A Sorcerer's beginnings.

[tadkins]

Mainly a question on how to build a nice backstory for a sorcerer character.

For other classes it seems pretty easy. A new fighter comes fresh out of training from their military's boot camp or other physically demanding locale. A new wizard graduates from their magic academy/ends their apprenticeship from their master. A new cleric goes forth after training by their church. And so on.

A sorcerer though, seems less clear. They manifest these magical powers from their bloodline at a certain age...and then what? How do they tap into their character's potential to become an official level one adventurer? Do they just kind of gain it after learning they have powers? Is there some sort of "Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters" out there for newly reborn sorcerers? Can they study at a magical academy or with a master wizard like new wizards can? Looking for some ideas.

[khadgar567]

Mainly a question on how to build a nice backstory for a sorcerer character.

For other classes it seems pretty easy. A new fighter comes fresh out of training from their military's boot camp or other physically demanding locale. A new wizard graduates from their magic academy/ends their apprenticeship from their master. A new cleric goes forth after training by their church. And so on.

A sorcerer though, seems less clear. They manifest these magical powers from their bloodline at a certain age...and then what? How do they tap into their character's potential to become an official level one adventurer? Do they just kind of gain it after learning they have powers? Is there some sort of "Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters" out there for newly reborn sorcerers? Can they study at a magical academy or with a master wizard like new wizards can? Looking for some ideas.
good old apprentice ship is kinda must which player chooses what flavor their initial guidance comes good old secrets from family, dragon, demon, angel or fey getting keen interest in new born and there is daddy sold his soul to something so you get to know how you control your powers plot. and depending how you multi class one of your superiors gets the clue before something goes bad and decides to ship you to proper facility option

[Psyren]

Is there some sort of "Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters" out there for newly reborn sorcerers?

Funnily enough, this is Xykon's backstory :smallbiggrin:

I usually have mine be self-taught, or possibly drop-outs; I would imagine that most of the ones who are successful with formal study of magic go on to be Arcanists instead.

[karinrin55]

It's really up to you.
Ask your DM if there could be a Xavier themed school for sorcerers, you could invent it if he/she allows it.
It also depends on other aspects of your backstory, are you from a place where it's shameful to have these powers (your mother having an affair with a wizard, or it's believed to be demonic or evil)? Or do you have dragon or fiend in your bloodline to explain these powers?
Another one could be a tribal past where you inherit these powers from the past shaman family.
It could go many ways. Explain a bit more about the character and where they are from and I could help you a little more.

[RoboEmperor]

My sorcerer's backstory is, she used to be the most powerful epic wizard in existence. She then cast Wish wishing for the ability to cast spells spontaneously without preparation and the wish turned her into an amnesiac level 1 sorcerer with all of her former enemies now gunning for her.

[Telonius]

The source of Sorcerers' powers has been left kind of unclear, so it's really up to you and how the DM treats it in the setting. You might come from a family famous for its arcane bloodline, that nurtured or encouraged it; or you might be the one-in-50-generations weirdo that was excluded and feared for it.

[tadkins]

It could go many ways. Explain a bit more about the character and where they are from and I could help you a little more.

The character in question is a Human Void-Touched (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/sorcerer/archetypes/paizo-sorcerer-archetypes/wildblooded/mutated-bloodlines-paizo/void-touched/) Bloodline sorcerer. Beyond a fascination with space and a desire to travel across the cosmos to other worlds, I haven't developed too much of a backstory for him. Partly what prompted me to make this thread.

[Psyren]

Sorcerers are unique in that, unlike most classes they typically don't seek out their profession, rather it comes to them. For a Fighter, Wizard, Rogue, even a Cleric or Druid, the person often starts down the path of seeing "could I do this" first. Until a sorcerer's powers manifest, they have no real reason to believe they could be one unless their lineage is very apparent, and even then it might have skipped their own generation.

Thus, more than most other classes, a sorcerer's background is often shaped more by how others react to them than by the outlook of the character themselves. One day they're not a sorcerer, the next they are, and it can quite literally happen overnight.


The character in question is a Human Void-Touched (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/sorcerer/archetypes/paizo-sorcerer-archetypes/wildblooded/mutated-bloodlines-paizo/void-touched/) Bloodline sorcerer. Beyond a fascination with space and a desire to travel across the cosmos to other worlds, I haven't developed too much of a backstory for him. Partly what prompted me to make this thread.

