Gandalf, mage or sorcerer?

Whalken · 01-15-2002, 01:59 PM

I am just about to start a new SoA-game based on the characters from LotR. Now, I have no problems so far, until I get till Gandalf. I just cant decide if I'm gonna make him till a pure mage or a sorcerer!
So Gandalf, mage or sorcerer?

-Whalken

Spelca · 01-15-2002, 02:27 PM

I'd make him both. But that's just me.

J'aran · 01-15-2002, 02:35 PM

I don't think he can really be compared to either of those, but if you have to make a choice, I'd say Sorcerer. From reading the Silmarillion, I know he's one of the Mayar (don't quote me on this as it has been a while since I read it, it might be something else), 'lesser divine beings' if you will. I am under the impression that he doesn't have to study to gain his magic, just like Sorcerers. Again, don't quote me on this, as I'm not entirely sure.

Sir Byronas · 01-15-2002, 02:36 PM

I would say mage/cleric! He gots a lot of knowledge and you can't say what form those both.

Eldoran · 01-15-2002, 03:16 PM

Remember, he does wield Glamdring rather well, so in the context of BG2 I would make Gandalf a Fighter dualclassed to a Mage.

Points should probibly be spent into longsword and single weapon style...

On a side note, druidic spells would pretty much work as well for gandalf, IE fireseeds when he was trapped in the trees with the dwarves in The Hobbit.

Mourn Yauntyyr · 01-15-2002, 04:24 PM

Well, J'aran is right, Gandalf is a Mayar, which is basically equivalent to a lesser angel in Christian theology. In my Tolkien based AD&D setting I have him at the following stats:

Gandalf (true name Olorin)
Fighter 7/Mage 17 (though I would make him a sorcerer with the new rules)
S 17
I 20
W 23
D 16
C 19
Ch 17
Hp 104
AL NG

You're gonna need Shadowkeeper to make him this way.

Glorfindel · 01-15-2002, 04:49 PM

Now y would u have him as netrual good Mourn???? I would have made Gandalf Chaotic Good... cause alot a timez has he just gone and done wat he wantz even against the inhabitants rulez [img]smile.gif[/img] ...

Gammit · 01-15-2002, 05:30 PM

My $.02

A.) Gandalf, and the other Istari (Saruman, Radagast, etc.) are indeed not human. As far as I know (just finished the Silm), they never say just what the Istari are, except that they are indeed non human. It is implied that they are Maiar (lesser gods).

B.) the Istari were put on Middle Earth to help the fight against Sauron and the ring not so much to do good as to restore the balance that "God" originally intended. Given that, plus Gandalf's seeking cousel from Saruman, the leader of the Istari, would make Gandalf Neutral Good.

...then again, I could be relapsing into idiocy, which would make me wrong, wrong, wrong...

Gammit · 01-15-2002, 05:32 PM

p.s. although the Istari would definitely be Sorcerers

andrewas · 01-15-2002, 05:57 PM

gandalf a mayar? never thought of it like that i must admit. i figured he might be one of the high elves, but not a mayar. still this way makes more sense. no, it dosent work.

LOTR/SILLMARILLION SPOILERS AHEAD, if you care.

gandalf dies, properly, and has a talk with manwe and gets sent back to middle earth temporarily. a mayar woudnt die if the first place, although a balrog is a fallen mayar so mayby. damn it, i just dont know. but then saruman is one of the istari and falls during the course of the books, and IIRC all of the mayar who lacked the wisdom to avoid siding with morgoth had already fallen.

anyway, the closest ad&d comes to gandalf (whatever he is) would be a human(for the look of it if nothing else) sorceror with additional melee abilities and maybe some cleric/unique spells as well.

01-15-2002, 01:59 PM	#1
Whalken Elite Waterdeep Guard Join Date: January 15, 2002 Location: Norway Posts: 23	I am just about to start a new SoA-game based on the characters from LotR. Now, I have no problems so far, until I get till Gandalf. I just cant decide if I'm gonna make him till a pure mage or a sorcerer! So Gandalf, mage or sorcerer? -Whalken __________________ <b>Whalken, the gaming spirit</b>

01-15-2002, 02:27 PM	#2
Spelca Emerald Dragon Join Date: January 3, 2002 Location: From Slovenia, in Sweden Age: 43 Posts: 931	I'd make him both. But that's just me. __________________ At one time or another there will be a choice: you or the wall. (J. Winterson)

01-15-2002, 02:36 PM	#4
Sir Byronas Mephistopheles Join Date: October 2, 2001 Location: Greece Age: 36 Posts: 1,463	I would say mage/cleric! He gots a lot of knowledge and you can't say what form those both. __________________ <br />I\'ve searched the whole world and ended up back in Ironworks. Home sweet home!

