Making best use of an Umbral Aggressive Thundercloud

[deuxhero]

background:

Was experimenting with rebuilding some mostly core material baddies from a 3.5 module designed at unoptimized PCs so they use newer PF material to do interesting things. Was looking at a Bugbear (3RHD) Sorcerer 6 and because the character was solidly linked with dragons I decided Draconic bloodline, and knowing claws are useless unless focused on swapped it for Blood Havoc. This, magical knack (via extra traits) and the Blood Arcana combined for a very dangerous Lightning Bolt capable of one hit killing a barbarian, so I looked at making him less deadly but more interesting.

Lacking any other good electricity spells at level 3 and having a trait I didn't know what to do with, I decided on level 2+metamagic and picked Aggressive Thundercloud and Umbral Spell. This seemed like an interesting combo: A darkness he could move as a move action that would damage enemies in it and, as all the enemies there had darkvision so it wouldn't impede them. Any suggestions for further improvements? He has a bloodline feat left and most of his spells can be changed, and I could ditch the dragon+blood havoc+spell focus combo if something really cool poped up.

[deuxhero]

Realized further traps to confine characters into the pain zone could work. Create Pit is fun when combined with the -4 penalty to climb from being blinded. Give the minotaur ally a reach weapon and have him reposition people into it, into the cloud or just whack them while they climb. Sounds like fun.

[Moonheart]

You cannot use Umbral Spell on Agressive Thundercloud since that spell doesn't have a "target" descriptor, and the Umbral Spell description states that you can only use it on a spell that does not target a creature or object.

[avr]

Rather, you can only use umbral spell on a spell which does target a creature or object, but it's true that it won't wok on aggressive thundercloud. It could work on something like sentry skull or a buff like bull's strength or brow gasher. Give a buff like that to an ally and it's self-propelled, he doesn't even need to spend a move action to shift it.

Storm step could be a fun 3rd level electricity spell, or elemental aura.

I expect the sorcerer will be the focus of the PCs fire as soon as they know who he is, so toughness is a solid pick for the bloodline feat.

[roguerouge]

I don't think that Storm Step would work, because of it being instantaneous, but Elemental Aura is a fine choice.

[Derek Dalton]

Aggressive Thundercloud is actually a good spell. First you cast it and aim it. If you aim it right the monster is stuck between it and a melee warrior in your party. The monster takes damage every round he's in it without you spending an action controlling it. It only takes a Move action to direct it so you have a standard to cast another spell.
My wizard uses it a lot with pretty solid results. My wizard is an Admixture specialist so if need be I can change the damage from Electricity to something else if need be.