Why a Sorcerer vs a Wizard?

[redkobold]

What are opinions out there concerning the Sorcerer class? What do you see as the pros and cons as related to the Wizard.

I just feel ambigous about the Sorcerer class. What are some good variants?

I see that the Wizard gets extra feats and can possibly learn any spell while the Sorcerer gets fewer accessible spells but can cast them more often but I still feel like I am missing something.

Perhaps for me it would make more sense if he had higher HD, d6 vs d4 or if he could eschew the material components of a spell.

Just looking for some discussion....

Thanks

 

[diaglo]

in 3.ed there was the cost for metamagic feats.

and then the wizard took spell mastery and ...

 

[Vahktang]

Wizard = good
Sorcer = bad


Sorcerer has fewer choices
Wizard has fewer spells.

Sorcerer less likely to help in trick/trap situations.
Wizard player has to think more.

Wizard will probably be able to make magic stuff for party.
Sorcerer less so.

Sorcerer can go one or two more encounters before resting in comparison to the wizard.
Unless the wizard was smart enough to make a wand or bring some scrolls along.

That sort of thing.

More later,

Vahktang

 

[Henry]

I like them both, though it does take a little more tactical knowledge playing Sorcerer than Wizard. The spell-swapping allowed sorcerers in 3.5 alleviated the worst complaint, the fact that spells were permanently set once chosen. A sorcerer still needs to be very mindful of what metamagics they pick, because metamagics are the key to true spell versatility for Sorc's.

 

[Psion]

A lot of people feel that the additional spells slots and free access are meager compensation for the smaller selection of spells, especially when compared to specialist wizards.

I was almost buying into that line of thinking, until I started playing a wizard for a while. Now I am not so sure. It seems to me I use a minority of my spells the majority of the time as a wizard, and I can think of many times where it would have been nice to have had that extra color spray instead of that magic missile, or vice versa.

Further, the sorcerer's capabilities in the game I run seem to be a pretty potent. Frex, the ability to try that disintigrate multiple times instead of just one shot is very nice, and let the party take out an otherwise nigh-invulnerable villain.

I'm not willing to come down hard and say definitively the sorcerer is just as good, but I certainly am not convinced there is a great disparity as some suggest.

 

[Voadam]

The sorcerer can also cast any spell he knows, not limited by preparation of specific spells just open slots. Same with application of metamagic feats. Still and silent spell feats are much better for a sorcerer than a wizard.

Flavor wise a sorcerer is raw magical power, no spell books or scholarly learning needed. Eschew materials is a good feat for them and some DMs give it as a bonus feat, because spell components are not in line with the flavor of sorcerers as written.

 

[Nifft]

Some people like to be able to tactically optimize their spell choices each day. They play Wizards.

Some people hate having to pick spells each day. They play Sorcerers.

I have one of each in my group. Both classes have been quite effective.

-- N

 

[Brennin Magalus]

I just feel ambigous about the Sorcerer class. What are some good variants?

I believe the best variant by far is Monte Cook's sorcerer in the
Book of Eldritch Might II. Monte's sorcerer uses d6, has a slightly more generous spell progression, more skill points and more charisma related skills.

 

[Mercule]

The experience of my group is that Sorcerers quickly make themselves indespensible while Wizards just add a little extra something.

This was even true when there was a combat oriented Evoker and a Sorcerer with no offensive spells in the party at the same time. It was a pure dungeon crawl, and if the group had to choose, most would have kept the non-combat Sorcerer over the Wizard. As much was said, mostly in amazement of that fact.

 

[Silveras]

Monte Cook offers a variant Sorcerer in the Book of Eldritch Might II: Songs and Souls of Power.

The variant gets more skill points and d6 HD, but loses access to some spells. Some spells are just flat out gone from the list, and others are pushed up a level terms of access to them. This is done in keeping with the approach that Sorcerers are not scholarly arcanists like Wizards.

I have not tried this variant yet, but it seems Ok from looking at it.

As to the core Sorcerer, I am going to play my first in a PBeM campaign shortly. So far, in creating him, I am feeling the pinch of the confined spell list compared to the Wizards I have played before.