Spells for a 20th lvl Sorcerer in a Duel tournament

[jgsugden]

Your most important goal: Go first. Get that initiative up as high as possible. The first one to go will be the first one to get off their save or die spells.

 

[Ulrik]

Or, if you are a wizard, you could be both a 10th level Incantatrix and a 5th level Fatespinner and quicken 6th level spells.

Wouldn't it be enough to have Arcane Preparation? It looks like a very good combination of Sorcerer flexibility and Wizard metamagic.

Currently I'm thinking Sor5/Incantatrix8/Fatespinner5/Archmage1/Eidoloncer1 (which, incidentally, gives some weird base saves - +4/+4/+18...) - Or just Sor9/Fatespinner5/Archmage2/Eidoloncer4, because I might not be able to borrow Magic of Faerun from anybody (mine's in another city).

(Can an Archmage select Spell Power more than once?)

And I'm not sure if Baleful Polymorph will do the trick - a canny player might have prepared some spell with Silent and Still Spell to reverse it...

 

[Thanee]

Wouldn't it be enough to have Arcane Preparation? It looks like a very good combination of Sorcerer flexibility and Wizard metamagic.

Actually, I think a Wizard is better suited for this "play style". You can prepare multiple strategies and especially these can involve more different high level spells (you will have 5 9th level slots including specialization and high Int as a 19th level caster, a Sorcerer would have 7 slots, but only 2 spells to choose from).

And you know quite well in advance what you are possibly up to.

The main advantage of going for Incantatrix is, that you get Improved Metamagic later, which will allow you to quicken 6th level spells and thus, as you said yourself, the real save-or-die magic becomes available then. Instant Metamagic will allow you to spontaneously decide, where to apply the crucial metamagics. If you also pick up Sudden Maximize and Sudden Silent (both highly recommended) you have even more spontaneous options.

Something, you should also keep an eye on... Imbue Familiar with Spell Ability, if you find the time to prepare this, it's like another quickened spell in the one round that counts. Contingency will add one more to the tally, or if cleverly used, will almost guarantee, that you get the jump on your opponent.

Against opposing spellcasters, an Antimagic Field cast on your familiar might be nasty, if the familiar then readies to move close to the caster, if a spell is being cast (or next to you to protect you against a spell).

Of course, you will have to figure out ways to beat an Antimagic Field yourself.

(Can an Archmage select Spell Power more than once?)

Yes.

And I'm not sure if Baleful Polymorph will do the trick - a canny player might have prepared some spell with Silent and Still Spell to reverse it...

If they make the additional Will save.

But you can choose the spell, depending on the target, that's also, why Wizard is probably the better choice, since you can have more different spells prepared. For example, a Feeblemind might work well against another arcane caster, or Dominate Person against a weak-willed Barbarian.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Thanee]

If you need time to prepare against a fighter-type, you could just cast Otiluke's Resilient Sphere on yourself and then you'll have about 20 minutes of preparation time, while pretty much nothing can touch you.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Metalsmith]

I might enter a Duel tournament in a couple of weeks, and I'm planning to take sorcerer. I don't know how common this thing is, but it's a fight to the death between two characters, winner advances to the next round until only one character remains. All players bring one character of 20th level (or equivalent), with no magic items. Items are replaced by four stat bonuses (+8, +6, +4 and +2), a +3 resistance bonus on all saves and all weapons carried are +5 weapons (bonus can be exchanged for special properties that negate DR, ie +5, +4 Silver or +3 Lawful Adamantine). No "role-playing" is required, it's all about min-maxing!

Since its all about getting in the first shot, I'd play a Monk.

With a High Dex and a few Feats you should be able to arrive at a +14 Initiave. Spot, Listen and Search are all class skills. Go First, See them First, Charge and Quivering Palm/Stunning Blow DC 30 Fortitude Save. Rinse, Repeat untill dead. SR 30 from Diamond Soul and Amazingly good saves should get you through any rough patches.

I dont know about any prestige classes, havnt read those books, but I will look for a few good ones while I have the time.

Although the Druid 5 Natures Warrior 5 Shifter 10 comes to mind.

Metalsmith

 

[Ulrik]

And when they're flying before I see them? I think a spellcaster with Initiative +10 should be enough. (With a couple of Spell Penetration Feats and perhaps Spell Power you can get +25 to beat SR, so I don't think SR30 is that great.) But I do agree that a Monk might be one of the best options if you don't go for a spellcaster, for the saves and SR.

 

[Ballard_Alvar]

Then I'd probably do that, and go for 19th level. Gate alone is such a killer spell to be worth the small reduction in power by losing that one level. Not to mention the options you gain with Limited Wish.

With 5,000 gp Forcecage isn't too great, tho.

Bye
Thanee

at mid to high levels Limited Wish is invaluable as it dramatically increases your repertoire. 300xp is nothing when it allows you to kill BBEG. But I Concur, Gate kills all. Duels at this high of a level are kind of silly as who ever wins init wins. one thing you can do is. once you win init. then "I ready an action to cast a spell if my oponent casts a spell" :pponent casts spell:: I disintegrate opponent. either the opponent is disintegrated or forced to make a huge concentration check or lose the spell. then its your turn again. rinse and repeat. one part of being a wizard in this kind of dule is that you can ready an action to cast a split ray disintegrate. sorcs can't do that cause of the whole "using a metamagic feat is a full round action" thing.

 

[Thanee]

And when they're flying before I see them? I think a spellcaster with Initiative +10 should be enough. (With a couple of Spell Penetration Feats and perhaps Spell Power you can get +25 to beat SR, so I don't think SR30 is that great.) But I do agree that a Monk might be one of the best options if you don't go for a spellcaster, for the saves and SR.

SR 30 is nothing, not even a nuisance, you beat that automatically at that level (with Assay Resistance even as a 19th level caster you have +29 to beat SR).

Bye
Thanee