How Do You Run Sorcerer?

[PolterGhost]

A class that has always intrigued me was the sorcerer, ever since I read about it in the manual for Neverwinter Nights. More spells than the Wizard? No preparation of spells in advance? The only cost being a lack of free feats and having less spell choices overall? Unique enough to be one of the few classes that makes Charisma useful? Is Charisma ever useful outside of roleplaying purposes?

But I guess the same things that made the Sorcerer seem cool only made me shy away from them and jump on the Wizard bandwagon when it came to actual play. Wizards get bonus skill points because of their main spellcasting ability score? Wizards also can learn virtually any arcane spell (and replicate the effects of spells that aren't even on their list?) They get bonus metamagic and item creation feats on top of all of this? All at the cost of being cursed with remembering spells and dealing with knives, crossbows, and staves? Sign me up!

But man, sometimes I really really REALLY wish I had a specific spell that I could always have handy, especially when I don't know when I'll need a double cast of this one or a triple need for Dispel while my wand somehow vanished from under my nose. Extremely so when Sorcerers can just outright cast lower level spells in higher level slots without feeling like they wasted the slot (Three castings in this slot, but only one spell I know so far of that level? No matter when I can make use of my lower level spells some more!)



Now, I've read Solo's Sorcerer guide (name truncated), but I found it extremely lacking in what skills he considers worthwhile to take, or even how ability scores should be prioritized in both normal and high power situations. So, I guess my big question is, to those people who have played Sorcerer, how do you normally go about your daily life of fancy and spellcraft with the skills and abilities given to you?

 

[orion90000]

Its really just a matter of play style. If you want a character who can plan around a specific challenge play a wizard. If you want a character who is the best at what they do and what they do is decimate enemies, then play a sorcerer.

A wizard has more utility in different circumstances. If he knows what challenges lie ahead he can prepare for those challenges with his wide array of spells he has written down in his spellbooks.

A sorcerer is more of a party specialist member than a jack of all trades. What he lacks in versatility he makes up for in spontaneous casting.

That said, the sorcerer can carry scrolls, potion, wands, etc to make up for his limited spell capacity.

As far as skills go... Concentration to help with spell casting and Bluff for all other situations. "Of course I knew that... (Bluff check)"

 

[Empirate]

Skills you can't do much about. You basically need Concentration and Spellcraft reasonably high, and you also need to fulfill PrC prerequisites. This can actually be hard for the Sorcerer to pull off, what with low skillpoints and not all Knowledge skills in-class. So skills are probably not your forte - ever.

Ability scores are similarly straightforward. No matter what point buy you use, Charisma is gonna be maxed. Constitution goes as high as possible. If you are interested in Ray effects, you'll need Dex, which can otherwise be dumped. Int could be useful for more skillpoints, but whether those are worth your while depends on your chosen PrC's skill list. Wis and Str are utter dump stats.
Basically, a Sorcerer functions quite well with only two ability scores: Cha and Con.

Also, know that you will PrC out of Sorcerer as soon as you can (most probably meaning after 6th level, as many good caster PrCs require 3rd level spells). Sorcerer doesn't offer anything after 1st level except familiar progression. You can live without that, if you can get actual class features instead.

 

[Dandu]

but I found it extremely lacking in what skills he considers worthwhile to take, or even how ability scores should be prioritized in both normal and high power situations.

You're a sorcerer. You only have 3 skills worth maxing out, and one social skill to invest, at most, 5 ranks in.

As for ability scores, you're a spellcaster. That means your prioritize Charisma, Constitution, Dexterity, Intelligence, Wisdom, and Strength, roughly in that order. Swap Dex and Int if you want more skill points or to qualify for certain prestige classes.

 

[Uchiha_Arthas]

Not sure how on topic this is but my group have modded our Sorceress to what we felt the class should have been:

My current game's solution for our Sorceress is to gift her with the following:

1) Skills (1): Bump Skill points upto 4+Int (There was actual debate on making this 6+Int to Balance with Wizards having Int as main stat but we decided to stick with lower value for safety.)

2) Skills (2): Diplomacy, Gather Info, Intimidate, Bluff and Sense Motive are all class skill as according to the PHB's fluff of Sorceress being the party's face.

3) Metamagic Specialist: Sorceress gets this class feature (essentially being able use metamagic without increase in casting time) free at Level 1 (without having to sacrifice familiar)

4) Eschew Materials: Sorceress gets this feat for free at level 1.

5) Bonus Feats: Sorceress gets bonus feats at Level 5, 10, 15 & 20. She may use these feats for Metamagic or Heritage feats only. (Matching Wizard for bonus feats with Heritage option replacing Item Creation.)

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Sorcerer also has a few game mechanics & PrCls that are unique to it alone or accelerate ca few build types.

Certain multiclassing feats like Ascetic Mage let you combine martial arts & mystic prowess like no other arcane caster can.

Want to play a PC who casts spells and breathes fire? Most people aim for Dragon Shaman PrCl...but a human Sorcerer can do that at 1st level with a pair of Feats.

 

[Runestar]

Metamagic feats + spells which still remain useful at higher lvs, such as slow, glitterdust and ray of enfeeblement.

If you need extra skills, consider taking martial study to add class skills. Tumble and diplomacy are particularly attractive, and you can just afford them as a human sorc with 14 int.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Want to play a PC who casts spells and breathes fire? Most people aim for Dragon Shaman PrCl...but a human Sorcerer can do that at 1st level with a pair of Feats.

Which just gave me an idea about doing a 3.5Ed BBEG version of Francis Dolarhyde- "The Great Red Dragon"/"Tooth Fairy" from the Mind of Thomas Harris...

 

[pawsplay]

I usually go for spells with versatile uses, a couple of signature spells to cast repeatedly, and a fistful of scrolls. Summon monster, shadow conjuration and evocation, and telekinesis tend to top my spell lists.

 

[Fajita McJones]

The main thing to remember about being a Sorcerer is that they have very few spells know, but can draw their spells from a broader selection than the Wizard. That means they can learn a few Cleric and Druid spells on top of the Wizard spells. Everyone always seems to miss this line item in the character description, but it's there and it definitely makes a difference.

From the SRD:
"Spells- A sorcerer casts arcane spells which are drawn primarily from the sorcerer/wizard spell list... These new spells can be common spells chosen from the sorcerer/wizard spell list, or they can be unusual spells that the sorcerer has gained some understanding of by study."