Class Acts: Sorcerer - "The Shivs of Sorcery"

[Klaus]

Sure, except in order to get there you are using a level 9 daily power and TWO FEATS. All this for an effect thats MUCH weaker than a 1st level. I dont see where this article is remotely useful for anything but the most remotely niche-y builds. Even then, the character would be better off playing Rogue to start with.

Congrats on getting published. Its too bad this is going to postpone any chance for USEFUL sorcerer articles.

No, only one feat (Mastery of Knives) gives you proficiency with kurkis and katars and lets you cast spells through them.

The damage of Force Daggers (2W+Cha) is comparable to Adamantine Echo (2d6+Cha). Where Adamantine Echo gives ongoing 5 thunder (save ends) and +2 AC (for encounter), Force Daggers has the added flexibility of being used as a 5W+Cha power. That adaptability gives you more options in combat, which is an advantage unto itself.

Other Sorcerer 9 spells of similar power include Season's Malaise (area 1, 2d6+Cha psychic, ongoing 5 psychic and can't take immediate or opportunity actions) and Prime The Fire (2d8+Cha fire and takes another 2d8 if attacks before next turn).

 

[Aegeri]

I thought the article was interesting, but none of my players who play sorcerers got anything out of it sadly (not playing melee builds). Sorcerers really could use a couple of good striker focused PPs. Still if anyone ever played a melee sorc this article would help a lot, plus it's on a concept I really adore.

 

[Marshall]

No, only one feat (Mastery of Knives) gives you proficiency with kurkis and katars and lets you cast spells through them.

True. That one loses the SBC tax.(and yes, SBC is a crappy feat)

The damage of Force Daggers (2W+Cha) is comparable to Adamantine Echo (2d6+Cha). Where Adamantine Echo gives ongoing 5 thunder (save ends) and +2 AC (for encounter), Force Daggers has the added flexibility of being used as a 5W+Cha power. That adaptability gives you more options in combat, which is an advantage unto itself.

Sure, if those options are actually an improvement. AE above does 2d6+5+CHA(AVG 12+CHA) to everyone in the same Blast 3 that FD does with additional riders. FD will average 12.5+CHA to a single target in the blast 3 or a pitiful 5+CHA to the whole blast unless you spend a feat. Even spending the feat only changes that to 20/8 + CHA. Thats pitiful, the versatility is a myth. And thats BEFORE you take into account the penalties for it being a weapon power instead of implement.

Other Sorcerer 9 spells of similar power include Season's Malaise (area 1, 2d6+Cha psychic, ongoing 5 psychic and can't take immediate or opportunity actions) and Prime The Fire (2d8+Cha fire and takes another 2d8 if attacks before next turn).

You seem to have left out the RANGE 10 on each of those powers...and Prime the Fire is area burst 1 4d8 or 2d8+faux stun. Both of those powers put FD to shame even after the feat investment.

What about Winds of Change? Friendly Close BURST 3, 3d8+CHA + Push 3, Miss 1/2 + Push 1, Effect FLY SPEED until EONT.

I'm sorry, but even the best powers in this article aren't worth the space it took to print them.

There's just NO WAY someone who looks at the Sorcerer class can get the idea that they should be in Melee. Maybe if they ditch the dagger requirements and made this a Class Acts Swordmage it could be competitive.

 

[Rel]

Marshall, you are not required to like the material presented but you ARE required to be respectful and polite about not liking it.

 

[Klaus]

Marshall, you're forgetting that brutal 1 (in the case of a kukri) doesn't make you treat 1s and 2s (which would bump the damage just a bit). By allowing a reroll of all 1s, it gives you a greater chance of rolling max. damage. And high crit (in the case of a katar) shines when you have to roll up to nine d20s (there are many ways of getting an increased threat range, for that matter).

Plus, Force Daggers is close (no opportunity attacks like ranged or area), friendly (targets enemies only) and is a blast *weapon* attack. That means that everything you can pile on to increase weapon attacks is valid: Two-Weapon Fighting (and its tree), Weapon Focus/Expertise, powers and items that let you target Reflex instead of AC, etc.

Add to that Ensorcelled Blade, which can be used as a melee basic attack (and as such, as an opportunity attack, which can be greatly enhanced by the above feats and effects).

And Lightning Cuts, which is a minor action weapon attack that targets Reflex!

Are the powers useful for all builds? No, they aren't, but that was never the intention. The point of the article is to facilitate a specific type of sorcerer (a melee skirmisher).

 

[malcolm_n]

Great Article, thank you for making this a viable option for us as sorcerer players.

 

[Vael]

I for one, welcome more minor action attacks. Sorcerers could use some more stuff to do with their minor actions.

I'm quite pleased with the article, I like that I no longer need to be a half-elf with eldritch strike to get a good arcane melee basic attack.

 

[Mengu]

After giving it some time, and looking at this article again, I think the major issue is that it doesn't help existing sorcerers. It creates a new niche for a melee sorcerer build, but the average sorcerer player who doesn't rely on Sorcerous Blade Chanelling looks at the article and walks away disappointed.

CA articles excite a portion of players, and they look forward to them with great expectations for their build, and this article just gives them something else that they didn't want or need, which is likely the cause of what disappointment there is. The people who like the article I think are looking at it from the perspective of "Oh I can make this new kind of character now." It's hard to please everyone all of the time, but the article seems to have pleased at least some people.

And I still think the best power of the lot, Lightning Cuts, is outperformed by Flame Spiral, even for the build offered in the article. The two powers compete at the same level. With Flame Spiral, you do some initial damage to up to 3 targets with your standard action, and 1-3 of them that you manage to walk up to will automatically take 1d6+mods damage (no hit roll required) at the beginning of their turns. The minor action attack at best does 2d6+mods damage but requires a hit roll. I'm thinking an additional small element such as a couple square slide would have differentiated the utility of the power sufficiently.

 

[Klaus]

Thanks for the feedback.

 

[Robtheman]

Fun and inspiring article. I won't comment on the mechanics, but I will thank you for helping to gel my next Nemesis. I developed an assassin NPC named Shiv last week. He's part of the Order of Blackblades. However I did not want a single target striker or a shadow magic lurker. Too much parity with the parties Assassin MC Rogue.

It would seem this was meant to be. An assassin in spirit but Sorcerer in practice. =) I'll build it out in CB when it gets added then simplify into a monster block. Thanks for the creative thinking and fun alternative to standard Sorcerers.