Theorycrafting an optimized blaster caster -- advice wanted.


Advice

Liberty's Edge

tl; dr because I'm (foolishly) typing this up in a rush before I leave to go somewhere....I've recently become enamored with the idea of making a blaster caster.

Crossblooded/tattooed sorcerer 1/admixture wizard x seems mechanically the strongest as admixture would circumvent a big chunk of the problems that come with blasting, but I also *really* want to justify making this character a gnome and it's hard to optimize without that racial intelligence bonus.

Alternately, I'm weighing out a flame oracle (heard great things) and a straight up crossblooded/tattooed sorcerer.

Pretty much just have the base concept as I've exclusively played martial classes, so tips and advice for feats/spells/etc would be vastly appreciated. Spell focus/greater spell focus are pretty obvious but beyond that I could use some help.


I would advise going into Words of Power. This guide does a good job explaining the system and offers build advice, but as for why Wordcasting sorcerers make great blasters, well...

You can get your bonus +1/+2 damage per die on flame spells on Wordspells that deal pure cold damage.

If your GM is nice (by RAW it works, but the text can be interpreted a couple of ways), you could put all of your single spell-boosting feats and traits on one spell (a cantrip, even), and get the bonuses on most any blast spell you cast.

It allows you to hit opponents with a fireball that targets their Will save as opposed to Reflex.

There's more, too, but those are the highlights.


If you'd like a different approach to "blasting", there is a nifty build that can be pulled off with Mind Thrust. Since it is a divination spell, it's very easy to boost the CL to absurd heights.

Race: Human
Class: Psychic 1
Traits: Harrow Chosen, Magical Lineage
Feats: Fortune Teller, Intensified Spell
Alchemical Power Component: Moondew

There are plenty of other ways to boost the CL as well, but those are more general/known. This is what's most easily accessible and potent for boosting Divination. Using your Harrow deck as a focus with a dose of Moondew, you'll be doing 6d6 typeless damage on a will save for half at level 1 with a freely intensified spell. Although mindless creatures are immune, you can get a phrenic pool power that lets you spend phrenic points to affect undead regardless.

This can also be done with a Psychic Bloodline Sorcerer, although you won't unlock the better versions of Mind Thrust until level 9. This is still a potent option however, as you can Crossblood with Orc for +1 damage per die and take the Bloodline Mutation that gives another +1 damage per die. If you can somehow nab a Robe of Arcane Heritage rather early, the wait til the level 9 power is less excruciating.


There's a guide somewhere about the blood arcanist archetype of arcanist as a blaster. Essentially you can get a bloodline arcana (e.g. Orc or Draconic) and take school understanding (admixture) without multiclassing. While it's int-based there is some use for charisma on an arcanist.


I like Invoker+Winter witch 5/crossblooded sorcerer Orc/dragon (silver)/Winter witch 10(PrC) makes an amazing blaster.

+3 damage per dice rolled capable. +4 on cone of cold with the alchemical focus. Yes you read that right...+4 per dice rolled Cone of Cold. At the end of your build you bypass some immunity to frost by dealing half damage. Rime spells are amazing. Entangled is brutal. Not to mention a Rime + Intensified Snowball for 10d6+30 is a pretty strong low level spell.

The Admixture Wizard/Crossblooded is always effective and a strong choice as well. It's proven capable and many people play it.

The Battered Blast builds are nice as well. You could Google Fu that up to look at.

AVR mentioned a Arcanist. They make very good blasters. I recently played with one in a 16 level game and he was just as effective as the Wizard Build. Just suffered from less prepared spells. But could cast more spells. It's really a trade off.


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Brawler (snakebite striker) 1/arcanist (eldritch font) 5/arcane trickster 10/arcanist +4 with the Magical Knack (Arcanist) trait, the School Understanding (Evocation/Admixture) exploit, and the Accomplished Sneak Attacker feat can work quite well. Also pick up the Intensified Spell and Reach Spell metamagic feats (to Sneak Attack with an Intensified Reach shocking grasp as a 3rd-level spell, for example), the Metamixing exploit, and the vanish spell (and/or the obscuring mist spell and either be a sylph with the Cloud Gazer feat or wear a Goz mask).

The Ranged Legerdemain class feature will probably not get used much (although it can be useful vs. non-magical traps, if you invest in Disable Device past qualifying for the PrC), but the extra +5d6 Sneak Attack, Impromptu Sneak Attack, Invisible Thief, and Surprise Spells can be extremely helpful to a blaster.

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