Sorceror or Wizard

[Clumsy Bob]

First of all I have no doubt that this topic has been covered before so please don't flame a newbie.

In your experience of having played a sorceror or a wizard, which one works best?
Obviously sorcerors have more spell slots per day but a limited number of choices. However they usually gain levels 1st 2nd etc of spells one level lower than a wizard.

Now wizards have a vast choice of spells as long as they are allowed to prepare in advance, they also get the bonus feats.

So the question to players who have played each class, in your opinion which class is better.

 

[Zhure]

It's all about the bling-bling, the pinkie-ring.

I prefer Sorcerers and hate playing Wizards. It's all a personal choice. Ideally someday I'll play in a game with another player who likes Wizzies as much as I like Sorcs and we'll rule the universe.

[cue maniacal laughter]

You've summed up the pros and cons nicely.

Greg

 

[Buttercup]

I prefer to take levels of sorcerer if I'm going to multiclass with something else, but for a straight arcane caster, I think Wizard is the best.

Also, I think Monte's alt.sorcerer is far better than the one in the PHB, because the class skills make more sense.

 

[The Forsaken One]

Ad don't forget that Sorcs have the ability to pick which ever spell they know is most usefull for the current situation, they aren't ever cuahgt with a very bad spell selection. They choose at the moment of casting. Example is when you are grappled as a wiz and you don't have that silenced dimensiondoor prepared.. you are screwed over. Sorc just pick spell and metamagic right then and there.

 

[Hatchling Dragon]

[Sarcasm]Bah! Wizards are the only sane choice! Being able to choose from a potentially limitless selection of spells, making your own Scrolls as whim or circumstance dictates, all that extra knowledge gained while you study (ie: bonus feats), it's obvious which is the better choice! Why anyone would 'sink' to playing a crippled caster, sometimes called a Sorcerer, is just plain beyond me... [/Sarcasm] (ps: if you don't know what Sarcasm is, I was kidding! )

Acutally it's been rather tempting to give up my Wizardly ways (nearly all my characters to date) for the carefree style of a Spontanious Caster. While being a Wizard's all that I ever wanted or hoped for, see the above for my main reasons for choosing this class so often, I seem to still have the same old problem of never choosing the right spells.

I'd say to anyone wanting to play an Arcane Caster for the first time; Play a Wizard. I know conventional wisdom says try the Sorcerer, but with the trouble of never knowing what spells to have the Wizard's the best for the simple fact that he can concievably have every spell he knows on-hand at all times though Scrolls. Granted this will soak up large sums of cash and/or Exp, but if it's the choice of writing up another (non-caster, ptui!) character or having the spell you need on-hand I'd go with the exp/gp hit.

Hatchling Dragon

 

[James McMurray]

If the campaign is going to be combat oriented, than sorcerer is your best bet, because they can easily output the most damage.

If the campaign is going to be an even mix of combat and non-combat, then sorcerer may still be your best bet, assuming you can find the right mix of utility spells.

If the campaign is not going to have combat, or won't have a lot of it, then wizard is your best bet, due to tehir greater versatility. Also, don't forget that when playing a wizard, you can alswys leave a couple of slots empty in the morning, and then study to fill them up later. That means that you don't have to memorize knock and then later wish you'd memorized Alter Self. As long as you have the time to memorize.

 

[Hatchling Dragon]

Also, don't forget that when playing a wizard, you can alswys leave a couple of slots empty in the morning, and then study to fill them up later. That means that you don't have to memorize knock and then later wish you'd memorized Alter Self. As long as you have the time to memorize.

Ach! Yet again the fountain of wisdom sprinkles a few drops upon this parched brain... I am always thinking of doing this right after a session, and yet I have never acutaly mangage to remember the trick come the next session. Maybe it's something to do with the fact that we only meet once a month.

Hatchling Dragon

 

[James McMurray]

Hatchling Dragon: Check out the Sorcerous Power True Ritual from Relics and Rituals. You can convert your Wizard levels to sorcerer and not have to make a new character to switch.

You keep all of your old feats, and pick your known spells from the spells in your book.

You make a fortitude save when casting the spell, and if you make it, get a +2 inherent bonus to Charisma and a +2 Natural Armor bonus. You may be able to talk your DM out of this aspect of it (which is tied to Titan's Blood from the Scarred Lands) and replace it with the ability to move some points from int to cha.

 

[Hatchling Dragon]

Hatchling Dragon: Check out the Sorcerous Power True Ritual from Relics and Rituals. You can convert your Wizard levels to sorcerer and not have to make a new character to switch.

Thanks for the suggestion/tip, but our group's pretty restricted in what books and such-like are allowed, and R&R's been officially banned as being 'too powerfull'.

I forgot to mention that I may not give up Wizardy after-all. Last week's monthly session saw our group fighting nearly a dozen wargs, the leader of which tossed Magic Missle and Fireball while stuck in our Druid's Entangle (the only Warg that did get stuck). The key thing is that I acutally had and used effective spells for once! Needless to say I was shocked So I'm going to see if this fluke repeats itself in an up-coming session. Who knows, I may actually be able to learn after-all.

Hatchling Dragon

 

[James McMurray]

Sounds good. But even if R&R is banned in your group (I don't understand that since most things in it are fine as is, but to each his own) you can always research your own spell that does that, assuming your DM is open to the idea of course. No DM should force a player to continue with a character they don't enjoy, when there is a way out of the situation.

Even worse is a character you do enjoy, but who has become less enjoyable due to poor choices made.