Harry is very consistent about saying that he's primarily a blaster as a mage. He can handle other forms of magic, but not nearly as well.
Wizard is a given but I would be looking to a different subclass from Evocation. He definitely uses evocation a lot - he fights a lot - but he is best at Thaumaturgy and has a affinity for earth magic. The Thaumaturgy is mentioned several times in the books - mostly the earlier ones but is also referenced IIRC when he makes Little Chicago. The earth magic affinity is referenced in, I want to say, Bloodrites. I can see the scene in my minds eye, but don't want to spoil anything for anyone. I think there is also some reference to it in Grave Peril.
I feel like he says a lot that he can only do blasting because of raw power. Certainly when referring to Anastasia Luccio in dead beat he says that she is head and shoulders above his casting ability with Evocation and he can only hold his own with raw power, not technical ability.
Doesn't really fit in D&D 5e terms. Might be interesting to look at Abjurer or War Wizard as another defining feature is his shield being very good.
Don't need to reskin lightning bolt - doesn't Aganazzar’s Scorcher fit "fuego" to a tee?
His shield is another case of "raw power over finesse", as other wizards we see prefer to disperse or slow down attacks instead of straight up absorbing them, and Harry is often conscious about how Ramirez defends himself from the same attacks while using barely 1/10 of the power Harry's own shields take.
Harry is very consistent about saying that he's primarily a blaster as a mage. He can handle other forms of magic, but not nearly as well.
Wizard is a given but I would be looking to a different subclass from Evocation. He definitely uses evocation a lot - he fights a lot - but he is best at Thaumaturgy and has a affinity for earth magic. The Thaumaturgy is mentioned several times in the books - mostly the earlier ones but is also referenced IIRC when he makes Little Chicago. The earth magic affinity is referenced in, I want to say, Bloodrites. I can see the scene in my minds eye, but don't want to spoil anything for anyone. I think there is also some reference to it in Grave Peril.
I feel like he says a lot that he can only do blasting because of raw power. Certainly when referring to Anastasia Luccio in dead beat he says that she is head and shoulders above his casting ability with Evocation and he can only hold his own with raw power, not technical ability.
Doesn't really fit in D&D 5e terms. Might be interesting to look at Abjurer or War Wizard as another defining feature is his shield being very good.
Don't need to reskin lightning bolt - doesn't Aganazzar’s Scorcher fit "fuego" to a tee?
Harry does not have an affinity for earth magic. He can handle some, but Little Chicago was something that took him months of work and he was only able to pull it off thanks to having Bob. Fire has always been his best, easiest magic, with the only exceptions being when Mab erased the memory of how to do so from his mind and when he had PTSD after his hand was crippled due to a flamethrower attack. Harry is very versatile when it comes to using magic- he's had to be given the situations he finds himself in, but he's main skills have always been fire and kinetic energy, which would be Force in D&D terms.
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Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
I distinctly remember the phrase "Earth magic is my forte". Unfortunately at some stage I forgot the word "not" which significantly changes the meaning of the sentence. Apologies.
Little Chicago was an example of thaumaturgy. I feel like, outside of combat, he leans heavily on ritual castings and thaumaturgy. Can't find any specifics to back that up though.
The way magic is portrayed in the Dresdenverse, most mortal spellcasters seem to rely heavily on ritual castings and thaumaturgy when they're not in combat..
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
Im really thinking of making Harry a war magic wizard and artificer artillerist. Thought? should I go half and half or let one of the 2 classes take the lead? if the latter, which one really should lead?
It is all but impossible to apply different magic systems across settings. Ie/ Dresdenverse magic =/= Belgariad =/= Vancean =/= D&D 5e magic. Trying to shoehorn one into the other is going to lead to disappointment. Do you know that there is a Dresden RPG system out there? Might be fun to play a few games in that with your friends.
So no, war wizard/artillerist doesn't scream Dresden to me, but it does seem like a really cool character. I think you should play a cool character you like (and evolve) not someone elses protagonist. Don't stress so hard about recreating something and just have fun.
