Help me pick some spells...

[Pants]

My sorcerer character just reached 9th level last night and I need to pick out some spells, but since I've never played an arcane caster to this level, I need some input.

Here are the books that I have available:
PHB3.5
Complete Arcane
Complete Divine
Complete Warrior
Draconomicon
Libris Mortis
Book of Exalted Deeds
Book of Vile Darkness
Deities and Demigods
Manual of the Planes
Planar Handbook

The feat I'm taking at 9th level is 'Extra Spell' (ala Complete Arcane), giving me an extra 3rd level spell. So I need to pick out 1 2nd, 2 3rd, and 1 4th.

Here are the spells I currently know:
0-level
Acid Splash
Dancing Lights
Detect Magic
Detect Poison
Ghost Sound
Light
Message
Read Magic

1-level
Disguise Self
Feather Fall
Mage Armor
Magic Missile
Shield

2-level
Invisibility
Melf's Acid Arrow
Resist Energy

3-level
Dragon Breath
Dragonskin

4-level
Dimension Door

I think that one of my 3rd level spells will be Haste and I'll probably be taking Scorching Ray for 2nd level, but I'm open to suggestions.

 

[Ciaran]

You already have a solid range of direct damage spells (I assume that Dragon Breath is direct damage), so there's little need to take Scorching Ray. Web is an excellent choice for your 2nd level spell; you could use some area attacks, and its ability to help take live prisoners could come in handy. At 3rd, don't neglect Dispel Magic! Haste and Slow are also excellent choices, being broadly applicable. And at 4th, I strongly recommend Summon Monster IV. This is where you pick up the Lantern Archon, renowned for unlimited Aid spells and instant Teleport courier service; more prosaically, there are several celestial and fiendish creatures at this level that are very effective in combat, with damage resistance and multiple attacks per round. The fiendish giant praying mantis has Improved Grab and Squeeze! It's a winning combination.

- Eric

 

[Saeviomagy]

Unfortunately for the archon, summoned monsters can no longer use any summoning or transport abilities - so summoned archons can no longer teleport

And 1 round/level aid spells are fairly useless.

I'd recommend waiting till SM VI before investing in those spells.

I'd seriously consider picking up polymorph. It's such a versatile spell, it's almost essential for a sorceror. It makes you a party toolbox as well as a party blaster, and can give you some combat punch when your magic just doesn't do the trick (Stone golems can say no, for instance, to fireball, but the impact of a rhinocerous at 4d6+24 is going to cause them some hurt)

Then you just need arcane strike, and you can cause serious trouble as a 9-headed hydra with all your attacks at +4 and +4d4, and it only scales from there.

 

[Stone Angel]

What kind of caster are you a specialist mage, evoker, what? Evil? I am not sure what level Wall of Deadly Chains (BoVD) but it is one of the best wall spells in my belief. If you want damage take l. Bolt, Utility you can't go wrong with the ability boosting spells Bulls Strength ect. You can go a lot of ways just depends.


The Seraph of Earth and Stone

 

[Kilroy]

Definantly polymorph for the 4th level spell.

It's great for versitility, and it's an incredible combat buff.

 

[Thanee]

2nd level : Either Glitterdust or See Invisibility

When you get to 10th, you could swap out Melf's for Scorching Ray, or just keep it and learn some higher level damage spell. There are also some good ones (at a slightly higher spell level) that do not allow Spell Resistance in Complete Arcane, usually Conjuration spells.

3rd level : Haste is good. Suggestion is also a very good spell.

4th level : Polymorph.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Pants]

I'd seriously consider picking up polymorph.

Ooh, I forgot about Polymorph. Even if I don't use it, I could certainly help out the other party members with it.

What kind of caster are you a specialist mage, evoker, what? Evil?

CG Sorcerer with a nice mix of utility and damage dealing spells.

When you get to 10th, you could swap out Melf's for Scorching Ray, or just keep it and learn some higher level damage spell. There are also some good ones (at a slightly higher spell level) that do not allow Spell Resistance in Complete Arcane, usually Conjuration spells.

Yeah, I was thinking of taking one of the orb spells, but there were just too many spells at 4th level!

Thanks for the help so far everyone.