Building Ellette
Introduction
Few characters have changed as much over the course of the campaign as Ellette. One of the longest-serving members of Sordia Vignti. The party’s primary spellcaster. She began as a curious and impulsive young sorcerer struggling to control her magic. Years of adventures have transformed her. She has faced hags, dragons, and more than her fair share of self-inflicted problems. Her journey from inexperienced spellcaster to veteran adventurer has made her one of the campaign’s most recognisable characters. Let’s take a closer look at Ellette. Mechanics, and story, we will look at how to build Ellette, and learn more about the player behind her.
Who is Ellette?
Nikita:
She is the one that reigns everyone in, despite how much she hates it. She knows the others look to her for guidance. She has gotten better with her anger issues. She was very angry at the beginning. I think that was more so her trying to understand everything that happened. Now she just wants to protect everyone and the new home she built for everyone. She definitely still needs to sort out her family issues, though
What role does she fill in the party?
Nikita: I don’t want to say a leader, because she never wanted to lead. It just kinda happened, although that could be my need to have a problem solved correctly or what I perceive to be correct; that’s on me. I have definitely spent a lot of time trying to push others into the centre, so everyone gets their time to shine, as long as they don’t get us(party) killed
How do you want people to remember Ellette?
Nikita:
She is more than her anger issues, I think I have spent the last while trying to tone those down, and she was just trying her best, whether or not it’s a happy ending, who knows.
Meet The Player
Who are you?
Nikita:
I am Nikita, I am the DM’s Fiancé and I have been a part of this group since the beginning. I spend most of my time in and out of the game making David’s (DM) life harder. I think we can all agree that I spend most of my time arguing with you (DM) while we are playing. (Chronically tired and chronically a bitch comes with being chronically ill).
How long have you played D&D?
Nikita:
This campaign has been 5-ish years; I had only really dipped my toe before this.
Why only the toe dip? What had you interested?
Nikita:
I was interested because I grew up playing fantasy games, RPGs are my favourite Genre (Dragon Age, Fable, Mass effect, Kingdom of Amalur). I just never found a group I was happy with.
Why this group?
Nikita:
That’s a tough question. We were just a group of Bon-Bons with a dream, and everyone in the group has been easy to get on with for the most part, and made some good friends along the way.
DM Note:
Bon-Bon: Term of endearment bestowed upon the LGBTQIA+ members by the DM after a gift of sweets.
What inspired this character?
Nikita:
I really Fucking love elves, and when I was looking through all the types of Elf, Eladrin had the most “Notions.” This was coming off the back of my millionth playthrough of Dragon Age; they seemed the closest to the Elvhen, from that she kind of developed
DM Note:
Notions: A notion is a mental image or idea. In Irish slang someone with “notions” has elevated ideas about themselves. Usually used as an insult.
Did Ellette start the way she is now?
Nikita:
No, definitely has grown and changed a lot since the beginning, Trust issues mainly. I feel she is a bit easier to get on with now, just don’t annoy her or lie to her.
What’s your favourite moment involving Ellette?
Nikita:
When Strahd Killed Ellette. Mainly because nobody was expecting it and watching the party reacting to the potential loss of her kinda showed me how attached they got to her, and that it wasn’t just me. Shane & Damian giving Rachel the Birthday card with R.I.P Ellette and doing shots in her honour will always be so funny to me.
Behind the Screen
This death was a planned narrative moment discussed with the player beforehand. The intention was to create a dramatic and memorable scene while also resolving a balance issue that had developed over the course of the campaign. The character possessed an item that had proven significantly more powerful than originally intended. Rather than removing it through a rules change or DM intervention, the story was used to provide a natural conclusion to the item’s role in the campaign. When the character was killed, the item activated, sacrificing its remaining power to restore them to life before shattering permanently. This allowed the character to survive while ensuring the item left the campaign in a way that felt meaningful, preserving both the narrative impact of the moment and the continuity of the story.
Building Ellette
Step 1: Race
What Species is Ellette?
Nikita:
Eladrin
Why did you choose an Eladrin?
Nikita:
Eladrin was most like the Elvhen from Dragon Age, and I really like the idea of the Feywild.
Did this choice inspire how you wanted to play the character?
Nikita:
Not really, it helps in terms of building the world she came from. But I already had a rough idea of her personality before choosing Eladrin
Fey Heritage: Why Eladrin Works So Well for Ellette
One of the most important parts of building Ellette is her Eladrin heritage. While the race provides a strong thematic connection to her Feywild origins, it also offers several practical benefits that support the character’s playstyle throughout a campaign.
