Level 4 "Save or Suck" PFS Sorcerer taking auditions for "Sleep" replacements


Advice

Scarab Sages

So I've finally gotten a chance to play my Fey-Blooded Kitsune Tattooed Diplo-Mancer again and he's about to level up to LVL 4.

My LVL 2 spell is pretty much locked in at this point (Oppresive Boredom, because I get Hideous Laughter for free next LVL).

So, like the title says: Sleep's service has been the definition of mediocrity and he's FIRED! Though that may be because my GM's always roll very hot (like, all 7 castings failed in one game with a DC 22). My other spells are: Summon Minor Monster (skunks are fun), Disguise Self (why be me, when I can be you?), and Entangle (I wish cities and dungeons were greener). Initially I made this guy because I couldn't roll worth a damn for 2 months and wanted to make as few as possible, he's also my first full caster.

I know there are a bunch of utility spells I could replace it with (Minor Image, Grease) but since this is PFS I'm looking for something simple and with minimal table-variation (if any) that can make me contribute when facing something I can't bore or crack up (mindless or very high SR/Will Save).

So far the Candidates are: Snowball.....that's all I could come up with. anyone got anything better I could use? And would Extra Traits and Intensify be worth it for that slush-puppy?


Intensify wont do anything for you at this point.

Snowball is an OK damage spell but I would suggest something more useful for most groups. Grease makes an excellent choices, whether dropping enemies prone, disarming them or helping your allies escape or avoid being grappled and shouldn't have any table variation.

Colour Spray is still highly competitive at this level. Even against 5+ HD enemies a round of being stunned can doom them. It does have a very short range so it depends on how robust you are. It does overlap with your existing mind affecting stuff.

Burning Hands isn't a terrible choice to give you something which is useful against swarms which are pretty common in PFS.

Ear-Piercing Scream is an alternate single target direct damage fortitude based spell with a better rider than Snowball.

I would also recommend picking up a range of low level pages of spell knowledge. Good choices include Heightened Awareness, Shield, Liberating Command, Monkey Fish, Unseen Servant and Feather Fall.

Scarab Sages

The DC on grease doesn't wow me, am I missing something about it?

Colour Spray and Burning Hands get me a lot closer than I want to be, I'm not very robust.

Ear Piercing Scream is a contender, better rider but it has SR (Snowball doesn't, which is why it was my initial choice, and I wouldn't actually get intensify until 7 or so) although it didn't require me to roll anything so that's a plus.

Silver Crusade

You don't like to get close and you are worried about DCs and you still want to do something useful.

Vanish. You can run away, or you can buy a few rounds to get a striker into position. It's as good as Invisibility almost all the time. Plus it fits in your concept of trickery and mystery.


At level 3 the chance of 7 rolls of DC 22 will save failing to land are near impossible.

There could be more to this, you where fighting Half- Elf Monks, the DM rolled in front of you and clearly just rolled very high. But normally in a situation like this it's just fudging.

On suggested spell I recommend possibly enlarge person. Buffing other characters can be massive and well appreciated contribution.

Scarab Sages

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Vanish is a great spell, I was considering picking it up at level 5, but for utility it seems hard to beat. Means I can save my snapleaf for getting hit instead of just running away.

I was thinking a blast of some sort would be handy, since I'll have 8 lvl 1 spells/day, but you make a good in-character and mechanical argument for grabbing Vanish earlier.


If you are looking for a blast spell consider magic missile. The damage may not be all that great but it never misses and is a force effect. It works very well vs incorporeal creatures and damages just about everything. Considering many of your spells are going to be enchantment this gives you something to use against the undead, especially incorporeal undead. Right now how will your character deal with a shadow? Magic missile remains useful at all levels and scales up reasonable well.


If you don't want to take an area spell, you should have an area effect scroll or two to fight swarms. My suggestions: Fire Breath (150 GP) now and Lightning Bolt (375 GP or 2 for 2 prestige) when you reach level 5.

It's rare, but occasionally the monsters do move close to you whether you like it or not.

Scarab Sages

When I was newer and less judicious with my PP I bought a wand of Magic Missile, still have about 40 charges in it so I' rather not take it as a spell until I blow through that. If I didn't have the wand I'd probably be taking Magic Missile.

A few area scrolls is a good idea though, I'll grab some of those next session.

NoTongue, after the 2nd save in a row he did them all in front of me...he had 3 Nat 20's and the rest were all the 17+ he needed to not take a nap. According to everyone who knows that GM that's just what happens when they roll saves so no one uses characters like this with him anymore (The Dice have spoken it would seem).

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