Hi, all. Long time D&D player here, but fairly new to 5E. I've been invited to a group consisting of: Dwarf Fighter (BM), Human Monk (DM), Elf Rogue (Assassin), and Half-elf Bard (Glamour). The bard is specced for Healing, and the Rogue isn't terribly good at his job. The group isn't super optimized.
I'm going to make a Wizard. But I want him to be a stealthy, operative type wizard. I know Arcane Trickster exists, but I want access to the entire Wizard spell list. I've got a vision of a guy who is hard-bitten and grizzled, or at least thinks he is, and is a bit dramatic when others don't see how skilled he is. Think Castor Morvir if you've read Best Served Cold. In essence, he's being sent with the party to get him out of his boss' hair, but has been told no one else can handle the mission. In my head, he's a gnome...but I'm not married to that.
Now, how do I go about making a stealthy operative Wizard without killing my Wizard progression? I'd like Investigation and Stealth as skills. For magic school, I'm leaning toward Abjuration or Illusion. For the Wizard side, I'll be focusing mostly on control and utility with a damage spell from each level to augment my cantrips. Do I take my first level as Rogue for the skills, or stay a full Wizard and try to get skills from races and backgrounds? I have access to pretty much all published races.
Alternate option is a cleric dip to augment the Bard's healing and get access to Guidance and Bless.
Speak to your DM about customising one of the Backgrounds to include the skills you need (City Watch/Urban Bounty Hunter each have one of the two skills) or create a new custom one (Paranoid Andy) that fits what you need.
Great suggestions in the thread already (get Stealth from background, Illusionist will probably help most). Might consider the Skilled feat if you're interested being proficient with more skills. Wizards don't need Feats as much as other classes, so you can probably spare one ASI to get proficiency in an extra 3 skills. On the other hand, maybe you need all your ASIs, since you'd be focusing on both Intelligence (for Wizard spellcasting) and Dexterity (for Stealth and other skills), and maybe even Charisma (for "social" skills). But if you can spare it, it might help your character concept.
Hi, all. Long time D&D player here, but fairly new to 5E. I've been invited to a group consisting of: Dwarf Fighter (BM), Human Monk (DM), Elf Rogue (Assassin), and Half-elf Bard (Glamour). The bard is specced for Healing, and the Rogue isn't terribly good at his job. The group isn't super optimized.
I'm going to make a Wizard. But I want him to be a stealthy, operative type wizard. I know Arcane Trickster exists, but I want access to the entire Wizard spell list. I've got a vision of a guy who is hard-bitten and grizzled, or at least thinks he is, and is a bit dramatic when others don't see how skilled he is. Think Castor Morvir if you've read Best Served Cold. In essence, he's being sent with the party to get him out of his boss' hair, but has been told no one else can handle the mission. In my head, he's a gnome...but I'm not married to that.
Now, how do I go about making a stealthy operative Wizard without killing my Wizard progression? I'd like Investigation and Stealth as skills. For magic school, I'm leaning toward Abjuration or Illusion. For the Wizard side, I'll be focusing mostly on control and utility with a damage spell from each level to augment my cantrips. Do I take my first level as Rogue for the skills, or stay a full Wizard and try to get skills from races and backgrounds? I have access to pretty much all published races.
Alternate option is a cleric dip to augment the Bard's healing and get access to Guidance and Bless.
Stay a wizard, you can use spells to augment being stealthy.
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Illusion spells can be great for setting up ambushes or covering a retreat.
Invisibility remains pretty good.
Spider Climb, Levitate, Fly, Misty Step are all great choices for getting into and out of places.
Knock & Arcane Lock allow some interesting security options.
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Speak to your DM about customising one of the Backgrounds to include the skills you need (City Watch/Urban Bounty Hunter each have one of the two skills) or create a new custom one (Paranoid Andy) that fits what you need.
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My Wizard got her Stealth from being an Urchin but like woodja said you can get it from any customised background.
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Great suggestions in the thread already (get Stealth from background, Illusionist will probably help most). Might consider the Skilled feat if you're interested being proficient with more skills. Wizards don't need Feats as much as other classes, so you can probably spare one ASI to get proficiency in an extra 3 skills. On the other hand, maybe you need all your ASIs, since you'd be focusing on both Intelligence (for Wizard spellcasting) and Dexterity (for Stealth and other skills), and maybe even Charisma (for "social" skills). But if you can spare it, it might help your character concept.
Tabaxi or Half Elf for Stealth and Perception add Investigator background