Artificer Artillerist actually makes a lot of sense. He makes little magical trinkets for himself and has firearm proficiency. However, needing 5 levels of it for the extra d8 damage does not. Especially when we need to M/C Warlock for either the Fiend, Fey, Celestial or Great Old One (his island) bonuses.
My Solution: DMG pg 287-288. *Modifying a Class*, *Substituting Class Options* and *Creating New Class Options*.
I propose a new Wizard Subclass, that is a combination of the Evocation School, War Magic School and the Artillerist. I give you, the CHICAGO WIZARD
Level 2: Arcane Deflection.
At 2nd level, you have learned to weave your magic to fortify yourself against harm. When you are hit by an attack or you fail a saving throw, you can use your reaction to gain a +2 bonus to your AC against that attack or a +4 bonus to that saving throw.
When you use this feature, you can’t cast spells other than cantrips until the end of your next turn.
Level 2: The Windy City.
Chicago is a tough city full of tough people, you need to be able to hold your own. You gain proficiency in firearms and the Intimidation skill.
Level 6: The Chicago Typewriter
At 6th level, You know how to turn a wand, staff, or rod into an arcane firearm, a conduit for your destructive spells. When you finish a long rest, you can use woodcarver's tools to carve special sigils into a wand, staff, or rod and thereby turn it into your arcane firearm. The sigils disappear from the object if you later carve them on a different item. The sigils otherwise last indefinitely.
You can use your arcane firearm as a spellcasting focus for your Wizard spells. When you cast an Evocation spell or Cantrip through the firearm, roll a d8, and you gain a bonus to one of the spell's damage rolls equal to the number rolled.
Level 10: Soul Fire Hardened Spells
Beginning at 10th level, the magic you channel helps ward off harm. While you maintain concentration on a spell, you have a +2 bonus to AC and all saving throws.
Level 14: Brimstone Empowered Spells
Starting at 14th level, you can increase the power of your simpler spells. When you cast a wizard spell of 5th level or lower that deals damage and isn't a cantrip, you can deal maximum damage with that spell.
The first time you do so, you suffer no adverse effect. If you use this feature again before you finish a long rest, you take 2d12 necrotic damage for each level of the spell, immediately after you cast it. Each time you use this feature again before finishing a long rest, the necrotic damage per spell level increases by 1d12. This damage ignores resistance and immunity.
I would argue that, although his add says he's a wizard, in DND he's a sorcerer with knack for rituals. He didn't study wizardry. His power comes from within, not from knowledge.
Hence I would suggest you him a sorcerer for a few levels and than multiclass to warlock. Hooray!
Make him a variant human with the ritual caster feat. You can even go with the find familiar spell and flavour a imp into a flying skull...
Ripleather, are you talking about the same Harry Dresden who appears in the book "Storm Front"? The first book in the series? The one that was written by Jim Butcher and first published on the first of April in the year 2000? Did you bother to read this thread at all? This is only the second page.
Harry Dresden is a Wizard. He says so. He has it printed on his business cards. It's on the door of his office. He's in the phone book, in the yellow pages, under "wizards", and he is the only one there. One of the quotes in the book covers this. He's fighting the Shadowman, Victor Sells, who is a Sorcerer, and they were discussing how Harry could fight back at all. Victor says "How did you do that?" Harry says "I went to school".
He was born with the gift, but he couldn't control it. He had to be taught how. He got formal training, and he was given no choice in the matter. He could have become a Sorcerer had he wanted to. The difference between a Wizard and a Sorcerer in 5th Edition D&D is training. Sorcerers don't need it, Wizards do.
Harry Dresden is a Wizard.
I would argue that; his ad says he's a Wizard, in D&D he's a Wizard. He did study. His power comes from within, not from knowledge, but he couldn't use it or control it until he studied.
Not only is Harry a wizard rather than a sorcerer, but upon consideration I'd be tempted to make Dresdenverse wizards uses High Elf as their race thanks to their extremely long lifespan and tendency towards innate magic.