Fey Step
The standout feature of the Eladrin is Fey Step, a short-range teleport that allows the character to move up to 30 feet as a bonus action. This provides exceptional battlefield mobility, allowing Ellette to escape danger, reposition for spells, reach difficult locations, or avoid opportunity attacks. For a spellcaster who often finds herself in trouble due to questionable decisions, having an emergency escape button available is incredibly valuable. Throughout a campaign, Fey Step can be used just as often for survival as it is for dramatic entrances.
Fey Ancestry
Eladrin also benefits from Fey Ancestry, granting advantage on saving throws against being charmed and immunity to magical sleep effects. While this may seem situational at first glance, charm effects are surprisingly common in many D&D campaigns. Fey creatures, vampires, enchantment-focused spellcasters, and numerous magical creatures rely on these abilities. Fey Ancestry provides an extra layer of protection against losing control of your character at a critical moment.
Seasonal Flexibility
Perhaps the most unique aspect of the Eladrin is their connection to the seasons. After a long rest, an Eladrin can change their seasonal aspect, altering the additional effect granted by Fey Step. • Autumn focuses on charming nearby creatures. • Winter allows you to frighten enemies. • Spring improves mobility by bringing an ally along. • Summer adds extra fire damage. This flexibility means the race can adapt to different adventures and situations without requiring any changes to class features or spell selection. Whether you need additional battlefield control, support options, mobility, or damage, the seasonal system provides useful tools that remain relevant throughout an entire campaign. For Ellette specifically, the changing seasons also serve as a useful reflection of her personality and emotional growth, allowing the mechanics and story of the character to reinforce one another.
Step 2: Class
What Class and Subclass did you choose?
Nikita:
Sorcerer, Draconic Bloodline
Why Sorcerer? and then why Draconic Bloodline?
Nikita:
When I was starting, the idea of managing and preparing spells seemed too much. I wanted a more focused character, and I requested if I could use a sword as well, kinda like how my souls(Dark Souls, Elden Ring) characters are built. As for Draconic Bloodline, the long story short, it seemed the coolest to me.
Step 3: Ability Scores
Ability Score STR 8 CON 14 WIS 8 DEX 15 INT 10 CHA 15
If you could change one ability score today, would you?
Nikita:
No, it was how I wanted her to be, like if I wasn’t bad at something, I couldn’t be great at anything, with how D&D mechanics work. Sorcerer and the Draconic Bloodline Ellette’s class is a Draconic Bloodline Sorcerer, a subclass that combines powerful spellcasting with increased durability and a strong connection to dragonkind.
Core Class Features
Unlike Wizards, Sorcerers draw their magic from an innate source rather than years of study. Their defining feature is Metamagic, which allows them to alter spells in ways other spellcasters cannot, making them one of the most flexible arcane classes in the game. The Draconic Bloodline subclass grants additional hit points, improved armour class, elemental damage bonuses, resistance to a chosen damage type, and eventually the ability to grow draconic wings.
What New Players Should Know
The Draconic Bloodline is one of the most approachable Sorcerer subclasses for new players. The extra durability makes mistakes less punishing, while the subclass features are easy to understand and consistently useful. The most important thing to learn is how to use Sorcery Points and Metamagic effectively. These abilities are what set the Sorcerer apart from other spellcasters and can dramatically improve the impact of your spells. While tougher than most arcane casters, a Sorcerer still performs best when staying behind the front line and supporting the party with powerful magic.
Signature Choices
Signature Spell: Chromatic Orb or Disintegrate
Why these spells?
Nikita:
I like the control that Chromatic Orb gives you, roll to hit, choose damage type, and I like the 2024 version, where it bounces to additional enemies. Disintegrate mainly because it’s just really cool, I like the idea of pointing at someone them Poomph a pile of ash. It’s definitely made some really good story moments in-game.
Signature Magic Item: Moonblade
Why this item?
Nikita:
It’s Key to Ellette. Like in everything, you’re going to see Ellette with her sword. She first trained with swords, trained as a fighter before the whole Visidera thing. I wasn’t supposed to have it much later in the campaign. But a very dramatic in-game moment, Nissa’s Death (Ellette’s Sister), made it so that she ended up with it WAY too early, to the dismay of the DM.
Most Used Ability: Fey Step
What do you find yourself doing every session?
Nikita:
It helps get around the battlefield quicker, that and if I add a subtle spell, I can start spooking people.
