Baldur's Gate : The Sword Coast Chronicles : NWN2 Persistent World

I plan to create somewhat exotic and unique character later tonight. My idea is to create a wizard who worships a being and serves as a priest in its name but instead of divine magic is taught how to use arcane magic by said being. Kind of like a warlock but not quite as limited and also more of a minion then just someone out for themselves like most warlocks are. I got this idea from one of my favorite video game villains who was exactly what is written above. The entity will prob not be a god so much as a powerful fiend or lovecraftian being. It will not be giving him spells like a cleric rather it will have instructed him on how to use magic as a wizard. I enjoy playing odd characters and this would certainly qualify. I can hardly wait.

Warlocks are minions, many of them just don't know it or choose to accept it.

You could make a "cleric" of mystra that just draws from the weave as a granted power. Archmage would fit perfectly because they get alot of innate spell like abilities. Or maybe a bloodmage/archmage that worships some devil if you're going for the minion thing.

Will prob go wizard with necro spec. Not sure about any prc's just yet but blood mage would be suitably evil. Most warlocks don't worship their patrons or serve as priests for it... not to say such warlocks don't exist but they are rare. Ill likely focus on evil summoning and insta-kills with uber high spell dc's.

Your character can worships gods or some fiends but you cannot make up things to serve (that would make your character faithless). What you are describing is more of a warlock to me, service in exchange for power.

No god would grant a follower spells unless they were a priest. It is not how magic in this setting works. A wizard may be a devout follower of a deity but that deity will not grant him/her any spells.


I would kindly ask you to respect the setting and find a concept which can work on the server. The idea as fun as it may sound, may need some adjustment to work here!

I would be happy to review a biography if you wish to pursue this concept and find a compromise of some kind.

Technically speaking you can worship things like Devils and Demons, but they are not Gods.
Warlocks tend to fill that role though, as most of them either made the pacts themselves or had some distant ancestor with the pact.

If you dont want to worship one of the main gods you'll be faithless regardless of who you worship, even though you have your faith in said creature. Again, Warlocks are given their powers from whatever extraplanar being that they worship, and that fits what you want to try and play.

Otherwise, go Wizard and just say you gain your spells when you level up by a Mysterious benefactor, who so happens to be some random extraplanar being. Like a Fey who is bored and just became your Godmother.

Np I have given up on the idea anyway. Tried it out and it just could not perform. After extensive testing I have found that to survive solo on this server you need a class that can fight and wear heavy armor... so I am going back to a cleric. Pure casters on this server are simply too vulnerable and die too easily. Thanks all for your comments and advice .

V'rass wrote:Np I have given up on the idea anyway. Tried it out and it just could not perform. After extensive testing I have found that to survive solo on this server you need a class that can fight and wear heavy armor... so I am going back to a cleric. Pure casters on this server are simply too vulnerable and die too easily. Thanks all for your comments and advice .

Speaking as a player of two pretty pure caster wizards, I have to disagree. You just need to learn how the server works and what sort of tactics you need to use. And what sort of buffs you need to put on yourself - and your summon!

Deathgrowl wrote:

V'rass wrote:Np I have given up on the idea anyway. Tried it out and it just could not perform. After extensive testing I have found that to survive solo on this server you need a class that can fight and wear heavy armor... so I am going back to a cleric. Pure casters on this server are simply too vulnerable and die too easily. Thanks all for your comments and advice .

Speaking as a player of two pretty pure caster wizards, I have to disagree. You just need to learn how the server works and what sort of tactics you need to use. And what sort of buffs you need to put on yourself - and your summon!

Aye, wizards are powerful once you learn the things' weakenesses and learn to exploit it, and also what you need and not need against them.

ICly, you can do that by hiring meatshields as you experiment.
OOC, it's simple experience.

Pherhaps but still... with a fully armored cleric I can solo the graveyard area at lv 1 and not die too often. With a fully buffed mage at lv 5 I still cannot solo the graveyard even though I am 4 lvs above the area's cr... I die every time. Wizards may indeed be more powerful at later lvs but I want a character who can survive at any lv and particularly in the lower lvs where survival is already difficult. Besides... I like being able to both fight and use magic.

