Hey,
So I'm playing a sorcerer (because I'm a masochist perhaps), and I finally got through the HORRIBLY dead 2nd level ugh ugh gross and hit 3rd.
3rd level is awesome! I'm trying to choose my new 1st level spell known!
I'm playing a solo campaign with the gf, and we're using a modified Abyssal sorcerer bloodline. Basically, I get the Summon Monsters as spell-like abilities once per day at the Wizard progression, and add them as spells known when I reach a sufficient level to cast those spells normally.
It works great, and maybe I'll create another thread where you can tear the homebrew idea apart despite the fact that I'm still underpowered compared to a Wizard. However, this thread is a plea for advice on what the best combinations of spells known would be for me.
Anyway, the 1st-level spells I already know are:
Mage Armor
Color Spray
Summon Monster 1
To me, these are clearly among the best 1st-level spells in the game, and I've been highly effective using them.
So, what do I add? I'm leaning towards Magic Missile because there have been so many situations where my crossbow just ain't up to par...and I'd get two missiles at the starting gate, here. But it's far from my ideal spell, and is depressingly weak compared to my other choices.
My other thought is Silent Image...BUT I've already got one Will save on my list, and doubling that up with the sorcerer's limited choices is a lousy idea.
Help! What do I pick?
Moox
What are your cantrips? These matter for my advice.
Also what is your favored class bonus and race?
Universal advice: Grease. It's a buff, it's a debuff, it's battlefield control. Same with Mount -- which is much more useful than Summon Monster 1 (lasts longer, is bigger, eats up more space, gives speed (basically another move action or withdraw action each round).
Also ditch mage armor as soon as possible for something useful, and get a wand of mage armor or stay away from the enemy(the best bet)
What are your cantrips? These matter for my advice.
Also what is your favored class bonus and race?
Universal advice: Grease. It's a buff, it's a debuff, it's battlefield control. Same with Mount -- which is much more useful than Summon Monster 1 (lasts longer, is bigger, eats up more space, gives speed (basically another move action or withdraw action each round).
Also ditch mage armor as soon as possible for something useful, and get a wand of mage armor or stay away from the enemy(the best bet)
Human
Favored class is Sorcerer, i've taken 1hp and 1 skill pt so far, haven't picked for 3rd yet.Cantrips:
Detect Magic
Dancing Lights
Mage Hand
Ghost Sound
Light
I'm considering Grease. On the one hand, it's Grease! It's an amazing and powerful 1st level spell. But on the other hand, I'm playing a solo game. I don't have a BSF to pound on the fallen enemies. And the Acrobatics check is 10 to move through it...
What's wrong with Mage Armor? It's a very powerful spell, and one that you end up using every day. Sure, when I can afford a wand of it that'll be great. But staying away from combat entirely is not really an option. Solo, remember? Also my hobgoblin opponents use a lot of ranged attacks.
Thanks!
Moox
Mage armor isn't bad -- don't get me wrong I still want you to use it! I just don't want you wasting spells per day or spells known on it. At your level you should have enough wealth to afford a wand of mage armor... and a wand of vanish (APG) if you can find them. Obscuring mist would honestly be a better choice against ranged attacks since it gives concealment/total concealment (at least if you are sneaking or trying to simply not get hit).
Now in the APG there is an option to get extra spells known as your favored class bonus if you are human -- take it and see if you can change those first two retroactively.
You'll want prestidigitation, acid splash and mending to go with what you have (which is a solid list of cantrips).
Grease is still a great choice... but it probably can wait. Unseen Servant might be nice if you are doing an espionage campaign...
Which brings us to another question:
What type of campaign is it?
The summon monster thing really isn't that bad by the way -- are you giving up your regular class powers for that? If so a few more uses might not be a bad thing (maybe an extra use per day at level 9, and another one at level 17).
Infernal healing is from... somewhere -- you'll find it over on the PFSRD website, it is paizo make, and it's a great wand spell too.
You and your GM might want to look at the magus playtest -- I think it might work better for a solo campaign.
Another thought for some homebrew:
Ask if you can have arcane blast (from the APG) as a feat at lower level (like immediately) and if you can use it with 0th level spells. If he allows the 0th level I would suggest that when using it in such a way it would only do a single d6 of damage.
I personally allow this for sorcerers and haven't seen it hurt game play at all.
Mage armor isn't bad -- (etc)
Obscuring mist would honestly be a better choice against ranged attacks since it gives concealment/total concealment (at least if you are sneaking or trying to simply not get hit).
Now in the APG there is an option to get extra spells known as your favored class bonus if you are human -- take it and see if you can change those first two retroactively.
You'll want prestidigitation, acid splash and mending to go with what you have (which is a solid list of cantrips).
Grease is still a great choice... but it probably can wait. Unseen Servant might be nice if you are doing an espionage campaign...
Which brings us to another question:What type of campaign is it?
The summon monster thing really isn't that bad by the way -- are you giving up your regular class powers for that? If so a few more uses might not be a bad thing (maybe an extra use per day at level 9, and another one at level 17).
Infernal healing is from... somewhere -- you'll find it over on the PFSRD website, it is paizo make, and it's a great wand spell too.
