Casting, Wailing and Draining the Land and People of his Nation Dry (1-40) PvM and PvP
SORCERER KING (“Wildwood Prince”) Joint Authors: By Deborah “Tyr” Templar and Tattoed Monk
The Sorcerer King, also known as Prince John, the Usurper. He was elevated to King of England, when his relative, Richard du Coeur (Lionheart, and rightful ruler of England) went off to join the Crusades; John’s rule was supposed to be only a temporary one, so far as Richard was to re-take the throne on his return but it did not happen that way. Rather, while Richard was gone, John conspired with foreign rulers, and other bad apples (such as evil agents who had infiltrated the Church) to not only extend and confirm his rule over the whole of England but, with the support of such foreigners and the like, into other territories, and in exchange for which support John agreed to pay for in gold; and pay for it in gold he did, by the horse-drawn-cart loads, which he raised from the people in the form of exorbitant taxes: John’s quest for power in turn bled the people dry, such that they were starving. But this did not matter to John, since he cared only for power; first, he would take England, and eventually, provided he could supply his backers with gold, the region.
With the help of his foreign aid, or was it by pure coincidence, John also had the perfect excuse to justify his tax grab; it came in the form of the need to raise a large ransom, or so the story goes, when Richard, the so-called rightful ruler of England was kidnapped in foreign lands and turned over as a prisoner to a foreign Duke, who held Richard for allegedly having offended not only himself, but various other forces, including the “bad apples” of the Church; whether or not John had any part in these events, they provided him with a wonderful excuse for the need to raise taxes and fast; at the same time, these events providing him with the perfect claim to retain his hold of the throne, and also a distraction, so that the public might not know nor suspect what he was really up to. Yes, John needed money and a lot of it, to support the evil forces at work for his benefit and of which (according to the legends of Robin Hood) he played a large part. While an unpopular ruler, no one would dare question John’s authority or his actions effect on the poor – no one, that is, but Robin Hood and his merry band, whose aid and message of hope were a constant thorn in John’s side.
But John and his loyal supporters, evil henchmen all, ruled with an iron fist, and to this end John charged his Sheriffs and their minions with many tasks, but above all else, he demanded they bring to him on a platter the head of Robin Hood. To John, the man who drained the life blood of his nation, who starved and sacrificed his people so as to be King, failure was simply not an option: “I want Robin Hood dead and his head on my plate by sunrise, or I shall have yours instead,” the King wailed to his minions, his voice thundering across the nation like a banshee; and if a bunch of peasants had to die or be sacrificed in the process, then so be it. England, after all, was his, and would be his alone to rule forever.
The Build—Advantages and Disadvantages: In keeping with the above, being part of the Wildwood (Robin Hood) Series, this is an epic sorcerer, with numerous minions to order about (PM greater undead, BG undead, Sorc. summons) and blood-let for him, while he focuses on that which he does and enjoys best: casting and ruling, with meta magics and a Banshee Wail (DC) 39 (42 w. cha items) being fit for a royal king. Aside from potential SR issues (as compared to a pure caster per se), and low/mediocre HPs (but which he buffs, and in addition to enjoying Epic Warding, too) this royal enjoys early foci in his chosen school (necro for RP reasons, and the song of instant death – i.e., Wail). As such, he’s strong offensively (Wail, Time Stop, Mord’s, Mestil’s, Bigby’s Line, fire balls, and can spam IGMS, to name a few), with a very nice defense, too (very good AC, PM immunities, high saves/BG Dark Blessing, Divine Shield (AC), and Epic Warding, too).
While by no means the first sorcerer to take advantage of charisma synergy with either paladin or blackguard (Exalted Sorceress has that honor, yes? , this combo was selected for theme/RP-reasons; that said, he also appears to be unique so far as it is the first to combine epic sorcerer with BG and PM, with a spell foci (there being only one other build according to the Pulse which utilizes this class combo, namely: Almalith’s Doom Lich (Sorc.28 /PM10/ BG2), Click Here , which looks like a very fun build with some nice HPs, but no use apart from Dark Blessing is there made of BG class, nor does it take on any spell foci, thereby differing from this Prince in these and many other respects). Without any further ado, please meet:
SORCERER KING (“Wildwood Prince”) Blackguard(4), Sorcerer(26), Pale Master(10)
b. Saving Throws: Fort: 32 (41 w. blessing/emp eagle’s, emp endurance, and resistance) (49 vs. spells) Will: 33 (40 w. blessing/emp eagle’s, emp owl’s, and resistance) (48 vs. spells) Reflex: 26 (33 w. blessing/emp eagle’s, emp cat’s, and resistance) (41 vs. spells)
Pale Master Immunities: immune to crits., sneak, stun, paralysis, and hold
Other: • Sorcerer Spells, incl. protection, invulnerability, mind black, true seeing, etc. (see spells, below) • BG Dark Blessing (enhance w. charisma)
IV. Spell Casting:
Sorcerer, Level (9); SR 26+1d20
Spell DCs: • Focused school (necro*): 27, +3 emp eagle’s, or: DC 30, + spell level i.e., Wail DC: 39 (DC 42 w. cha. items): all enemies who fail their fort save die) • Non-focused schools: 21+3 emp eagle’s, or: DC 24, + spell level
19 AC (bath robe) +8 mundane plate +3 mundane shield -- 30 AC +3 emp cat’s +4 shield +5 shadow shield +2 mage armor +4 haste +14 div shield (emp. eagle’s) + displacement, etc. -- 62 AC, and 50% concealment (self-buffs only)
Other (illustrative): Epic Warding, Invulnerability Globes, Damage Shields, IGMS, Neg. Energy (Str.) Drain, Greater Sanctuary, Bigby’s-Line, Time Stop, Grt. Dispelling, and Wail of the Banshee For more info on spells, see above.
