Our party just made 4th level in our last session. I am a Sorcerer, and I am debating on which 2nd level spell to choose. I am of the Arcane Bloodline, so I will pick up Invisibility next level as a freebie.
I am debating on Web, Glitterdust or Scorching Ray.
Suggestions?
From the three you mentioned I would take glitterdust due to its various utility.
Others I would consider are pyrotechnics or hideous laughter or good old protection from evil.
But as Rory wrote it really depends on your other spells, the route you want to go and what your party consists off.
Ruyan.
Glitterdust was basically a "win" button for some encounters for my wizard.
Web is far more situational... it depends on what you are playing. In Kingmaker, it doesnt help much when yer out on the open plains... but in a forest, or some kind of interior it can be very useful.
Scorching Ray is a good blast, to be sure, but are you blasty? My wizard really isn't so I only just picked this up 3 levels later.
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Definitely Glitterdust. I took Glitterdust at 4th level with my own sorcerer, and even at 10th it's still my most cast 2nd level spell.
I also took Flaming Sphere, but that was a huge mistake--it has literally never been useful in any encounter ever. Even ignoring all the problems with resistance, saving throws, and SR, encounters are just too short and standing still to burn move actions is never as safe as you hope.
I don't suggest large area effects spells, as they're too often impractical. They're great on an open battlefield, but many campaigns never visit open battlefields--if instead you fight monsters hiding in closets, they're worse than useless. And I don't like blasting, so I wouldn't consider Scorching Ray unless it's a low-power game and the rest of the party is worthless at dealing damage.
Besides the above, I would consider Create Pit (APG)... It´s kind of an alternate to Web in a way.
I don´t know which I would choose first, though, honestly. Glitterdust is def. a solid choice.
Frigid Touch (Ult. Magic) is a nice spell, decent-ish single-target damage and no Save vs. status effect, but probably more like a possible SECOND 2nd Level Spell :-)
Touch of Idiocy is a tremendous debuff against casters, but you either need Reach Metamagic, which you can't use yet, or be close enough to touch an opponent, which is not a good tactical idea.
...Or a Familiar :-) (same goes for Frigid Touch)
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Having now played a sorcerer in PFS for quite awhile now, and with 3.5 before that, I will give you my 0.02 ....
Glitterdust for the win .. like others have said. Still use it at 10th ... with Persist MM its still effective, and good for anti-invisibility duties.
I didn't take Scorching Ray until 7th, as its kind of meh until you get the 2nd ray.
Sorry for getting back so late! To be honest, I’ve had so much on my mind lately, forgot I posted this question, and it was only yesterday. :) A lot of great suggestions!
In answer to the question of what I have already, I don’t remember all my 0 level spells, but some are Detect Magic, Acid Splash, Ray of Frost and Mage Hand.
1st level spells are: Color Spray, Mage Armor, Magic Missile and Identify (bonus Bloodline spell).
Yes, I am a blaster, but always have liked to keep my options open with some utility spells, as well. I think I am really leaning on Glitterdust right now, especially considering my DM does like to throw invis creatures our way.
Thanks for all the help!
Flaming sphere is a great spell, but if you're running in a party that can take on high CR encounters relative to level, and your GM likes using monsters with high reflex saves, it will hit about once every six attempts if you're lucky. Not that I speak from experience or anything. >_> Though the utility of starting fires and cordoning off areas frequently makes up for the lack of direct damage (though if you fight indoors more often than out this would be more a disadvantage, though you could still use it to block stone corridors, either to herd enemies or prevent retreat). And yeah, as another person said, it's rare in my experience for it to go out before combat ends. I usually end up dismissing it.
Glitterdust is also a great spell. I'd probably be taking it if it weren't one of my bloodline freebies. It seems like you currently don't have much utility so I'd go with that. Since you don't have silent image, minor image might also be a good choice for you, but honestly it may be better to either a) pick up silent image for your next first level spell, or b) wait for the next rank of the image line. As a fourth level sorc I use silent image probably more than any other spell- but I like outsmarting an encounter as opposed to making pretty numbers. If you're more in the latter camp it may be a less good choice. Image spells are pretty good bang for the buck in terms of utility.
I would look at some thing that attacks Fort or Reflex you have touch and Will cover well.
Range short and Meduim
Engery type that you can use acid, cold, Force
fire or electcity