Author Topic: Help with sorcerer build  (Read 6823 times)

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ZeroSpace

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Help with sorcerer build
« on: June 14, 2011, 02:30:52 AM »
It's new campaign time again, and I'm just looking to fill up a few holes in this new character. I'm gonna be playing a sorcerer, aiming later on for the Fiend-Blooded PrC in Heroes of Horror. We're starting at lvl 4, with 32 point buy, no flaws, and no dragon material. So far, the build is looking like this...

str 8 dex 14 con 16 int 14 wis 8 cha 16

feats Eschew Materials, Blood Calls to Blood, Fell Weaken

Spells   Magic Missile, Blockade, Silent Image, Mirror Image


If anyone has any better suggestions for feats (EM and BCtB are prereqs) or spells, by all means, share them. Oh, and this will be an actual dungeon crawl, too, hence Blockade.
YAY! I get to go to the SPECIAL hell!

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"Alright men, time to break out the greatswords!"

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Solo

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Re: Help with sorcerer build
« Reply #1 on: June 14, 2011, 02:34:06 AM »

"I am the Black Mage! I cast the spells that makes the peoples fall down!"

The Legend RPG, which I worked on and encourage you to read.

The_Mad_Linguist

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Re: Help with sorcerer build
« Reply #2 on: June 14, 2011, 02:41:32 AM »
It's new campaign time again, and I'm just looking to fill up a few holes in this new character. I'm gonna be playing a sorcerer, aiming later on for the Fiend-Blooded PrC in Heroes of Horror. We're starting at lvl 4, with 32 point buy, no flaws, and no dragon material. So far, the build is looking like this...

str 8 dex 14 con 16 int 14 wis 8 cha 16

feats Eschew Materials, Blood Calls to Blood, Fell Weaken

Spells   Magic Missile, Blockade, Silent Image, Mirror Image


If anyone has any better suggestions for feats (EM and BCtB are prereqs) or spells, by all means, share them. Oh, and this will be an actual dungeon crawl, too, hence Blockade.

Power word: pain is probably a better choice than magic missile, even at this level.

What race are you?  It looks like human, which is a solid choice, but you might want to consider a kobold (for +1 level of sorcerer casting - dragonwrought isn't available, unfortunately) or a lesser planetouched (for better stats, - but although lesser tiefling is thematically appropriate, they take a cha penalty; aasimar would be good, but there are thematic issues.  Maeluth is probably your best option)
« Last Edit: June 14, 2011, 02:47:49 AM by The_Mad_Linguist »
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ZeroSpace

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Re: Help with sorcerer build
« Reply #3 on: June 14, 2011, 04:36:50 PM »
Yeah, I'm going human mainly for the extra feat, since I have two feats I need as prereqs, and flaws aren't allowed. Interesting idea with the PWP there, Mad_Linguist, I'll definitely give that spell some thought.

Also, I've talked with the dm, and I got K(Planes) as a class skill, so none of this 'not entering FB until lvl13' nonsense.

Edit: From the rather small amount of chatter, I'm guessing that there isn't to much to argue with in regards to the build right now. Cool. Main thing now I think is considering what spells I'll take with Fiendish Sorcery. The fact that I'm not limited to Sor/Wiz spells is rather nice. First one will come at level 7, so lvl3 spell or lower is what I'm looking at.
« Last Edit: June 14, 2011, 04:41:29 PM by ZeroSpace »
YAY! I get to go to the SPECIAL hell!

"The picks aren't breaking through, sir!"
"Alright men, time to break out the greatswords!"

"You may not make money being a bad-ass!"
-My DM

PhaedrusXY

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Re: Help with sorcerer build
« Reply #4 on: June 15, 2011, 03:40:22 PM »
Sorcerer "builds" are really more about spell selection than anything else. So I wouldn't take the lack of replies as meaning that your work is done. ;) Runestaffs are a godsend for sorcerers, also. I got a lot of feedback on choosing spells known for a sorcerer character of mine in this thread. There are also several other resources around for choosing spells known.
[spoiler]
A couple of water benders, a dike, a flaming arrow, and a few barrels of blasting jelly?

Sounds like the makings of a gay porn film.
...thanks
[/spoiler]

Tshern

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Re: Help with sorcerer build
« Reply #5 on: June 16, 2011, 09:17:33 AM »
I second the runestaff suggestion. They are golden, especially for long term buffs, like Superior Resistance, you only need to cast once a day or so.

