses to even memorize a direct damage spell (most evocation effects) because he believes this is a gross way to use magic, a true wizard must be more subtle and effective; I'm toying with the idea of making him of gypsy heritage, so he'd carry a gypsy deck and use it for fortunetelling, helping him decide which spell to use/memorize and so on; if the DM allows I'd like to trade the familiar for bonus feat(s), if not I'd take a hawk; loves divination and illusions; gearing towards loremaster/6 archmage/5, perhaps more of loremaster; I've heard a bit about Barovia so was thinking of Zeidenburg as his hometown; perhaps make him middle aged (38-40y, we're starting at 5th level); if the DM allows a nice power, not Innocent anymore; true neutral with one foot in tradition and another in family as high values. Thanks for any input.
#2 zombiegleemax Jul 29, 2004 7:07:08	Its funny b/c thats really close to the next character I want to play...though mine would be a wizard then multiclass to a cleric I would look at the wizardry domains...dementlieu (sp), darkon, all that kind of stuff. Wizards aren't very welcome in most of the core. I'd esp. look at dementlieu if he likes illusions.
#3 undercover Jul 29, 2004 13:28:50	Thanks for the advice. I guess I'll end up with Darkon then, because Dementlieu's culture isn't much in synch with the character's personality.
#4 zombiegleemax Jul 29, 2004 15:35:23	If he is opposed to casting evocation spells why isnt that his barred school?
#5 undercover Jul 29, 2004 17:43:32	Not all the school, only direct damagind spells. Gust of wind, wind wall, darkness, light, etc are still within his style, and they are all evocation.
#6 Mortepierre Jul 30, 2004 2:55:21	Originally posted by Undercover I'm toying with the idea of making him of gypsy heritage, so he'd carry a gypsy deck and use it for fortunetelling, helping him decide which spell to use/memorize and so on. If the DM allows I'd like to trade the familiar for bonus feat(s), if not I'd take a hawk Go for Half-Vistani (Canjar tribe) then. And if you're serious about getting a familiar, beg till your DM allows you to take the Dispassionate Dread Companion feat...
#7 undercover Jul 30, 2004 3:13:34	Originally posted by Mortepierre [...]Dispassionate Dread Companion feat... What's that???
#8 zombiegleemax Jul 30, 2004 11:28:56	That makes a bit more sense! Is it a feasible thing to do especially if you are the only mage in the group?
#9 undercover Jul 30, 2004 11:56:54	Well, I may be the only mage in the group, but surely ain't the only source of damage. Considering that, with a bit of luck, divination and illusion can greatly help discovering the perils ahead and setting the battlefield to the group's advantage, I believe that to be more powerful than a couple fireballs can ever be. Even if I'm wrong, I'm more on this for RP's concerns than power-wise.
#10 Mortepierre Jul 30, 2004 19:51:20	Originally posted by Undercover What's that??? If you ask, then your DM clearly hasn't told you about a few things yet .. which is a good thing for a game set in RL, mind you ;) Just forget I ever mentioned it. Oh, and good luck...
#11 zombiegleemax Jul 31, 2004 20:50:20	I agree that being a half-vistani of the canjar tasque looks like your best fit. However the vistani half of your family will never fully embrace you (even partial acceptance is far from a sure thing). On the other hand since Ravenloft is traditionally a low magic world with most populations held in a state of ignorance and or powerlessness being half-vistani is a great way to account for magical training (though it won't make you popular in many places). Borca (sort-of), Darkon, Dementlieu, Hazlan and (to a lesser extent) Mordent also have traditions of learning that include wizardry. They all have different cultures, Mordant or Borca might also fit your PC. Barovia is among the most backwards and supersticious of the core domains FYI. No reason why you couldn't come from Zeidenburg but its not the sort of place that would not welcome someone of magical talents...and that devil Strahd, Barovia's ruler, has a bad way of encouraging the "known to be learned" into donating their spellbooks to his library. You should be aware as a potential 5th level caster that some spells just don't work that well in RL as part of the setting. For example there is no mortal way for a spellcaster to discern the moral component of someones alignment (ie. you can't ever detect evil). Divinations get tweaked more often than any other school except necromancy. On the other hand since determining where a threat is coming from is often half the battle (or more) your divinations taht do work are likely to be much more usueful than in a typical FR-esque campaign. Hope you enjoy RL! -Eric Gorman PS - I wouldn't worry too much about your build into very high levels. IME most RL camapaign stop well short of becoming an archmage. PPS - I don't know what powers your DM is offereing you in echange for "innocence" but it sounds awfully like a devils bargain to me. You are warned!
