The Warring Wizard

What is there to write about wizards that has not already been written? Mere weaklings at the lower levels, powerful entities at the latter stages. Wizards start off being vulnerable to a single blow from a goblin, and usually end up being able to wipe an entire army with a single word. Among all the classes, this class displays highly extreme characteristics at both ends of the character level spectrum.

There are several aspects that make a wizard all-so-powerful. The most obvious would be his or her spellbook. Having a tome with a mixed variety of spells makes a wizard more capable of adapting to ever changing scenarios and environments. This is to say, a wizard who fills up her spellbook with purely offensive spells (think Fireball, Meteor Swarm etc) will no doubt be extremely dangerous. However, forsaking spells like Globe of Invulnerability and True Seeing can often lead to battles that could have been prevented. A wizard with a mixed bag of tricks bring unpredictability to an encounter, thus making it hard for an opponent to pre-empt her attack. Compare this to a dedicated necromancer; necromancy spells will be hard pressed against good cleric spells or areas devoid of undead.

Magic items are a must for any wizard intending to survive the first level. Not just any magic item, but items that can help arm and protect the wizard from damaging blows. Think Bracers of Defence and Girdle of Giant Strength. Contrary to popular belief, a wizard should know how to fight in a melee. Running away from every battle becomes improbable after a while, and when push comes to shove, the wizard has to turn around and fight. Also, choose a good staff and enhance it. Most magical staves have their own imbued power, like the Staff of Illusion and Staff of Withering. A wizard is judged by her knowledge in arcana. She is also judged by her staff and eventually, her tower. Therefore an astute collection of magic items, coupled with a potent staff, can greatly enhance a wizard’s power, and standing among her peers.

Thirdly, the tower. I’m not going to get into details of how to build a tower, or abode. Suffice to say, a wizard’s tower (or mansion or keep or etc) should be well guarded, hidden from prying eyes. And no, building a tower on another plane is never a good idea, for planar creatures are highly intelligent and powerful. The tower should also be functional and be a source of power for the wizard. This means having several portals leading to places away from the tower in times of research or danger. It should also contain a good library, with books and tomes on ancient histories, civilisations and beings. And a working laboratory isn’t such a bad idea either. To protect and guard the tower, an army of undead never ceases to send shivers down the spines of adventurers, though more and more wizards these days are using living creatures as guardians, such as minotaurs and draconians. Golems and elementals are also good choices. This, and a deadly outlay of traps, will ensure that never again will pesky gold diggers raid your vault and make off with your precious treasures.

A final note to anyone interested in donning robes and reading off a dusty tome, think of Raistlin. Now take him out of your mind and consign him to the farthest reaches of your grey matter. Almost everyone who plays a wizard uses Raistlin as a role model, right down to the tea he drinks. Don’t, I say. Be creative, be unique. Raistlin is but one of the many wizards in Faerun/ Ansalon. And it is quite clear that his character was tailor made for literary pleasure, and not so much for actual adventuring. Discard any notions of challenging Mystra or Selune or Mishakal for godhood; you will either die miserably, or you will die instantly. Gods do not suffer fools, that’s for sure. Why can’t I challenge the gods, many a player playing an arcane spellcaster often asks. The answer is simple enough. Gods are not subject to stats and combat rolls; in other words their attributes are so damn high that, barring a one, the divine ones can hit and cause something like 300 hp damage, which usually silences their critics almost instantly.

[Image from magewiki.wikispaces.com/]