Hello! I'm building a Human Sorcerer on a 15 point buy for a game that's a little larger than normal (I think we're going to be 6 people or so). I'm using this chance to kill two birds with one stone and check some stuff I've wanted to play off of my list. I'm going to be playing a Sorcerer using the Words of Power variant casting, and aiming for the Harrower prestige class.
I wanted to know if anyone had any tips for playing either of these.
What level are you starting at? I find that the great benefit of words of power- combining wordspells- only kicks in at level 6. Until then, you have a terribly restricted spell list.
Starting at level 1 to my knowledge. There will be some people who have played tabletop games before but not pathfinder, and one person who hasn't played tabletop at all. We're starting pretty low. I love the versatility of wordspells.
Just talked with my DM about the feats Spell Specialization and Magical Lineage. He said I can take them, but I need to apply them to a specific Target-Effect combo instead of a single word.
I've been playing with Words of Power on an Arcane Bloodline Spellcaster for some time lately, currently level 6, soon to be 7.
First and foremost, ask about various distinctions in which certain features may apply. You've already done a good amount of this, but one major one that you should still ask about is whether or not the GM will allow the human sorcerer favored class bonus to allow you to learn additional words, since the normal variant is spells.
Secondly, from experience, many variants of words may in fact be WEAKER than the normal version, at least initially. Why I say initially is because eventually you'll be killing multiple birds with one stone, being able to combine words, essentially getting a free heighten metamagic, while STILL having a potential other quickened action. This doesn't really kick off though until you have access to level 3 spells.
Metawords and metaword mastery is your friend. Do NOT, I repeat, DO NOT confuse metawords with metamagic. They may act the same in terms of end result after seeing the fireball dismember targets, or increasing the range, but it is not the same. Metawords can be attached to the front of an effect or target word, potentially boosting the wordspells effects in some way. Knowing metawords, however, takes up known words with the exception of boost, which all wordcasters naturally know. Wordcasters can only use X number of metawords per day, where X is half their caster level (minimum of 1). Metaword mastery adds 3 more uses on top of the norm. Metawords will not extend the time it takes to cast spells like metamagic would normally for a spontaneous caster, nor will it increase the spell level.
Just because you have metawords, however, does not mean you cannot use metamagic in conjunction with it. This said, having the metaword versions often are much more useful than the metamagic versions unless there is no version of it.
When combining words, make sure that they do consist of the same available target word. Some spells are restricted to certain kinds of targetting.
Extra meta word feat is mandatory.
Are you going the route of trading your bonus human feat for all of the skill focuses and going into eldritch heritage to advance some bloodline powers with your Harrower levels?
I didn't consider this option to be honest, so I'm not sure.
What bloodlines were you thinking of taking for this character? (assuming cross-blooded?)
I was thinking standard Arcane Bloodline, or perhaps the Wildblooded option for Dreamspun which is Visionary.
one major one that you should still ask about is whether or not the GM will allow the human sorcerer favored class bonus to allow you to learn additional words, since the normal variant is spells.
Thank you for bringing this up! As soon as I read this I asked my DM about it. He say's its my call, but I can only pick one or the other. I see benefits on either side of the coin here. More words means more versatility, but some standard spells have effects I can't pull off with words.
My character's story is he's a part of a traveling show with another sorceress who happens to be illusion based. She's the main performer while my character works more on drawing the crowd in and doing some fortune telling and gambling on the side. We're both from Varisia to begin with, but the campaigns going to take place in Planescape.
not sure abotu harrowers myself, but this thread will likely be of much use to you.
Thanks for the link Mask!