Suggestions for a good fighter/sorcerer?

[Gaiden]

IDHMBWM - but I remember a PrC in one of the dragons that combined the barbarian and sorcerer to great effect - you could cast while raging and your spells got even more powerful.

Also consider Shield charging Paladin (feats from DotF) with Sorcerer levels - great synergy.

Do not overlook power of wizard over sorcerer. While the sorcerer can cast more per day than the wizard. The wizard gets that very nifty and often dismissed/overlooked ability to scribe scrolls. As a wizard your goal is to get as much money as possible because more money equals more scrolls. Combining aa few levels of wizard with other fighting classes can be extremely powerful because of the sheer number of options available with the low level spells.

For PrC's, go with Spellsword, Bladesinger, the Dragon mag one, or Sacred Exorcist. If I am not mistaken, sacred exorcist is the only PrC that gives 3/4 bab with a spell level at every level that can be used with arcane casters.

My recommendation is to take all levels in wizard until you can qualify for the SpellSword PrC, then take levels in Spell Sword until you can qualify for the Sacred Exorcist. Again, IDHMBWM - you may need to take a few levels of fighter/paladin, but regardless, focus more on wizard levels as your spell casting progression will greatly enhance your fighting prowess. Once you can qualify for the Spell sword PrC take enough levels to raise your casting level so that you can cast dismissal. Then take the rest as Sacred Exorcist levels. Your BAB will be phenominal considering your spellcasting potential. I am pretty sure you will be able to cast 8th level spells (possibly seventh). Regardless that is enough to get Tensor's Transformation and divine power via limited wish. Not to mention you will be able to turn minor undead (but more importantly can now qualify for some of the feats in DotF - like the shield feats).

Good luck.

 

[apsuman]

Make it a fighter/wizard not a fighter/sorcerer, unless you are really affixed on using no books.

Wizards are a lot better suited for this purpose!

I have to ask... How are they better suited for this purpose?

g!

 

[Arcanus]

some soells you might want to consider along with feats.
Expedious Retreat works great with Spring Attack & combat reflexes.

Shield is a must for any arcane spellcaster.
Blazing Shield from Relics&Rituals
Dissappear from Relics&Rituals
True Strike & Power Attacking
Magic Weapon (only if you are taking a Wizard)
Rapid Strikes from Dragon Mag. #275?
Assassin's Senses from Relics&Rituals
Mage Armor (helps against Shadows& Wraiths etc...)
Blur (you can't be sneak attacked)
Haste
Displacement
Greater Magic Weapon
There are too many to list but I would stop at around 7th level spell casting for Wizard and 8th level for sorcerer and go the rest with Fighter or PrCs

 

[gordonknox]

Monte's Sorcerer

If you want a few more hps, Montes sorcerer used a d6 for hit points.

gk

 

[Mistopheles]

I went the route of straight Sorcerer with buff spells as well as multi classed Sorcerer/Barbarian/Dragon Disciple with buff spells. If I had it to do over again I would have gone Fighter instead of Barbarian but still came out with a very good character.

Some suggestions:
Go for the more long term buffs like Cats Grace, Mage Armor, etc. that will make you a more effective fighter and that you can cast once before you donn armor (and a spell failure check) and can forget about it until its about to run out. Other enhancements like haste, displacement, truestrike are good as well.

Stay away from offensive spells because if you are buffed right, you will be an offensive spell (with no saving throws ).

I wouldn't suggest going beyond light armor if you are going to cast in combat. Think of yourself as more of a Jedi than as Sauron (at the beginning of the LoTR movie).

BTW Truestrike, when combined with Power Critical and a decent Power Attack is particularly nasty especially with burst weapons.

 

[Laslo Tremaine]

You mentioned that you DM did not have any of the splat books and therefore may not be inclined to let you use a PrC from a non-core source.

If I might sugguest...

The Web Enhnacement for Tome and Blood has the full version of the Bladesinger (with errata!) in .pdf form.

You (and your DM) can download it here:

http://wizards.com/dnd/article.asp?x=dnd/we/we20010713a

Good luck!

