Warmage (CA) vs. Sorcerer

[shilsen]

I think the warmage has the same strength/weakness as the warlock - it's a very good offensive class, but with the lack of defense/utility, would be a serious problem in the party context if it's the only arcanist around. Ironically, the warmage really needs other characters around to survive, since its non-offensive capabilities are so low. Where it comes to defense/utility, I'd say the warlock has an edge over the warmage, though it still has the same problem of not being able to help its party members much in that area (since most defense/utility invocations affect only the warlock).

 

[Darkness]

Where it comes to defense/utility, I'd say the warlock has an edge over the warmage, though it still has the same problem of not being able to help its party members much in that area

Yes, but the Warlock gets UMD skill (and can take 10 on it even under pressure at lvl 4+) and thus can at least use items. Sure, it's not the world but it's there.

Besides, mechanics aside, he's just cool.

 

[Shadeus]

Well, Warlocks also have some utility spells too. Granted they have very few of them, but they have fly, dimension door, spider climb and several others, besides have the ability to blast the begeezeus out of someone.

Oh, and they are cool.

Edit: Just re-read Shilsen's post. You are right, most of them affect the warlock only.

 

[shilsen]

Besides, mechanics aside, he's just cool.

Oh, and they are cool.

No argument. To that end:
http://www.enworld.org/forums/showthread.php?t=112229

 

[Corsair]

You all seem to be overlooking the fact that sorcerers are shafted in the current vancian set up.

The warmage, the XPH psion, and the warlock are all better ways to handle sorcerers than the core sorcerer.

Warlock: Innate power which can be used inifinitely. Doesn't look like a wizard rip-off like the sorcerer.

Warmage: Able to pull any spell they need of a specific type, along with a number of minor abilities. I am considering putting together an enchanter type and an illusionist type which use this same theme.

Psion: The closest thing to a true "magic point" caster in WotC DnD right now. Each power is more versatile than a single sorcerer spell, he gets bonus feats, better skill lists, gets powers a level earlier than a sorcerer gets spells... other than the fact that a blaster psion will burn out faster than a blaster sorcerer, the sorcerer loses again.

 

[Thanee]

You all seem to be overlooking the fact that sorcerers are shafted in the current vancian set up.

And yet, a lot of people have fun playing this highly effective class.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Felix]

Yeah, a Warmage's best uses are secondary arcanist and city/guild protection. Sorta like a machine gun nest, eh? Since they don't have much in the way of magical mobility, they're good with emplacements that need to be held.

Worst of all, they don't have good battlefield shaping spells, like the Wall spells or the Cloud spells, though they can get access to some Evocation wall spells later on.

You all seem to be overlooking the fact that sorcerers are shafted in the current vancian set up.

Here we go again!

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

You all seem to be overlooking the fact that sorcerers are shafted in the current vancian set up.

The warmage, the XPH psion, and the warlock are all better ways to handle sorcerers than the core sorcerer.

Even though I would agree that the warmage, psion, and warlock are better approaches to a non-wizard spellcaster, I really do not think that is evidence that the Sorceror is shafted.

 

[Terath Ninir]

Sorcerers suck at anything but artillery and now they're second best -- no, third best, counting the warlock. They sucked before, and they suck completely. There is now no character that can be made with a sorcerer that can't be made better with some other class.

Which is a good thing. Death to sorcerers!

 

[Phalsa]

Having just played a 12th level Warmage...

I can honestly say that the warmage is fun in combat situations (played one in a few sessions from 11th to 12th) and could seriously lay down the firepower, but that is about the extent of the character. My next char (the last one got squished) will be a sorc (or something along that line). For me, the Warmage would be played again if I was doing a one shot or combat heavy game. In any other type of game, I would go with a sorc.

As far as the argument that a Warmage is a better blaster - Absolutely. That is all they do! However, the sorc is a better blaster than a wizard, but has more flexibility than a warmage. There is something to be said for being able to blast with the best of them and still pull out a utility spell when you really need it (especially against those pesky creatures with automatic SR vs. anything that can be resisted). Dispel magic can be a real life saver and haste is always a good thing for your fighters.

Keep in mind, having never had any game with a PSI in it; I cannot place them in this comparison. I think that will be my next char experiment (pending my DM not having problems with that .

Overall I still think sorc's have a place in the game, although I am on the side that their progression increase is lacking (bonus feats or something!). Just means that you need to find a good PRC to give them something to look forward to.