Pimp my Wizard(Working Title)

Update

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 16:25:17 -0500

So, it turns out these guides are a lot more work than I expected ^^;

I’m going to finish the barbarian one, but then I’m just going to write about theory in general, or at least tackle smaller projects.

Page 3: Warriors of Strength and Steel

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 23:16:00 -0500

Introduction

Ah, Barbarians. Barbarians are my favorite purely martial class (meaning no battle-clerics and the like) because they can be very powerful, while maintaining a certain charm just to play. As great and game-breaking as spells are, it is nonetheless fun to announce that you’re slamming a huge axe into the monster…or wizard…or diplomat. And, with the right choices and some fine tuning, you can remain relevant through your entire career!

I’m not sure how best to format this, as I don’t know any html and want to avoid this being just a huge block of text, so I’m going to break it up into four parts

Part 1: Many Ways to Smash

In my experience, there are two main barbarian camps. I call them Strong Barbarians and Sturdy Barbarians.

Strong Barbarians are massive damage engines, designed to kill as many things as possible.

Sturdy Barbarians are indomitable tanks that can eat almost anything without falling down.

Then, I will detail some sub-themes that can be played, but don’t fit into either of these classifications.

Page 3: Warriors of

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 23:14:39 -0500

Introduction

I’m not sure how best to format this, as I dont’ know any html and want to avoid this being just a huge block of text, so I’m going to break it up into four parts

Part 1: Many Ways to Smash

In my experience, there are two main barbarian camps. I call them Strong Barbarians and Sturdy Barbarians.

Strong Barbarians are massive damage engines, designed to kill as many things as possible.

Sturdy Barbarians are indomitable tanks that can eat almost anything without falling down.

Then, I will detail some sub-themes that can be played, but don’t fit into either of these classifications.

Page 2: Optimization Theory (part 1)

Sat, 21 Apr 2012 02:01:06 -0500

When people hear the word “Optimization”, many tend to get a bad taste in their mouth. Some, including a dear friend of mine immediately think of characters comprised entirely of poorly-worded rules designed to break the game, harass the GM and take all the glory for themselves. Many say that optimizing “ruins” the game. I can understand why this is such a common perception. Many do create characters this way, seeking to be the “best” at everything. These people are called Munchkins. What most do not realize though is that Munchkins are a type of optimizer. They are not synonymous. If you are one of these people, who think that optimizing ruins the game, please listen. I think I can show you why people really do it, and why.

I’ll try not to make this super-long and boring, but I really think that the first step in understanding is the Stormwind Fallacy. You can read it, along with a short intro right here. In short, the Stormwind Fallacy just says that just because a character is strong, doesn’t mean it can’t be roleplayed, and just because a character is weak, doesn’t mean it’s a better character from a story perspective. Yes, there’s a reason why boring invincible heroes are relegated to terrible fanfiction, but roleplaying depends on the player. I, for one, love getting in a character and acting out at the table. I also love having an effective character that can accomplish his purpose in the game. They’re not mutually exclusive.

Bluh… I just realized how late is was. The rest of this will have to wait. ^^;

Page 1: Introduction

Sat, 21 Apr 2012 01:12:48 -0500

Greetings Initiates, I am Selm and I will be your most-unhumble guide through the mysteries of the only subject I know: tabletop games.

That’s right, held by many to be the geekiest of pastimes, I will from this moment on assume that the reader (you) is at least familiar with the concept, be they a new adventurer, a studious powergamer, a lively roleplayer or the like. I will try to cater to everyone.

I intend this space to be a combination of articles and direct assistance. Most of the time I will be writing generic pieces, how to optimize a rogue, for instance, but if I get questions or builds to critique, I’d be happy to help with that too.

Thus, I’m going to start with a little guide for each class in the 3.5 Dungeons and Dragons Players Handbook. (D&D is what I know best, though I will branch out into other systems as I see fit.)

That’s it for now.

God-tier me courtesy of a good friend.

Sat, 21 Apr 2012 00:33:57 -0500

God-tier me courtesy of a good friend.