“Sorcerers wield innate magic that is stamped into their being. Some Sorcerers can’t name the origin of their power, while others trace it to strange events in their personal or family history. The blessing of a dragon or a dryad at a baby’s birth or the strike of lightning from a clear sky might spark a Sorcerer’s gift. So too might the gift of a deity, exposure to the strange magic of another plane of existence, or a glimpse into the inner workings of reality. Whatever the origin, the result is an indelible mark on the Sorcerer, a churning magic that can be passed down through generations.”
Introduction
Welcome, gifted ones, inheritors, and magical anomalies to your guide on roleplaying your Sorcerer as a mortal conduit of unimaginable power. In this article we will cover the defining narrative characteristics of a Sorcerer and discuss the important decisions which define your character. We will also highlight the common tropes associated with Sorcerers in fiction, and offer some advice for how best to emulate, or subvert, these for your character. If you’re ready to forge your Sorcerer into a figure whose name is writ large in the legends of the world, then read on.
What makes a Sorcerer?
In Dungeons & Dragons a Sorcerer is an individual who has innate magical power and is able to cast spells without any formal training or instruction. As such the most important aspect of the character is the source of their incredible powers, so take some time to consider this before you move on. The origin of a Sorcerer’s power has a profound influence upon their being, and these adventurers often exhibit quirks and signs of this influence in their appearance and behaviour. For example, Sorcerers with the power of draconic blood sometimes grow scales of the same color as their draconic ancestor, or they may share personality traits associated with that draconic color.
Creating Your Sorcerer
Your Sorcerer is starting to take shape in your mind, becoming elevated beyond the values on your character sheet. Let’s develop them further, by deciding how they learned to harness their magical powers (or not!), considering what their personal philosophy on life is, and looking at some tropes in fiction which we can use for inspiration.
How did your Sorcerer learn to hone their natural magical abilities?
What age did your Sorcerer manifest their abilities for the first time? Were they a young, innocent child or a burgeoning adult? What happened, and how did they feel about the experience? Bear in mind it is perfectly valid for your Sorcerer to dislike their powers, particularly if they are difficult to control or tend to be overly destructive.
Which leads us to another vital question: How did your Sorcerer learn to harness their magic? Did they train in solitude, learning how to focus their mind? Perhaps they sought out practitioners of the magical arts for aid? A brave decision, as most wizards and their ilk see Sorcerers as magical liabilities unfit to cast spells. To become an adventurer, your Sorcerer must have learned to use their abilities rather than be controlled by them, at least to some extent.
What is their personal philosophy?
Speaking of adventuring, think about why your Sorcerer became an adventurer! Did they choose this nomadic, dangerous life out of necessity or curiosity? How do they feel about being around others? Do they trust themselves not to hurt their companions or undermine the group?
Consider how your Sorcerer views themselves, too, and the impact of this on their interactions with others. Some Sorcerers see themselves as demi-gods among mortals, relishing their natural power, whereas others have a far more negative relationship with their magic, seeing themselves as time-bombs which could explode disastrously at any time. How does your Sorcerer view themselves and the world around them?
Tropes
Sorcerers have been in fantasy fiction for decades, most notably in the Sword and Sorcery genre (no surprise there!). However, the term Sorcerer is often used interchangeably with Wizard, Mage, Witch, and any number of other terms for magically-inclined individuals and we must think critically to find relevant examples of characters which fit into D&D’s definition of a Sorcerer.
A good example of this nomenclature is Harry Potter (or any magic-user in the setting), as he is naturally able to use magic without any training or external power. Harry is told to hide his powers, even forbidden from using them, by his adopted family. If your Sorcerer manifested their powers at a young age, did they keep them secret or show them off? How did that impact their life? Roald Dahl’s Matilda is another example of a supernaturally gifted child who is a victim of circumstance. Was your Sorcerer adopted by a supportive and welcoming individual or family like Miss Honey or the Weasleys? Such characters make excellent NPCs to include in a backstory.
Another example is Simon Aumar from Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, a young half-elf of potent magical lineage who struggles to control his powers. The inability to control his magic when needed causes Simon to be plagued by self-doubt and fear, which manifests in his self-deprecating nature. Perhaps your Sorcerer can relate to Simon’s plight, and they too struggle to rely on their magical abilities. Like Simon’s story arc, this is fertile ground for character development, especially as your Sorcerer adventures with the party!
The origin of your Sorcerer’s power is both the foundation and capstone of the character, influencing every aspect of their being. Next we’ll look at the sub-classes available to your Sorcerer and how each could manifest in a roleplaying context.
Sorcerer Subclasses: Your Source of Arcane Power
Draconic Sorcery
Breathe the Magic of Dragons
Some Sorcerers draw their power from a bond with an ancient dragon, either through a direct blessing from the legendary being themselves, or via more esoteric means such as visiting a site saturated in the dragon’s magic. No matter the cause of your Sorcerer’s draconic heritage, they will likely display evidence of their connection with the unique dragon who changed their life.
