Class Imbalance?

[JoeBlank]

Erm... this doesn't seem to make sense to me. If you'd play it again without changes, then it would seem to be balanced fairly closely with the other casters. If it were too far below them, you'd obviously pick another class instead... Thus, it shouldn't need anything to 'balance' it.

You make a valid point. I guess it depends on how you define balance, or on how precise you want your classes to be balanced. I don't think find the sorcerer class unplayable as-is. I do think it is a little underpowered compared to the other classes. If I had my choice of one fix, I think it would be extra feats, probably at 5th, 10th and 15th, just to follow the wizard model. This would allow the sorcerer to have enough metamagic feats to make real use of that ability.

I compare the sorcerer to the fighter. Both classes have no "flavor" of their own. You make your flavor by picking spells or feats that define the character. And I would play a sorcerer again as written, but that is because balance, to me, is not required to have fun with a character. Same reason I would play a half-elf, and the reason I am playing a half-orc now.

 

[Pax]

Erm... this doesn't seem to make sense to me. If you'd play it again without changes, then it would seem to be balanced fairly closely with the other casters. If it were too far below them, you'd obviously pick another class instead... Thus, it shouldn't need anything to 'balance' it.

Just because someone (myself included) will continue playing a suboptimal class, doesn't mean the class is not suboptimal. It might simply be that othr, non-balance issues (like FLAVOR, for example) are attractive enough for the player to be willign to "suffer the iniquity" of the underpowered class.

Yeah, sorcerers tend to either be combat heavy, or utility heavy. You make a choice, and even then, you lose some of the versatility of having a spell for everything. Scrolls can help make up the lack, however.

This was a low-treasure game, so scrolls were at a premium.

Sounds like someone needs to pick Energy Substitution.

This game was played from the September immediately after the 3.0 PHB was first released. We went up throught he first few levels fairly quickly, and IIRC, the incident I described happened in December of that same year. IOW, I think Sword and Fist hadn't even come out yet ... let alone Tome and Blood. I know for a fact that I hit 6th level before I owned a copy of T&B, so "pick[ing] Energy Substitution" wasn't an option for me at the time.

 

[Darklone]

ehem ... [zensored curse about E-sub sorcerers without style]

 

[slingbld]

It may have been said but:
Check out Monte Cooks Sorcerer in BEM2 or the new Complete BEM for 3.5. He gave the sorcer it's own spell list, a few more skill points & more class skills. I feel BEM's Sorcerer IS ballanced. That's the one I use in my games....

 

[brento766]

there is a difference...

Basically I view the difference between a rouge with short swort and shield (wizard) vs a fighter with a great sword and power atk (sorc).

The first is very versatile. Can do just above par in any indeed every situation. But because of being spread so thin, it doesn't excel in what the rules most embrace, combat. Unless you can get a strategic advantage like flank and higher ground so you can make the most of your abilities.

The second has few skills and powers outside of combat and so in the case where he needs to sneak past the sleeping guard, the guy is going to wake up. But once in combat and facing him flat out, he whomps all over the place like its nobody's business.

The wizard is versitile with his many spells but only few per day. The sorc is a powerhouse that can blow away anything that is bothering him, but not too much else. Make the decision based upon what type of game you want to play.

 

[Nightfall]

You know if more people played in the Scarred Lands or at LEAST picked up PG: Wizards, Bards and Sorcerers, I doubt this would be as big an issue. ESPECIALLY with the whole "linage" and "boring stuff". I've yet to see a boring SL sorcerer of ANY stripe.

 

[Deset Gled]

I'd give them more skills and skill points, but that's really more to let a player customize the character than it is for power. I'd also give them Eschew Materials for free, but again, that's as much for flavor as for balance (the idea of spontaneous casting, and inherent spellcasting with material components just doesn't make sense to me).

 

[Khaalis]

You know if more people played in the Scarred Lands or at LEAST picked up PG: Wizards, Bards and Sorcerers, I doubt this would be as big an issue. ESPECIALLY with the whole "linage" and "boring stuff". I've yet to see a boring SL sorcerer of ANY stripe.

Since you are pimping it...

Whats so special about the Players Guide? Got a review link? Whats it do to the classes? What does it offer? Not about to run out and buy something without a review.

Thanks!

 

[Nightfall]

Since you are pimping it...

Whats so special about the Players Guide? Got a review link? Whats it do to the classes? What does it offer? Not about to run out and buy something without a review.

Thanks!

Here's your Review

 

[Darklone]

Argh. Neither Montes Sorcerer nor any other special feats or lineages from Scarred Lands stuff gets the mark "balanced" in my book. I don't mind if others use it... but making a class that might be a little bit weak lots stronger is no fix for me.