re-revised Sorcerer

[DarkMaster]

FYI and also for comparison:

In Monte Cook's Arcana Unearthed all spellcasters have the ability to convert a higher level spell slot into two lower level slots. Also, three lower lvl slots can be coverted into a one higher level slot.

Slots gained with conversion cannot be further converted, so you can't get 256 1st lvl slots with a 9th lvl one.

- DJ

Even then, what is the problem I don't mind if my caster convert one 9 level spell in 256 magic missile or mage armor, it will take him 256 rounds to cast them all.

 

[Old Gumphrey]

And now everyone is going to be psion?

Quite the contrary. Everyone wants to be a psychic warrior or a wilder. I can see how some of your arguments are valid, but generally speaking the psion is not going to break many games. Looking over about a week's worth of information on D&D boards and reading over the book I think it's really not as bad as you are making it out to be. This sorcerer of yours is certainly not the answer, although I suspect you created it just to illustrate something about psions (which IMO is largely unfounded since you've said yourself you have not playtested them).

 

[Thanee]

This sorcerer of yours is certainly not the answer, ...

What makes you think so?

although I suspect you created it just to illustrate something about psions

Partially, but not completely. The second version is basically useable with the core rules and should get the sorcerer on one level with specialist wizards.

(which IMO is largely unfounded since you've said yourself you have not playtested them).

Much of the stuff I used as arguments is proven or so trivial that no proof is necessary.

And while it's true, that I havn't played with the XPH (and probably won't), I do have quite a bit experience with the extremely similar rules the XPH psion is built upon (3.0 PsiHB + ITCK + MS). That's enough playtesting for me to be able to judge how the stuff works, really.

I wished WotC would have done some real playtesting, tho... or maybe they just don't care...

Bye
Thanee

 

[Old Gumphrey]

What makes you think so?

Most think the sorcerer is underpowered, and I haven't seen it yet. They are just never caught with their pants down. With a solid spell selection and solid metamagic application you're just a great character. The fact that D&D is always changing and that you are not locked into a spell slot choice makes you very useful.

But this sorcerer gets access to higher level spells faster and tons of extras. If the sorcerer is decently balanced (which I believe he is), then this one is very strong indeed. I've read further on psions and people are starting to say that they are burning through all of their PP in 1 or 2 encounters, leaving them virtually worthless for the rest of the day. This has to do with mandatory scaling as much as metapsionics, they have said. So while you can be quite nasty for short periods, you don't have any stamina; and even if you're not getting in tons of direct combat stamina is *always* a good thing.

 

[Thanee]

Ok, if you think the sorcerer is balanced with the wizard (mainly), then I understand that, of course.

About the psion... yes, they *can* burn through their PP easily (which is actually an advantage, not a disadvantage), if you manifest like crazy. If you play them a bit more reluctant, they surely don't and can keep up with the wizards rate of castings at least (not quite with the sorcerer, altho the advantage only lies at lower level spells here - which are still good, of course). And powers that get augmented to the max also have a very high impact (equal to a spell of the highest available level roughly), and they can do that more often (and not just a few times more at higher levels) than anyone else.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Psiblade]

Your sorcerer is interesting, my take is a little different thou. I am definitely one to agree that the wizard is slightly more powerful than the sorcerer. Your sorcerer getting more skills seems right on target. The sorcerer to me is a more natural caster than the wizard. The sorcerer should be be less focused on magic than the wizard therefore the sorcerer should be able to develop better skills (4 seems right on target). I would add spot and listen to the skill list rather than diplomacy and sense motive to better reflect the more natural / individualistic nature of sorcerers. I would increase the hit die to d6 rather than up the spells, because the sorcerer focuses more on combat. I might also grant them a medium BAB. After your group test drives, let us know how it goes.

-Psiblade

 

[Thanee]

After your group test drives, let us know how it goes.

Well, I won't get a chance to test this anytime soon, but if anyone actually uses this variant in a game, I'd be glad to hear how it worked out (too powerful or just fine, etc).

Bye
Thanee