V'rass wrote:Pherhaps but still... with a fully armored cleric I can solo the graveyard area at lv 1 and not die too often. With a fully buffed mage at lv 5 I still cannot solo the graveyard even though I am 4 lvs above the area's cr... I die every time. Wizards may indeed be more powerful at later lvs but I want a character who can survive at any lv and particularly in the lower lvs where survival is already difficult. Besides... I like being able to both fight and use magic.

You can try gishes! Basically, Arcane warriors. Very powerful, starting level 8.

For early levels, buy consumables! A wizard can use level 9 scrolls at level 9.

V'rass wrote:I plan to create somewhat exotic and unique character later tonight. My idea is to create a wizard who worships a being and serves as a priest in its name but instead of divine magic is taught how to use arcane magic by said being. Kind of like a warlock but not quite as limited and also more of a minion then just someone out for themselves like most warlocks are. I got this idea from one of my favorite video game villains who was exactly what is written above. The entity will prob not be a god so much as a powerful fiend or lovecraftian being. It will not be giving him spells like a cleric rather it will have instructed him on how to use magic as a wizard. I enjoy playing odd characters and this would certainly qualify. I can hardly wait.

This is my opinion,

I see no problem with doing this, but you have to keep in mind that this being you worship shouldn't be.. one of the lord's of the nine.. That would be over stepping.. Similar to saying you were taught by Elminster, but perhaps even worse. Understand that if you are coming to BG as a high level, this would require -years-, perhaps decades of study. Understand that being in contact with such beings would clearly corrupt your character over time. Understand that your character's age should reflect the years you studied with said creature. Understand that said creature did not teach you said power so that you could squash goblins and xvarts. Clearly it would have a goal for you to achieve in it's name, and even when you fulfilled it, you wouldn't be done and free. The creature would always want more.

As I said I no longer play such a role. Ill continue using the mage and see if it gets easier but he will be just a normal run of the mill wizard... not a warlock/priest.

Alright I have revised my idea. I will build either a wizard/warlock or just wizard who is fanatically devoted to his patron and worships him as a god. This patron will not be granting him any spells except for possibly warlock abilities. I will rp the entity as not wanting to be bothered for spells and instead that it expects its followers to learn arcane magic and use that in its name. He will not be a priest so much as an evangelist who promotes the being's agenda and tries to spread its influence. The patron will prob be either a fiend or some Cthulu like being from the far realm so as to be relevant to the setting. Any thoughts?

Not sure wizard/warlock makes a very good combo. Sorcerer would at least utilize the same stat (if going for dc lock), but every level of sorcerer hurts your luck ability and every warlock level slows your sorc progression.

If you want to play a character corrupted by a demon (or whatever being you choose) warlock is exactly that. If you want a toon gifted with arcane spells that's a sorc (though it's supposed to be dragon blood in your veins, not spells from some outsider).

My understanding is warlocks can be quite powerful Built for melee, blaster or dc so I think maybe try that route.

Heh, before posting I just realised the OP didn't actually ask a question

Sounds like you want to play a wizard, but are not too confident in the class. In which case Gish (melee wizard) is a good way too go as others as said. In keeping with your OP idea, hows this -

Your char is a wildman of the mountains/forest/desert (pick one) and one day wanders into a mysterious cave/grotto/oasis. There he meets a strange powerful man named Fred (ok, u can pick another name ) who dominates him and then helps him understand the concepts of arcane magic. Fred also tells him about his god (Velsharoon a good choice for Necromancy) but your char isn't bothered by that, its Fred that taught him magic and Fred that he worships (just as an idol). He then sends you back out into the world, to learn for yourself.

Build: Start with barbarian, 3 levels gives you 36hp, uncanny dodge, martial weapons and breastplate armour. Also gives you a lot of skill points. Then start adding wizard levels but don't use the spells yet, melee lvl but use scrolls like Mage Armour (30gp a pop, makes your breastplate a +4 armour in essence. Few things will hit you at your level). Then start using Eldritch Knight to level both your spellbook and melee skills. When you feel ready, ditch the armour and add your fourth class for flavour.

On the other hand, if you really cant let go of the full plate then take the Still Spell feat. Makes all your spells one level higher but can at least cast in full plate.

Obviously don't expect you to do all the above, but hopefully give you some ideas.

BigJ

PS. Sorcerer maybe a good way to go with this as its instinctive magic, rather than book magic.