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Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
Evocation Wizard and artillerist artificer would work great. 2 wiz 4 artificer at 6th level then continue in either direction or both depending on if you are interested in his fighting style more or spellcasting style more.
Harry is a wizard. It even says so in his ad in the Chicago yellow pages.
HARRY DRESDEN — WIZARD Lost Items Found. Paranormal Investigations. Consulting. Advice. Reasonable Rates. No Love Potions, Endless Purses, Parties or Other Entertainment
Also given the way his strengths are described in the books, I would say evocation over divination without any doubt. Evocation is described as "magic that creates powerful elemental effects such as bitter cold, searing flame, rolling thunder, crackling lightning, and burning acid." That certainly seems to fit a caster who uses "Forzare" and "Fuego" as his go-to spells more often than not.
Of course, he is also a gammer who plays a human barbarian, carries his dice in a crown royal bag and occasionally disrupts sessions by complaining about the way magic works in the rule books.... I am less sure how you would incorporate those aspects into your PC. Maybe creative background options?
In what book is the crown royal bag referenced? In Fool Moon, he plays D&D with the Alphas, but I can't find where the crown royal bag is mentioned. I'm working on a one shot of Dresden and was going to gift my bf dice in a crown royal bag, but I'd like to know the book this is in first. Thanks!!!
Harry is a wizard. It even says so in his ad in the Chicago yellow pages.
HARRY DRESDEN — WIZARD Lost Items Found. Paranormal Investigations. Consulting. Advice. Reasonable Rates. No Love Potions, Endless Purses, Parties or Other Entertainment
Also given the way his strengths are described in the books, I would say evocation over divination without any doubt. Evocation is described as "magic that creates powerful elemental effects such as bitter cold, searing flame, rolling thunder, crackling lightning, and burning acid." That certainly seems to fit a caster who uses "Forzare" and "Fuego" as his go-to spells more often than not.
Of course, he is also a gammer who plays a human barbarian, carries his dice in a crown royal bag and occasionally disrupts sessions by complaining about the way magic works in the rule books.... I am less sure how you would incorporate those aspects into your PC. Maybe creative background options?
In what book is the crown royal bag referenced? In Fool Moon, he plays D&D with the Alphas, but I can't find where the crown royal bag is mentioned. I'm working on a one shot of Dresden and was going to gift my bf dice in a crown royal bag, but I'd like to know the book this is in first. Thanks!!!
Small Favor, I believe. He puts one of the Blackened Denarii in it after he and Thomas have their encounter with Lartessa.
It makes sense that Dresden would be a Wizard/Warlock multi-class. His physical toughness is represented by the higher HD of Warlocks and, if you get to 2nd level, the Fiendish Vigor Invocation. False life at will!
It makes sense that Dresden would be a Wizard/Warlock multi-class. His physical toughness is represented by the higher HD of Warlocks and, if you get to 2nd level, the Fiendish Vigor Invocation. False life at will!
And he even learns a pain blocking technique from a... questionable source a few books in.
Yes, his ability to perform magic comes from his bloodline, but he had to learn how to do magic, and his magic style (thaumaturgy) is precisely the wizard's Ritual Magic class feature. His power comes from his boodline, but his magical style makes him a wizard.
As for his metamagic, I'd go with matamagic adept with empowered and transmuted (Ice).
I'd say a wizard (evocation)/bard (lore) multiclass is closer to what we read in the books
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Wizard is a given but I would be looking to a different subclass from Evocation. He definitely uses evocation a lot - he fights a lot - but he is best at Thaumaturgy and has a affinity for earth magic. The Thaumaturgy is mentioned several times in the books - mostly the earlier ones but is also referenced IIRC when he makes Little Chicago. The earth magic affinity is referenced in, I want to say, Bloodrites. I can see the scene in my minds eye, but don't want to spoil anything for anyone. I think there is also some reference to it in Grave Peril.
I feel like he says a lot that he can only do blasting because of raw power. Certainly when referring to Anastasia Luccio in dead beat he says that she is head and shoulders above his casting ability with Evocation and he can only hold his own with raw power, not technical ability.
