DMs and the Sorcerer class

[Eraslin]

A Wizard/Sorcerer team would be interesting to watch over time. The Sorcerer does the power-blasting, and the Wizard makes items to improve the Sorcerer's versatility. A Wizard Cohort would be a most interesting choice for a Sorcerer, and a Sorcerer Cohort for a Wizard.

Interesting that you should mention this. One of my current groups is actually quite large, and in it I play a transmuter while another player has a sorcerer. The roles pretty much amount to him nuking everything 'til it glows, and me playing the utility/support role -- so I handle counterspells, ddoor, teleporting, buffs, etc. It seems to work pretty well, but it can get boring being a utility caster when very few combats require utility.

-Eraslin

 

[Kalendraf]

As a DM, I tend to mix the two. One campaign is set in Greyhawk, Geoff specific, battling giants, so not many spellcaster turn up. The last two casters they faced were an Ogre Mage Sorcerer and a Human specialist Wizard (Necromancer). In the other campaign, where arcane casters are quite rare, they've face a couple of each across 8 levels of play.

Maybe it's just me, but I wind up tossing quite a few more bards, clerics and a few druids against the party, who usually wind up buffing their enemies and healing where possible. So don't blame me for throwing too many sorcerers at my parties, but I am guilty of tossing a lot more divine casters at them.

 

[orchid blossom]

When a situation changes such that the narrow scope of spells chosen by a sorcerer become less useful, the usefulness of the sorcerer him or herself varies directly, thereby often rendering the single-classed sorcerer highly inneffectual.

It all depends on how you play it. I've found with a little forethought in spell selection, and now the ability to swap out spells, the sorcerer can have plenty of versitility. My sorcerer character has been the most powerful in the group since level 1, and still arguably is. Only our melee monster fighter deals more damage. Plus, considering the ability to cast the same spell over and over, there really isn't much need to take more than one or two combat spells per level. The rest fill in with utility spells.

Anyway, I imagine DM's use sorcerers because there is just less bookeeping involved. Wizard characters can still get treasure from sorcerers in the form of wands and scrolls, as long as the DM is cognizant of the fact that they need to remember no spellbooks are getting handed out.

 

[hong]

It all depends on how you play it. I've found with a little forethought in spell selection, and now the ability to swap out spells, the sorcerer can have plenty of versitility. My sorcerer character has been the most powerful in the group since level 1, and still arguably is. Only our melee monster fighter deals more damage. Plus, considering the ability to cast the same spell over and over, there really isn't much need to take more than one or two combat spells per level. The rest fill in with utility spells.

And when you get to 14th level, take limited wish. All the versatility you'll ever need, at the cheap, cheap rate of 300XP a pop.

Me, I just banned wizards. Gets rid of all niche protection issues.

 

[Pants]

I love Sorcerers as both a PC and a GM

As a GM I like them because I don't have to figure out how many and what spells are in their spellbook. Thus they are fairly easy to roll up on the fly.

As a PC I like them because I absolutely hate, hate, hate trying to figure out what spells to memorize at every level. I also love how versatile the Sorcerer can be in both Noncombat encounters and with the proper Metamagic feats. You need that Dimension Door to get out of the prison? Too bad Mr. Wizard used all of his up for the day. The Sorcerer can get out of that one (provided he knows Dimension Door).

I like the Sorcerer a whole lot and with 3.5's ability to switch out lower level spells, I like it a whole lot more than before.

 

[Ao the Overkitty]

I also love how versatile the Sorcerer can be in both Noncombat encounters and with the proper Metamagic feats. You need that Dimension Door to get out of the prison? Too bad Mr. Wizard used all of his up for the day. The Sorcerer can get out of that one (provided he knows Dimension Door).

Ah, DDoor. The best attack spell in the book. Also the best Healing spell in the book.

orchid's sorcerer regularly transports the whappers into attack range of the baddy or delivers the cleric just where he is needed.

oh, and try one with silent and still spell. It is VERY hard to take a sorcerer with those captive. Grappled? Pinned? Paralyzed? Just glare at the baddy and send those lightening bolts a flying. Many bad guys have been horribly surprised when they found out they hadn't taken care of the sorcerer after all.

energy substitution is also great, cause it just gives a sorcerer that much more versatility.

 

[Umbra]

I know exactly why I tend to make NPC sorcerors rather than NPC wizards.

It's because I'm lazy.

ditto

cuts the administration, both prep and during combat