Level 1 Caster Overpowered ?

[Wind Chime]

I am going to start playing in a ongoing low level game that will go from level 1 to 5 and was wondering about the effects of combining Spell Tattoo, Spell Specialization and Gifted Adept for 5d4+5 burning hands at level 1 (Orc Bloodline). Is this too broken to be playable or an expected use of all the + spell level abilities?

[notabot]

Spell specialization requires 13 Int Rebuild to make it legal. Although I don't have access to all info, I couldn't find meta magic mastery anywhere as a trait. There is a feat called metamagic master, but that was all I found.

edit: looks like you edited during my response time lol

As for broken, not particularly. Makes you a one trick pony and a typically squishy one at that.

[Wind Chime]

That is kind of what I thought potent but brittle.

I meant the trait metamagic master so that at level 3 he could pick up intensify spell and get a little extra life out of the trick (9d4+9 at 5th level).

[notabot]

Sorry for the double post, but to put it perspective 5d4+5 damage is only 17.5 damage, which is about what a martial character can do at first level if built for great sword sized weapons (2d6+12 is typical barbarian damage, +9 if only a fighter type). The martial can do this all day long, while the sorcerer can only do it a limited number of times. With how much damage it does, you also have to be more careful of placement so you don't tpk your own party.

Of course what I think isn't going to really matter, you should be asking your GM this sort of question. What is ok at one table (mine has a high optimization expectation) won't be good at another.

[Lazurin Arborlon]

I am kicking around the idea of a gnome with Pyromaniac Trait, Tat. Sorc vairant and Sylvan bloodline to similar effect. 2 level bump from tattoo plus Pyro on fire spells, plus Sylvan nets an animal companion to offset the squishy.

[Imbicatus]

You are a squishy one-trick pony with a limited number of spells per day to pull it off. You also have to be close range to do it. It's a good trick, but it's not overpowering, especially since your DM will probably start reading actions vs spellcasting after you do it one or two times. Even if he doesn't, if someone makes a save they have a good chance of still being alive, and they will proceed to saunter over and stomp you.

[Dark servitude]

there's a trait out there that changes the range level on meta magic feats. My favorite metamagic feat is the reach spell feat. can delieve a single touch spell with a range of touch to close. so you'll be doing ranged touch attacks now with this one touch spell and not raising the spells level. my favored spell is corrosive touch in this instance.

[notabot]

I've put some thought into this build, while the bones of it work, i think a spell you should really look into is Snowball. Yeah, it needs a ranged touch attack to hit, but the damage can't be avoided and the enemy, if they survive, has a good chance of being staggered. The other spell shouldn't be mage armor. You have no business on the front line anyways. Color spray on the other hand is a superb get out of trouble spell. At low levels it can be an "I win" spell wiping the enemy handily. Let the martials have their kills, incapacitate the enemy instead.

Also snowball has the advantage of qualifying for rime spell. Entangled condition on top of staggered is effectively out of combat for a good bit.

[Akinra]

Level 1: Gnome Oracle, Heavens Mystery, Awesome Display Revelation, Spell Focus (Illusion)
Stats: 8 Str, 14 Dex (5 points) 12 Con (0 points) 10 Int (0 points) 8 Wis (-2 points) 20 Cha (17 points)

Traits: Defender of the Society (new version, no class restriction), Indomnible Will (to counteract the 8 Wis for Saves.)

Spells: Murderous Command, Liberating command

Gear: Riding Dog ASAP, Lamellar armor (better AC/Weight), Quickdraw Shield, Spiked Gauntlet, Lance, and Spiked Gauntlet.

Notes: Make sure your mount is Combat Trained. Make sure to learn Ride. Buy a Military Saddle.

Level 2: Oracle get Color Spray as a bonus spell.
No longer really care about other spells.

DC of Color Spray at level 2: 10 +1 Spell level+1 gnome bonus+1 spell focus+5=18.

Level 3: Oracle Greater Spell Focus (Illusion) .. Dc went to 19

Level 5: Tribal Scars.
Yeah. so same area, awesome display with +5 cha mod makes all your enemies count at -5HD for effects of color spray. You have full divine casting, more skill ranks, better AC. Although you dont get huge numbers, you knock out almost anything you would reasonably expect to find level 1-5.

You will not pull huge damage, but you will end encounters left and right. Let your buddies Coup de Grace as you polish your lance that you will almost never use.

Tactic:
Round 1: Charge with Dog.
Round 2: Cast Color Spray on survivors of Round 1.

[Whale_Cancer]

Akinra wrote:

Level 1: Gnome Oracle, Heavens Mystery, Awesome Display Revelation, Spell Focus (Illusion)

Stats: 8 Str, 14 Dex (5 points) 12 Con (0 points) 10 Int (0 points) 8 Wis (-2 points) 20 Cha (17 points)

Traits: Defender of the Society (new version, no class restriction), Indomnible Will (to counteract the 8 Wis for Saves.)

Spells: Murderous Command, Liberating command

Gear: Riding Dog ASAP, Lamellar armor (better AC/Weight), Quickdraw Shield, Spiked Gauntlet, Lance, and Spiked Gauntlet.

Notes: Make sure your mount is Combat Trained. Make sure to learn Ride. Buy a Military Saddle.

Level 2: Oracle get Color Spray as a bonus spell.
No longer really care about other spells.

DC of Color Spray at level 2: 10 +1 Spell level+1 gnome bonus+1 spell focus+5=18.

Level 3: Oracle Greater Spell Focus (Illusion) .. Dc went to 19

Level 5: Tribal Scars.
Yeah. so same area, awesome display with +5 cha mod makes all your enemies count at -5HD for effects of color spray. You have full divine casting, more skill ranks, better AC. Although you dont get huge numbers, you knock out almost anything you would reasonably expect to find level 1-5.

You will not pull huge damage, but you will end encounters left and right. Let your buddies Coup de Grace as you polish your lance that you will almost never use.

Tactic:
Round 1: Charge with Dog.
Round 2: Cast Color Spray on survivors of Round 1.

I played a character like this. Effective as hell... also boring as hell.

[Akinra]

To be clear, I am making the above as a yardstick to demonstrate the extremes of caster level 1-5. I am not suggesting bringing it to a table. The OP seemed concerned that his was too OP . . .

[Rerednaw]

Wind Chime wrote:

I am going to start playing in a ongoing low level game that will go from level 1 to 5 and was wondering about the effects of combining Spell Tattoo, Spell Specialization and Gifted Adept for 5d4+5 burning hands at level 1 (Orc Bloodline). Is this too broken to be playable or an expected use of all the + spell level abilities?

No, there are other, more optimized paths to follow.

Now if your gaming group is lower powered that's a different issue.

Also Gifted Adept is only useful if your game isn't going to run more than a few levels. A better trait is something you'll always use, like say Reactionary (+2 init). Or something good for the longer term, like Wayang Spellhunter or Magical Lineage (Fireball).

As far as feats, Spell Specialization works because you can change the spell every even level. And Spell Tattoo never goes out of style.