Winter Wizard Builds - Can it be done in BG or NWN?
BelgarathMTH
Member Posts: 5,653
Hi, I'm not sure where to post this, so I'm trying BG General. Moderators, feel free to move it wherever.
I've been trying and enjoying a "Winter Wizard" caster build in Path of Exile, and very much enjoying it, and I've also tried the same in Titan Quest using storm mastery, although I thought it didn't work out that well there once the character got to Hades. So far, it's doing quite well in Path of Exile, which has more cold based skills than I've ever seen before.
I'm thinking I'd enjoy making this character idea kind of a "signature character class", but I'm not seeing how it can be done in any shape, form, or fashion in BG.
In NWN, one could theoretically build a mage or sorcerer around casting Ice Storm and taking all the associated metamagic feats to make it stronger. But, the spell is *extremely* companion unfriendly. And I can't think of a single other ice or cold based spell.
In BG, are there any cold based spells at all? And ironically, in IWD, can you try to be a cold specialist mage of any kind?
What would be involved in adding more cold based spells, skills, or builds of any kind to the Infinity Engine games?
The only even remotely related thing I can think of is the Wand of Frost, and I don't see how you could base a whole character idea on using those, especially since they're very rare to find. You'd have to keep using the vendor sell and rebuy trick to keep the thing charged through your whole run.
EDIT: I just thought of Cone of Cold. Again, highly party unfriendly. Does this idea just work the best with solo RPG? Has anyone here ever done a BG run based on using Wand of Frost and casting Cone of Cold as main attacks? How did it work out? Was it in a party, or solo?
I've been trying and enjoying a "Winter Wizard" caster build in Path of Exile, and very much enjoying it, and I've also tried the same in Titan Quest using storm mastery, although I thought it didn't work out that well there once the character got to Hades. So far, it's doing quite well in Path of Exile, which has more cold based skills than I've ever seen before.
I'm thinking I'd enjoy making this character idea kind of a "signature character class", but I'm not seeing how it can be done in any shape, form, or fashion in BG.
In NWN, one could theoretically build a mage or sorcerer around casting Ice Storm and taking all the associated metamagic feats to make it stronger. But, the spell is *extremely* companion unfriendly. And I can't think of a single other ice or cold based spell.
In BG, are there any cold based spells at all? And ironically, in IWD, can you try to be a cold specialist mage of any kind?
What would be involved in adding more cold based spells, skills, or builds of any kind to the Infinity Engine games?
The only even remotely related thing I can think of is the Wand of Frost, and I don't see how you could base a whole character idea on using those, especially since they're very rare to find. You'd have to keep using the vendor sell and rebuy trick to keep the thing charged through your whole run.
EDIT: I just thought of Cone of Cold. Again, highly party unfriendly. Does this idea just work the best with solo RPG? Has anyone here ever done a BG run based on using Wand of Frost and casting Cone of Cold as main attacks? How did it work out? Was it in a party, or solo?
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Comments
I'll get it started.
Also, I am remembering suddenly a cartoon special I saw growing up in the 1970's. It was almost black and white, (although it had some color), and it involved a husband and wife frost god and goddess team, competing with the husband and wife god and goddess of spring. The winter couple would walk around the world trailing bleak winter and frost wherever they went, and were the villains of the story. The winter goddess looked like she was trailing winter off the tails of her fur cloak. The spring couple trailed color and life, with lots of greens and golds, wherever they walked. Can anyone my age remember it and find and post a link or reference? Knowing the title and creative background and history of it would be especially helpful.
In Icewind Dale, the spell is even better because there is no cap on the dice. If a level 30 mage casts Cone of Cold in Icewind Dale, it will deal 30d4+30 damage! You can further increase the effectiveness by being an invoker (evocation spell saving throws are harder to make) and wearing Kontik's Ring of Wizardry (increases cold damage dealt by 15%). However, there's one big issue, which is that there are a LOT of enemies in Icewind Dale who are immune to cold.
The best game for a "winter wizard" build would be Neverwinter Nights. In that game, the different metamagic feats give you a way to fit in Cone of Cold at various spell levels: Regular Cone of Cold for 5th level spells, Empowered Cone of Cold for 7th level spells, Maximized Cone of Cold for 8th level spells, and Quickened Cone of Cold for 9th level spells.