01-15-2002, 04:24 PM	#6
Mourn Yauntyyr The Magister Join Date: December 1, 2001 Location: Kansas Posts: 127	Well, J'aran is right, Gandalf is a Mayar, which is basically equivalent to a lesser angel in Christian theology. In my Tolkien based AD&D setting I have him at the following stats: Gandalf (true name Olorin) Fighter 7/Mage 17 (though I would make him a sorcerer with the new rules) S 17 I 20 W 23 D 16 C 19 Ch 17 Hp 104 AL NG You're gonna need Shadowkeeper to make him this way. __________________ Mourn Yauntyyr<br />HDM, Tzach Neveril<br />An all-Drow NwN server<br />[url]\"http://www.tzachneveril.com\" target=\"_blank\">www.tzachneveril.com</a>

01-15-2002, 05:30 PM	#8
Gammit Elminster Join Date: October 26, 2001 Location: Sterling Heights, MI, USA Age: 47 Posts: 477	My $.02 A.) Gandalf, and the other Istari (Saruman, Radagast, etc.) are indeed not human. As far as I know (just finished the Silm), they never say just what the Istari are, except that they are indeed non human. It is implied that they are Maiar (lesser gods). B.) the Istari were put on Middle Earth to help the fight against Sauron and the ring not so much to do good as to restore the balance that "God" originally intended. Given that, plus Gandalf's seeking cousel from Saruman, the leader of the Istari, would make Gandalf Neutral Good. ...then again, I could be relapsing into idiocy, which would make me wrong, wrong, wrong... __________________ IW resident science and mathematics teacher<br /><br />\"No, no, you\'re not thinking; you\'re just being logical.\"<br />-Niels Bohr

01-15-2002, 02:35 PM	#3
J'aran Mephistopheles Join Date: December 12, 2001 Location: Fryslân, The Netherlands Age: 45 Posts: 1,493	I don't think he can really be compared to either of those, but if you have to make a choice, I'd say Sorcerer. From reading the Silmarillion, I know he's one of the Mayar (don't quote me on this as it has been a while since I read it, it might be something else), 'lesser divine beings' if you will. I am under the impression that he doesn't have to study to gain his magic, just like Sorcerers. Again, don't quote me on this, as I'm not entirely sure.

01-15-2002, 03:16 PM	#5
Eldoran Dungeon Master Join Date: December 4, 2001 Location: Home Posts: 96	Remember, he does wield Glamdring rather well, so in the context of BG2 I would make Gandalf a Fighter dualclassed to a Mage. Points should probibly be spent into longsword and single weapon style... On a side note, druidic spells would pretty much work as well for gandalf, IE fireseeds when he was trapped in the trees with the dwarves in The Hobbit.

01-15-2002, 04:49 PM	#7
Glorfindel Ma'at - Goddess of Truth & Justice Join Date: January 9, 2002 Location: Mt. Gambier, Australia Age: 37 Posts: 3,337	Now y would u have him as netrual good Mourn???? I would have made Gandalf Chaotic Good... cause alot a timez has he just gone and done wat he wantz even against the inhabitants rulez [img]smile.gif[/img] ...

01-15-2002, 05:32 PM	#9
Gammit Elminster Join Date: October 26, 2001 Location: Sterling Heights, MI, USA Age: 47 Posts: 477	p.s. although the Istari would definitely be Sorcerers __________________ IW resident science and mathematics teacher<br /><br />\"No, no, you\'re not thinking; you\'re just being logical.\"<br />-Niels Bohr

01-15-2002, 05:57 PM	#10
andrewas Harper Join Date: October 2, 2001 Location: Aberdeen, Scotland Age: 43 Posts: 4,774	gandalf a mayar? never thought of it like that i must admit. i figured he might be one of the high elves, but not a mayar. still this way makes more sense. no, it dosent work. LOTR/SILLMARILLION SPOILERS AHEAD, if you care. gandalf dies, properly, and has a talk with manwe and gets sent back to middle earth temporarily. a mayar woudnt die if the first place, although a balrog is a fallen mayar so mayby. damn it, i just dont know. but then saruman is one of the istari and falls during the course of the books, and IIRC all of the mayar who lacked the wisdom to avoid siding with morgoth had already fallen. anyway, the closest ad&d comes to gandalf (whatever he is) would be a human(for the look of it if nothing else) sorceror with additional melee abilities and maybe some cleric/unique spells as well. __________________ [img]\"http://www.sighost.us/members/Zvijer/andrewas.gif\" alt=\" - \" />

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