help with my elemental sorc

[awp832]

disclaimer; this character isn't made to "win"

So I have this character right, Elemental Bloodline (cold), with the Tattooed Sorcerer Archetype. I also have Eschew Materials as a regular feat that I took, since the Tattooed archetype doesn't get it for free.

Recently I've acquired some of these Elemental Body spells (L-12, so Elemental Body-2 now, Elemental Body-3 will be free next level). I kinda want to use them. I've got Contingency set up so that the first time I cast Elemental Body each day I also cast: (insert low level buff here -Ive been using Shield, Fire Shield might work too).

Okay, so far so good, here's my problem. After that, I don't know where to go. My strength is 7, although I do have weapon finesse (14 dex). Melee attacking seems lame. I was kinda hoping for a vast array of touch spells to use, but there's not as much out there as I had originally thought. Right now I'm rocking Intensified, Maximized Shocking Grasp, which is good, but they have to start their turn next to me for me to be able to apply the metamagic. I could stack Empower on top of that to make a 7th level spell cap out at 90 damage at l13.

Anything better than that? Or even just different than that? I like having options. I guess I could just cast ray spells from short range. I'm not necessarily restricting myself to a damage role here, but I want to be able to "use" the extra HP, AC, and eventually DR and no-criticals that I get from Elemental Body, the easiest way I thought of was to be melee.

[Fomsie]

You can still take a 5 foot step with a Metamagic Sorcerer Spell, you could also cast and hold the charge then advance next turn.

[andreww]

You are a level 12 sorcerer, you should pretty much never need to make a melee attack.

If you are cold focused I recommend looking into Rime Spell. Also if you are using a lot of evocations then Dazing Spell.

Don't use Shocking Grasp, it requires you to be in melee. Consider investing in Snowball or Ear Piercing Scream. Also Empowered Fireball will be rolling 15d6 out of a level 5 spell slot and hitting everything for an average of 53 damage. Intensified Maximised Shocking Grasp is hitting only 1 thing for 60 damage from a level 5 spell slot and you have to be in melee.

If you do not have 3 metamagic feats yet then consider picking them up before you hit level 15. You will want Spell Perfection at that point.

If you use one spell a lot then Spontaneous Metafocus will allow you to cast metamagic versions of it without increasing the casting time.

[awp832]

thanks, I thought that you couldn't use metamagic and take a 5 ft step since metamagic is a full round action?

snowball seems great, I wasn't aware of that spell. Good ideas for feats and such, I've been looking at Rime Spell for a while...

[EldonG]

You can take a 5' step, even with a full round action.

[awp832]

also, suggestions as to what spell I should tag for Spell Perfection?

[andreww]

That very much depends on whether or not you picked Magical Lineage as a Trait. If you did then it can allow you to quicken a level 6 spell. If you are looking at blasting then I am a great fan of Chain Lightning. Quickened Chain Lightning followed by Dazing Chain Lightning is 30d6 per round to everything, avoiding your allies and with a chance of robbing all opponents of their actions for 6 rounds. Fire Snake is another decent blasting option but the range is much shorter.

If you want single target removal then Flesh to Stone, Suffocation and Baleful Polymorph are strong choices. For targeting Will saves Hold Monster isn't bad nor is Dominate Person. I would avoid spells over level 5 or 6 for Perfection as you will be throwing a lot of them and are liable to run out of slots.