Our wild mage is killing me!

[Wik]

So, in the STAP game I'm running, my brother got around to playing a Sorcerer/Wild mage. It's his first stab at a caster, and I thought it'd be fun.

Except, he's made it a point to pick only spells that are "weird".

Such that, until last session, his only 4th level spell was Mass Unseen Servant (surprisingly useful). He liked to use Glitterdust whenever possible, and loves playing around with stupid 0- and 1st- level spell effects.

So, he has to choose some new spells, after hitting a new level.

Confusion was a good choice for him, and one I suggested (as it made sense for his character, and is actually a decent spell). It's his other choice that makes me laugh:

LEOMUND'S IGLOO (from Frostburn).

Remember, we're playing in STAP. And we have a character who will now summon an Igloo every night to rest in.

Which is all well and good, but it seems to have opened a whole new can of worms.

Our Goliath player is retiring his character, in favour of a... *ahem*... Phanaton Warmage.

With the leadership feat.

Just a sign of the apocalypse I thought I'd share.

That is all.

 

[Nifft]

Does the igloo provide cover for archers? I know Leomund's Shelter and Tiny Hut both have tactical combat applications...

Cheers, -- N

 

[Wik]

Does the igloo provide cover for archers? I know Leomund's Shelter and Tiny Hut both have tactical combat applications...

Cheers, -- N

You know... it probably does.

I just have a sneaky suspicion our wild mage is gonna do something stupid with it.. like make snow cones or something.

He's been using Mass Unseen Servant as an "always active" spell that he uses to create roads wherever he goes.

The isle of dread has been losing a lot of trees, as this mage makes paths everywhere.

I've never seen a mage player enjoy going nuts on the random, oddball spells. Mostly, I just see 'em in the age-old "Fireball... or Lightning Bolt?" debate.

This guy is "how weird can I make my character?".

I'm not looking forward to the Phanaton Warmage next session. Especially if he picks up followers. Our paladin player has vowed that if the Phanaton gets followers, he's going to retire HIS character and play some goofball character.

It's pretty funny, I suppose, but I have a feeeling that the slightly goofy wild mage has opened a pandora's box on our party.

 

[robberbaron]

Your wild mage player sounds like a bundle of laughs.

Don't forget that, if your players' character choices cause you grief, it is your fault for allowing them.
No GM likes saying no to a player's ideas but, sometimes, you have to decide what's better for the game: order or chaos?

 

[Relique du Madde]

Just be thankful this wasn't 2nd Edition's version of wild magic. During second edition a wild mage had a chance at creating a surge with each spell they cast; unlike the 3.5 Wild Mages who could control when they create a wild magic surges.

One of the worst TPKs I heard of happened because a Wild Mage's surged during a fight turning a hast spell aimed at the cleric into a transmutate: Flesh to Stone (or something along those lines). Then after the battle, the group barricaded themselves within the room so that they could camp while the Wild Mage tried to dispell the transmutation. Unfortunately the spell he cast surged and became a fireball which targeted the mage and ended up killing him and the group's ranger before causing a cave in which trapped the survivors within rubble long enough for a group of monsters to come charging into the room from the other side of the dungeon

 

[Nifft]

It's pretty funny, I suppose, but I have a feeeling that the slightly goofy wild mage has opened a pandora's box on our party.

Eh, there's nothing wrong with having fun while playing D&D.

(So long as he isn't having fun at your expense, that is -- some people do enjoy being disruptive.)

Go with the flow, I say. If the party turns ridiculous, that's fine. It'll be over eventually -- possibly sooner if the one silly guy sees everyone else also gets the spotlight. In the mean time, everyone has fun.

Cheers, -- N

 

[MrFilthyIke]

OK, I give...WTF is STAP??

 

[kensanata]

Savage Tide Adventure Path by Paizo: Pirates, tropical islands, dinosaurs, that kind of thing.

 

[WhimsyTheFae]

Savage Tide Adventure Path by Paizo: Pirates, tropical islands, dinosaurs, that kind of thing.

...and igloos.

Don't forget the igloos.

 

[Wik]

...and igloos.

Don't forget the igloos.

Lots of 'em. Boy howdy, there'll be a lot of 'em.

(Seriously, who wrote up "Leomund's Igloo" and said "hey, that'll be a fun spell!")

Relique - I remember 2e Wild Mages. They were a lot of fun... I like 'em a lot more than the PrC, because of the flair they had. Although, our player is really trying to tap into the 2e feel - he uses his Rod of Wonder whenever he can. SO far, he's just used it to summon a lot of butterflies, but I can see that getting worse.

Regarding the goofiness - I think, out of our five players, two (maybe three) will really enjoy the goofiness, while the other two will stnad against it. Although, that might not be true... the player of the paladin's favourite encounter so far was a home-made encounter involving a giant crayfish that thought it was a god, so it's obvious he likes a little bit of goofiness.