Want to build a Dwarven Wizard

[Herobizkit]

Just as the title says. I've signed up for a PF PbP and volunteered to play a Dwarven Wizard. I realize this choice may be sub-optimal, but I wanted to try something different. I'm having difficulty finding the right flavour for such a character. I'm only level 1, so there's not much room for flair atm.

I really like the specialist powers for Conjuration. I like the idea of a Dwarven Diviner, but not sure how it would play out long-term. I believe the campaign is city-based, centered around rooting out a thieves' guild, and Divination spells would be quite useful.

For opposition schools, I'd likely take Necromancy and (believe it or not) Evocation. I'm not blocked out from those schools, but they do take double the amount of spell slots to cast and I suffer a penalty when creating items that require those spells.

I just need some inspiration and my imagination muscle is tired.

 

[Wicht]

I made a dwarven transmuter for a PbP and was very happy with the character. I used a bonded warhammer for my spell focus and at 1st level waded merrily into battle as a good dwarf should. It didn't hurt we were given some extra hp, but toughness also helped. By making him have a lot of hp, he was able to do as much damage as the fighter at 1st level and by 3rd level had enough spell power to hold his own without having to constantly wade in. The PbP is here and the character as he turned out is here.

 

[Herobizkit]

inspiration for a Pathfinder dwarven wizard

I posted this in the PF section, but immediately realized that virtually no one would see it.

Just as the title says. I've signed up for a PF PbP and volunteered to play a Dwarven Wizard. I realize this choice may be sub-optimal, but I wanted to try something different. I'm having difficulty finding the right flavour for such a character. I'm only level 1, so there's not much room for flair atm.

I really like the specialist powers for Conjuration. I like the idea of a Dwarven Diviner, but not sure how it would play out long-term. I believe the campaign is city-based, centered around rooting out a thieves' guild, and Divination spells would be quite useful.

For opposition schools, I'd likely take Necromancy and (believe it or not) Evocation. I'm not blocked out from those schools, but they do take double the amount of spell slots to cast and I suffer a penalty when creating items that require those spells.

I just need some inspiration and my imagination muscle is tired.

 

[Dandu]

Treantmonk's Guide to Playing Pathfinder Wizards

 

[Ahnehnois]

I realize this choice may be sub-optimal, but I wanted to try something different.

Dwarves don't get any real casting bonuses, but their durability is very useful for weak mages. Off-type, maybe, but not suboptimal.

Check out Dream Dwarf (RoS). If you can adapt that to PF it's good for diviners.

 

[Wicht]

Deleted due to thread morphing making it a double post.

 

[Umbran]

If you feel the Pathfinder forum doesn't get enough traffic to be useful, you might want to open a discussion about that in Meta.

At the moment, though, the PF forum is the place for this.

 

[pawsplay]

I like the dwarven Diviner idea. Dwarf is an unusual choice, so let's leverage everything we can. Intelligence is going to be highest, but go ahead and make Constitution second after that and Wisdom next. This wizard will have unusually high hit points, Perception checks, and Will saves vs. spells. With his divination abilities he could work as a team booster, and in line with the idea of being a force multiplier, I'll suggest summon monster spells as a mainstay. One feat we don't need to worry about is Improved Initiative, since diviners eventually get a very nice bonus in that department. With high hit points and proficiency with the battleaxe, it's worth considering his options for squeezing in a melee attack now and then. I picture a dwarf, hefting a battleaxe in one hand, standing behind a summoned monster, buffing its attacks. He's also the go-to guy, with solid Knowledge skills and a variety of divination spells. Might as well leverage more Dwarf traits and max out Appraise, and probably spend at least a few ranks now and then on Perception.

Visually, I picture a very professional, somewhat academic look, with a long, firm beard and perhaps a waxed mustache. Maybe he wears indigo or dark gray clothes, with a small black cloak and a formidable hat.


What he really needs is some good catch-phrases. Maybe you could borrow some Yiddish-isms for that urban demeanor... "So we're fearless undead slayers, all of a sudden?" Or perhaps more academic: "May I propose an alternative course of action?" Or dour: "No good. Nothing good can come of this."

 

[Glade Riven]

I can see a dwarf version of Harry Dresden (from the Dresden Files): wears normal cloths, uses seemingly unassuming objects as the basis for his magical items, etc. Maybe he wouldn't get knocked around quite as much, but then again, he is a wizard.

 

[Templetroll]

I'm playing a dwarven wizard Transmuter in PFS. His personality is that he has been cast out from his family because he took up magic so he now uses a name he found in an 'ancient tome'. The name is Xylarthan, the example mage from Men & Magic OD&D booklet.

He has heirloom weapon quarterstaff as his bound item. He hates folks making assumptions about him due to his being a dwarf, while he has no problem with folks making assumptions due to his being a wizard.

I also took Arcane Strike. At first level he used the transmuter boost to physical stats to boost his strength so he got +2 strength bonus. When he can he will raise his strength and then use the Transmuter's stat bonus for dex since he now has Bull's Strength as a spell.

Using the staff with both hands is a nice weapon for the few times he gets forced into combat. he is about to take a level of fighter so he can take two weapon fighting and then get two attacks with the staff.

He has Necromancy and Enchantment as his oppostion schools. necro because undead are wrong and enchantment because he has an 8 Charisma. "Leave that to elves!"