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Bigtuna

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Re: Help with sorcerer build
« Reply #6 on: June 16, 2011, 09:56:16 AM »
Well were do you see your sorc going?
Is he gonna be a debuffer (fell weaken seems to point that way), blaster, BF-controller, buffer, jack-of-all-trades?
What's he role in the party (and who are the others). The more we know the more specific we can get.

"No dragon matrial"  is that dragon magasin or also dragon magic + races of the dragon?

And lvl 4. Runestaff are way out of his reach for some time...

 

BruceM

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Re: Help with sorcerer build
« Reply #7 on: June 16, 2011, 11:50:19 AM »
I second the runestaff suggestion. They are golden, especially for long term buffs, like Superior Resistance, you only need to cast once a day or so.
Hmm, dunno. As  PhaedrusXY said, spell selection are one of the most important part. superior Resistance is also awesome, but are u shure that it is needed to cast just once a day?

Bigtuna

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Re: Help with sorcerer build
« Reply #8 on: June 16, 2011, 12:26:34 PM »
If you are allowed to create your own runestaffs - Superior resistance, Elemental Body  is the kind of spells you want. Okay every now and then you are dispelled - buy a ring of enduring arcane to make your spells harder to dispel. And the spell run delvers fortune (SpC) is a live saver.

Sure if money isn't an issue just make a runestaff with 3/day Superior resistance  - but then again if money is no issue - but a drake helmet and a lot of spellshards. If monet is an issue (and it normally is) 1/day will do fine, depending on your GM. If he really loves to dispel people - well then you know what to do...

When selecting spells remember to that the first spell you choose on a new level should be something you'll cast alot. And then if homemade runestaffs are out you can choose sup. res. as the second know spell


PhaedrusXY

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Re: Help with sorcerer build
« Reply #9 on: June 16, 2011, 12:39:02 PM »
I second the runestaff suggestion. They are golden, especially for long term buffs, like Superior Resistance, you only need to cast once a day or so.
Hmm, dunno. As  PhaedrusXY said, spell selection are one of the most important part. superior Resistance is also awesome, but are u shure that it is needed to cast just once a day?
Yes. If your DM has his NPCs waste their precious actions dispelling you, count yourself lucky. That's one less action they could have used to really ruin your day. There are also quite a few defenses that you can use to protect yourself against dispelling, even without spending a lot of cash on it.
[spoiler]
A couple of water benders, a dike, a flaming arrow, and a few barrels of blasting jelly?

Sounds like the makings of a gay porn film.
...thanks
[/spoiler]

BruceM

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Re: Help with sorcerer build
« Reply #10 on: June 16, 2011, 02:54:14 PM »
Thanks for advice. Can you reveal us a secret which are those few defences we can use, but not to spend a lot of cash?

The_Mad_Linguist

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Re: Help with sorcerer build
« Reply #11 on: June 16, 2011, 03:52:55 PM »
Thanks for advice. Can you reveal us a secret which are those few defences we can use, but not to spend a lot of cash?
Drow of the Underdark has the Shadow Cloak.  3 times a day you teleport a short distance as an immediate action.  It's cheap, and you can avoid sooo much with it.
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PhaedrusXY

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Re: Help with sorcerer build
« Reply #12 on: June 16, 2011, 04:14:59 PM »
Thanks for advice. Can you reveal us a secret which are those few defences we can use, but not to spend a lot of cash?
1) Shrink Item + a familiar with a readied action.

You shrink some kind of barricade (giant wooden/iron/adamantine cones seem popular...), and wear it as a hat, a patch on your robes, or whatever. You have your familiar (who is hiding inside your robes) to ready an action to dismiss it if anyone starts to Dispel you. Since the familiar can use your ranks in Spellcraft, it can actually be decent at knowing when someone is about to hit you with a Dispel.

The readied action actually goes off before the action that triggered it, so before the Dispel lands, a giant barricade appears and blocks Line of Effect, protecting you from the Dispel.


2) Sacrificial Dispel bait.

Area Dispel only targets the spell with the highest caster level. So have one useless long term spell effect on you all the time. Any area Dispels will target this, and ignore your "real" buffs.

