Do need to double-check here: are you just about to hit level 7? Because if you are, you don't get 4th level spells as a sorcerer; they get those at level 8.
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For lower levels:
Get Haste. Possibly replacing Lightning Bolt if necessary. It's a fantastic spell, both thematically and mechanically. Dispel Magic is also nice, but probably not worth replacing an existing spell, or taking befor Haste.
Replacing Shield with Mage Armor and maybe getting a Wand of Shield for when you really need it is a very good idea. You can, at this level and above, have Mage Armor up all day instead of needing to cast Shield once every combat.
For fourth level see this thread.
Some of the later advce is tailored to that character's build, but the early advice is pretty generic.
Short version: Black Tentacles, Freedom of Movement, Dimension Door, Confusion, Charm Monster, and Shadow Conjuration are all widely considered very good.
tl/dr, I would say go for empower spell/confusion as you seems to lack decent aoe spells. and pick up dimension door/haste on level 9.
What metamagic feat you want depends on your characters focus, in this case rays/enhancements, you will have a hard time finding a metamagic that suits both of these types, reach is always handy to have, but, the reach on most rays and enhancements should already be sufficient, the two alternatives I see here, is persistent or empower, they are both worth taking in my opinion, but which one you take, if any, will greatly influence your choice of spells as you gain new ones. Taking empower would "give" you a level 4 empowered scorching ray, and later level 5 empowered lighting bolt, so you would need no new blasting spells for a long time period, but taking persistent can help in succeeding with that important charm, or laughter spell.
As selecting spells, if you want to help your party the next time you can pick a level 3 spell, take haste, with two rogues and a ranger, nothing else will be near it in efficiency at this level.
But now on to level 4 spells, every spell mentioned by deadmanwalking are worth thinking about(apart from Freedom of Movement, not on the sorcerer spell list if I recall?), I really, really recommend getting dimension door, but not without waiting until you get your second level 4 spell, or taking empower spell/persistent spell, so you have at least one offensive spell in your arsenal at your highest spell level.
With your focus on enhancements both confusion and charm monster should be strong contenders, together with enervation, which I would rate as one of the best rays in the game, if not the best.
For your character confusion just seems like a better version of black tentacles, as long as you do not face a lot of undeads. if you are searching for a battlefield control spell.
Also greater invisibility would be a great boon for your party, not only for your survival, but also for buffing your rogues so they can get of their sneak attacks without any problems.
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I believe you can make potions of target:you spells. You are still a creature, and the potion requirement is that the spell targets one or more creatures.
For example, a potion of shield is perfectly reasonable.
No you can't, it's in the Item Crafting rules under potions as an explicit limitation. A lot of people don't notice it. Hell, I didn't till it was pointed out to me.
It's here. Specifically, under "Creating Potions".
I think it's the lack of mention in the actual "Potions" section that throws people off.
My sorcerer is coming up on 8th level and I just wanted some input on what 4th level spell to get for her. And I'd also like some input on her overall build. ^_^
Anyway, just a reminder, I built her somewhat thinking about flavor. So she's not purely optimized.
I have a infernal bloodline, halfing sorcerer named Yarra Halftree.
We used a point buy stat system, with 25 points. So she has a str of 5, dex 18, con 10, int 14, wis 8, cha 22. (She has a headband of Charisma.)
Her feats are: horseback casting (This is a custom feat that gives me a +4 to concentration checks from casting from horseback.), Spell Focus (Enchantments), Point blank Shot, Precise Shot, Spell Penetration
And her current spells are:
0: acid splash, light, ghost sounds, mage hand, detect magic, mending, message
1: magic missile, protection from good, charm person, reduce person, shield, summon monster 1
2: scorching ray, hideous laughter, invisibility, glitterdust
3: lightening bolt, suggestion, fly
The other members of the party are two rouges, a ranger and a cleric. We also have a fighter and a druid who only come occasionally.
My character's strategy is to usually buff with reduce person, shield, fly and sometimes invisibility, and then zoom around blasting and enchanting things and staying behind the cleric as she's very squishy. She also has a pony with some armor and buffs when flying isn't viable. But sometimes she gets stupid and runs out in the middle of things without thinking and almost dies...
But anyway, the next feats I am planning on getting are improved spell focus (enchantments), toughness, and weapon focus (ray).
And next level I am going to switch out summon monster 1 for grease. I got that in the hopes of summoning things to help the rouges flank, but that strategy is proving largely not helpful.
