Revamping the Sorcerer

[Calamity]

It really breaks down to deciding what of the two options you want to play. Sorcerer is the "on the fly" caster with more spells per day but limited list. Wizard is a crafter of items and a sage, they have to know what spells they will need before hand and suffer the grumbles of the party when they didn't think to memorize invisibility.

Personally, I prefer sorcerer. I enjoy the versatility it provides, and if I really want to I can craft items with the class (just not as quickly as a wizard). Most of the prestige classes are interchangable with either wizard or sorcerer, so whatever you choose you can still follow the same paths.

 

[ciaran00]

Just hit delete. Dump the sorceror, give spontaneous casting to all spellcasters and watch how quickly an adventure gets going....

Memorisation is a tedious holdover from 1e. God

ciaran

 

[GoodKingJayIII]

Personally, I prefer sorcerer. I enjoy the versatility it provides, and if I really want to I can craft items with the class (just not as quickly as a wizard). Most of the prestige classes are interchangable with either wizard or sorcerer, so whatever you choose you can still follow the same paths.

I guess my argument is, does "lack of versatility" really hinder the wizard that much? They more or less get everything a sorcerer gets, as well as a free feat at first level and bonus feats every fifth level.

I just think the Sorcerer could use more panache, if not so much power. Like I said, I'm just tossing things out there.

Memorisation is a tedious holdover from 1e. God

And that's one of the reasons I love AU so much

 

[Ferret]

Also I was toying with the idea that sorcerers could use themselves as the spell focus and material components could be ignored as long as the were under the highest spell level X 100 in gp.

 

[Calamity]

Just hit delete. Dump the sorceror, give spontaneous casting to all spellcasters and watch how quickly an adventure gets going....

Well the discussion is about revamping the sorcerer, not other classes. Jay had some really good ideas, like giving detect magic as a spell-like ability and granting the Use Magic Device skill.

Memorisation is a tedious holdover from 1e. God

LOL

I guess my argument is, does "lack of versatility" really hinder the wizard that much? They more or less get everything a sorcerer gets, as well as a free feat at first level and bonus feats every fifth level.

I personally think so, yes. I hate playing wizards simply because of the sleep-to-prepare rule. Sure, you could just give a wizard spontaneous casting and say have at it, but that's something you'd have to take up with your DM. I know mine wouldn't stand for it, and I'm perfectly happy with the differences in each class.

Also I was toying with the idea that sorcerers could use themselves as the spell focus and material components could be ignored as long as the were under the highest spell level X 100 in gp.

Well... that would be a little overpowered. I mean it makes sense a natural caster wouldn't need material components like wizards (who aren't magic in any way), but to negate even 100 gp worth of material components is a bit nasty.

Perhaps a sorcerer should only take 50% of the material component and xp cost of spells, as they aren't faking it like wizards. Magic comes more naturally to them, and they don't need to sacrifice parts of themselves or material posessions to channel arcane energy. What do you think?

 

[Morgenstern]

I can get behind the desire to increase the sorcerer's 'panache factor' but I think there are ways to do it that use one stone to kill several birds.

First, adding Use Magic Device to the class skills list seems like a simple, elegant solution. They don't have the skill points to cover too many bases, but at least the option to have an innate "magic touch" with magic items seems fair.

Second, at 1st level, make a choice: either the ability to gain a familiar - or one free bloodline feat as per Dragon Mag (or DM aproval). A familiar is basically a feat worth of bonus in a mobile package that gets better with levels, while the bloodlines ARE a feat, that gets better with level. Pretty much a one-for-one trade, and let people who wonder why they have familiars skip them for something else nifty.

Third, I advocate the addition of the Eschew Spell Components feat at 1st level - eliminating the need to carry around props is the fastest, least game altering way to allow a sorcerer to feel like a living being of magic. The gain in power is minimal (I think small enough to make those who feel the Sorcerer is plenty tough already not cry 'foul', while adding style enough for those who feel they get the short end).

Finally, if you are still looking to make the Sorcerer better, maybe grant them access to a spell template (Dragon or AU) of their choice at 3rd, 9th, 15th (or so). This is less than a full feat, but provides the Sorcerer with the ability to customize his spells in a different way than the Wizard and his metamagic. Like the bloodline feat, its a tool specifically for developing a theme of spells and effects, letting each sorrcerer express the magical nature of his ancestors more clearly. Template come with their own costs, and while they provide options they are far from free.

Hope this helps,

 

[malladin]

Our product, Forgotten Heroes: Sorcerer has many ways in which you can re-vamp the sorcerer class. There's a system to replace spellcasting components with sensory effects, a kit for building sorcerer subclasses, new magic item construction systems for sorcerers only, and much more. We've had a number of good reviews for it too, have a look on the reviews site here.

Cheerio,

Ben, Malladin's Gate Press

 

[Drow Jones]

Alternate Sorcerer

Let's face it: the flavor and ideas behind this class are wonderful. But implementation is... poor (at least, in my opinion). In many ways, the wizard trumps the sorcerer, and as much as I love the sorcerer class, I see few reasons to actually pick it over the wizard.

<snip>

Any other suggestions for abilities, changes, etc?

Check out this thread on WotC boards:

http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?threadid=120619

These guys have had extensive discussions about the sorcerer and have (IMHO) created a nice alternate sorcerer. Even if you don't like their version, you might get some ideas for your own revision and how to keep it balanced.

- DJ

 

[Stalker0]

If you have Oriental Adventures, check out the Shujenja... in my opinion what the sorcerer should have been.