How do i make life more interesting for the Sorcerer?

[Olive]

I need some help.

I've just started a new campaing (second adventure today) and the player playing a sorcerer is obviously finding his character a bit limiting. I the other campaign we play in, his character is a 12th lvl thief, so the difference in style is huge...

any advice? there's not much a sorcerer can do except sit back and fire magic missiles as far as he can see. and i'm not sure what to suggest...

 

[Riekhan]

there's not much a sorcerer can do except sit back and fire magic missiles as far as he can see

?

What's his spell selection? Is that his only combat spell or is he simply using it due to it's reliability?

 

[Olive]

What's his spell selection? Is that his only combat spell or is he simply using it due to it's reliability?

he's first lvl, so he knows two spells. one is colour spray and one is magic missile...colour spray is area effect, and they've done almost all their fighting in close quarters.

 

[Breakstone]

For Legolas-style play, get proficient with a Composite Longbow and use True Strike... Hitting your enemies dead on from 120 feet away is always good.

Plus he can enter some archery tournaments...

 

[Kesh]

When he hits the next level, help him pick out a utility spell. Something that's useful both in combat and in roleplay situations, such as an illusion or transmutation spell. Usually when I play a Sorc, I pick one offensive or defensive spell, and one utility spell. My level 0 spells are a nice mix, though there are a few reliables (Mage Hand, Detect Magic, Disrupt Undead).

One thing that may help is to define a 'theme' for his Sorcerer. Is he sneaky? Brash? Does he like to jump in the middle of a fight, or hang back to offer supporting fire... or hide?

From there, you can pick out spells that would help. A sneaky magic user will focus on things like Invisibility, Obscuring Mist, etc... anything to hide himself and his comrades from an enemy. Brash ones are more likely to need protective magic, and close-range offensive spells, since they'll get involved in fighting a lot... Shield, Magic Weapon, Shocking Grasp and Expeditious Retreat are good. A sorc who's primarily into support fire will be best with Magic Missle, summoned creatures or other spells that easily allow him to target enemies only, or provide extra defense for his comrades like Protection from Evil. (And you can burn through lots of PoE spells in one session!)

 

[Grendel]

if the player is not satisfied playing a sorcerer have him make a new character, or multi-class into something he might enjoy.

 

[Lord Pendragon]

Basically, I'm with Grendal. If the guy doesn't like what a sorcerer offers, he can multiclass into something else, or start over entirely (you guys are still only 1st-level, after all.)

But one thing to consider: spells aren't the only thing a sorcerer can do in combat. Remember ranged weapons! In the campaign I'm DMing right now, (they're all 3rd-level,) the gnome wizard has gotten more use out of his light crossbow than his spells thus far.

Now at mid-levels, a sorcerer isn't going to hit very well with any sort of weapon because of his low BAB, but by then his spellcasting starts to really come into its own. At low levels, remind him that he still has many non-spell options in combat, and encourage him to use them. (Another good one are grenade-type weapons. A well-placed tanglefoot bag can save the day.)

 

[Rashak Mani]

Get Grease... no spell is so useful and creative like grease !!

Also remind him of Know Arcana... Spellcraft... these skills make him the "Brain" of a group when problems related magic appear.

Yep sorcerors can become kind of Spell Cannons... but at first level what did he expect ? Fly spells ?

Later he can get Bull Str... Illusions... and other stuff.. but now he should get the tried and true.

 

[Left-handed Hummingbird]

Also, since he probably has high Charisma, make sure you give him situations where he can utilize this. Negotiations or information gatherin, for example.

 

[Left-handed Hummingbird]

Another thing is that Sorcerors are often great when combined with a single level of another class. Barbarian or Rogue has in my experience made for very playable character concepts.

The Sorcerer/Rogue was a very charming and devious musketeer/courtier type. The Sorcerer/Barbarian was a mystic warrior in touch with the spirit world and a penchant for big axes - which always surprised the (intelligent) opponents immensely as they assumed he was just a normal "grunt" barbarian-type.