Artist / Writer / Poet
Acquisitions Agent / Stock Broker / Insurance Broker
Operations Specialist / Personal Secretary
-TimD
DYER
Dyers used their skills to mix different components to form inks, dyes and colorful stains that could add tint and hue to clothing, furniture, fabrics, materials and artwork. Not only did they possess the ability to decorate fashionable wear but they also provided scribes and artists with the materials necessary for them to complete their work.
The Dyer had a multi-faceted job. Not only was the making of the various dyes difficult and tedious work but often it was dangerous too. Different berries and plants used to create the pigments often contained a degree of poison that was lethal if handled, inhaled or accidentally ingested. Though the Dyer put his or her life in jeopardy by working, the wages earned were quite meager and below average.
Most women held the positions of Dyers and though some were elevated to strictly work for the elite and nobility, most worked in small towns and communities.
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Depending on the wizard and situation, "Detective" or "Private Investigator" might be appropriate. Like the auditor, it gives you an excuse to do a lot of poking around and like the lawyer or translator there's an expectation of confidentiality so you don't need to give too many details about your exact activities - like what exactly you're detecting or investigating.
Agreed. Though a wizard who expects to be running cons could have a decent Bluff modifier on his own.In most cases, you wouldn't have a wizard running a con. He's your Fitz Simmons, the brainy nerd. The front man running a con may be smart, but the ONE most important quality is that he has to be SOCIAL.
Have you never met a social nerd?
Half-elf, 15 Point buy, 16+2 Int, 14 Cha. Designate Bluff with your racial skill focus feat and take the Fast talker social trait to make Bluff a class skill and get an extra +1. Bluff is at +10 at first level and you're still a solid wizard. Alternatively, go Tiefling and take the Beguiling Liar trait for a +4 racial bonus on bluff to lie (which makes up for the -2 cha). Halflings, gnomes, dhampir, and peri-blooded aasimar can also make solid wizard grifters. And don't forget that Enchanters get a bonus on bluff checks!
"Social" is not the wizard's niche (aside from the enchanter) and if you've got an appropriately built bard, rogue, sorc, etc in the group then great, they're probably the front man. But if, say, the party's face is a classic paladin, or if this is an NPC wizard flying solo, there's no reason the wizard can't step outside their class niche.
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Laundry (prestidigitation as clean cantrip).
Inspector for the homeowners association is the king of being up in everyone's business.
You can only pull this one off if you can convincingly ping as 'evil' though.
Civil engineer for poking your nose around buildings and has a less stringent alignment prerequisite...
Bail bondsman. Not official, but throws their weight around and for decent cash...
Historian. asks a lot of questions, but spends a lot of time indoors.
Meat popsicle. I hear it works.
pastrycook, baker
Great cover for a wizard. Ingredients and recipes can disguise Herbalism, Alchemy, Brewing Potions and Spellbooks.
I have had two wizards in the past use major components of their background and specialties as cover stories:
1) Cryptographer Do you know how much people will pay to break codes? Like... a lot! I had a character that was a typesetter who became a cartographer, so he had all sorts of linguistics stuff. It also explains why you have fancy books no one can read, fancy inks no one can use, and reams of blank paper. This character also took the scholar feat, and emphasized lots of knowledge skills pertinent to the languages he used.
It's probably the easiest to justify as a wizard, with the least amount of mechanical investment.
2) Fine Art Dealer I backed this one up with Merchant Family trait, and plenty of skill ranks in Craft (Painting, Sculpture, Jewelry) and Appraise. If you're going to take any craft feats, having craft skills is a no-brainer. If you have craft skills, you have masterwork tools, and if you have masterwork tools you can easily justify yourself as an artisan. Strange baubles, odd components, and a host of inks, scrolls, ledgers, paintings, belts, and whatnots are the bulk of Ultimate Equipment.
A huge upside of "Art" dealing is the justification for huge sums of money. Ancient heirlooms and fine art have often inexplicable values.
I'm sure you have more than enough ideas by now, but I've used these ones in the past. I love crafting, as it's a chance to make very fun story stuff that just isn't possible in other games.
- You want a Golem that serves cupcakes? No problem.
- You want a bracelet that makes hammocks for you and your friends? No problem.
- You want to turn the petrified corpse of a paladin into a land speeder? No problem
You just can't do these things in Diablo or WoW or any other format.
petrified corpse of a paladin into a land speeder?
scribble scribble scribble....
Yeah, we had a GM encourage an all evil campaign.
Fueled by humor, jolt cola, and 7 advanced academic degrees we destroyed the game. We accomplished zero of the planned adventures and destroyed all gnomes, most of a continent, and the majority of positive divine influence in the world. Such a great campaign!
Its not the spells or the like that's the issue I want a way to keep them close without it being obvious they're a magic user. Tutoring only works if you have someone to tutor, security and consulting raises the same issue of why your consulting/providing security. Merchant maybe but they aren't really being kept close for that.
If you hire someone to play a wizard [maybe even a low level wizard], you can be the "Aide" to them. Then everyone thinks the magic is from the other guy.
You could even invent a "famous wizard", and you are his secretary. No need for a live body. Use silent image in a room with a partially open window to have him pace back and forth. Then have him "seen" occasionally. Diviners cannot find him since he does not exist, yet his presence explains the magic and money you don't want to explain. You are just "handling" it for him.
The best way to make others ignore your power is to provide a believable reason for what they experience. The Bluff skill is great for this. Diversions like the above also are great. Planting rumors that back up your claim also helps.
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I have had two wizards in the past use major components of their background and specialties as cover stories:
1) Cryptographer Do you know how much people will pay to break codes? Like... a lot! I had a character that was a typesetter who became a cartographer, so he had all sorts of linguistics stuff. It also explains why you have fancy books no one can read, fancy inks no one can use, and reams of blank paper. This character also took the scholar feat, and emphasized lots of knowledge skills pertinent to the languages he used.
It's probably the easiest to justify as a wizard, with the least amount of mechanical investment.
Nit:
Cartographer = map makerCryptographer = code maker/breaker
/cevah
And if you say you're protecting the identity of a wizard who does not wish to be known, lie detect will ping true, because you're talking about you!
@ Cevah - That's what I get for writing from my phone. Absolutely a cryptographer for that chharacter. However, cartography would also be a great cover.