Some Sorcerers bear physical manifestations of this power by growing scales, horns, frills, or even tails similar to those of their primogenitor! Others look normal save for their reptilian pupils and dazzling sclera, resembling actual dragons in disguise. Others still bear no physical evidence of their connection at all, yet their personality reflects that of their draconic ancestor, for good or ill. For example, your Sorcerer may be a steadfast hero, but if they are connected to the malign, predatory power of an Ancient White Dragon, they may find themselves tempted to prey on the weak rather than protect them. An excellent internal conflict to add depth to the character!
Another crucial roleplaying aspect of your Sorcerer is how their magic manifests in the world. As the spells and abilities in the game are thematically ambiguous, it gives us scope to put our own stamp on what a character’s magic looks like. For example, if a Wizard and a Sorcerer both cast Fireball, the Wizard’s spell may manifest as a searing ball of white-hot flame, but the Sorcerer (with a Silver dragon ancestor) casts their spell with a cold, blue flame (potentially inflicting cold damage at your GM’s discretion).
Aberrant Sorcery
Wield Unnatural Psionic Power
There are things in the multiverse which exist outside mortal comprehension, such as The Far Realm or the Astral Plane. Dimensions filled with sanity-testing physics and maddening geometry which strain the mental and spiritual fortitude of those who connect with them. Some Sorcerers draw their power from these cursed realms, or the strange beings which live within them, such as the Gith or the Illithids. No matter the connection, ties to such things leave an indelible mark on the Sorcerer’s mind, body, and soul, and their resilience is repeatedly tested as they grapple with both their reality and the influence of another.
The origin of an Aberrant Sorcerer’s power plays a significant role in that character’s life. Aberrant influences, by their very nature, are strange and confusing, often plaguing those who receive such power with unwanted side effects such as hearing incessant whispers from the void. If your Sorcerer has been touched by power of this nature, consider what unnatural phenomena they have experienced and how this affects both their world-view and their daily life. For example, if your Sorcerer hears the whispers from beyond, perhaps they are desperate to be free of them by any means necessary. That’s a great plot hook for your GM!
How does your Sorcerer’s magic reflect their psionic gifts? Does the color shift through cosmic hues of violet, magenta, and cyan? Are spectral tentacles and eyes present around them when they cast powerful spells? Do they levitate slightly as ghostly stars orbit their body? This is an excellent opportunity to get creative!
Clockwork Sorcery
Channel Cosmic Forces of Order
Amongst the Planes of existence there are some which operate with utmost efficiency, perfectly ordered by the divine mandates of the deities which rule them. One such Plane is Mechanus, the home of the mechanical beings known as Modrons, and Clockwork Sorcerers are able to trace their power back to such realms. Sorcerers of this nature often see themselves as an individual cog in a grand machine or as part of an incomprehensibly vast cosmic plan to which they are not privy.
How is your Sorcerer connected to such a strange, magical place? Were they accidentally transported across the Planes? Did they touch an artifact imbued with curious powers? Sorcerers infused with magic of this nature tend to reflect their connection via their careful and measured temperament, and the mechanical manifestations which accompany their casting.
The 2024 Player’s Handbook offers some ideas for such manifestations, including: the appearance of spectral gears, clock-hands spinning in the eyes of the caster, and the sounds of a ticking clock audible to you and anyone affected by your magic. Whilst you could use any or all of these suggestions, it is a delightful opportunity to create some which match your character specifically, or which add flavor to their magic. For example, your Sorcerer’s magic may look like liquid bronze or a rapidly connecting series of gears!
Wild Magic Sorcery
Unleash Chaotic Magic
Magic is the most potent natural force in the multiverse, imbuing the very fabric of reality with its ephemeral power. Sometimes the roiling chaos of creation, which serves as the foundation of the multiverse, will instill a mortal with the smallest fraction of its power. In these rare instances, such individuals sometimes find themselves inadvertently saturated with the raw, chaotic energy of magic, though no one knows exactly why.
These are the Wild Magic Sorcerers, and they are conduits of incredible, yet unpredictable, power. For these people magic is exhilarating, terrifying, and infuriating all at once due to its tendency to add additional effects to any spell they dare to cast. When Wild Magic Sorcerers unleash their powers, they channel the very energy of creation, usually in a prismatic explosion of riotous color!
Wild Magic Sorcerers are fascinating characters, most notably because of the unpredictable nature of their power. Consider how such abilities have influenced their life and continue to do so. Do they relish the chaos, or are they desperate to avoid it? Did they accidentally hurt a loved one in the past by unleashing their power? There is a wealth of roleplaying opportunities in these questions, and your GM will love the chance to explore them with you.
Conclusion
By now, you should have a clear picture of your Sorcerer in your mind: who they are, how they honed their abilities, and their Subclass. If not, don’t worry! Have a chat with your GM and ask them to help you create a Sorcerer who fits into the game you all want to play, fits into the world you’re playing in, and has connections with other player characters. Happy adventuring!
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