#12 undercover Aug 01, 2004 5:07:17	Hey, thanks for the advice! I was concerned about the half-vistani because of a certain domain (not sure which) that hunts them down like crazy. Another factor is that charisma hit, if I want to seek knowledge everywhere speaking to people and convincing them to help me seems important. But as you see, there's some conection between the character and the vistani, maybe I'll embrace these difficulties, not sure yet. As I'm not sure about which domain he'll hail from. At first Darkon seemed appropriate but with that negative wave and all travel will be much more dangerous than, say, Dementlieu. Here's the background I came up for him (Pyotr Engelskirchen): Pyotr will indeed be middle aged, and married to Ana. Together they had a little girl named Isabella. An important event happened when Isabela was only 1 year old. She was crawling freely near the road by Pyotr's home when a rider came storming the way. When the rider noticed the child he tried to avoid her, but the horse irked at the sudden move and throwed the rider from the saddle. Isabela was safe and the rider, a neighbour, had only minor injuries. Nonetheless he got angry and started calling names. Pyotr could not stand that and said "One more word against Isabela from your filthy mouth and may your tongue rot and fall, may lepra leave you in half!" The Dark Powers heard him. A curse was laid. The rider, on his turn, spouted "Do your worst, you miserable rat, anything you do to me that little bastard shall suffer the consequences!" Again the Dark Powers heard, both curses taking effect immediately. The rider quickly developed lepra and in a couple months his tongue fell, he was also very ill and his life in danger. Isabela developed a horrible scar on her forehead, forever marring the young girl's beauty, and provoking wracking pain on full moons. Fearing repercussions from the town's folk against his family, Pyotr took them to a bigger town, Karg. As the child grew the kids started mocking her. Pyotr made her use a headband to hide the scar, and used another himself to make her feel more comfortable. But every now and then it would ressurface, he had to do something. Seeing that nothing could lift this curse from her, he decided to travel, focused on gathering lore on the Dark Powers that allowed him to remove the curse from his little girl. From place to place he'd read all he could find, talk to the wise and seek strange places, always taking notes and writing books on what he found. Every now and then he'd return to see his family, and always his mind was bent in finding the answers.
#13 rotipher Aug 18, 2004 17:31:46	Ixnay on the "researching the Dark Powers" idea; most ordinary people in RL don't even know there ARE such things, apart from the generic "forces of darkness"/"things Man was not meant to know" that turn up in any superstitious culture's folklore. But he could certainly research curses, and how people have broken them in the past.
#14 Mortepierre Aug 19, 2004 2:38:40	Originally posted by HvF Barovia is among the most backwards and supersticious of the core domains FYI. No reason why you couldn't come from Zeidenburg but its not the sort of place that would not welcome someone of magical talents...and that devil Strahd, Barovia's ruler, has a bad way of encouraging the "known to be learned" into donating their spellbooks to his library. You know, I have been thinking about that... Why not Immol? It's far enough from other Barovian towns. It's not linked to the Svalich Road. Its population includes Forfarians and Thaani. Plus GazI states that it's increasingly trading with Hazlan AND that the burgomaster is dedicated to enlarging his library. Sounds to me like it would be the perfect candidate for a Barovian sorcerer/wizard (not to mention druid, psion or psychic warrior)
#15 zombiegleemax Aug 19, 2004 8:31:54	Checking out the Dark Powers usually ends up with the person going insane, or someone else (like Azalin) coming around, beating you up, and taking the information themselves. On the other hand going that route would seem to be in sync with your character, but being a Half-Vistani you might realize that's a dangerous, near-impossible and probably fatal path. Looking into curses in general might be a good idea for your guy,but seeing how the Dark Powers are involved, you're probably S.O.L.. On the other hand Barovia is a good place to start as a Half-Vistani, seeing how Strahd gets along with them so well.
#16 undercover Aug 19, 2004 14:38:25	Thanks a lot, this is just getting better and better (even though I don't know half of what you guys are saying, need to read more 'bout Ravenloft...). Keep posting.