Spell Choices
When building a Sorcerer, spell selection is one of the most important decisions you will make. Unlike Wizards, Sorcerers know a limited number of spells, meaning every choice needs to earn its place. For a character inspired by Ellette, focus on spells that emphasise mobility, battlefield control, and explosive damage. Spells such as Shield and Misty Step improve survivability, while classics like Fireball showcase the destructive potential of a Draconic Sorcerer. It is also important to maintain a balance between offensive and utility spells. While it can be tempting to fill every spell slot with damage options, having access to defensive and support magic often proves more valuable over the course of a campaign. Most importantly, choose spells that work well with your chosen Metamagic options. A carefully selected spell list can often achieve far more than simply taking the highest-damage spells available.
The Character Evolution
Level 1 Ellette
What was the original plan?
Nikita:
Not die, pick the simplest spells that would let me do damage. First time playing a caster, so I wanted it to be fun and not stressful.
Level 5 Ellette
What changed?
Nikita:
This was around the time you (DM) and I had a discussion on the Sorcery Point Variant for spells. You (DM) didn’t like that I figured out how to go infinite, so we discussed this rule and built it in. I like the control it gave me. You (DM) liked that I couldn’t take the piss, honestly, every Sorcerer should take a look at it and see how they feel.
Level 10 Ellette
What surprised you?
Nikita:
By the time I got to this level, I could do so much damage! But I realised if I got hit once, I was dead, A true glass cannon, much like every character I play in video games. So, it made it easier for me to plan accordingly. I’ve got back-up plans of back-up plans. Have to make sure I don’t get hit, Something I’m used too Current Ellette
What would you build differently?
Nikita:
Nothing, if I changed anything, she wouldn’t feel like Ellette. I’m not really into Meta-Builds or anything like that.
A Note on Spell Points
One of the biggest differences between Ellette and a standard Draconic Sorcerer is the use of the optional Spell Points variant rule found in the Dungeon Master’s Guide. Rather than managing a collection of spell slots of different levels, Spell Points replace those slots with a single pool of magical energy that can be spent to cast spells as needed. This creates a much more flexible style of spellcasting and allows a Sorcerer to decide exactly how they want to allocate their resources throughout the adventuring day. For a character like Ellette, whose magic is portrayed as an innate force rather than something carefully studied and prepared, the system proved to be an excellent thematic fit. Instead of thinking in terms of individual spell slots, magic feels more like a reservoir of energy that can be drawn upon whenever required. That flexibility does come with trade-offs. Spell Points can make resource management more forgiving and may increase the overall effectiveness of a spellcaster in certain situations. As a result, groups interested in using the variant should discuss it with their Dungeon Master beforehand and consider how it fits within the balance of their campaign. While entirely optional, the variant is worth considering for players who want their Sorcerer to feel less like a traditional spellcaster and more like a character wielding raw magical power.
Advice For Players
Would you recommend this build?
Nikita:
Yeah, it’s fun, and if you’re a control freak like me, apparently, you’ll like it.
What mistakes should new players avoid?
Nikita:
Stop looking online for builds, just build something you’ll find fun, talk to your DM
What is the hardest part of playing Ellette?
Nikita:
trying to figure out that middle ground of when to be angry and when not to be angry, finding that middle ground has been difficult because you don’t want to affect the table negatively
What is the most fun part?
Nikita:
Because Eladrin’s emotions are mainly ruled by their Seasons, the way we have Ellette, she can’t really control the change between seasons; it’s more so reaction based than a clear decision. The one time I got to run as “Spring,” I really leaned into it. Now Graxen has a fear of ghosts, and “they” don’t know Ellette was part cause of this.
Describe Ellette in one sentence
Nikita:
Someone who is lost, just trying to find their way.
Final Thoughts
Ellette has changed considerably over the course of the campaign. What began as a curious and often reckless young sorcerer gradually developed into one of the party’s most dependable and influential members. While her story has been shaped by years of adventures, difficult choices, and more than a few disasters, the foundations of the character have remained the same throughout. From a mechanical perspective, the combination of Eladrin and Draconic Bloodline Sorcerer creates a highly mobile spellcaster with strong survivability and access to some of the most powerful magic in the game. The build is effective, flexible, and beginner-friendly while still offering plenty of depth for experienced players. Of course, no guide can truly recreate what made Ellette memorable at the table. Her defining moments came from the decisions she made, the relationships she built, and the consequences she faced throughout the campaign. The mechanics provide the framework, but the character is ultimately created through play. If you decide to build your own version of Ellette, don’t focus on copying every spell, feature, or character choice. Instead, embrace curiosity, take risks, and allow the character to grow naturally through the stories you create together.
Final Character Sheet