ok, I like sorcerers, they are flavorful but I feel that they are getting to be a bit outdated. The oracle as a class seems to run smoother and with a more nicely integrated bonus spell progression, wizards get more ability to cast spells spontaneously and many adventureres can claim arcane ancestors and flashing their bloodline powers through Eldritch Heritage feats. This is not meant to be a radical change to the sorcerer, just an attempt to fill out some dead levels and give it back a little of it's lost shine.
1st__Bloodline Power, Bloodline Arcana, Eschew Materials, Cantrips
2nd__Bloodline Spell
3rd__Bloodline Power, Bloodline Feat
4th__Bloodline Spell
5th__Eldritch Focus +1
6th__Bloodline Spell
7th__Bloodline Feat
8th__Bloodline Spell
9th__Bloodline Power, Eldritch Focus +2
10th_Bloodline Spell
11th_Bloodline Feat
12th_Bloodline Spell
13th_Eldritch Focus +3
14th_Bloodline Spell
15th_Bloodline Power, Bloodline Feat
16th_Bloodline Spell
17th_Eldritch Focus +4
18th_Bloodline Spell
19th_Bloodline Feat
20th_Bloodline Power
Changes :
- Bloodline spells are gained at the levels you gain the appropriate spell level, this prevents you from not picking that thematically appropriate spell the first chance you get.
- The sorcerer gains a bloodline feat at 3rd level and every 4 levels after (instead of at 7, 13 and 19)
- At 5th level, the sorcerer gains Eldritch Focus which gives a +1 caster level to her bloodline spells when cast as a spell from her daily slots or from an item. This bonus increases by +1 at 9th level and every 4 levels after.
Don't be shy with your (constructive) criticism, the changes are fairly minor but if you have suggestions or think this or that could be done better please do tell.
I really like the idea I read a long time ago that gave sorcerer 0 spell slots for a spell level 1 level earlier (so 1 spell slot with high enough CHA - skin to paladin spell slots) and then the bloodline spells were known 2 levels earlier.
Example: 3rd level - draconic sorcerer - 14+ CHA - has 1 2nd level spell slot and knows Resist Energy as a 2nd level spell
This made it to where the bloodline spells were more favored whereas currently they arrive way too late in my opinion. An elemental sorcerer is going to want to cast Burning Hands at first level, not wait until third to get the spell.
Thinking about it I changed things extrapolating upon your suggestion. I managed to fit things in while avoiding dead levels and gave the 1st level bloodline spell right off the bat which seems appropriate :
1st__Bloodline Power, Bloodline Spell, Eschew Materials, Cantrips
2nd__Bloodline Feat
3rd__Bloodline Power, Bloodline Spell
4th__Eldritch Focus +1
5th__Bloodline Spell
6th__Bloodline Feat
7th__Bloodline Spell
8th__Eldritch Focus +2
9th__Bloodline Power, Bloodline Spell
10th_Bloodline Feat
11th_Bloodline Spell
12th_Eldritch Focus +3
13th_Bloodline Spell
14th_Bloodline Feat
15th_Bloodline Power, Bloodline Spell
16th_Eldritch Focus +4
17th_Bloodline Spell
18th_Bloodline Feat
19th_Eldritch Scion
20th_Bloodline Power, Eldritch Focus +5
Changes :
- Bloodline spells are gained much earlier, all except the 1st level spell are gained a level before you gain the actual spell level, this prevents you from not picking that thematically appropriate spell the first chance you get. (see next point)
- You get a single bonus spell slot you can use to cast any bloodline spell you know, if you use it to cast a spell of lower level than your highest level sorcerer spell known you can apply meta magic feats to raise it's level up to your highest level spell known, though you still have to use a full round action to cast it if you do.
- The sorcerer gains a bloodline feat at 2nd level and every 4 levels after 2, 6, 10, 14 and 18 (instead of 7, 13 and 19). Add all meta magic feats and skill focus in the sorcerer's bloodline skill to the possible feats you can select.