You and your GM might want to look at the magus playtest -- I think it might work better for a solo campaign.
Another thought for some homebrew:
Ask if you can have arcane blast (from the APG) (etc)
I personally allow this for sorcerers and haven't seen it hurt game play at all.
Hmm, interesting stuff Abraham. Glad we mainly agree on the Mage Armor thing, and I'm especially glad for the tip on switching to a wand of it at 4th. However, my gf has picked up a certain stylistic choice from the games I GM--magic items can be hard to find, and are often somewhat random even in shops. Still, I'll try.
I know about the alternate favored class choice for humans in the APG, but as much as I want Prestidigitation and Acid Splash, I think I'm happy with my choices so far and don't want to have the retroactive changes argument with my fiance. I might well take that option for Acid Splash.
Type of campaign...well. It has a varied nature, and at the moment it's definitely an espionage campaign, which tempts me toward Vanish, but I don't believe that spell has long-term utility.
I did NOT think of obscuring mist (although it has been an automatic choice for me in other spellcasting classes) because it doesn't seem to have enough versatility for a Sorcerer. However, maybe I'm wrong?
It's mainly an RP campaign with intermittent (tough!) fights, but as much as I want Charm Person I think I'll save that for when Color Spray is no longer awesome. Don't want to double up on will-save spells :)
Am I not seeing something, or does that dc 10 Acrobatics check nullify Grease? I mean, -I- could make that!
About the alternate bloodline playtest: I've given up the feats and bonus spells known in return for one spell-like ability per day every odd-numbered level (wizard progression, remember). It's really working great, and is in my eyes a much-needed power boost for the languishing sorcerer. It does NOT fix the shocking dead 2nd level though.
ALSO: my current sole companion is a rogue. SM I works great for flanking opportunities. At some point in the game I will be working with a witch.
Moox
I went with Grease.
Thanks Abraham!
Moox
No problem -- the key to sorcerer is to think outside the box of what the spells normally do into the realm of what they are not prevented from doing.
For example resilient sphere -- an attack spell? maybe.
It is also a battlefield control spell since you can block areas with it, and it makes a great defensive spell for buffing, or summoning monsters without being attacked.
Tiny Hut -- nice for a nap, even better for hiding archers from the enemy's sight and therefore attacks.
Silent Image -- how big is the room? Are you sure? Did you actually touch all the walls or did you agree that it's that size without trying it -- could be a wizard hiding behind a fake wall that is an illusion 5 feet from where the real wall is. Is that a hill? Or an army hiding behind an illusion? Is that really a growing inferno? Or did the sorcerer just use some flash bangs and an illusion to make you believe it was burning down around him?
The wizard will always be smart enough to have the right spell for the job -- the sorcerer has to be creative enough to make any spell the right spell for the job.
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Is this a solo game as in 'your character and an NPC,i or just your character alone against the world?
Grease would 9 times out of 10 be the best choice, but for a solo game, being able to crowd control, and not have anyone around to finish off the crowd controlled monster, can be kind of pointless.
In that vein of thought, color spray might be all the crowd control you want, if it's just a sorcerer alone in the big bad world, and burning hands is finally starting to not suck so terribly much by 3rd level...
On the other hand, for a solo game, grease at least makes a workable escape spell (and has more utility than expeditious retreat). Instant head start, while the encounter that might be too scary for you is trying to find it's footing.
solo espionage? Sounds like a job for charm or comprehend languages
Yep... gotta go with Grease or Charm Person.
Magic Missile is SOOOOOO 1982...
Haha, I didn't expect any more responses.
@ Abraham, Resilient sphere is cool, not sure about the attack usage though. Tiny Hut is a nice spell, but personally I wouldn't consider it for a sorcerer. Too narrow of a use and not used often enough for that. Silent Image is of course the "other" overpowering 1st-level spell, but I'm not going down the illusion road just yet. Saving that stuff for another character concept :).
@Gignere: I know, right? Grease has 3 uses listed just in the text of the spell, and who knows how many more there are! I can't wait to throw this at some baddies.
@Set: Solo in the sense that there are the occasional NPC's out there whom I could "add to party" but mostly it's just me and one pal. You're right about the finishing off thing--that was one of my main concerns in choosing the spell, but I think that's not such a big deal. I can summon after all, right? Or bash their heads myself. Color Spray is, IMHO, the -best- 1st-level spell that there is, until you start fighting 5 HD+ monsters :)
@Glutton: Comprehend Languages is tempting but no. Too specific a use for sorcerers. Charm Person, as I mentioned, is tremendously powerful but I don't want to double-up will save spells.
@Purplefixer: hahaha, my gf had never heard of the attack the darkness thing until recently. So magic missile won't even work as a joke! :P
Game on,
Moox
can be hard to spy on people when you dont know what they are saying :D
Yep... gotta go with Grease or Charm Person.
Magic Missile is SOOOOOO 1982...
LOL, back in 1982 all my magic users wanted Grease ahead of Magic Missile... right after Sleep. In fact, magic missile was one of the last first level spells they ever wanted.
Of course, in 1982, magic users had very little choice in what spells they got, and even then, they had to roll a chance to never be able to learn the spell...