VI. Combat Vitals:
AB (mundane scimitar): 23 (melee) Damage: 1-6+2, +5 pow. attack (-5 ab) (crit: 18-20/x2), +1d6 sneak (no buffs)
Self-Buff to Cap: +6 emp bull’s, BG Bull’s +20 Truestrike + extra attack (haste), and keen -- Buffed Combat: AB: 49 Smite Bonus (vs. Good): +14 AB (w. emp eagle’s), or: AB +63
Buffed Damage: 1-6+13 (buffed str + gmw), +5 pow attack (-5 ab), +4 smite (crit: 16-20/x2), +1d6 sneak damage Other: • Tenser’s (+13 AB, and +1d6 fire damage); numerous minions (summons) • Sorcerer Spells (to name but a few): o IGMS, Time Stop, Mord’s, Mestil’s, Melf’s, Bigby’s-Line, Black Blade, Evard’s Tentacles, Ice Storm, Meteors, Fire Balls, Horrid Wilting, and Banshee Wail o For more info: see spell section, above.
• Feel free to adjust your prince's skill-set to suit your own tastes/environs.
Edited By Bromium on 10/12/07 20:15
Nice intro and bio, but really nice build. It seems iconic when you look at the level splits and the reasoning behind each but it has not been done before.
Awesome.
Immune Crits, undispellable buffs, and Divine Shield, with Heavy Armor, Martial Weapon. . .well done.
Cheers,
Ithacan
Yes, I rather like this, too, and seems like it would have success in most environments. This is a very nice build. Well done. _________________ Got Hommlet? World of Greyhawk Action Server (with 1/2 price ales on Mondays!)
Ariel, Ookla, RIDE!
Thanks, Ith., Dwarflord -- on behalf of TM and myself, we really appreciate your very kind compliments (so very kind of you both, and glad also that you enjoyed our story = thanks!)
We are def. having so much fun with this Wildwood (Robin Hood) series, and so glad that you guys and everyone here is, too -- please know that your comments (as always) are greatly appreciated
Ah, and while I sent in a PM on this for an edit (I know that you guys know this, but for the benefit of our new members/players, while we awaits the edit), seems I made an error re: the AB stuff (what else is new -- sorry guys: then, as we say in academia when it comes to joint authorship (and it’s so true): “please know that while this build is a result of both authors, any and all mistakes herein are purely attributed to myself, and myself alone (yep, the last minute edits I tells ya, always get me!
Yeah yeah, Edit done. I had forgotten. Move along. - Grim
And so, with that, here be the correct AB/combat stuff (as in, miscounted truestrike but, at the same time, cheated everyone out of the capped smite bonus – sorry, folks):
AB (mundane scimitar): 23 (melee), 20 (ranged) Damage: 1-6+2, +5 pow. attack (-5 ab) (crit: 18-20/x2), +1d6 sneak (no buffs) +6 emp bull’s + BG Bull’s +5 greater magic weapon + extra attack (haste), and keen -- AB: 34, + truestrike, or: AB +49; Smite Bonus (vs. Good): +14 AB (emp eagle’s), or: +63 AB (AB +66 w. cha items)
OK, and while we waits on that edit (thanks, Grim), TM and I are proud to announce an update in our series (which of course all of you be a big part of, with all of your great comments and inspirations, too!) – as we know, King John here is a villain-type, the first of our upcoming villains who joins thus far (on the good side):
- Robin Hood, as a true-to-life plate-wearing, sword-wielding knight turned outlaw (Wildwood Warrior), plus his archer variant, in line w. the legends (Wildwood Outlaw);
- Maid Marion, Wildwood Maiden;
- Alan A. Dale, Wildwood Minstrel
- Will Scarlett, Wildwood Mercenary
Also upcoming (since no wildwood series would be complete of course) is the "Sheriff" (which TM and I be working on), to be followed/contemporaneous w. a "Friar Tuck", a "Li’L John", and it seems a "Richard, the Lionheart", too. Oh, and wonderful news, not from the legends but rather the BBC series, will be joining our series, a "Harold, the Assassin" (to be created by Uncle Beastly, the latest member of our Wildwood (Robin Hood) series, and which I am most pleased and excited to announce to all of you (you see what great things all of you inspire = awesome!)
That said, there of course be many, many characters in/associated w. the legends of Robin Hood, be it the legendary tales, or the BBC series – and so, if we haven’t gotten to your favorite character and you’d like to sign on to the series, then by all means, do so – just send either myself or TM a post, and join us! As the saying goes in Wildwood of course: the more, the merrier (psst. and GD, if you'd like to see Tuck as a dwarf, well, heh, here be your chance, yes?!!
(and thanks so much again, guys: as always, your comments are most kind, and are truly appreciated ~ on behalf of the Wildwood Gang, Tyr
, this combo was selected for theme/RP-reasons; that said, he also appears to be unique so far as it is the first to combine epic sorcerer with BG and PM, with a spell foci (there being only one other build according to the Pulse which utilizes this class combo, namely: Almalith’s Doom Lich (Sorc.28 /PM10/ BG2), Click Here , which looks like a very fun build with some nice HPs, but no use apart from Dark Blessing is there made of BG class, nor does it take on any spell foci, thereby differing from this Prince in these and many other respects). Without any further ado, please meet:
-- sorry guys: then, as we say in academia when it comes to joint authorship (and it’s so true): “please know that while this build is a result of both authors, any and all mistakes herein are purely attributed to myself, and myself alone (yep, the last minute edits I tells ya, always get me! 