 

[Asheron]

There are two good PrC's for that kind of Fighter/Spellcaster Combo (both can be found in Tome & Blood)

you forgot Dragon Disciple.......that makes three

 

[BIGLOU]

other options

Start off as Paladin and go to level 3. You can now turn undead and that enables you to take the DOF feat (Diving Might) that lets you add your CHR bonus to damage as a free action (read new FAQ). You can break up the PAL/Sor levels if your DM allows the PAL to multi.

Next take a few sor levels for the good level 1 and 2 spells. Next take PrC or goto Ftr 4 for Spec. Only stick with Pal if you want his spell lists and mount.

You can give yourself a low STR and puts the extra points in CON so that you will have HP almost like a straight fighter. And don't forget the toad familiar for the +2 CON. You will have incredible saves thanks to divine grace, very good HP, good damage (Divine might), True strike/Power attack, weap spec), good AC (shield, amour, and other buffs)

Note: This is to help you min/max a little. A straight Ftr/Sor is way weak unless you go PrC. It depends on campaign.

BIGLOU

 

[KarinsDad]

If you are using point buy to create the character, you may wish to create a Dwarven Fighter/Sorcerer.

That way, you can put a 14 into CHA and not worry that it drops to 12. Later on, you can bump it up to 13 and even 14 if necessary, but the main point is that you will get enough of a CHA to do first and second level spells which is all you probably need initially.

On top of that, the CON bonus from the Dwarf, the save bonuses against spells and poison, the darkvision, etc. all make up for some areas you may be lacking. Hit points should not be a serious problem when you can cast Endurance. The +1 hit point per level every level from Dwarf should offset the -3 hits points per Sorcerer level. A 7th Sorc/13th Dwarven Fighter will average 1 hit point less total than a 20th Human Fighter.

As for BAB, I wouldn't worry about it. Not when you can eventually cast Bull's Strength for several hours and the straight Fighter cannot. Yes, he might eventually get a girdle that does that, but by then, you will probably have a bunch of wands to help you out.

The real issue here is AC. A straight Fighter in Light Armor might have a magical chain shirt and a magical Shield for a combined AC from them alone of anywhere from 17 to 26, let alone DEX and other sources.

The easiest way to overcome this is to take the Craft Wands feat and the Mirror Image spell, along with Craft Wands and Shield spell. In each case, one wand will last you a LONG time (since you will normally cast those spells normally and only use the wands when you are low on spells).

Once you do that, most normal combats will see your character not getting wiped AC-wise. Remember, you can use a Wand without an AoO. The problem is that you cannot do this until you are a 5th level Sorcerer. So, plan your levels such that you acquire the Craft Wand feat on the same level that you make 5th Sorcerer. 9th level is a good level for that.

Zeroeth level spell suggestion: Read Magic, Detect Magic, whatever strikes your fancy. You really do not need things like the Light/Mage Hand combo.

First level spell suggestion: Mage Armor, Expeditious Retreat, Shield, Endure Elements, Feather Fall (assuming you can acquire a magic weapon, otherwise replace Feather Fall with Magic Weapon).

Second level spell suggestion: Mirror Image, Bull Strength, Endurance (effectively, you turn yourself into a Fighter).

Third level spell suggestion: Fly, Haste.

Do not take True Strike unless you really want a big bruiser couple times a day attack with Power Attack. The problem is that it really does not give you a bang for the buck to get a few nearly auto-hits per day, even at the extra damage.

Do not take the Maximize Spell feat or the Empower Spell feat (too many levels). Take the Silent Spell feat early (nothing worse than having the Silence spell ruining your combative ability). Take the Extend Spell feat (you only get a few hours with your long duration buff spells). Use your normal level feats for spell feats and your Fighter feats for combative feats.

Watch out for Dispel Magic. It is the quickest way to get in serious trouble quickly. Take the Tumble skill a few times, just so that you can get out of trouble if your magic gets wiped. I played a combative buffed Illusionist once and it happened to me.

Good luck!


PS. I disagree with people who say a straight Fighter/Sorcerer is weak. It's all how you play the character.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

I doubt an elven bladesinger would use Polymorph Self, but a spellsword might love that tactic.

You better bet your farm on that! Not that they'd need such tactics.
If my bladesinger ever encounters another bladesinger that uses polyself to turn into anything that's even remotely considered bad by the people, he will strip that jerk of his rank and let him clean the jakes with his own toothbrush!