wizard/sorceror

[scarymonkey]

Is this any big reason why I wouldn't want to multiclass my wizard to a wizard/sorceror at 2nd level? Look at all the 1st level spells I could cast! With my int of 14 and cha of 14, I can cast 7 1st lvl spells per day! Good gawd, the POWER!!!

uh, ahem, anyway what would be the downside to this arrangement?

 

[Crothian]

well, normally you'd be given up high level spells later in life, however with your current stats you can only go up to 4th level spells in each, so go for it.

 

[kreynolds]

uh, ahem, anyway what would be the downside to this arrangement?

It would only be a problem if your favored class was neither wizard or sorcerer, as you would eventually take an XP hit if you didn't keep the two levels close together. If your favored class is one of these, it would only be a problem if you later on wanted to pick up a third class.

 

[dkilgo]

There ar eonly two down sides two the whole thing.

One, being that the highest level spell you will be able cast at 20th level is 5th. Heck, when I would think that the average spell caster could cast at least 7th to 8th level spells. Granted, you can cast a heck of a lot more than the other guy.

Second, you have to keep those wizard and sorcerer spell lists seperate. Because your sorcerer might not know the exact same spells as your wizard. Only because the wizard could gain that nifty spell book, and the sorcerer doesn't.

 

[Thanee]

The obvious one is, that you lose out on the high end of the scale.

The really powerful spells come with every new spell level and even a Wizard (X-1)/Sorcerer 1 would have ½ Spell Level less than a pure Wizard X.

Also your caster level, which is quite important for some and vital for many other spells, would not be your full character level then.

Then you need a good Intelligence and Charisma, which might also be a problem, but does not have to be.

And depending on your race, you might soon suffer multiclass penalties.

The disadvantages by far outweigh the advantages in the long run!

Bye
Thanee

 

[dkilgo]

I would definitly have to agree with Thanee.

 

[Thanee]

About the caster level: Spell Resistance becomes quite important at higher levels, and as a spellcaster beating said Spell Resistance is really important. If you multiclass as Wizard/Sorcerer, neither of your classes will be able to achieve good results against Spell Resistance, since your caster level will always be mediocre. For a multiclass fighter/spellcaster this is rarely a problem, but as a pure caster, you only got your spells...

Also, your spells will be far easier to get dispelled!

Caster Level is balanced for singleclass casters, multiclass casters will always lack there.

Bye
Thanee

 

[dkilgo]

Yeah, one such character would have to take up something that would aid in the lack of the powerful spell casting ability.

 

[bret]

I have to agree with everyone else here.

The Wizard/Sorcerer combination *only* looks good at second level. After that, it really starts hurting you.

If you continued as straight Wizard, you would be doing 2 magic missiles per spell at third level. Much better than only doing a single missle more times.

You will not qualify for Item Creation feats as quickly, because your caster level is low. You will not be able to pierce SR, and all of your spells will be easily dispelled by enemy spellcasters. The higher level spells are much more powerful, increasing the quantity of low level spells will not make up for this. Think about this: at character level 5 which would you rather play, a Wizard 5 or a Wizard3/Sorcerer2? I know that I would much rather have access to third level spells than a multitude of 1st and a few 2nd level spells.

If you are the only arcane spellcaster in your group, the whole group will suffer if you multiclass. They will be lacking the magical firepower that creatures of your groups' challenge level expect the group to have. They will still have an arcane caster that they have to protect in combat, but the arcane caster can no longer pull out the big spells that a group should have.

If you are not the only arcane caster in the group and you want to multiclass, go fighter or rogue. That way, you have abilities to fall back on when you are out of spells. There are also PrCs that bring these multiclass combinations more in line with the power of other characters. Look at the Spellsword or Arcane Trickster as examples.

I think even with a 14 in Int, you can make a useful wizard. You will have to pump every attribute increase into Int, but long before you get to 17th level you should have found an item that increases your Int. It will be more difficult. You will have less spells and a lower DC than more intelligent wizards, but you will still be able to cast the big spells.

 

[Li Shenron]

On the other hand, if you can manage (regarding multiclass penalties) to get only a few levels of Sorcerer it won't be that bad IMHO. Maybe even 1 only - Wiz X/Sor 1 - you basically delay your next spell level of 1 character level only, so goes your caster levels, but in the beginning you'll have a huge amount of daily spells, and can cast the most useful ones spontaneously.