First time caster advice

[Theroc]

Okay, I'm here for more build advice questions.

It's for Living Enworld, so SRD(and not all the unearthed arcana) and homebrew content located http://www.enworld.org/forum/living-en-world/142438-rules-mechanics.html there are available.

The area is low in lower level characters, so I am creating a caster character so I can possibly tag along in an adventure for slightly higher characters.

I am deciding between a Wizard and a Sorcerer, leaning towards sorcerer because the idea of preparing spells constantly and that inflexibility is somewhat annoying during an adventure, or so I imagine.

Characters are created using a 30 buy point system, so one can have an idea of how far I can play with attributes.

Honestly, ideally I'd like something akin to the battle sorcerer(though the battle sorcerer is not an approved class in LEW so I'd need to come up with another way to get a similar outcome)

I like the idea of swapping melee for spells if the opponent breaks away.

If anyone has advice, particularly advice on spells choices and very good spells to know of, I'd be very appreciative.

 

[Particle_Man]

Well I would recommend pumping up your "casting stat" (int for wizards, cha for sorcerors) to 18, using 16 of your 30 points. This makes it harder to save against your spells, and gives you more spells per day.

 

[Theroc]

lol, thanks for the advice Particleman, but that was probably the one thing I knew from the start. Thanks regardless, glad you wanted to help.

 

[Pinotage]

I'd suggest something like a dwarf wizard. You get the Dwarven Waraxe proficiency which improves your melee capability, and the +2 Con. Try and aim for a buckler or something to improve AC. The spell failure is not that bad. If you can live with 10 or 15% then try and get better armor until you can get mithral bucklers and chain shirts. Sorcerer will give you better melee capability since you can cast your 'buffing' spells more often but it's also fairly limited in selection. Obviously spells like Enlarge Person will help.

Pinotage

 

[Starbuck_II]

I'd suggest something like a dwarf wizard. You get the Dwarven Waraxe proficiency which improves your melee capability, and the +2 Con. Try and aim for a buckler or something to improve AC. The spell failure is not that bad. If you can live with 10 or 15% then try and get better armor until you can get mithral bucklers and chain shirts. Sorcerer will give you better melee capability since you can cast your 'buffing' spells more often but it's also fairly limited in selection. Obviously spells like Enlarge Person will help.

Pinotage

Unless, they changed the rules and I missed it:
Dwarves only grant exotic proficiency for people with martial proficiency: that means Fighters, Barbarian, rangers, etc.

You might be thinking of Pathfinder Dwarves.

Anyway, Theroc: have you considered Bard?
Bardic Music is useful for high level dudes because nothing mimics it's bonus to damage (the bonus to hit is also hard to bypass).
While it is a standard action to activate: it requires no action to maintain.
Yuo can keep it up all day (unless you lack Melodic Casting feat and want to cast a spell).

Bards can wear armor, cast spell, fight with 3/th bab, etc. There is a sterotype to get over, but the class itself is decent.

 

[Pinotage]

Unless, they changed the rules and I missed it:
Dwarves only grant exotic proficiency for people with martial proficiency: that means Fighters, Barbarian, rangers, etc.

No, you're right. I was thinking of a previous character that had been built along the OP lines, and forgot about the level of fighter he had.

 

[Theroc]

Well, the bard never really appealed to me, as the concept of needing music or poetry to perform the majority of the features doesn't really fit the type of characters I like to play... (being I'm not much for doing those things myself), so I either play Sorcerer or Wizard most likely.

 

[Ffaelfarrin]

Short answer:
I’d recommend wizard (for his great versatility), even if not multiclassed
Sorcerer is more the artillery (more spells) but is no real “allrounder”..


Long answer:
Well, personally I’d recommend a gish – a fighter/caster mix – to ye. I myself play one (elven bladesinger – for the fluff J) and am very content with it.

Concerning the decision wizard vs. sorcerer: keep in mind that when you choose to choose sorcerer you never can learn any new spells (except for swithing one spell now and then at level ups). You have your chosen spells with you for the rest of your character-life.
In my opinion, casters have to be versatile, they have to be able to blend into the situation.
A door needs to be opened? No problem, ‘knock’ solves our problem. A wall has to be climbed and none of your party members has a bow/x-bow with him? ‘Animate rope’ will do the trick. Not to speak of all the other useful spells – and there are lots out there (even in the PHB)
Just leave a slot open, give the wizard fifteen minutes to prepare et voila – problem solved.

So, I personally prefer the wizard much. But yeah, if you prefer to be the spell-artillery, then you should go for sorcerer / warmage / whatever.

To arc back to the gish: Imo a gish offers the best mix of versatility, even if this versatility “costs” some specialisation – that means being really good at one or two things.
You are not the main damage dealer like a barbarian or a fighter. And you are not the archmage who masters each and every arcane secret.
But you are a fighter who augments his fighting skills strongly with magic – and at this you’ll be really good. Buff yourself and go into melee. If you got hit hard, retreat and pepper your foes with some ranged spells.
And with wizard levels in the build, you can even be of more use, for you can not only fight in melee and ranged combat, but also use some nifty utility spells.

 

[Runestar]

If you like the many slots a sorc gets, consider trying out the focused specialist variant in complete mage. You ban one extra school, but effectively get an extra slot each lv. So you end up with the same number of slots as a sorc, and you still learn new spells 1 lv earlier.

 

[Theroc]

I had been leaning towards sorcerer for the spontaneous casting(as I'd like having the Dragon Disciple PrC open to me, and there's another Homebrew PrC available) but I discovered recently that one of the homebrew feats in LEW actually would allow a Wizard to fill the "able to spontaneously cast arcane spells" prereq, making them the more attractive option.

As for a Gish, Ffaelfarrin, that was my ideal combination, but it's my understanding that at later levels I'll be unable to hit consistently with my spells if I start multiclassing.

I've seen that point so often it makes me worried that watering down a 'fighter' or 'wizard' will make me subpar in both areas to the extent that I'll be useless. It also raises the issue of "Where to I put my attribute points?"

Gish is what I wanted, from the beginning really. I intend to start off as a caster(as early levels charging into the fray is stupid[The campaign may have me doing adventures above my level]) and then go multiclass into a more warrior-esque class in the future.

So, my current dilemma is: With a 30 point buy, how do I create a warrior/caster who will be effective in the long run?

I haven't had much experience in the actual game, so my knowledge is based on prowling, so my view may be getting skewed by the powergaming or 'munchkins'(new term I've learned since being on EW).

So, at the moment I will begin as a Wizard, and work from there. Bladesinger isn't available to me regardless of racial selection, however. Complete Arcane or Complete Warrior are not available for LEW. In fact, my first post indicates the allowed material, which is mostly just the PH, DMG, and whatever else is covered in the SRD.

Any suggestions for build planning?