Snake's Swiftness, Mass: Better than Fireball?

[kyonu]

Ray of Clumsiness, just as Ray of Enfeeblement, is a dex penalty, NOT damage. It cannot kill or paralyze anyone, cannot reduce dex below 1, and multiple castings do not stack, they overlap.

Don't recall the other spell, if it really does dex damage, then yes. I don't think you can even lower the dex with ray of clumsiness to make it easier to dex damage them to 0. I think as a penalty, it should be applied after the actual ability score is determined. So...say you get a -10 dex penalty on someone with dex 14. You then deal 5 actual dex damage with the assailants spell. His dex is 14, you did 5 damage, now it's 9. The penalty kicks in last, lowering it, but not below 1, as per the spell description. As opposed to the interpration that the penalty applies first as if the guy has dex 4 and you're then doing 5 damage and reducing him to 0, which I think is wrong.

If you're just now hitting level 6...I thought Extra Spell and Extra slot could only be used on a spell level up to one below the highest spell level you can currently cast, maybe i'm mistaken. In any case, not to criticize you or anything, but...I would have made different choices...

Yeah, I thought so on the Dex, which is why I asked. Any suggestions of replacement?

Also on the feats, it allows you to choose spells, but our DM said we didn't have to choose right away, so I was allowed to hold off until I got to level 3 spells, to choose 2nd level. The feat states "a spell with a level one under the highest current maximum spell leve" which is 3, so 2 is the highest under maximum. So when I hit level 6, I was able to choose not only the extra slot feat, but pick the spell for Extra Spell, which I got at level 3, and then Extra Slot which I just got, before choosing spells.

Anyways, as you said, you woulda picked better choices... what are some better options I can use? Remember, I'm trying to stick with the whole "buff party, stay out of combat" type thing, as I'm going to use them for damage. If there are no other options, sure, a damaging spell isn't bad, but they aren't the priority for the build.

Thanks!

 

[Dandu]

See, I thought about Haste as well... And actually, I would put up in the same boat as Snake's Swiftness, Mass, mainly because you need to be in a full-attack action to make good use of it. So they're both fully situational, 'specially since my DM likes when things move around.

Haste is less situational than Snake's Swiftness.

It looks like you blew two feat slots on Extra Slot and Extra Spell. Extra slot just gives you an extra spell slot, not a spell. As is your current build is illegal because you've used the feat incorrectly.

I'd ask your DM for a rebuild. And get rid of Extra Slot and Extra Spell. There are much better options available.

Anyways, as you said, you woulda picked better choices... what are some better options I can use?

Fly
Dispel Magic
Great Thunderclap
Shivering Touch
Hold Person
Ray of Exhaustion
Stinking Cloud

 

[kyonu]

Haste is less situational than Snake's Swiftness.

It looks like you blew two feat slots on Extra Slot and Extra Spell. Extra slot just gives you an extra spell slot, not a spell. As is your current build is illegal because you've used the feat incorrectly.

As I looked it up, you are correct, but Extra Slot is a feat I just chose, so it can be replaced without a rebuild. Extra Spell would indeed give me an extra spell tho, would it not?

Also, what better options would you have? I'm in mind for Quicken Spell, but that won't be fully useful until I reach level 4 spells...

 

[Dandu]

Sculpt Spell
Versatile Spellcaster
Fell Drain Spell
Empower Spell

I'd learn Haste, select Fell Drain spell, read the rules on negative levels, and swap Expeditious Retreat for Magic Missile.

And petition the DM to rebuild further. Have you looked at the retraining rules in the PHB2? Retraining a feat only takes 2 weeks and 50 gp. Or perhaps you could use diplomacy to convince him that you didn't know what you were doing earlier.

Anyways, just some general advice: Don't pick redundant spells, and prestige class out of sorcerer as soon as possible.

 

[Jeff Wilder]

If you're talking about sheer power, you can't beat haste, as others have said.

On the other hand, if you're talking about an interesting spell that lets you engage tactically and doesn't forfeit much in the way of raw power, I say go with mass snake's swiftness.

 

[kyonu]

and prestige class out of sorcerer as soon as possible.

Curious tho. I've seen many good PrC classes, but which ones would be best for a support sorcerer?

If you're talking about sheer power, you can't beat haste, as others have said.

On the other hand, if you're talking about an interesting spell that lets you engage tactically and doesn't forfeit much in the way of raw power, I say go with mass snake's swiftness.

Yeah, can't wait until level 7... I get both! (Obviously different uses. Maybe just use Haste and Fireball.)

 

[Dandu]

The short version of it is:
Dweomerkeeper
Incantatrix
Initiate of the Sevenfold Veil
Mage of the Arcane Order
Sand Shaper
Fatespinner (4 levels)

There's an entire section devoted to answering that question in my guide (seriously, it's approximately three centimeters, or two inches for those of you non-metrically inclined) below the text you are reading).

 

[shadyizok]

If you really like to just cast support spells maybe the warweaver class from heroes of battle is worth a look. Be wary though, you give up a spellcasting lvl for it!

 

[kyonu]

If you really like to just cast support spells maybe the warweaver class from heroes of battle is worth a look. Be wary though, you give up a spellcasting lvl for it!

I'm currently still rummaging through Dandu's list, but I would take a look at Warweaver... I just have no access to that book. Is there an online source that I can view with that class?

 

[Dandu]

No.

War Weaver is not mentioned in my guide, but it is still awesome.