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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Elder-Basilisk" data-source="post: 508387" data-attributes="member: 3146">I'd advise looking over the list of spells you're considering. There are a lot of spells without any material components. If you end up with most spells not having material components, I'd ditch the featI'd rule out combat casting right away. I take it you're creating this character at 17th level or so. In that case you've probably already got +24 to your concentration check which means you could cast a 9th level spell on the defensive even if you rolled a 1.Really, after level 8 or so when a spellcaster probably has +11[+con bonus] in concentration and only needs to roll a 2 or 3 to successfully cast on the defensive without the feat, Combat Casting is a waste. It also doesn't help against damage taken from readied attacks since it's only for casting defensively. Even at level 1 (where it is mildly useful), I think that skill focus: concentration is a better feat.Only take Combat Reflexes and Expert Tactician if you're taking one or more of the following spells: Blink, Improved Invisibility, Evard's Black Tentacles, Power Word Stun, Power Word Blind. (Although I suppose you get Holy Word from the exorcism domain which will also do the trick). The feat combo is good if you have a way of making sure that your foes regularly lose their dex bonus. If you don't it's not a good combo.Extend Spell and Persistent Spell belong on the Definite list. As a sorceror, you can make use of a few high level spell slots at the end of the day to buff yourself and your party for the next week with Extend Spell. ("Let's see, I've got an 8th level spell slot left, 3 seventh levels, and 2 sixth levels that I can afford to use. Greater Magic weapon extended 5 times is an 8th level spell and will last 85 hours. Energy Buffer can be extended twice and give protection for the next 72 hours. And, what the heck, I'm not doing anything else with this 5th level slot. How about a Persistent True Strike. My next attack roll in the next 24 hours gets +20.")This one's not really too useful. At high or low levels, you've better things to do with your combat rounds. Dancing Lights, even if it would have to be a 1st level spell, would be better because even at 20th level, it can light up the other end of a cavern where the True Ghoul Deepwood Sniper is shooting from (beyond the range of your spellpool granted Darkvision).Blur is a pathetically weak spell and would be even at 1st level. The best you're going to get out of it--if your opponent would hit you on a roll of a 2--is a 17% reduction in damage taken (not counting sneak attacks of course but you have other ways of negating those--fortification armor, Darkness, Obscuring Mist, Blindness on the rogue, etc.) Since you're going to be an armored caster--one of the highest AC class combos in the game--the difference it will make to you will probably be neglibable.You missed Displacement.Again, Shout may be a spell without somatic components but that doesn't change the fact that it's a pathetically weak spell for its level. Use a Stilled Fireball, Lightning Bolt, or Icy Burst (Tome and Blood) instead.I'd rethink Grease. It may not be subject to spell resistance but it's also not that useful. At high levels (when spell resistance is an issue), most enemies will either have the ability to fly or multiple legs/etc which will render this spell less useful. And using it to disarm is a pretty hopeless task too. The enemy makes a save to avoid the spell entirely and then a reflex save each round to avoid dropping his weapon. You'll do better casting true strike and using the disarm manuever. . . .See previous comments on BlurWhich magic item are you thinking of getting for See Invisibility? (It's also a good spell to use with Persistent Spell).Consider picking up Detect Thoughts as well. A persistent Detect Thoughts can be very useful if you want to know whether or not someone's lying to you. Even a silent detect thoughts can be cast inconspicuously if you don't have a free 6th level spell slot.Rope Trick and Knock are spells that you can grab from the spell pool if you need them. Waiting a round or two for the spell to arrive won't be much of a disadvantage.Add Displacement to the list of possibilities here. If you don't get Blink, Displacement is a great defensive spell and can be cast on other characters too.Don't take Minor Globe of invulnerability. By the time you'd be able to cast it (10th level) you can expect to be facing Cones of Cold and Enervations and other things it won't help against. By the time you hit 20th level, it'll be utterly useless.Banishment is an Exorcism Domain spell--no need to waste a spell known on it. Delayed Blast Fireball is a pretty anemic spell for its level as well. You can get 15d6 damage out of Cone of Cold which is two levels lower. If you had Empower Spell or a metamagic feat rod for it, you'll blow DBF out of the water with that.</blockquote>

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