Void-Touched is a mutated form of the Starsoul bloodline, which has ties to the Dark Tapestry between the stars. In addition to the origin presented in the text (you come from a lineage of stargazers/explorers etc.) you can also have some event be a catalyst for the powers too, like exposure to vacuum, encountering an alien of some kind (including a Great Old One or an agent thereof), or a celestial occurrence coinciding with the character's birth like some kind of alignment, or even a starless and moonless night.. It could also be left a mystery, since the night sky is one thing anyone can be exposed to.

[Telonius]

Okay, you've got the motivation - set up the roadblock. Something's been preventing him from traveling. What is it? Family or society that wants him to stay, duty, debt, lack of money, lack of ability.

(Seems like Fharlanghn would be a pretty thematic deity for him, btw)

[karinrin55]

Void-Touched is a mutated form of the Starsoul bloodline, which has ties to the Dark Tapestry between the stars. In addition to the origin presented in the text (you come from a lineage of stargazers/explorers etc.) you can also have some event be a catalyst for the powers too, like exposure to vacuum, encountering an alien of some kind (including a Great Old One or an agent thereof), or a celestial occurrence coinciding with the character's birth like some kind of alignment, or even a starless and moonless night.. It could also be left a mystery, since the night sky is one thing anyone can be exposed to.

To go off of that you could be an apprentice of a powerful wizard or cleric who studies the void, then in one of the experiments they conducted the tear to the void they created could rapture or an alien being could come out and attack you before being banished back by your mentor.
From there on you felt these power surges in you that you couldn't quite control and developed magical abilities.
You then turned to your master for help and either they taught you or sent you to a specialist who could.
You can fiddle with the finer details such as the extra-planar creature that "touched" you, your mentor and way of education as to control your newly gained power.

[tadkins]

Thanks everyone for your help so far. :) You guys have given me a ton of ideas to work with.

Gonna head to bed, will probably have a little backstory written up later tomorrow to present, see what you guys think.


To go off of that you could be an apprentice of a powerful wizard or cleric who studies the void

That's actually another question that's been on the back of my mind. If a sorcerer does apprentice to a wizard, would he or she really be able to learn anything from the wizard? Sorcerers aren't the brainiacs that wizards are, so they can't really learn magic from the logical and studious point that the wizard can. Would a wizard, in turn, have the capability to help teach a sorcerer to control their newly manifested powers? Since they're drawn forth through willpower and not equation.

I imagine a sorcerer and a wizard or cleric could share basic concepts about certain fields (i.e. the Void), but not much else.

[Psyren]

(Seems like Fharlanghn would be a pretty thematic deity for him, btw)

Some Golarion deities that would fit as well:

Desna (CG, wanderers/travelers and stars, probably the most fitting)
Shelyn (NG, beauty - of the sky/cosmos in this case)
Nethys (TN, magic, always a safe bet)
Norgorber (NE, darkness and secrets)

You could also play against type with a deity that favors community/home and hearth, like Erastil (LG). He would stargaze not to explore, but to find his way home.



That's actually another question that's been on the back of my mind. If a sorcerer does apprentice to a wizard, would he or she really be able to learn anything from the wizard? Sorcerers aren't the brainiacs that wizards are, so they can't really learn magic from the logical and studious point that the wizard can. Would a wizard, in turn, have the capability to help teach a sorcerer to control their newly manifested powers? Since they're drawn forth through willpower and not equation.

I imagine a sorcerer and a wizard or cleric could share basic concepts about certain fields (i.e. the Void), but not much else.

About how to use their magic, probably not a lot they can teach each other - but about magic itself, absolutely. Spellcraft and Knowledge (arcana) are both trainable skills after all, and the wizard is frequently going to be in a position to teach the sorcerer a thing or two.

As I mentioned above though, I would probably represent a Sorcerer who is capable of truly grasping a Wizard's teachings as an Arcanist mechanically.

[karinrin55]

If a sorcerer does apprentice to a wizard, would he or she really be able to learn anything from the wizard? Sorcerers aren't really the brainiacs that wizards are, so they can't really learn magic from the logical and studious point that the wizard can. Would a wizard, in turn, have the capability to help teach a sorcerer to control their newly manifested powers? Since they're drawn forth through willpower and not equation.
He could describe how it feels, how the energy affects the caster. Instead of studying from a book the wizard could demonstrate the spell and describe how it works so the sorcerer could try and replicate it.
Like when a music teacher explains how to hit a certain note by telling you to use your diaphragm instead of straining your throat.

