I kind of need a character to talk about first. That's starting to gel a bit, but....I'm still a ways away.

Wizards are kinda boring.

They don't have to be boring. Of course, you also don't have to play a wizard.

Nah, I do want to play a wizard. I didn't mean that they are boring, only that I feel it's a little tougher to come up with an interesting story for them. I've exhausted most of the other classes to play. The paladin is still an attractive option, but I just don't think he's what the party needs right now.

I agree with that. Eventually they have to sit down and study, which can be dull. I can try to think of some concepts you can turn into ideas if you want.

Nah, I should be able to come up with something. I may stick with that summoner idea, or just go with something else completely.

I just meant single sentence random thoughts, not coming up with your character for you. For example...

-Sent to other plane via errant prismatic spray and became friends with the local demons/angels/herbivores.

-Wants to figure out how to summon something, kill it, cook it,and eat it before it disappears.

Lolz, nice. All excellent ideas.

I am glad Zemmy's writing talents were put to work for my character. It just isn't my cup of tea.

I'm just proud you could read all those words.

-Abducted by a wizard for experiments.

-Accidentally mined under a wizard's tower.

-Thoroughly addicted to smoking dried dragon scales.

-Wants to be taller.

-It turns out the free beer from the stranger was seriously bad stuff.

-Tried to impress a girl with his awesome brain power, which ended as it always does when a guy thinks this will work. Sigh.

-Lost a bet.

-Wants to fly.

When I get home, I'll put up the "about the world" stuff, at least a little.

Wizards in Arcata could be from Zem tower, or they could be independent. You could be a wizard from Dulal or Kele, and be nationalistic and opposed to the expansionist Zemniam empire.

This campaign takes place about 15 years past the last one- in the time since then, there was a war as humans and their monstrous thralls attempted to invade from the dark regions. This was repelled by a united force of Pallians (Zeugeira and Kuromera) and Arcatans (Zemnian Empire, Dulal, Kelestris) on that continent... but there were also rumors of a force that attempted to invade Queris along its land bridge as well. How did THOSE guys get repelled? And what are the aloof Voriphans up to?

Wizards in Pallia can be Wu-Jen (reclusive, eccentric), or classically trained Wizards, who are normally respected and answer to a lord, who funds and protects them. As a native Pallian, you could be friends or brothers with the as yet unnamed assassin-ish fellow who likely begins his life belonging to a Kuromeran ninja clan.

In Queris, everything is there, and not much is common. The smallish regions which are civilized are packed and busy and diverse, and there is barely any law for the common man to have- a wizard from there would be very secretive, lest he be eaten for his power.

Voriph is a complex and old civilization that only controls a few outposts and some very large islands. Some of their cities are floating, however, so this isn't the biggest of disadvantages. A Voriphan often takes up adventuring for status, but simply one of a heroic and hearty mindset, who wants to improve the world, would be socially disadvantaged there- he would have a long path to prove himself.


Caligo is a created world, and there's mysteries to it. You could go down that path- as a wizard, you'll want to part curtains for sure.

Personality wise, wizards are best played as anything but a bunch of spells. If what you are doing would make sense to a middle manager, you need to do it a little bit differently. There are all kind of good concepts- crazy wizards, wizards with massive aspirations for the future (conquer the world, improve it, rewrite reality, topple the gods), wizards with a totally BIZARRE focus who are blind to what their power actually could do (once you have all that power, you're going to end up happy right? Who's gonna judge you that you spend your days as a dolphin?). Wizards make great kindly guides, great arrogant assholes, and can sometimes pull this off at the same time, something most archetypes have a problem with. Wizards who believe magic should change things, or should not be misused, etc.

All wizards spent a lot of time studying. They had a reason for it- they wanted money, power, sex, or something impossible via mundane paths. They seek to right a wrong and this was their best method because they just aren't strong or dextrous, OR they believe that all other paths are useless distractions from magic.

What does your wizard think of sorcerers, who grow into their power and fuel it emotionally? What about psions, who study, but not books, and contemplatively can also manipulate arcane energy? How about clerics and other priests, who are granted their powers? These relationships and opinions give your character a "political stance".


Anyway, lemme know if I can help. I'll try to provide more information on the game world.

We need a map.

Agreed, that would help a great deal.

I downloaded CC3 last night. I'll also try to scan in what I have hand drawn, but a CC3 version will be mooch nicer!

I will just go ahead and tell you that you want to spent the half hour or so watching the tutorials. It's so much better once you do that.