- At 4th level, the sorcerer gains Eldritch Focus which gives a +1 caster level to her bloodline spells when cast as a spell from her daily slots or from an item. This bonus increases by +1 at 8th level and every 4 levels after.
- At 19th level, you gain Eldritch Scion as a class ability. This allows the casting of any bloodline spell as if cast with still and silent spell meta magic feats without increasing casting time or spell level.
Ok, the power got boosted significantly compared to the 1st incarnation but I do not think it is over the top. I had to push some powers forward to fill the gaps left by pushing the bloodline bonus spell forward and thus ended up adding Eldritch Scion at lvl 19 and Eldritch Focus +5 at lvl 20.
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I am looking at it and I think there is too much focus on the bloodline spells, particularly Eldritch Focus, there are just too many spells that are not affected much by caster level and others that benefit much more.
I will change Eldritch Focus to provide a bonus of +1 to concentration checks and skill checks concerning the sorcerer's bloodline skill, increasing every 4 levels after 4th. This reflects the sorcerer's more natural approach to magic compared to other casters.
1st__Bloodline Power, Bloodline Spell, Eschew Materials, Cantrips
2nd__Bloodline Feat
3rd__Bloodline Power, Bloodline Spell
4th__Eldritch Focus +1
5th__Bloodline Spell
6th__Bloodline Feat
7th__Bloodline Spell
8th__Eldritch Focus +2
9th__Bloodline Power, Bloodline Spell
10th_Bloodline Feat
11th_Bloodline Spell
12th_Eldritch Focus +3
13th_Bloodline Spell
14th_Bloodline Feat
15th_Bloodline Power, Bloodline Spell
16th_Eldritch Focus +4
17th_Bloodline Spell
18th_Bloodline Feat
19th_Eldritch Scion
20th_Bloodline Power, Eldritch Focus +5
Changes to the base sorcerer from the CRB :
- Bloodline spells are gained much earlier, all except the 1st level spell are gained a level before you gain the actual spell level, this prevents you from not picking that thematically appropriate spell the first chance you get. (see next point)
- You get a single bonus spell slot you can use to cast any bloodline spell you know, if you use it to cast a spell of lower level than your highest level sorcerer spell known you can apply meta magic feats to raise it's level up to your highest level spell known, though you still have to use a full round action to cast it if you do.
- The sorcerer gains a bloodline feat at 2nd level and every 4 levels after 2, 6, 10, 14 and 18 (instead of 7, 13 and 19). Add all meta magic feats and skill focus in the sorcerer's bloodline skill to the possible feats you can select.
- At 4th level, the sorcerer gains Eldritch Focus which gives a +1 concentration checks when casting sorcerer spells and on skill checks with the sorcerer's bloodline class skill. This bonus increases by +1 at 8th level and every 4 levels after.
- At 19th level, you gain Eldritch Scion as a class ability. This allows the casting of any bloodline spell as if cast with still and silent spell meta magic feats without increasing casting time or spell level.
How about generic bloodline power choices that sorcerers can pick instead of the preset bloodline powers of the class?
When getting a bloodline power, the sorcerer can take the appropriate level (or lower) bloodline power, or pick from a generic bloodline power list.
Example Generic Bloodline Powers:
*** +1 caster level with bloodline spells
*** +1 DC to bloodline spells
*** ability to cast bloodline spells without AOOs
*** ability to use a previously picked bloodline power one additional time per day
*** +2 spell penetration to bloodline spells
etc.
These generic bloodline powers might be picked via a bloodline feat as well instead of getting the feat.
I rather expand the bloodline feats to a generalized list that sorcerers can pick as bonus feats besides the bloodline feats available, I already added all the meta magic feats but there are certainly more options that could be added. I think there are feats around for most of your examples, doing that or more.
I want to avoid focusing too much on the bloodline spells for the base class because like I mentioned some bloodline spells are fairly useless to enhance (no combat application, no variables, no saves, no SR).
The refurbished sorcerer should be fully compatible with almost any option that is out there and should be easy to put into play.