Check it out:
http://nwn2customcontent.wikidot.com/frost-mage
https://neverwintervault.org/project/nwn2/hakpak/original-hakpak/kaedrins-prc-pack-v1421
2nd Level - Snilloc's Snowball Swarm
3rd Level - Icelance
4th Level - Polymorph Self (IWDification adds Polar Bear and Winter Wolf forms)
5th Level - Conjure Water Elemental
6th Level - Otiluke's Freezing Sphere
http://www.gibberlings3.net/iwdification/arcane.php
So perhaps any spell that "holds" people/monsters could be imagined as freezing them.
Turning them to stone, likewise.
Or how about "Grease" being "turn the ground into an ice rink"?
I also use a lot of ice arrows, and then there's Frost Reaver, the axe.
So a multi build might be more thematic?
And of course there's "ice shield".
Here's all the inspiration you'll ever need for a frost Sorcerer (and with her own familiar, to boot!)
"The cold never bothered me anyway."
The only catch is that these games already have a freezing mechanic when you kill someone with a cold attack. It feels a little awkward to imagine a different mechanic as also representing freezing.
Does Sub-Zero from Mortal Kombat count as a famous "winter wizard?" And what about Santa Claus?
You can get some pretty decent versatility off stuff like Ice Storm, Slow, Hold Person/Hold Monster, Lightning Bolt, Bigby's spells at higher levels... Maybe re-imagine Sleep as actually freezing things in-place, or Grease as Ice slicks, for lower level spells.
Winter Witch
The Winter Witch is not necisarilly a witch, or even female. However many of them have been named such by local farmers and peasants. In truth the Winter Witch is merely a specialised spellcaster, focussing on ice spells.
Note 1: The Winter Witch casts spells on either charisma or wisdom. The highest of the two stats is used to determine if a spell can be cast or not. All spells list the base ability needed to cast them.
Note 2: The Winter Witch uses Ice Power to cast spells. Your amount of Ice Power increases as you gain more levels in the Winter Witch Class. All spells list how much Ice Power they cost.
Note 3: Due to their icy nature Winter Witches are immune to cold spells, but do take more damage from fire spells.
- Hit Die: d5
- Proficiencies: Weapon Proficiency Wizard
- Skill Points: 4 + Int Modifier
REQUIREMENTS:
Feats: Maximise Spell
Skills: Spellcraft 10 Ranks, Concentration 10 Ranks
ABILITIES:
Level
1: Ice Power 1
2: Ice Spike
3: Mass Ray of Frost
4: Water of Faith
5: Ice Power 2, Frost Cone
6: Covered in Ice
7: Ice Servant
8: Ice Storm
9: Inner Ice
10: Ice Power 3
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Posted 19 September 2010 - 08:05 AM
Ice Power
Ice Power is the source of the Winter Witch's power. Every spell cast takes uses from this common pool. When the pool is empty no more spells can be cast.
Using the power directly results in a beam of ice shooting at the enemy.
Ice Spike
Required Ability: 12
Ice Power Cost: 2
A spike of pure ice shoots from the caster's hand at the target, causing cold damage to the target.
Mass Ray of Frost
Required Ability: 13
Ice Power Cost: 3
As the normal mages toy around with their Ray of Frost cantrip, the Winter Witch has taken the spell to a whole new level. This variant of the spell will fire many rays at the enemies of the caster.
Water of Fate
Required Ability: 14
Ice Power Cost: 3
The Water of Fate is a fluid much like water, only with magical properties. When casted the caster creates a small vial of ice around this water that will burst on impact. The water will then splash out and damage those near it.
Frost Cone
Required Ability: 15
Ice Power Cost: 4
The Frost Cone is a cone of the coldest iceshooting straigth from the caster's hands at its enemies. It deals ice damage to all within its reach.
Covered in Ice
Required Ability: 16
Ice Power Cost: 5
The caster can cover either a melee weapon, an armor, or a projectile with pure ice. This causes those touched by the item to suffer some cold damage and a chance to freeze, which will lower their movement rate.
Ice Servant
Required Ability: 17
Ice Power Cost: 6
The caster can call upon a creature of pure ice which will serve its master unconditionally for the duration of the spell.
Ice Storm
Required Ability: 18
Ice Power Cost: 10
This spell calls down huge shards of ice upon the targeted location or creature dealing both blunt aswell as ice damage.
Inner Ice
Required Ability: 19
Ice Power Cost: -
By reaching inward the caster can regain part of their Ice Power, but such is a dangerous procedure. It will leave the caster vulnerable to physical damage for 10 rounds, making them take 75% more physical damage when hit.