This is something I’ve struggled with. A lot of people think of Merlin or Gandalf when they think of a wizard. But they had to start somewhere right? How do you all rp a wizard just starting out? Mine was just a major reader and lover of manipulation of the physical world that led to some self taught spells. Which led to a couple of semesters at a magic college before joining an adventuring party as part of their “field studies” or “clinical hours” that have to be completed before they can move on to learning more spells. I need a bit of help with this concept if anyone has any ideas.
Read A Wizard of Earthsea and Storm Front. Ursula Leguin's stated intention was to show how a Gandalf-type character became wise (hint--he makes a lot of mistakes along the way, owns up to them, and makes amends), and Jim Butcher did a great job of presenting a journeyman-type character who is a wizard (at least in the early installments...).
At level 1 you're going to be doing something interesting maybe 3/day.
If you're going for straight damage, take Fire Bolt as your main attack cantrip, and take Magic Missile. You can take Catapult and Chromatic Orb (if you can afford the diamond) if you wanna rely on getting lucky in order to deal ~3 extra damage over Magic Missile[redacted]
Any level 1 character has not yet come into his/her own as either a character or as a set of numbers and stats. Don't be afraid to RP boldly, take roleplaying risks for the sake of storytelling. As characters age/gain levels, they will settle into the role you've been building for several levels.
I like to play characters outside of the expected norm. I once had a bard (2nd Edition) that hit an ally with a Magic Missile for pissing her off. Her alignment even after was termed 'chaotic unstable'. This opened up a broad latitude for erratic behaviour ever after. She was great fun.
Building your wizard's history should be more focused on storytelling, and wizards are already a bit idiosyncratic. This gives you plenty of open territory for the unleashing your imagination into the character.
I have just started as a level 1 wizard and they have started life as a scribe in a local scroll shop. When the local delivery agent does not turn up to take the scrolls to the city, the shop owner turns to my character to deliver them. This is the start of my adventuring life. I have no idea what my DM has in store for me.....
I always like playing a mentally aloof character like doc brown from back to the future. Someone who knows so much about reality they are bored by it and they slip into theory easily. They spend lots of time mumbling to themselves parsing over some great problem they can't put into plain terms. Maybe someone will mention breakfast and that will be the spark they needed that connects their theory to the universe because they thought of bacon grease spitting in a pan.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
This is something I’ve struggled with. A lot of people think of Merlin or Gandalf when they think of a wizard. But they had to start somewhere right? How do you all rp a wizard just starting out? Mine was just a major reader and lover of manipulation of the physical world that led to some self taught spells. Which led to a couple of semesters at a magic college before joining an adventuring party as part of their “field studies” or “clinical hours” that have to be completed before they can move on to learning more spells. I need a bit of help with this concept if anyone has any ideas.
Read A Wizard of Earthsea and Storm Front. Ursula Leguin's stated intention was to show how a Gandalf-type character became wise (hint--he makes a lot of mistakes along the way, owns up to them, and makes amends), and Jim Butcher did a great job of presenting a journeyman-type character who is a wizard (at least in the early installments...).
If your character is good aligned the Myth series might be good - yes it’s comedy but the “great and powerful” Skeeve knows a whopping 2 spells.
Wisea$$ DM and Player since 1979.
At level 1 you're going to be doing something interesting maybe 3/day.
If you're going for straight damage, take Fire Bolt as your main attack cantrip, and take Magic Missile. You can take Catapult and Chromatic Orb (if you can afford the diamond) if you wanna rely on getting lucky in order to deal ~3 extra damage over Magic Missile [redacted]
At level one, a wizard is a smarter then average academic, working in magic and researching magic, learning in the field.
Any level 1 character has not yet come into his/her own as either a character or as a set of numbers and stats. Don't be afraid to RP boldly, take roleplaying risks for the sake of storytelling. As characters age/gain levels, they will settle into the role you've been building for several levels.
I like to play characters outside of the expected norm. I once had a bard (2nd Edition) that hit an ally with a Magic Missile for pissing her off. Her alignment even after was termed 'chaotic unstable'. This opened up a broad latitude for erratic behaviour ever after. She was great fun.
Building your wizard's history should be more focused on storytelling, and wizards are already a bit idiosyncratic. This gives you plenty of open territory for the unleashing your imagination into the character.
I have just started as a level 1 wizard and they have started life as a scribe in a local scroll shop. When the local delivery agent does not turn up to take the scrolls to the city, the shop owner turns to my character to deliver them. This is the start of my adventuring life. I have no idea what my DM has in store for me.....
I always like playing a mentally aloof character like doc brown from back to the future. Someone who knows so much about reality they are bored by it and they slip into theory easily. They spend lots of time mumbling to themselves parsing over some great problem they can't put into plain terms. Maybe someone will mention breakfast and that will be the spark they needed that connects their theory to the universe because they thought of bacon grease spitting in a pan.