Help Requested on Wizard Creation

[Iago]

Greetings all!

I've been a long time reader of the boards (especially the Story Hour) and thought I'd ask for some help in putting some finishing touches on a wizard I'm looking to use as an NPC in an upcoming game I plan to DM. There is plenty of plot and background to the game, but I'll skip that part and get right to the meat of my request...

I'm looking to create a 9th level Wizard(6)/Fatespinner(3) (which would give her a total spellcasting level of a 7th level wizard). The "theory" behind his magic would be "reading the threads in the tapestry of fate and, when needing, bumping them over so slightly". As such, I was picturing divination spells (to read the web) and then perhaps spells involving chance effects(Blur) and spells that buff (a wizardly version of Bless). Also, I was thinking of trying to craft some spells that were somewhat random (for example, reworking Bull's Strength so that its bonus jumps from +4 to +5 to +2, etc.). My theory on this out take of spells is that the threads are so big and difficult to manipulate that the effects are somewhat random and unable to be controlled(after all, Fate is unable to be controlled).

I know there are many different philosophical takes on Fate, which I plan to hopefully explore during the game. If anyone wants to hit upon that topic while here, my ears are always open to new ideas and helpful advice. That said, I'd greatly appreciate any suggested spells (including a sourcebook if from a published work). Also, if anyone might be willing to suggest a way to manipulate the Bull's Strength so that its effects are slightly more random. I was thinking of somehow increasing the spell's casting level and rolling a d6 each round while adding a +1 per every four levels of Fatespinner. That is just an off-hand idea. If anyone else might have any suggestions, please toss them out there (this includes criticism).

Just to clarify, though the class is 3.0, we'll be using the 3.5 rules after reviewing anything that might need changing in the PrC. I generally think it can fit without a problem but if someone thinks differently, please let me know.

Thanks everyone!

 

[Wrath of the Swarm]

Why not just use the old version of Bull's Strength, which granted 1d4+1 points to the Strength score? Its average bonus is slightly less than four, so arguably the spell is weakened slightly. Just don't let anyone Empower it.

 

[Wycen]

I don't have advice really, just my own experience with the Fatespinner.

I didn't have good luck with mine. Now to be fair I also had a second prestige class which did not improve my spell casting ability, but I always forgot to use the 'spin' and such when it was needed.

 

[Piratecat]

Welcome, Iago!

That's a really interesting idea. You may want to consider using some of the clairsentient/seer psionic powers as spells. They address the "seeing the future" aspect and might really fit in well with the feel you're trying to develop.

 

[Iago]

Why not just use the old version of Bull's Strength, which granted 1d4+1 points to the Strength score? Its average bonus is slightly less than four, so arguably the spell is weakened slightly. Just don't let anyone Empower it.

Thanks you Wrath. Its so simple that its brilliant! Sometimes, the old ways are the best ways. I also noticed that I failed to mention (though some of you might have simply understood it as such) that the bonus will jump from round to round just to make things interesting, different, and reflect the difficulty one has when trying to control the thread.

I don't have advice really, just my own experience with the Fatespinner.

I didn't have good luck with mine. Now to be fair I also had a second prestige class which did not improve my spell casting ability, but I always forgot to use the 'spin' and such when it was needed.

Wycen! Thats the greatest part of the Fatespinner. I like it cause I can use him as a helpful auxilary in this regard too. Of course, he'll still be too low of a level to Spin other's Fates, but it'll come with time. Heck, I'm going through all this and the PCs might not even put two-and-two together and rescue the mage...hehe...

Welcome, Iago!

That's a really interesting idea. You may want to consider using some of the clairsentient/seer psionic powers as spells. They address the "seeing the future" aspect and might really fit in well with the feel you're trying to develop.

Ah, PirateCat! Not to sound like I'm brown-nosing here, but I feel honored to have you swing by this meek little thread. Thank you! I hadn't considered looking into any Psionic abilities, but that could certainly work out well. Thank you very much. I appreciate it.

While I might have you here again, I just wanted to say thanks for the other lessons your SH thread has taught me. The two biggest are that most monsters should be special and unique (especially for the purpose of throwing the PC's off-balance and keep them guessing) and (here is the most important one) a DM ought to simply create a world instead of creating a plot. The best DM I ever had preferred to create the plotline, which while it was good, I now see the futility of my efforts as a PC. The end was already planned out regardless of my actions. As I said, I enjoyed it immensely (he was a great writter with a vile, evil, RBDM mind), I'm hoping this route might convert him since he'll now be a player (not to mention I can try to get my revenge for everything he did to my PC...hehe). We'll see!

Thank you again everyone for your help here! I appreciate it and hope to see you all again sooner or later on the boards.

Take care and hope everyone's week is finishing up well!

 

[Altamont Ravenard]

A bonus that changes every round? I strongly advise against that, unless you really like very tedious bookeeping... Sometimes you have so many things to think of, you don't need/want a peculiar magic effect that changes every round... (this is one of the reasons I never used Confusion so far... )

AR

 

[Iago]

A bonus that changes every round? I strongly advise against that, unless you really like very tedious bookeeping... Sometimes you have so many things to think of, you don't need/want a peculiar magic effect that changes every round... (this is one of the reasons I never used Confusion so far... )

AR

Heya Altamont,

Thats a good point and something I might have to rework afterwards. For the moment though, I might give this way a try just for the flavor of it. My PC's are, thankfully, very good and work with me well, not letting OOC information interfering with their IC actions. I usually do some of my rolls before the game (so I'll take a d4 and roll it 40 times and record the results). From there, I have them ready to go and I just cross off the number as I use it. Each round, with the bookkeeping done, I just tell them their new Strength bonus and let them rework the numbers.

Another option is to simply give them about 5 rounds worth of bonuses and let them keep the numbers straight (which, once again, they're good at).

Thanks for bringing that up. I'll certainly keep it in mind and see how it goes.