And for my fourth level spell I was thinking Improved Invisibility, Black Tentacles, or Elemental Form 1. But I only want Elemental form if I can cast spells in it, and the rules are not...
As others have stated, I also believe that you are overinvested into archery compared to your spell selection and theme.
Working with those, I would recommend you choose appropriate spells, such as enervation (4th level) or ray of frost (0th level).Generally speaking, there are many great 4th level spells available. Several have been mentioned, I would add dragon breath to those. It's quite versatile and flexible. Also I would recommend you pick up resist energy at some point of time...
Focused spell might be a really nice feat for you if you went with the enchantment school. Especially for mass enchantment spells such as confusion it would be helpful.
Greater spell focus is certainly nice, since enchantment relies even more heavily on saves than most other schools.
As for your question concerning elementals casting spell, there is a lot of discussion about that topic. Personally, I am in the camp that does not allow spellcasting in elemental form, but it really depends on your GM. Unless someone can point me to an official clarfication on the topic? :-)
As for your question concerning elementals casting spell, there is a lot of discussion about that topic. Personally, I am in the camp that does not allow spellcasting in elemental form, but it really depends on your GM. Unless someone can point me to an official clarfication on the topic? :-)
That.
Ask your DM about that.
One thing I would like to add to the non-casting in elemental form: I would actually allow it with eschew materials and still spell. After all, elementals can speak, so no problem with the verbal components then.
However, if you require a focus (such as for true strike), you have to have it around somehow (i.e. not having it merged into your form when you transformed).
Elementals have arms/hands ...
I wonder where this comes from. It's frequently brought up, but when I look at the images and and at the description of the elementals, I find the following:
Earth: "Most earth elementals look like terrestrial animals made out of rock, earth, or even crystal, with glowing gemstones for eyes."
Air: "Although all air elementals of a similar size have identical statistics, the exact appearance of an air elemental can vary wildly between individuals. One might be an animated vortex of wind and smoke, while another might be a smoky bird-like creature with glowing eyes and wind for wings."
Fire: "Fire elementals vary in appearance—they usually manifest as coiling serpentine forms made of smoke and flame, but some fire elementals take on shapes more akin to humans, demons, or other monsters in order to increase the terror of their sudden appearance. "
Water: "As with other elementals, all water elementals have their own unique shapes and appearances. Most appear as wave-like creatures with vaguely humanoid faces and smaller wave “arms” to either side."
Though there is some room for interpretation and thus a gray area, the general feel and setup does not allow for hands, particularly not for the fine movements I imagine to be required for somatic components...
But as I said before, there is a great deal of discussion about that topic - ask your GM about that :-)
Sangalor look at the fire elemental you just quoted:
"shapes more akin to humans demons, or other monsters..."
Elementals have a huge range of forms and could have hands mouths, or anything else.
In fact the earth elemental pictured, and the iirc the fire elemental both have humanoid forms. Heck if you can cast with draconic claws, then I don't see how a highly mutable from like that of an elemental would be a problem.
Even with gauntlets on, or cestus you don't have problems casting -- at that point the shape problem of an elemental looks well not very problematic.
Dragons normally cast spells.
Elementals don't normally cast spells.
I would therefore think you'd need Natural Spell to cast spells in elemental form (without Silent/Still/Eschew), whereas you wouldn't need it for dragon form.
I would strongly consider either black tentacles or enervation. Both are useful almost all the time, and have solid effects. Enervation would also be a nice addition since you seem to like ranged attacking.
If you have access to APG material I strongly suggest picking up expanded arcana as a feat. getting 2 additional 3rd level spells known at level 9 is a considerable value to a sorceror.
Sangalor look at the fire elemental you just quoted:
"shapes more akin to humans demons, or other monsters..."
Elementals have a huge range of forms and could have hands mouths, or anything else.
In fact the earth elemental pictured, and the iirc the fire elemental both have humanoid forms. Heck if you can cast with draconic claws, then I don't see how a highly mutable from like that of an elemental would be a problem.
Even with gauntlets on, or cestus you don't have problems casting -- at that point the shape problem of an elemental looks well not very problematic.
Changed the highlighting to refer to the more relevant section: "akin". It is not equal to a humanoid. For example, akin might mean you got legs, a torso and a head - but no arms. Maybe you got tentacles instead of arms, no fingers... Otter cake also mentioned that elementals usually don't cast spells, while dragons do, so I wouldn't compare those two.
But until there is an official clarification, the discussions will go on and on and on and on... :-)