[3.5] How to build a highly random Wizard?

[Endarire]

I know of Initiate of the Sevenfold Veil, Fatespinner, and Wild Mage from Complete Arcane. None seem especially random. (The Wild Mage's caster level modification ain't enough.)

I've considered using a Wild Surge Chart from 2E, but I wanted to know what other options existed.

What homebrew exists for such a concept?

[bannable]

I know of Initiate of the Sevenfold Veil, Fatespinner, and Wild Mage from Complete Arcane. None seem especially random. (The Wild Mage's caster level modification ain't enough.)

I've considered using a Wild Surge Chart from 2E, but I wanted to know what other options existed.

What homebrew exists for such a concept?

You could always rule that all magic behaves as if in a wild magic zone. Rules for that can be found in the DMG.

[Felhammer]

One easy way to make a Wizard feel really random is to pick a spell level, roll a d8 for the school, then an additional die depending on how many spells are listed under that school and for that level.

[mootoall]

I believe there's a class called the Revolver Mage somewhere on there boards, though I don't have a link on me, and tabbing out to find it isn't an option (gorram phone). Try a search for that maybe?

[dgnslyr]

Make a card for each of your spells known, put them in a deck, shuffle it, and draw a card whenever you want to cast a spell.

[bannable]

Make a card for each of your spells known, put them in a deck, shuffle it, and draw a card whenever you want to cast a spell.

This actually sounds kind of fun. Like a Crusader, but better.

[Kaww]

Make a card for each of your spells known, put them in a deck, shuffle it, and draw a card whenever you want to cast a spell.

Sounds great. It may be messy at higher lvls, since you have ridiculous number of prepared spells (you would be using the whole deck, maybe more). Still I think I found my favorite wizard nerf ever!

[Randel]

Could have a character who decides thing randomly like how Two Face from Batman decides it (its called Flipism).

Whenever you need to make a fast decision then flip a coin or roll a dice to see what to do. The great thing is that you don't have to actually obey the result.

If you're not sure if you should go left or right, flip a coin. If you see the result and don't like it then go with the other route. The thing about Flipism is that it may appear that you're just randomly following the dice but infact its more complex:

If you want to determine something by a coin flip then you first need to identify two seperate courses of action. If you do that and suddenly think of a third option then pull out a d6 and go for a three-way decision. The mere act of using a random dice to choose different courses means that you have to think of the choices beforehand.

Then, once you've thought of choices and roll to see the random result, if you see the result and don't like it you can just choose to ignore it. The dice just lets you make your own decision that way.


This whole system has the advantage of letting the person look like they are completely chaotic but are in fact quite organized about how they make their decisions. That, and they can quickly decide things rapidly when they need to (could be useful at the game table) or take more time if its really necessary.


So yeah, I'd say have a somewhat normally built character but have him use a system to make quick decisions via coinflip (but not be bound to the result).

[Killer Angel]

...and obviously, give him a Rod of Wonder.

[Runestar]

You could play a shadowcraft mage, but everytime you replicate a spell, roll on some table to determine what spell is generated? Or you could simply "simulate" the spell to be duplicated.

[Kobold-Bard]

I believe there's a class called the Revolver Mage somewhere on there boards, though I don't have a link on me, and tabbing out to find it isn't an option (gorram phone). Try a search for that maybe?

For reference: Revolver Mage.

I like the Crusader-style cards idea.

[HunterOfJello]

For reference: Revolver Mage.

I like the Crusader-style cards idea.

Revolver Mage + Crusader Style spell access = Genius


A class based on a sorcerer with more spells but has access to them randomly like a Crusader would be awesome.