Sorcerer spell list (chainer)

[calypso15]

Rather than hijack another thread for my own purposes, I'm starting this.

So, looking for input on my spell selection. Pretty much any book is allowed, though I've stuck with WotC and SSS. Level 13 sorcerer, I plan to take full advantage of chain spell. Plus, there is a house rule such that you can use metamagic without increasing the spell level, you just take subdual damage = to level increase x (# of metas applied +1). So, I chain a spell, I take 6 subdual damage.

Here's what I have:

1: Expeditious Retreat, Feather Fall, Magic Missile, Ray of Enfeeb, Shield
2: Blind/Deaf, Cold Snap, Invis, Mirror Image, Phantom's Howl
3: Displacement, Fly, Haste, Manaspear
4: Cold Orb, Dim. Door, Enervation, Improved Invis
5: Hold Monster, Shadow Evoc, Troll's Blood (from Hollowfaust, gives Regen 3/acid or fire for 10 min/level)
6: Disintegrate, Greater Dispel

I have Spell Focus (necromancy and evocation), cuz I'm working towards Archmage.

Comments?

Calypso

 

[Timeboxer]

Looking at it right off, I'd be tempted to drop Expeditious Retreat and Feather Fall for something more tactically advantageous. As a caster, you don't really need to move around that much, and at this level you should be able to afford a Something of Feather Fall for those times you really need it -- or if you really really need to, just Dimension Door straight to the ground. (Think about it.) Maybe look into Grease, Color Spray, or, my favorite, Silent Image? (Imagine a wall that your party can see through but that your enemies can't...)

Looking at your spell list, the only chainable ones you've taken are: Blindness/Deafness, Hold Monster, and... er, the targeted version of Greater Dispel. So not a whole lot, since Chain Spell requires one target with a range of longer than touch -- you may want to rectify that. Try Baleful Polymorph and Dominate Person, perhaps? And if you got Charm Person/Monster, you could make 14 friends really fast...

Oh, and Scorching Ray, if you're using 3.5, may be nearly essential for a Sorcerer.

 

[calypso15]

Yeah, you're probably right about Expeditious Retreat and Featherfall. Though, I can't just Dim. Door to the ground, since casting it is a standard action. Featherfall is a free action.

As for the chainable spells, they are actually:


1: Magic Missile, Ray of Enfeeb
2: Blind/Deaf, Cold Snap
3: Haste, Manaspear
4: Cold Orb, Enervation
5: Hold Monster, Shadow Evoc
6: Disintegrate, Greater Dispel



Calypso

 

[Timeboxer]

Yeah, you're probably right about Expeditious Retreat and Featherfall. Though, I can't just Dim. Door to the ground, since casting it is a standard action. Featherfall is a free action.

Well, with the caveat that it only really works from really really high up (i.e. distances greater than about 150 feet or so), Dimension Door-ing to the ground works perfectly fine.

As for the chainable spells, they are actually:

This is sadly not true. Tome and Blood's text says, "You can chain any spell that specifies a single target and has a ranger greater than touch." In other words, Target needs to say "One creature" or "One object" or "One _______", and it needs a greater than Personal or Touch range. Magic Missile can affect multiple targets. Ray spells don't have targets. See here for more information.

 

[calypso15]

Aww There's a Relics & Rituals feat called Chain Spell as well, that my summary says works with rays and cones. I don't have my book with me (at work), anyone know the details?

 

[calypso15]

There we go, the RR Chain Spell feat allows you to chain (only) rays and cones. So if I take that, which counts as a prereq for the OTHER Chain Spell, I can chain rays. Happiness!!!

 

[calypso15]

So, I changed it a bit and took the R&R Chain Spell and the T&B Chain Spell, so now I can chain rays and cones as well.

1: Expeditious Retreat: Not sure, any better ideas?
Grease: Chain it on their weapons... hello butterfingers!
Magic Missile: Duh.
Ray of Enfeeblement: Chainable
Shield: Mmm... 7 AC

2: Blindness/Deafness: Chainable
Cold Snap (RR): Chainable
Invisibility: Should I drop this and take Improved? What would I replace this with?
Mirror Image: 9-12 duplicates? I love it.
Phantom's Howl: Cone that panics people

3: Fly: No-brainer
Haste: Chainable... drool.
Manaspear: Chainable 1d6/level AND they forget spells.
Slow: Not sure on this one... better ideas?

4: Charm Monster: Chain for a bunch of friends...
Cold Orb: Dunno... I have Greater Shadow Evoc, maybe drop this?
Dim. Door: Mobility.
Enervation: Chainable... oh goodness.

5: Greater Shadow Conj: Any reason to take regular Shadow Conj? If so, what do I replace this with?
Hold Monster: Chainable... wow.
Troll's Blood: Regeneration 3 for 130 minutes?. It's a good thing.

6: Greater Dispelling: Chainable. Instead of regular dispel magic.
Disintegrate/Greater Shadow Evoc: Chainable. Which should I take first? I only get one for now.

So, some questions. Can I simulate ANYTHING with the Shadow spells? And, do they do any elemental damage, if the spell it's copying does? And, how would a Shadow Phantom Steed work? Shadow Wall of Force?

Also, I generally opted to not take most evocation spells, planning to instead emulate them with shadow evocation. Good/bad idea?

Also also, if there were two spells, one of which was a subset of the other, I took the better one: Example: Charm Monster instead of Charm Person. Greater Dispelling instead of Dispel Magic.

So, thoughts?