[Balanor]

From a DM standpoint, when I play Red Wizards one thing that I try to consider (and which goes back to some questions about how Red Wizards view other wizards and/or other arcane users) is this: most Red Wizards are very opportunistic and will do anything to gain and retain more power. Hells - they even make it a habit to deal with treacherous demons to get certain things done.

Therefore, I have the view that a Red Wizard will certainly tolerate other arcane casters as long as there is benefit in doing so for them. So as long as the wizard/sorcerer in question is willing to work with them, is respectful, and does not to damage the Red Wizard’s standing among others I’d say they really wouldn't care. It’s when an openly practicing wizard or sorcerer becomes no more use or openly hostile to a Red Wizard (or can find no other Red Wizard allies) that they should become worried. All it takes is one ‘threat to Thay’ speech or command to the legion and their career or life in the open should be effectively over.

Even the question of a ‘is this person a danger to Thay?’ really would only correspond to a ‘is this person a danger to me personally?’ or ‘can I control/manipulate this person?’. One of the big reasons I love Thay and the vast opportunities it provides is that it is a true powerhouse, but the majority of those in control of it (Red Wizards) are so self-centered and greedy for power that they take and ask for assistance from anything and anyone that can help move them a half step forward – without a thought to what the future might bring. The sense of ‘nationalistic pride in Thay’ translates really to ‘individualistic pride in myself’ and how one person can step on or pull someone else down so they can rise just a little higher.


And Arios - welcome back! You've been gone too long. Now that we have a number of PC Red Wizards we need a good paladin around to mess with them. :)

[Aramil Leah]

Arios good job generalizing the sorcerer. This makes me want to make one now... Mmm, destruction...

[EdinSumar]

Well, a Sorcerers power is generally linked with his or her emotions. A Bard is a Sorcerer who expresses his or her powers through the conduit of music or art in general, as such it is usually more specialized but yet powerful. If a Sorcerer does not have the right mental fortitude or willpower, it can indeed end in a lot of explosions and all around damage to the surroundings. Not all Sorcerers are badly equipped to deal with it, of course, but "with great power comes great responsibility", and some just plain do not have that responsibility.

- Edin

[Sundraoi]

Edin said

"with great power comes great responsibility", and some just plain do not have that responsibility.

At least you said "some" and not "all sorcerers", Edin. I happen to know a couple of sorceresses who are very responsible. Of course one of these same sorceresses could just as easily get pissed and blast the hells out of someone.

[EdinSumar]

That's kinda the point, it does not matter. In the face of public opinion, individual personalities mean very little. You are always part of a faceless group, which has a certain reputation, even if you have nothing to do with said group and did not even pick to be part of it. All sorcerers are clueless delinquents who are unfit for their power, all mulan are power hungry sociopaths who would slit their own mothers throat for just a little more influence, all Half Orcs are violent thugs who give in to their baser urges, all druids are violent fanatics who would rather burn down a whole city than a single tree, all Ilmatari are foolish martyrs without survival instinct and all Sharessians are sluts.

When some do not have the required responsibility, compassion, temperence (or whatever else it takes to be accepted) and those some are being focused upon, the whole group suffers, even if the group is not one you choose to be part of or you even like to be associated with. A great majority of Half Orcs are -not- violent thugs, for example (most make their living as Menial Workers, Security or Mercenaries) but a great majority of those who are noticed and thus color the perceptions of everyone they meet are, making life harder for the others. Likewise, it is easy to think of Half Orcs as being violent thugs precisely because of this, it's exactly the same for Sorcerers. Half Orcs are violent thugs because of their orc blood, it can't be helped. Sorcerers are destructive, powerhungry and without discipline because of the way they acquired their powers, it can't be helped. Screw all those hours that one particular Sorcerer spent learning to control his powers, it just does not matter.

I don't know if I am being coherent enough right now, for I am quite tired, so sorry if it came off as rambling.

- Edin