Equiping a Sorcerer or Wizard for RHOD

[vrock]

Here's the deal, I'm going to be running RHOD in a few weeks and I'm pregening 6th level characters for my players. Right now I have a Fighter, Ranger, and a Rogue. The fighter is a Whirlwind attack guy, Ranger is a two weapon specialist, and the Rogue is pretty typical. One of my players has expressed an interest in playing either a sorcerer or a wizard.

The problem is that I'm finding it difficult deciding what equipment a spellcaster should have to maximize his chances of survival. It seems to me that a ring of protection, amulet of natural armor, and bracers of armor would be good choices, but an AC of 14 or 15 at 6th level isn't really much protection in the grand scheme of things. Obviously a spellcaster shouldn't be in melee, but it happens, and it won't be pretty when it does.

So my question is besides a sack full of scrolls and potions, what equipment should a 6th level spellcaster be carrying if he wants to survive? I'm going with the standard 13,000gp in equipment for a 6th level character, and I'd like to stay with the core books if possible. What suggestions do you guys have?

Vrock

 

[fafhrd]

I'd skip the bracers. You can get more mileage from mage armor. If you want to give the caster a protective item, you might want to try a 1st or 2nd caster level wand with the shield spell. Some of the gold could be spent on scrolls containing the utility spells(knock, identify, detection spells, rope trick, etc). Handy haversack and bags of holding are nice for those low strength casters that want to bring along books, alchemy labs, lap desks and such. If you're tracking food, a ring of sustenance can come in handy as well.

 

[EyeontheMountain]

At 6th level I am a great fan of Rod of extend, lesser. for 3,ooo gp, you can turn three 6 hour spells into 3 12 hour spells. That takes care of armor for the day for a 6th level caster.

If the 6th level guy is a mage, give him a couple of pearls of power for the same general effect.

 

[Bivotar]

Do a warlock instead with maxed out UMD and scrolls for the utility spells they might need. Trust me when they finally get to the Battle of Brindol a warlock has much better chances.

 

[Korak]

Rod of Extension, Lesser
(3) Pearl of Power 1
Heward's Handy Haversack
Vest of Resistance +1
+2 stat item for prime casting stat

total = 13,000

obviously they'd want some mundane adventuring gear as well... perhaps drop one Pearl to buy that with unless you will handwave an extra 50-150gp for the bedroll, spell component pouch, torches, etc.

 

[vrock]

Do a warlock instead with maxed out UMD and scrolls for the utility spells they might need. Trust me when they finally get to the Battle of Brindol a warlock has much better chances.

My player is actually pretty keen on playing a Warlock. Having never run a game with on in it I have one dumb question. In Complete Arcane the Warlock level progression has a Invocations Known column that seems to increase every 2 levels, but it mentions that a new invocation is learned at 1st (least) and 6th (least or lesser). Do Detect Magic and Deceive Item take the place of choosing a new invocation, or do you get those plus a new invocation every 2 levels?

 

[Notmousse]

The times it mentions an invokation and rank it means you've unlocked the next higher rank of invokations. First you get least, then lesser, greater, and dark invokations.

Personally I don't undserstand why they couldn't've called them lesser, normal (no nothing in front of the word invokation), greater, and dark, but who knows with some of the authors

 

[FalcWP]

Too bad you're going core only, 'cause there's lots of good stuff in the Magic Item Compendium. 13,000 gp, for a wizard or sorc... you could give them the first few pieces of the Raiment of the Four (Gloves of the Starry Sky, Goggles of the Golden Sun), which give them a few options for spellcasting as well as a few nice minor benefits. That'd take 5,100. And/or some pieces of the Seven Veils set... maybe a Burning Veil, Caustic Veil, and Veil of Storms (7,000 gp for those three, and a number of different spells can have their damage boosted).

Bracers of the Blast Barrier and Hellcat Gauntlets (3,200 gp each) also look interesting for a caster...

There are also various items (Formless Vest, Torc of Displacement...) that can reduce damage taken, provide a miss chance, etc. Might be more effective than just adding in a bit of extra AC.

If you go with a warlock in there instead, the Golves of Eldritch Admixture could be fun. Warlocks might also make good use of new armor and weapon properties and crystals.

Sure, a flat +3 or +4 to AC, +2 to the primary stat, and a couple other small things might be simpler. Personally, I think some of the items in the Magic Item Compendium are a *lot* more interesting, though. But if it has to be core... absolutely a lesser rod of extend. Handy haversack to organize scrolls. Some various wands and scrolls - utility for sorcerers and warlocks, maybe a bit more blasty stuff for wizards. Beyond that, not a whole lot of cheap stuff in the DMG I really like, so you might be stuck with the boring stuff. Oh well. Gloves of Arrow Snaring could be fun, though, and most wizards and sorcs can afford to have a hand free to use them. Warlocks are going to want to spend extra cash on decent armor, of course.

 

[vrock]

The times it mentions an invokation and rank it means you've unlocked the next higher rank of invokations. First you get least, then lesser, greater, and dark invokations.

Personally I don't undserstand why they couldn't've called them lesser, normal (no nothing in front of the word invokation), greater, and dark, but who knows with some of the authors

Right, I get that part. But the invocations known goes up between 1st and 6th level, does that mean you just get extra least invocations or is it counting Detect Magic and Deceive Item as invocations known?

The answer is probably in FAQ somewhere, but I can't find it.

*edit* Never mind, found a clarification. Warlock chooses a new invocation every even level in addition to the special abilities he receives.

 

[Shazman]

He'd probably get a lot of mileage out of a wands of scorching ray and magic missle if he can afford them.