Doesn't really fit in D&D 5e terms. Might be interesting to look at Abjurer or War Wizard as another defining feature is his shield being very good.
Don't need to reskin lightning bolt - doesn't Aganazzar’s Scorcher fit "fuego" to a tee?
His shield is another case of "raw power over finesse", as other wizards we see prefer to disperse or slow down attacks instead of straight up absorbing them, and Harry is often conscious about how Ramirez defends himself from the same attacks while using barely 1/10 of the power Harry's own shields take.
Harry does not have an affinity for earth magic. He can handle some, but Little Chicago was something that took him months of work and he was only able to pull it off thanks to having Bob. Fire has always been his best, easiest magic, with the only exceptions being when Mab erased the memory of how to do so from his mind and when he had PTSD after his hand was crippled due to a flamethrower attack. Harry is very versatile when it comes to using magic- he's had to be given the situations he finds himself in, but he's main skills have always been fire and kinetic energy, which would be Force in D&D terms.
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
I distinctly remember the phrase "Earth magic is my forte". Unfortunately at some stage I forgot the word "not" which significantly changes the meaning of the sentence. Apologies.
Little Chicago was an example of thaumaturgy. I feel like, outside of combat, he leans heavily on ritual castings and thaumaturgy. Can't find any specifics to back that up though.
The way magic is portrayed in the Dresdenverse, most mortal spellcasters seem to rely heavily on ritual castings and thaumaturgy when they're not in combat..
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
Im really thinking of making Harry a war magic wizard and artificer artillerist. Thought? should I go half and half or let one of the 2 classes take the lead? if the latter, which one really should lead?
It is all but impossible to apply different magic systems across settings. Ie/ Dresdenverse magic =/= Belgariad =/= Vancean =/= D&D 5e magic. Trying to shoehorn one into the other is going to lead to disappointment. Do you know that there is a Dresden RPG system out there? Might be fun to play a few games in that with your friends.
So no, war wizard/artillerist doesn't scream Dresden to me, but it does seem like a really cool character. I think you should play a cool character you like (and evolve) not someone elses protagonist. Don't stress so hard about recreating something and just have fun.
Just my 2cp
**Appologies for thread necromancy**
Artificer Artillerist actually makes a lot of sense. He makes little magical trinkets for himself and has firearm proficiency. However, needing 5 levels of it for the extra d8 damage does not. Especially when we need to M/C Warlock for either the Fiend, Fey, Celestial or Great Old One (his island) bonuses.
My Solution: DMG pg 287-288. *Modifying a Class*, *Substituting Class Options* and *Creating New Class Options*.
I propose a new Wizard Subclass, that is a combination of the Evocation School, War Magic School and the Artillerist. I give you, the CHICAGO WIZARD
Level 2: Arcane Deflection.
At 2nd level, you have learned to weave your magic to fortify yourself against harm. When you are hit by an attack or you fail a saving throw, you can use your reaction to gain a +2 bonus to your AC against that attack or a +4 bonus to that saving throw.
When you use this feature, you can’t cast spells other than cantrips until the end of your next turn.
Level 2: The Windy City.
Chicago is a tough city full of tough people, you need to be able to hold your own. You gain proficiency in firearms and the Intimidation skill.
Level 6: The Chicago Typewriter
At 6th level, You know how to turn a wand, staff, or rod into an arcane firearm, a conduit for your destructive spells. When you finish a long rest, you can use woodcarver's tools to carve special sigils into a wand, staff, or rod and thereby turn it into your arcane firearm. The sigils disappear from the object if you later carve them on a different item. The sigils otherwise last indefinitely.
You can use your arcane firearm as a spellcasting focus for your Wizard spells. When you cast an Evocation spell or Cantrip through the firearm, roll a d8, and you gain a bonus to one of the spell's damage rolls equal to the number rolled.
Level 10: Soul Fire Hardened Spells
Beginning at 10th level, the magic you channel helps ward off harm. While you maintain concentration on a spell, you have a +2 bonus to AC and all saving throws.
