Is it worth taking the human sorcerer favored class bonus at levels 1-3 over the extra health, when all you're getting is cantrips?
Starting a human sorcerer. Stats were rolled, relevant scores include 13 Dex, 13 Con, probably going to take Toughness at level 1. 6 cantrips by level 4 seems like enough to cover the essentials, and I doubt you'd ever really need more than 9. Every source claims the human favored class bonus is good at all levels, but are Acid Splash/Spark/Message worth 1 hp?
Probably not.
But remember, you don't have to pick just one FC bonus and keep it. You can choose to take HP your first couple levels, then grab some bonus spells later.
I agree. Cantrips are not quite worth it unless it fits with your role-playing build.
Maybe he is an entertainer at children's parties and needs lots of fun little spells for the kids?
HP or skill points all the way. Cantrip just don't pay off at the low levels.
Thanks, I've been convinced: Hit points for levels 1, 2, and 3.
Consider 3 1 point skill dips.
If you put each one point into a class skill that I +4 already, and if it happens to be charisma based even better.
Skills to consider:
Bluff
Intimidate
Abuse Magic Device
Handle Animal (not class but trained only so being able to roll is nice)
Linguistics(again not class but gets you an extra language)
Survival (always know which way is north for 1 rank)
Profession ( is trained only so 1 rank offers some interest roleplaying hooks)
I would argue that any of these are worth 1 hp
If you choose to go with Cha based skills a circlet of persuasion can boost it even higher. I have a level 6 Sorcerer With +13 Diplomacy, bluff and UMD each with a 1 rank investment.
What the others said, unless you REALLY want a cantrip then go for the hp or skill point.
I vote for cantrips. Note that as a Sorcerer or Bard, you get to cast each cantrip you know an unlimited number of times per day. A Wizard can only cast the cantrip he's prepared, a Sorcerer can cast them all. Cantrips are not just an extra option instead of the other spells you could use that spell slot for, it's something extra you can always do, on top of all the other spells you can cast that day. Cantrips are extremely good for Bards and Sorcerers.
At least as long as they're any good at all. Look through the list of cantrips and ask yourself: would you like to be able to cast this? All day long, whenever you like? Is having Mage Hand at-will better for you than 1 HP? Quite probably. Is Mending at will better than having 1 HP? Maybe not. Look at all the cantrips you'd like to have, and compare that to the maximum you'll get. Are you missing any? Take them with your favoured class bonus.
As for skill points. Does being 5% better at something mundane really compare to being able to do something that nobody else can do, and you can do it whenever you like?
Take Toughness and Con for the HP, and put your class bonus into cantrips. As long as there are cantrips that you actually want. If you think they all suck anyway, then don't bother.
To me, the big question is: are level 1 spells really better than HP or a skill point? Or a cantrip? If you pick a level 1 spell, you won't be able to cast more spells that day. You have to drop another spell to make use of it. But cantrips are really incredibly good in Pathfinder. Especially for spontaneous casters.
I never pick up cantrips. Either HP or skills, depending on the concept.