Ray casting sorcerer

[Zachariah]

I was wondering if you guys could help me out design a ray casting specialist based on the sorcerer?
Especially tips for feats and abilities that help the rays hit, helpful PrC's would be nice, an example build even more so!
Arcane Infusion (True Strike + Ray)  is ofcourse nice, but need alternative ways to help out with landing hits.

[rubberduck]

weapon focus ray is possible
but i don't think you really need truestrike. ray attacks are always ranged touch attacks
and you will see that toch ac will not go up very high as you advance in levels

apart from that :
The Spellwarp Sniper from Complete Scoundrel works nice with ray spells it can even make a fireball into a ray
The Unseen Seer from Complete mage could get you at 2nd level Hunter's Eye a 2nd level Ranger spell that gives 1d6 sneak attack/3 casterlevels
as a mage you shoud find enough possibilities to alway apply sneak attack
if you are going for raw damage...
Warmage Prc from Age of Mortals(Dragonlance) could help as it adds up to +3 damage per die to your spells

[cru]

Targeting Ray (Spell Compendium) - grants +1 insight bonus per 3 CL to ranged attacks against a target

[archangel.arcanis]

some metamagic cheese staples include split ray and twin spell, normally included on scorching ray but others can be useful as well.

If you find yourself using one particular spell a lot Arcane Thesis with that one is a good choice, and if you use any Metamagic at all Rapid Meta. is the one for you. The one from Sandstorm that allows you to ignore fire resistance and still deal half damage to fire immune creatures is good if you use a lot of fire spells.

Also note that the Age of Mortals War Mage has errata to limit it to 3+int mod per day of +1,2,or 3 per die of damage.  But if you can't find where it is then i guess you can't use it  

[BowenSilverclaw]

Spellwarp Sniper + Wings of Flurry

[RobbyPants]

At low levels, you might want Point Blank Shot so you can take Precise Shot to avoid the -4 penalty to fireing in melee.  That penalty at low levels is pretty significant, although two feats is a pretty steep cost for a sorcerer.

Once you get to the mid levels, your BAB, Dex, and other factors should make your attack roll scale faster than your opponent's touch AC, and it won't be as necessary.  So, your starting level and how long you think you'll play the character will both have a big impact on how useful these feats will be to you.

[rubberduck]

But if you can't find where it is then i guess you can't use it 

thats what she said?^^

[Prime32]

Seeking ray from PHB2 (I think) grants a bonus to-hit on subsequent rays. It also deals electricity damage without having the [Electricity] descriptor, if that ever becomes important (it did for me).

You can take Weapon Focus and Weapon Specialisation in ray spells, but it's not worth it unless your DM has houseruled them stronger (just take Knowledge Devotion). Psionic Shot is a possibility though, maybe qualify through Hidden Talent (precognition).

Being Small will get you a bonus on to-hit - I don't think I need to point out the advantages of being a dragonwrought kobold (if you don't know, someone will point them out).

There are some teamwork benefits which might help you as well - see if you can get a cohort to aid in the beamspam.


It's not exactly what you requested, but there's a spellcaster/warlock hybrid PrC from Complete Mage which lets you channel spells through your eldritch blasts and vice versa.

[Ithamar]

Spellwarp Sniper + Wings of Flurry

I was just contemplating a build on that this afternoon.  No save dazing?  Yes, please!

[SorO_Lost]

If you are looking at damage I suggest looking into Stormcaster(stormwreck). The 5th level of that PrC adds +1 sonic damage per die and a save vs stun on every electricity spell you cast that deals damage. Also, topping your build off with Frozen Mage(frostburn) to ignore cold immunity you can further Cold Snap + Frozen Spell (or w/e it's called) would yield another +3 damage per die. Split Ray Snowcast Energy Substitution(electricity) Wings of Furry spell from a Warmage(PrC one) would be very deadly indeed.

Lords of Madness has a feat called Ocular Spell that lets you store two spells at once in your eyes. You can then fire them both out as a ray at once.