Level 14: Brimstone Empowered Spells
Starting at 14th level, you can increase the power of your simpler spells. When you cast a wizard spell of 5th level or lower that deals damage and isn't a cantrip, you can deal maximum damage with that spell.
The first time you do so, you suffer no adverse effect. If you use this feature again before you finish a long rest, you take 2d12 necrotic damage for each level of the spell, immediately after you cast it. Each time you use this feature again before finishing a long rest, the necrotic damage per spell level increases by 1d12. This damage ignores resistance and immunity.
I hope you all find this appropriate! I'll be posting this to Reddit also.
I would argue that, although his add says he's a wizard, in DND he's a sorcerer with knack for rituals. He didn't study wizardry. His power comes from within, not from knowledge.
Hence I would suggest you him a sorcerer for a few levels and than multiclass to warlock. Hooray!
Make him a variant human with the ritual caster feat. You can even go with the find familiar spell and flavour a imp into a flying skull...
Necromancy is a horrible thing.
Ripleather, are you talking about the same Harry Dresden who appears in the book "Storm Front"? The first book in the series? The one that was written by Jim Butcher and first published on the first of April in the year 2000? Did you bother to read this thread at all? This is only the second page.
Harry Dresden is a Wizard. He says so. He has it printed on his business cards. It's on the door of his office. He's in the phone book, in the yellow pages, under "wizards", and he is the only one there. One of the quotes in the book covers this. He's fighting the Shadowman, Victor Sells, who is a Sorcerer, and they were discussing how Harry could fight back at all. Victor says "How did you do that?" Harry says "I went to school".
He was born with the gift, but he couldn't control it. He had to be taught how. He got formal training, and he was given no choice in the matter. He could have become a Sorcerer had he wanted to. The difference between a Wizard and a Sorcerer in 5th Edition D&D is training. Sorcerers don't need it, Wizards do.
Harry Dresden is a Wizard.
I would argue that; his ad says he's a Wizard, in D&D he's a Wizard. He did study. His power comes from within, not from knowledge, but he couldn't use it or control it until he studied.
Wizard.
<Insert clever signature here>
Not only is Harry a wizard rather than a sorcerer, but upon consideration I'd be tempted to make Dresdenverse wizards uses High Elf as their race thanks to their extremely long lifespan and tendency towards innate magic.
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
Evocation Wizard and artillerist artificer would work great. 2 wiz 4 artificer at 6th level then continue in either direction or both depending on if you are interested in his fighting style more or spellcasting style more.
"Yer a Wizard, Harry."
Sorry had to do it. couldn't help myself.
G
Perhaps a feat like fey touched would be in order. OR eldritch adept for an invocation.
As for the strength, enhance ability would give you advantage on that Str check.
Or levitate to simulate the lift.
I'd go with wizard. Maybe war wizard or evoker. You could add a level or two of fey pact warlock.
Food, Scifi/fantasy, anime, DND 5E and OSR geek.
In what book is the crown royal bag referenced? In Fool Moon, he plays D&D with the Alphas, but I can't find where the crown royal bag is mentioned. I'm working on a one shot of Dresden and was going to gift my bf dice in a crown royal bag, but I'd like to know the book this is in first. Thanks!!!
Small Favor, I believe. He puts one of the Blackened Denarii in it after he and Thomas have their encounter with Lartessa.
It makes sense that Dresden would be a Wizard/Warlock multi-class. His physical toughness is represented by the higher HD of Warlocks and, if you get to 2nd level, the Fiendish Vigor Invocation. False life at will!
And he even learns a pain blocking technique from a... questionable source a few books in.
Yes, his ability to perform magic comes from his bloodline, but he had to learn how to do magic, and his magic style (thaumaturgy) is precisely the wizard's Ritual Magic class feature. His power comes from his boodline, but his magical style makes him a wizard.
As for his metamagic, I'd go with matamagic adept with empowered and transmuted (Ice).
I'd say a wizard (evocation)/bard (lore) multiclass is closer to what we read in the books