Sorcerers

[Believer]

Ok, I am playing a Gnome Sorcerer in a hack-slash (combat heavy) game. I was curious on what skills and spells others would take in order to make a kick ass character.

Stats:
Str: 9
Dex: 13
Con: 14
Int: 15
Wis: 13
Cha: 15



I am currently level two and have spells such as:

Level 0:
Light
Prestidigitation
Daze
Ray of Frost
Disrupt Undead

Level 1:
Magic Missle
Color Spray


Currently my only feat is Combat Casting.

Any advice?

 

[BiggusGeekus@Work]

What books do you have access to?

Energy subsitution is a good feat for a sorceror. It lets you change out the energy type of a spell, which is a nice thing to do when, say, your best evocation is a fire spell and you're going against lava elementals or something.

Don't forget the defense and utility spells. You can chain-cast magic missile but you never know when you'll need something other than direct damage.

 

[krichaiushii]

As I am unsure if you are about to start the game at 2d level, or if you've been playing from 1st level, some of these comments may not be applicable - though still food for thought.

Detect Magic and Read Magic are extremely worthwhile for a spellcaster. Especially the latter, as it allows you to use the scrolls you find immediately, instead of laboriously translating them some other way. Plus, as a sorcerer, you will be limited in spells available, and using scrolls offsets this greatly.

You might seriously consider saving Magic Missile for 3rd (or higher) level spell choice - when its more worthwhile, or taking something more utilitarian like Grease, a movement spell like Expeditious Retreat or Spider Climb, or even True Strike (for some killer crossbow action).

With 3.5 granting sorcerers the ability to trade out spells, a poor or limited use choice (like taking illusions in an undead-hunting campaign) can be nullified without pleading with the DM for a spell change.

As a feat, Skill Focus: Concentration might be better than Combat Casting. Its bonus is not as high (+3 vs +4), but it grants said bonus in so many more situations. Plus, I believe it stacks with Combat Casting, which is always worthwhile.

For future levels and more complete spell lists, you might consider other forums on this board. http://enworld.cyberstreet.com/forumdisplay.php?f=3 might be a better choice.

 

[biorph]

The two you've got are pretty much standrads as for as hack and slashing goes. Sleep is a good choice at low levels and can be traded out, as is cause fear, to take someone out of a combat quickly. Grease is good as well, since it can trip or be used to disarm along with shatter. it higher levels invisibility and web still work very well.

 

[Kichwas]

I've always prefered sleep and charm person, even in a dungeon crawl game.

The best level 1 direct damage spell I've found is called 'Light Crossbow'.

I could post my Sorceress, but she makes heavy use of Quintessential Sorcerer and Relics and Rituals I and II, plus the race if Kalamar setting specific (gray elf, which has different stats in Kalamar than in the DMG / MM).

 

[Oni]

Fairly early on I'd say both still and silent spell feats are good as they allow you to continue to operate under adverse conditions. Whipping off a magic missle every round as a 3rd level spell spell may not seem that great....well until someone's cast holdperson on you, and at higher levels a dispel is an even better choice.


Of course this doesn't apply to you immediately, but one of the most important things to do as a sorcerer is plan ahead (which seems counter intuitive from a roleplaying point of view, but there you have it).

 

[Believer]

Sorry for not replying sooner... things have been hectic, and tracking threads down in this forum without access to the search engine is a little time consuming.

Books that I have access to (that I know of) are the PHB. Mainly because I don't know what the group I belong to has in the way of books, or what the DM will allow.

I already am second level with those stats and skills, I am soon to be 3rd (as in by the end of next Sat the 27th).

Current plans I have is to swap out some of the more underused level 0 spells (Prestidigitaion since it's innate in gnomes and Daze since this is an undead campaign (Hollowfaust, Scarred Lands), and possible color spray, but i use spray to threaten the party so that if they run I'll knock one of them out so the monster eats that person instead of me (I'm the slowest)) and get Detect Magic and Read Magic... trust me, the DM and one of the players were like.... 'You didn't take detect magic? Fine... use the scroll..... you didn't take READ MAGIC EITHER?!' it was kind of funny though.

Anyway.... any advice on the spells I should take and the feats I should look into.
Skill Focus: Concentration I might look into (as krich said) but I'll probably look into Weapon Focus: Ray (or whatever it is) because my 'big damage' spell is Disrupt undead and I have a known habit for rolling low.

Thanks for posting so far, and keep any ideas coming

 

[Terraism]

(I'm another player in the group, so I can fill in a few blanks.)

Books that I have access to (that I know of) are the PHB. Mainly because I don't know what the group I belong to has in the way of books, or what the DM will allow.

You've got access to the core splat books, as well as anything with the Scarred Lands logo. Between the DM & myself, we've got 'em all, so that's a fairly broad selection.

Detect Magic and Read Magic... trust me, the DM and one of the players were like.... 'You didn't take detect magic? Fine... use the scroll..... you didn't take READ MAGIC EITHER?!' it was kind of funny though.

The other player was me.

 

[Believer]

(I'm another player in the group, so I can fill in a few blanks.)


You've got access to the core splat books, as well as anything with the Scarred Lands logo. Between the DM & myself, we've got 'em all, so that's a fairly broad selection.

Detect Magic and Read Magic... trust me, the DM and one of the players were like.... 'You didn't take detect magic? Fine... use the scroll..... you didn't take READ MAGIC EITHER?!' it was kind of funny though.

The other player was me.

Yeah.... so where were you when I was choosing my spells? Huh? Huh? Yeah... that's right!

Yeah... my first time being a spellcaster... and first time in a loooong time playing.... so I'm rusty! Cut me some slack!