[tadkins]

Still toying with some ideas. Found this neat little gem though.

http://www.d20pfsrd.com/bestiary/monster-listings/aberrations/great-old-ones/great-old-one-tawil-atumr/

Was thinking about connecting the sorcerer character with this being in some way. They share some similarities. CN alignment, has an affinity for traveling and the Void, and his spell selection of course will reflect that. Admittedly my Knowledge (Lovecraft) skill can use some work, and I'm not too familiar with who Yog-Sothoth is, but so there seems to be some potential here.

Anyhoo, just a small update. xD



As I mentioned above though, I would probably represent a Sorcerer who is capable of truly grasping a Wizard's teachings as an Arcanist mechanically.

Makes sense. I'm aiming for a kind of character that *isn't* that smart though. I've always struggled with playing high INT characters because I feel like they would be able to come up with ideas and tactics that my RL self cannot. I've made plenty of RP mistakes due to my own clumsiness and stupidity that would be totally out of character for a high INT wizard.

A big part of why the Sorcerer class appeals to me. I can be a dummy and still be a part of the magical world. That's kind of what I'm aiming for. An unremarkable person, failure at everything, looked down upon by many, powerless against the world...until the day he woke up with the power to fight back.

[Psyren]

Still toying with some ideas. Found this neat little gem though.

http://www.d20pfsrd.com/bestiary/monster-listings/aberrations/great-old-ones/great-old-one-tawil-atumr/

Was thinking about connecting the sorcerer character with this being in some way. They share some similarities. CN alignment, has an affinity for traveling and the Void, and his spell selection of course will reflect that. Admittedly my Knowledge (Lovecraft) skill can use some work, and I'm not too familiar with who Yog-Sothoth is, but so there seems to be some potential here..

Hm... recurring dreams maybe?


Makes sense. I'm aiming for a kind of character that *isn't* that smart though. I've always struggled with playing high INT characters because I feel like they would be able to come up with ideas and tactics that my RL self cannot. I've made plenty of RP mistakes due to my own clumsiness and stupidity that would be totally out of character for a high INT wizard.

A big part of why the Sorcerer class appeals to me. I can be a dummy and still be a part of the magical world. That's kind of what I'm aiming for. An unremarkable person, failure at everything, looked down upon by many, powerless against the world...until the day he woke up with the power to fight back.

Agreed, sorcerer would be perfect for that.

[tiercel]

Makes sense. I'm aiming for a kind of character that *isn't* that smart though. I've always struggled with playing high INT characters because I feel like they would be able to come up with ideas and tactics that my RL self cannot. I've made plenty of RP mistakes due to my own clumsiness and stupidity that would be totally out of character for a high INT wizard.

A big part of why the Sorcerer class appeals to me. I can be a dummy and still be a part of the magical world. That's kind of what I'm aiming for. An unremarkable person, failure at everything, looked down upon by many, powerless against the world...until the day he woke up with the power to fight back.

Given that sorcerers have so many different possible origins, many of which are more of an “awakening” than a choice to learn and train (cf. the way psychic or mutant powers or even World of Darkness Mages are often presented, e.g. “hello puberty/traumatic event, why is my home suddenly on fire?” sort of thing), it’s likely that your “training” was more about learning to control your powers (giving you the eventual outlet to refine, expand, and master them) than to learn them per se — which opens up the possibility that you may have learned from a sorcerer of a different power-source, or from a nonsorcerer spontaneous caster (e.g. a bard — most likely, but not necessarily, a Cha-using arcanist... but if different magics “aren’t that different” then even a ranger or some other itinerant “magic dabbler” might have sufficed).

After all, if it’s not the specific tradition or source that matters, but the ability to master your own potential... then your mentor might not necessarily have been able to teach you much about sorcerer magic (enough for you to be first level), but you need to get out there into the world (touch the stars?) to attain any greater mastery, sort of thing.

[RoboEmperor]

Sorcerer's fluff is, they are magical with 0 civilization. No studying. Just raw crude power. Their powers manifest at a young age, and once they mastered their basic magics they are a level 1 sorcerer. What's hard to understand about that? They master their power either by practicing by themselves or becoming an apprentice to another sorcerer.

Almost always, 99.9999% of the time sorcerers are dragon blooded.