Best race for sorcerer?
- Thread starter Gnome
- Start date
Its LA +1 but your DM might let you run a Hobgoblin Sorceror if you ask, other than that you might consider Goblin, Kobold, Raptoran (Races of the Wild), Illumian (Races of Destiny if I remember correctly), Dwarf (Cha penalty isn't that bad, especially when you can walk around and say you play a dwarf arcane caster 
), Changelings are cool, Dreamsight Shifters are nice, Orcs rock in Eberron, Halfling riding a dinosaur. Remember that for roleplaying its not so much your race as your nation in Eberron.
), Changelings are cool, Dreamsight Shifters are nice, Orcs rock in Eberron, Halfling riding a dinosaur. Remember that for roleplaying its not so much your race as your nation in Eberron.
Thanee
First Post
Nac_Mac_Feegle
First Post
Someone above mentioned going elf, and I would second this, not just because elves are more magically inclined, but wiht that free bow proficiency, you could eventually go for "Arcane Archer" Prestige class in the DMG (I assume its still a viable class in 3.5?) which can be a fun class.
I have seen elven fighters pick up one level of sorceror just to take the class, but a pure sorceror going arcane archer would be a pretty nice combo I think. I can't remember all the prerequisits off hand, but the amount of archery feats and BaB would probably mean you could go AA at about 10th, but by then, the spells you could deliver via the bow will be amazing
Feegle Out
I have seen elven fighters pick up one level of sorceror just to take the class, but a pure sorceror going arcane archer would be a pretty nice combo I think. I can't remember all the prerequisits off hand, but the amount of archery feats and BaB would probably mean you could go AA at about 10th, but by then, the spells you could deliver via the bow will be amazing
Feegle Out
Mustrum_Ridcully
Legend
Elf is definitely a good choice, especially at low levels for the bow profiency (provided you can afford a bow, that is). At those levels, the major difference between a spellcaster and a warrior are hit points, not attack bonus, so ranged combat is a good idea.
I think the only race I would avoid is a race with a charisma penalty (even though I really like the Idea of the Warforged Artillery Platform
), all others have their pros and no real cons.
One interesting point in case of Eberron: There are a lot of nice feats there that fall outside the standard reportoire - the Dragonmarks feats, the Action Point Feats and so on. To get them, being a Human helps a lot. A Dragonmark feat and/or the Favored in House feat gives a lot of roleplaying oppertunities, and your DM nice hooks for your character. If you're interested in them, I'd defintely consider human (assuming you still want all the other important sorceror feats).
Though in case of Dragonmarks, other races give access to interesting Dragonmarks (especially the Halfling houses have some nice options...). Even if you don't go for a Dragonmark now, a Heir of Siberys might later be a nice option..
I think the only race I would avoid is a race with a charisma penalty (even though I really like the Idea of the Warforged Artillery Platform
), all others have their pros and no real cons. One interesting point in case of Eberron: There are a lot of nice feats there that fall outside the standard reportoire - the Dragonmarks feats, the Action Point Feats and so on. To get them, being a Human helps a lot. A Dragonmark feat and/or the Favored in House feat gives a lot of roleplaying oppertunities, and your DM nice hooks for your character. If you're interested in them, I'd defintely consider human (assuming you still want all the other important sorceror feats).
Though in case of Dragonmarks, other races give access to interesting Dragonmarks (especially the Halfling houses have some nice options...). Even if you don't go for a Dragonmark now, a Heir of Siberys might later be a nice option..
krunchyfrogg
Explorer
I agree with MadMaxim and Findlebarb: Go with the Gnome.
The CON bonus keeps you alive, and assists with Concentration checks, which is probably the most important skill for a sorcerer.
Size and STR shouldn't matter for your little guy, and a few extra spells are always nice.
If not Gnome, I'd suggest a Human for the extra feat and skills.
The CON bonus keeps you alive, and assists with Concentration checks, which is probably the most important skill for a sorcerer.
Size and STR shouldn't matter for your little guy, and a few extra spells are always nice.
If not Gnome, I'd suggest a Human for the extra feat and skills.
krunchyfrogg
Explorer
Not to single you out, as many have suggested Elf, but I don't see the point. Sorcerers already start with Crossbow proficiency, and there really isn't too much of a difference between a light crossbow and a shortbow, especially since you probably won't be sinking any feats into using these weapons. Also, I know the Elf gets the Sword proficiency, but if you get into melee, you're not playing your Sorcerer wisely.Mustrum_Ridcully said:
The lower CON on a class that already gets very few HP (and needs Concentration) completely rules out Elf IMHO.
Gnome was my first thought on the question too. You do get the Strength penalty, but you do get the extra con...extra HP is always welcome when you roll 1d4 for HP. Other than that you get all of the other special qualities that a Gnome would aquire:
- +2 racial bonus on saving throws against illusions.
- Add +1 to the Difficulty Class for all saving throws against illusion spells cast by gnomes. This adjustment stacks with those from similar effects.
- +1 racial bonus on attack rolls against kobolds and goblinoids.
- +4 dodge bonus to Armor Class against monsters of the giant type. Any time a creature loses its Dexterity bonus (if any) to Armor Class, such as when it’s caught flat-footed, it loses its dodge bonus, too.
- +2 racial bonus on Listen checks.
- +2 racial bonus on Craft (alchemy) checks
- low light vision
- +1 AC, +1 attack, +4 to hide
And you get some extra low lvl spells to throw around too. Spell-Like Abilities: 1/day—speak with animals (burrowing mammal only, duration 1 minute). A gnome with a Charisma (you're a Sorcerer...you are going to have a high Cha won't you?) score of at least 10 also has the following spell-like abilities: 1/day—dancing lights, ghost sound, prestidigitation. Caster level 1st; save DC 10 + gnome’s Cha modifier + spell level.
Damn, now I want to make one.
A little off topic rant: With all the hoopla in novels & Campaign worlrds about Elves being beings of magic/the weave, and other fanciful links to natural magic. I've always wondered since 3E why the Elves favored class isn't Sorcerer then? Especially since the Sorc magic is more natural compared to the Wizard class.
- +2 racial bonus on saving throws against illusions.
- Add +1 to the Difficulty Class for all saving throws against illusion spells cast by gnomes. This adjustment stacks with those from similar effects.
- +1 racial bonus on attack rolls against kobolds and goblinoids.
- +4 dodge bonus to Armor Class against monsters of the giant type. Any time a creature loses its Dexterity bonus (if any) to Armor Class, such as when it’s caught flat-footed, it loses its dodge bonus, too.
- +2 racial bonus on Listen checks.
- +2 racial bonus on Craft (alchemy) checks
- low light vision
- +1 AC, +1 attack, +4 to hide
And you get some extra low lvl spells to throw around too. Spell-Like Abilities: 1/day—speak with animals (burrowing mammal only, duration 1 minute). A gnome with a Charisma (you're a Sorcerer...you are going to have a high Cha won't you?) score of at least 10 also has the following spell-like abilities: 1/day—dancing lights, ghost sound, prestidigitation. Caster level 1st; save DC 10 + gnome’s Cha modifier + spell level.
Damn, now I want to make one.
A little off topic rant: With all the hoopla in novels & Campaign worlrds about Elves being beings of magic/the weave, and other fanciful links to natural magic. I've always wondered since 3E why the Elves favored class isn't Sorcerer then? Especially since the Sorc magic is more natural compared to the Wizard class.
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