D&D 5E What's this about the Mountain Dwarf being a better wizard?

[Obryn]

I'm assuming we aren't using rolled stats. If we are then balance goes out the window anyway.

It does, but for once, rolling stats is pretty clearly a better way to get the stats you want than point buy.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

A caster that uses Mage Armor and has a 20 Dexterity has a +2 higher AC than a Mountain Dwarf wizard wearing scale and +1 higher than if he is wearing half-plate. You also have an additional +3 to range attacks.

Yeah, but 20 DEX is a pretty significant investment for a non-Dex character.

I don't think the mountain dwarf wizard is a better wizard, but it's certainly a great start for a swordmage or fighter/wizard multiclass.

From a default array I'd personally go STR 15 (13+2), DEX 12, CON 16 (14+2), INT 15, WIS 8, CHA 10 (or swap WIS & CHA). Put later stat bumps in INT, STR, and DEX; rely on medium armor, relatively high hit points (comparable to the average rogue or cleric), and use a battleaxe two-handed (with thrown hand axes for backup ranged attacks if needed, though Fire Bolt suffices) for a melee wizard and decent second-tier fighter. Depending on future spell choices -- Shield is an obvious choice -- a focus on close-combat spells could keep this character concept viable even without multi-classing to a fighter class.

 

[Nebulous]

True. Humans can dual-class, but they still can't cast MU spells while in armor.

P.S.
No past tense for me! I'm currently running AD&D.

Nik, 5e was partly designed to get players to upgrade from past editions. Is there enough to interest you or did it not quite hit that mark? just wondering.

 

[Nikosandros]

Nik, 5e was partly designed to get players to upgrade from past editions. Is there enough to interest you or did it not quite hit that mark? just wondering.

I'm an edition/system whore. I'm currently running a weekly AD&D game and, with another group alternating between Pathfinder and 13th Age. In a week we will suspend the AD&D campaign and I'll start running 5e. I haven't played 4e in the recent past, but I've played quite a bit of it.

I'm certainly very interested in 5e. Whether it will hit the mark (for me) remains to be seen. Probably in a few months I will have a clearer idea.

 

[variant]

Yeah, but 20 DEX is a pretty significant investment for a non-Dex character.

I don't think the mountain dwarf wizard is a better wizard, but it's certainly a great start for a swordmage or fighter/wizard multiclass.

From a default array I'd personally go STR 15 (13+2), DEX 12, CON 16 (14+2), INT 15, WIS 8, CHA 10 (or swap WIS & CHA). Put later stat bumps in INT, STR, and DEX; rely on medium armor, relatively high hit points (comparable to the average rogue or cleric), and use a battleaxe two-handed (with thrown hand axes for backup ranged attacks if needed, though Fire Bolt suffices) for a melee wizard and decent second-tier fighter. Depending on future spell choices -- Shield is an obvious choice -- a focus on close-combat spells could keep this character concept viable even without multi-classing to a fighter class.

I don't think it's that significant if you are playing basic and don't have access to feats, especially if you are a high elf with a +2 Dexterity and +1 Intelligence. Dexterity is very useful if you are using touch ranged spells.

 

[1of3]

No. You use your Intelligence to hit with a ray.

 

[Nebulous]

IN 3.x/PF there is a % chance of failing to cast an arcane spell while in armor. In AD&D 1e, magic-users couldn't cast at all while in armor (unless multi-classed, but this was restricted in 2nd edition).

Well, i might have found my first personal house rule. something about a spellcaster in full plate, helmet visor and gauntlets seems....very wrong.

I guess i don't mind in lighter, less restrictive armor. But my god, even in 5e "padded" is so bulky you cant even sneak well!

 

[The Hitcher]

How does one even get to the WotC forum these days? Following the link to the D&D Next forum takes me to a "page not found". I assumed it was because they are implementing their new forum structure, but it's been like that for several days now.

 

[The Hitcher]

How does one even get to the WotC forum these days? Following the link to the D&D Next forum takes me to a "page not found". I assumed it was because they are implementing their new forum structure, but it's been like that for several days now.

Never mind - I found it. They should really remove that old link, though.

 

[Evenglare]

This stuff is a huge pet peeve of mine. Talking about classes and races in theory is fine, but people seem to only dissect classes in a vacuum with no regards to the setting at all. Is the mountain dwarf a bit better in certain situations? Sure, I'll concede to that, so then you have to ask yourself. Why does there exist a dwarf wizard in the first place? The vast majority of dwarves are going to focus on martial classes because they have synergy with the bonus. I'd imagine in just about any world (dwarves taken as is) you aren't going to see dwarf wizards often. Sure you can make your special snowflake and go against the flow but the big question is, why would you even want to? These class theory threads who prove dwarven wizards are the better wizard usually implies people saying "Why create a high elf wizard if the dwarf wizard is better?". The thing about that argument is self defeating, why would you play a dwarf wizard if dwarves make the best fighters?