Sorcerer Build Up
Jack Simth
First Post
The goal of that build is flexibility - such a Sorceror would very nearly always have just the right spell for the job.
If you want something that can dish out loads of damage to a single target (or a smaller amount of precision damage to a short list of targets), replace Silent Spell and Still Spell with Energy Substitution (Something other than Fire, Sonic reccomended) and Energy Admixture (the same), and take Scorching Ray as one of your 2nd level spells known - Energy Admixture it, and you get a 6th level spell slot that deals three touch 4d6 Fire + 4d6 (something) rays, for a total of 24d6 damage if you make all three touch attacks (good for that fighter that's in the way of your fighter's path to the opposing spellcaster ... assuming the opposing spellcaster isn't in range....) with no save - and they can crit, as they have attack rolls attached.
If you want to deal lots of damage to a nice, tight formation from a long ways away, replace Still Spell with Empower Spell (and Silent Spell for Enlarge Spell), and make sure to take Fireball as one of your spells known - 15d6 with a 6th level slot that can hit a formation of targets 1,760 feet away - exactly 1/3rd of a mile.
If you want to deal damage to lots of targets, take Fireball as one of your 3rd level spells, and swap Still Spell with Widen Spell - then for a 6th level spell slot, you can hit a wider formation (40 foot radius spread) for 10d6 fire damage to everyone in the formation.
If you want something that can dish out loads of damage to a single target (or a smaller amount of precision damage to a short list of targets), replace Silent Spell and Still Spell with Energy Substitution (Something other than Fire, Sonic reccomended) and Energy Admixture (the same), and take Scorching Ray as one of your 2nd level spells known - Energy Admixture it, and you get a 6th level spell slot that deals three touch 4d6 Fire + 4d6 (something) rays, for a total of 24d6 damage if you make all three touch attacks (good for that fighter that's in the way of your fighter's path to the opposing spellcaster ... assuming the opposing spellcaster isn't in range....) with no save - and they can crit, as they have attack rolls attached.
If you want to deal lots of damage to a nice, tight formation from a long ways away, replace Still Spell with Empower Spell (and Silent Spell for Enlarge Spell), and make sure to take Fireball as one of your spells known - 15d6 with a 6th level slot that can hit a formation of targets 1,760 feet away - exactly 1/3rd of a mile.
If you want to deal damage to lots of targets, take Fireball as one of your 3rd level spells, and swap Still Spell with Widen Spell - then for a 6th level spell slot, you can hit a wider formation (40 foot radius spread) for 10d6 fire damage to everyone in the formation.
Mistwell
Crusty Old Meatwad (he/him)
Just remember that, at that level, you will start encountering Spell Resistance and fairly high saves in your opponants. If you are going to be on the direct offensive with your spells, you need things that increase SRP (Spell Resistance Penetration) and the DC of your spells, OR you need to focus on spells that bypass those things (like the Orb spells from Complete Arcane, or rays, which will require some ranged feats and dex).
I contemplated briefly this build that cranks SRP and spell DCs for direct damage spells.
Human Sorcerer (Cold Evocation Specialist)
Lev 1 Sorc 1 Spell Focus feat: Evocations +1 DC, Greater Spell Focus feat: Evocations +1 DC
Lev 2 Sorc 2
Lev 3 Sorc 3 Energy Substitution feat (Complete Arcane): Cold
Lev 4 Sorc 4
Lev 5 Sorc 5
Lev 6 Elemental Savant 1, Draconic Heritage feat (Complete Arcane): Silver (Disguise Class Skill, +2 v. Sleep Paralysis Cold, requirement for Draconic Power)
Lev 7 ElmSv 2
Lev 8 ElmSv 3 Energy Penetration (SRP +2)
Lev 9 ElmSv 4 Draconic Power feat (Complete Arcane)(+1 Caster level and DC all cold spells)
Lev 10 ElmSv 5 Energy Focus +1 DC (-1 Spell Casting Level)
Lev 11 ElmSv 6
Lev 12 ElmSv 7 Cold Focus feat (Frostburn) +1 DC
Lev 13 ElmSv 8
Lev 14 ElmSv 9
Lev 15 ElmSv 10 Greater Cold Focus feat (Frostburn) +1 DC
+6 DC to cold evocations by 15th lev (spell focus, greater spell focus, energy focus, cold focus, greater cold focus, draconic power).
