Looking for survivability options

[Azimus]

Don't have access to 3rd level spells yet (another 1000xp), but when I get a chance I'll certainly think about it. Thanks for the advice

 

[Azimus]

Wanted to add one thing. Recently we stopped in a village where my party got a great deal on enchanted items. I picked up a +1 Mithril Variable Animated buckler. I wear it as a buckler, but can make it grow to another size of shield if i need it. And i can take it off and its basically a free shield spell. Its the sort of casual magic my character would like.

 

[Shin Okada]

Abjurant Champion is good. Another option is to use armor and shield which have 0% spell failure. Mithral decrease failure chance by 10%. And Twilight ability (Magic Item Compendium, PHB 2, etc.) also decrease falure chance by 10%. So, +X Twilight Mithral Chain Shirt has no spell failure chance.

Also, as you are a mage, increasing AC is not the only way to avoid being hit. Mirror Image and spells which gives use miss chance (say, blur) is often much effective as short duration defense.

 

[Jack Simth]

Let's see... if you're hitting 6th soon, you may consider a level of Monk.

Hear me out: Combined with Ascetic Mage (Complete Adventurer), that gives you Charisma to AC... and if you keep your Sorcerer side "pure", then you get full Monkish AC bonuses as well. Would be a very nice boost for you in terms of AC. You'll want to progress in Monk on the noncasting side until you hit 9th, at which point, pick up Ascetic Knight, as well (also Complete Adventurer - permits multiclass Monk/Paladin).