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Fix your caps lock!
13 AC is about right for a caster at low levels. You can put on a buckler or take a chance with very light armor if you really want to risk the spell failure chance. Most creatures at 1st level are only going to have a 50/50 shot at hitting you, so it's not horrible.
Other than armor, use the environment, take cover. You can lean around a tree (corner) to cast a spell then duck back. If in the open and facing ranged weapons, duck behind one of your party members for an extra +4 AC due to "soft cover." If pursued by an enemy that is faster than you, take 5' steps to get spells off and call for help. A good sorcerer should always have a strong pal nearby to "block" for them, like protecting the quarterback in football.
You're never going to have a great AC as a caster, and you're not supposed to. Rather, you'll eventually get access to spells or items that cause misses without relying on AC (like Mirror Image, Blur, etc.)
Also: Mage Armor. For level hours a day, you get the equivalent of a chain shirt made of Force.
Casters actually can have rather decent AC's at low levels. Mage armor spell plus shield spell = 18 AC. Your Dex is +2, dodge feat (should you decide you really need it) is another +1. There's a 20 AC right there. You could see about getting a wand of shield if you don't want to use precious spell slots on it. Same with mage armor if you're so inclined. Grab ring of protection when you can as well.
Your AC won't scale real well, but it's a good start. Good luck!
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If your a low level sorcerer remember to not waste your known spells on traps like Mage Armor and to a lesser extent Shield. They're fine on scrolls or in potion form, but they're a drain on your actual abilities until you have some high level slots. 1 hour of +4 to your AC doens't help the party do anything and your still semi-easily hit. Having a 20 AC and not actually affecting any combats or other situations is about as useful as having a pet rock in the party doing the same thing. After all your your AC doesn't really matter if your opponents are blind/stunned/prone (usually)/disarmed/on the other side of the enlarged fighter.
If you absolutely need it to be higher I've found it a lot cheaper and easier to walk around with an armored coat on and just shrug it off as a move action if you need to make some kind of skill check or desperately need to cast a spell.
You want AC? Hide behind the fighter. Then his AC is yours :)
I really feel uneasy without mage armor and shield as a low level arcane spellcaster, 20-22 armor class at level 1 is good surviving ambushes and the aggro of monsters, but that's just me you know, feel free to play your character as any way you like.
If your a low level sorcerer remember to not waste your known spells on traps like Mage Armor and to a lesser extent Shield. They're fine on scrolls or in potion form, but they're a drain on your actual abilities until you have some high level slots.
I find it best to just take one of them, usualy Mage Armor. That way I can have decent AC, and it can be cast on my party members as well(which shield can't) That makes it useful enough I think. Also, as a sorcerer, you can swap out spells known as you level so if you take these at low levels, you can always get rid of them later.
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I also usally try to run with at least one defensive spell. mage armor is good with a longer duration, useful against incorporeal attacks, and castable on others. If you know your going to fight a lot of casters however, shield negates Magic missle. wands are good ideas as 1st level ones cost 750 gp. scrolls and potions might be easier to obtain at lower levels tho.
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I really feel uneasy without mage armor and shield as a low level arcane spellcaster, 20-22 armor class at level 1 is good surviving ambushes and the aggro of monsters, but that's just me you know, feel free to play your character as any way you like.I tend to feel really uneasy, say playing the party fighter, when the party arcanist uses up all his ability to give himself a 20-22 AC but then wants everyone else to do everything when the trouble starts.
If you're going to have all your resources to give yourself that AC, great. Then walk up and fight the monsters in hand to hand while the party fighter picks up a bow and fires behind you.
I'd rather the party wizard or sorcerer have color spray and time the castings of that spell right. After they cast then I'm perfectly fine having my fighter interpose between them and the monster that made his save.
Imho if you need mage armor/shield then get wands so you can make sure that you are still fully contributing to the party.
-James
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If more people played like this. It solves lots of problems.
I tend to feel really uneasy, say playing the party fighter, when the party arcanist uses up all his ability to give himself a 20-22 AC but then wants everyone else to do everything when the trouble starts.
If you're going to have all your resources to give yourself that AC, great. Then walk up and fight the monsters in hand to hand while the party fighter picks up a bow and fires behind you.
I'd rather the party wizard or sorcerer have color spray and time the castings of that spell right. After they cast then I'm perfectly fine having my fighter interpose between them and the monster that made his save.
Imho if you need mage armor/shield then get wands so you can make sure that you are still fully contributing to the party.
-James
I agree with the sentiment overall, but I can understand the rationale for having mage armor up at least. If you do get jumped and lose initiative (or worse, get surprised) then you're a sitting duck with your 11-12 AC with no protections and low health.
If you can use potions, scrolls, or wands to cast them then all the better, but if not then using a spell slot for mage armor seems somewhat practical when the day could possibly involve dangerous travel or circumstances.
I agree that Mage Armour and Shield can be traps, particulally for sorcerers with their limited spells known. However it can depend on the party. I have a sorcerer in a party of a Druid (and AC) a Monk and an inquisitor. The animal companion and monk benefit from Mage Armour and the Druid will when he wild shapes.
As is often the case it depends on the circumstances.