+3 SRP to cold spells by 9th lev (Energy Penetration, Draconic Power)
+1 Caster Lev to cold spells by 9th lev (Draconic Power)(helps make up for the lost caster level at 10th)
Obviously this guy puts the smackdown on opponants with evocations, all of which are cast automatically as cold spells. Frost Mage (from Frostburn) instead of or in addition to Elemental Savant is also an option.
I contemplated briefly this build that cranks SRP and spell DCs for direct damage spells.
Human Sorcerer (Cold Evocation Specialist)
Lev 1 Sorc 1 Spell Focus feat: Evocations +1 DC, Greater Spell Focus feat: Evocations +1 DC
Lev 2 Sorc 2
Lev 3 Sorc 3 Energy Substitution feat (Complete Arcane): Cold
Lev 4 Sorc 4
Lev 5 Sorc 5
Lev 6 Elemental Savant 1, Draconic Heritage feat (Complete Arcane): Silver (Disguise Class Skill, +2 v. Sleep Paralysis Cold, requirement for Draconic Power)
Lev 7 ElmSv 2
Lev 8 ElmSv 3 Energy Penetration (SRP +2)
Lev 9 ElmSv 4 Draconic Power feat (Complete Arcane)(+1 Caster level and DC all cold spells)
Lev 10 ElmSv 5 Energy Focus +1 DC (-1 Spell Casting Level)
Lev 11 ElmSv 6
Lev 12 ElmSv 7 Cold Focus feat (Frostburn) +1 DC
Lev 13 ElmSv 8
Lev 14 ElmSv 9
Lev 15 ElmSv 10 Greater Cold Focus feat (Frostburn) +1 DC
+6 DC to cold evocations by 15th lev (spell focus, greater spell focus, energy focus, cold focus, greater cold focus, draconic power).
+3 SRP to cold spells by 9th lev (Energy Penetration, Draconic Power)
+1 Caster Lev to cold spells by 9th lev (Draconic Power)(helps make up for the lost caster level at 10th)
Obviously this guy puts the smackdown on opponants with evocations, all of which are cast automatically as cold spells. Frost Mage (from Frostburn) instead of or in addition to Elemental Savant is also an option.
Mistwell
Crusty Old Meatwad (he/him)
mikebr99 said:
+2 caster level for fire spells? Wow, that's cool. Might be better to go that fire route with this build and skip the cold focus and greater cold focus feats in exchange for that +2 SRP and +2 caster level and an extra feat. Might want to use that extra feat for Searing Spell (bypasses resistance and immunity to fire damage) or Fiery Spell (+1 damage per die of fire spell), both from Sandstorm.
One of the key features of the sorcerer class is that it has no class features above 1st other than familiar - and generally familiars are crap.
You should take prestige classes that have full caster progression, all prestige classes get some extra features. That's how you build an effective sorcerer, by not being one.
Sorcerer is all in all a crap base class, because you gain nothing other than spells as you level up.
You should take prestige classes that have full caster progression, all prestige classes get some extra features. That's how you build an effective sorcerer, by not being one.
Sorcerer is all in all a crap base class, because you gain nothing other than spells as you level up.
Mistwell
Crusty Old Meatwad (he/him)
Veril said:
You could say the same about Clerics, and yet they are widely considered the most powerful class in the game. I think sorceror's are a pretty good class. I agree with you that a PRC is useful, but then I cannot think of a class where a PRC would NOT be useful other than perhaps druid.
Similar Threads
