The Sorceress has
always struck me as having a bit of an attitude. Maybe its
the clipped, hasty way she speaks, or the way she stands with
her hip cocked to one side. She seems like someone with something
to prove: a chip on her shoulder, a powerful woman in a medieval
world that doesn't think women should have power. This site
says she is "Solitary and reclusive, she acts based on
motives and ethics inscrutable to most, sometimes seeming
capricious and even spiteful." Hey, I can do capricious
and spiteful.
Now, what sort
of sorceress can I play, that I haven't done before? I've
done fire sorcs, cold, lightning, tri-elemental and other
combinations. Looking over at the strategy guides, I note
several subclasses, including some that became viable in the
expansion. Never thought to try a Charged Bolt sorceress,
or an Inferno sorceress or a... melee sorceress? That's new
to me! The build uses Enchant, some cold armor, and recommends
Thunderstorm as a back-up damage skill. This sounds interesting,
I think I'll try it.
Lessee... statwise,
she'll need lots of dexterity. Most of my melee characters
don't have a lot, their skills give them enough attack rating,
but the sorceress doesn't have that option. Besides, she has
skills that add to damage and defense, so she won't need the
biggest weapons and armor. Second priority is vitality, she'll
need all the life she can get. Strength comes in third, and
Energy a distant fourth. With all that dex, it would make
sense to use a shield, her blocking will be very high. This
would compensate for a lot of her weaknesses, and I know the
sword/shield combo is a good one. But I've heard sorceresses
have nice swing speeds with polearms, and besides, I'm not
doing this tour to stick with what I know works. Let's at
least try a polearm, when she's strong enough.
Now, what kind
of sorceress would not shun melee combat? One who not only
defies the traditions of general society, but the traditions
of her own magic clan. Capricious, spiteful, defiant, not
keeping with any kind of tradition. A personality begins to
suggest itself; all I need is a name. There's Morrigan, Celtic
goddess of war, but that reminds me too much of the demon
chick from Darkstalkers. Bodacia was a Celtic warrior woman
who defied the Roman empire. No, let's keep the Celtic names
for the Barbarian. To suggest the learning a mage would have,
let's go with something Greek: Xanthippe, the name of Socrates'
shrewish wife from The Republic. She was the bread-winner
of the marriage, and Socrates hated her, which seems a perfect
reason for someone to be a spiteful shrew.
