Well hello all! I'm relatively new to Pathfinder, but my experience with 3.5 helps quite a bit. I really enjoy making characters and now I'm waiting on a game of Pathfinder to start. Since I've had some free time I've set out to make a Sorcerer for the game. The others seem cool with it, but now I wonder if I'll be the only spell caster since there will only be four of us that I know of.

Anyway, I feel like making a jerk and prankster this time around. I threw together a level 16 character to get an idea of where I wanted him to go, but I've hit some road blocks and I thought you guys could help. I enjoy bouncing ideas around, but none of my friends are particularly good at this kind of spell caster. They are all fighters or blasters. I wanted a bit more finesse than that. XD

Here's what I have so far.

I'm not trying to go for super optimized, but I don't want to be worthless to the party. I'm just having trouble deciding on things without someone else to plan with. I've already looked at several useful guides, but I just find it easier talking it out to make sure my ideas are good. Any thoughts or advice you guys have would be appreciated!

Looks good to me. You have a mix of attack, charm, utility, buff, etc. spells. Being high level I would spread out the skill points, only maxing bluff if you want. Don't forget scrolls to cover miscellaneous weak spots.

Some quick generic Sorcerer spell advice:

The Shadow Conjuration and Shadow Evocation spells help to add some versatility to a Sorcerer's bag of tricks.

Planar Binding is one thing Sorcerer's tend to be better at than Wizards (due to generally having higher Charisma, which is used in the binding), if that sort of thing is your bag. This stuff also helps to add magical versatility in the form of whatever tricks your bound buddy comes with.

Pits pits pits!!!

I've found THIS GUIDE to be very good with spell selection.

Also, going with Fey bloodline might boost the Kitsune bonus to Enchantment spells, add in some spell focus and you can make a good mind control Sorcerer. Dominates, Holds and Confusion all are under the Enchantment school.

Call it cheating, if you want, but I like to take into account who else is in the party. There are some players who don't like that, but I do. You usually work best by being able to cover for other characters' weak spots.

If there are other casters in your group, talk to them. If you have a charming bard, you don't need to be so charming. If there are lots of melee types, buffing them is a great way to go. If there's no rogue, some scrolls or a wand of knock really helps.

You get the idea. If there's someone else planning to max out bluff, you don't have to. Take class skills they don't have.

Ciaran Barnes

Thanks! Though, the high level is only because I wanted to plan him out. Not sure if I should split skill points up early on or not. I guess that depends on what's happening in the campaign though.

ProfPotts
I really enjoy those spells. I remember having them with my shadow spec'd Beguiler in 3.5 The thing I felt about them though is that they really shine with Illusionists, but have a harder time with someone less orientated that way. At least just to me. Still, a good thing to think about if I can figure out what they would replace. Thanks!

As for Planar Binding, I'm not too sure if I want my character with that. It does fit the flavor and helps add more tricks to what I can do, but my last few characters were all about summons, or having a really powerful companion. Wanted to change that up a bit.

meatrace
The pit spells look fun! I liked the looks of Spiked Pit and Hungry Pit. Again, I just don't know what I'd change. I want a lot of things. Haha

Lochmonster
I actually used that guide a lot to figure out what my spell selection would be. And the Sorcerer guide that went with it. Very handy stuff.

And that's one of the reasons I want to use Fey. It gets the +2 DC early on. Arcane gets something similar, but not until 15th level. That's forever away.

A highly regarded expert

I do that too sometimes. The rest of the group isn't as enthusiastic as I am about making characters though. None of them are too sure what they are going to do. Just vague ideas. I normally do change my characters to cover weak points in the party, but I'm tired of giving up skills or changing traits of my characters all the time.

I want to be able to keep the idea I start with for once. Could add some fun rivalries too depending on if there actually is another charismatic person in the party. Either my party will be good as is or it will be a spectacular failure. Should be fun either way.

Thanks for the advice, guys! Any other recommendations? Like, would Mass Suggestion be better than Cloak of Dreams? Or maybe some feat suggestions to make use of the build I'm going for? I know of a lot of them, but I've probably missed some things or combos I didn't think of.

Spell Penetration and greater Spell Penetration are always good to get around some SR. And this one is a little harder to get but I like the feat Spell Perfection you need to have 3 meta-magic feats to grab it and spell craft 15 but since you're a sorcerer and you'll be spamming the same few spells find one you use most and then choose a meta-magic feat that goes with it like quicken spell or maybe empower depending on what spell how often you use it what you use it for etc. etc.

Spell Penetration and greater Spell Penetration are always good to get around some SR. And this one is a little harder to get but I like the feat Spell Perfection you need to have 3 meta-magic feats to grab it and spell craft 15 but since you're a sorcerer and you'll be spamming the same few spells find one you use most and then choose a meta-magic feat that goes with it like quicken spell or maybe empower depending on what spell how often you use it what you use it for etc. etc.

I forgot about those. Silly me. XD

Black Tentacles will make the table hate you as the game slows down to a crawl.

Combat casting is better than Improved Init, then add that trait that gives another +2.

Like it or not, you'll need at least Burning Hands. Swarms & such.

I'm going to end up with both Combat Casting and Improved Init eventually. It just depends on what order I want them. Once I hit 7th level I'll get a feat from my bloodline, which could be either one of those.

As for being hated for having Black Tentacles... that sorta fits what I'm going for. My character isn't supposed to be liked by everyone. He's supposed to annoy and still get the job done he's supposed to do. XD

I did forget about swarms though. I'll have options against them, but not so much early on. I'll have to look into it and see how much of an issue it will be.

I'm going to end up with both Combat Casting and Improved Init eventually. It just depends on what order I want them. Once I hit 7th level I'll get a feat from my bloodline, which could be either one of those.

As for being hated for having Black Tentacles... that sorta fits what I'm going for. My character isn't supposed to be liked by everyone. He's supposed to annoy and still get the job done he's supposed to do. XD

I did forget about swarms though. I'll have options against them, but not so much early on. I'll have to look into it and see how much of an issue it will be.

I would suggest Combat Casting before Improved Initiative but that's just me

I would suggest Combat Casting before Improved Initiative but that's just me

Sounds like a plan then. Thanks. ^^

Also I was looking at the traits you asked about such my suggestions would be "Reactionary" for a bonus to Initiative because I've always thought that being able to go first as a caster is a good thing so you can position yourself wherever you want to/you feel you should be for the grater good and "Magical Lineage" since it's pretty good and if you go with my feat suggestions you'll get quite a bit of use out of it IMO.

And for your bloodline since you said you want to enchant things you might want to look at the Rakshasa bloodline in the UM because it give you quite a few enchantment spells free assuming oyu can use it that is