3) Ring of Counterspells

They're ridiculously cheap, and can hold up to 6th level spells. Greater Dispel Magic happens to be 6th level. This will automatically protect you from one targetted dispel before needing to be "recharged".
[spoiler]
A couple of water benders, a dike, a flaming arrow, and a few barrels of blasting jelly?

Sounds like the makings of a gay porn film.
...thanks
[/spoiler]

Rebel7284

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Re: Help with sorcerer build
« Reply #13 on: June 16, 2011, 04:51:49 PM »
4) Boost your caster level when casting buffs.  Elder Giant Magic/Reserves of Strength are great for that. =)
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ninjarabbit

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Re: Help with sorcerer build
« Reply #14 on: June 17, 2011, 12:26:52 AM »
Minor point: fiendblooded requires 8 ranks in knowledge (the planes) so you're going to need to find a way to get that as a class skill.

Magic missile is generally a bad choice at this level, I'd rather go with either enlarge person to buff your Big Stupid Fighter or grease for battlefield control. While I like mirror image I wouldn't use it at level 4 for my only 2nd level spell. Better choices would be alter self for natural bonus AC and utility, glitterdust for debuffing and revealing invisible foes, or web for battlefield control (this spell is good in a dungeon environment).

The_Mad_Linguist

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Re: Help with sorcerer build
« Reply #15 on: June 17, 2011, 12:53:55 AM »
Minor point: fiendblooded requires 8 ranks in knowledge (the planes) so you're going to need to find a way to get that as a class skill.
Already dealt with, I believe.
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CantripN

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Re: Help with sorcerer build
« Reply #16 on: June 17, 2011, 01:04:48 AM »
One song you're sure to want is Snowsong (Bard 6, Frostburn). Pact of Return (HoH, Cleric 7, is also great). Pronouncement of Fate (HoH, Cleric 4, is awesome!).

That's 3. Fire Storm (Druid 7, PHB) is another useful spell. Can decimate an army, with it's HUGE, shapeable area, and good damage.
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BruceM

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Re: Help with sorcerer build
« Reply #17 on: June 17, 2011, 11:02:34 AM »
Drow of the Underdark has the Shadow Cloak.  3 times a day you teleport a short distance as an immediate action.  It's cheap, and you can avoid sooo much with it.
Wow, really interesting, I will give it a try, like right now :)

PhaedrusXY

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Re: Help with sorcerer build
« Reply #18 on: June 17, 2011, 11:08:21 AM »
One song you're sure to want is Snowsong (Bard 6, Frostburn). Pact of Return (HoH, Cleric 7, is also great). Pronouncement of Fate (HoH, Cleric 4, is awesome!).

That's 3. Fire Storm (Druid 7, PHB) is another useful spell. Can decimate an army, with it's HUGE, shapeable area, and good damage.
You never cease to amaze me with your encyclopedic knowledge of D&D spells.  :D
[spoiler]
A couple of water benders, a dike, a flaming arrow, and a few barrels of blasting jelly?

Sounds like the makings of a gay porn film.
...thanks
[/spoiler]

ZeroSpace

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Re: Help with sorcerer build
« Reply #19 on: June 17, 2011, 03:34:50 PM »
Well, time to clear up a few things, I guess.

RE Character Direction: I guess I want to go with a blaster/debuffer type, although with how the groups shaping up, I may need to go more towards buffing and BC.

RE Runestaves: Definitely going to pick one up when I get some money, since I'm starting play at lvl 4. Not nearly enough cash at char-gen to pick one up then.

RE Dragon Material: I did mean to say 'No dragon magazine' on that one. Whoops.

RE CantripN: Not sure as to the point of Snowsong, Pact of Return, and Pronouncement of Fate being mentioned. Possible suggestions for future Fiendish Sorcery's?

One other thing I feel I should mention, group composition. At present, I am aware of two of the other players characters. One will be a Warlock heading into Hellfire Warlock, and as such will be providing long range blasting. The other certain one will be going Dread Necromancer, so melee presence will be there. I think someone said they're going to be a cleric, but I'm not certain on that. Once I have a better measure of what everyone's going to be playing, I'll be able to fine-tune my spell list to accommodate.
YAY! I get to go to the SPECIAL hell!

"The picks aren't breaking through, sir!"
"Alright men, time to break out the greatswords!"

"You may not make money being a bad-ass!"
-My DM