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We are starting a homemade PF game. We are starting at level 10.
Sofar we have

Ranger- Melee\Ranged a little
Druid- Leans toward meleee with prvious character builds
Cleric- Healer some melee
Monk\Barbarian- Melee
Fighter- Melee
Rogue- Melee

I am building a Sorcerer my GM is ALLOWING me to take Crossblooded with Wildblood. I know not technically legal but he wants me to be his first true caster so is dangling the carrot in front of me. Anyway trying to decide what Bloodline\Wildblood to take. My first thought was to go mainly battle control with some blast spells. I then read an article that this may not be the best. I was considering Sage/Starsoul but am not locked into anything.

This will be my first every true caster maybe the first for this group and we have been playing for almost 2yrs now so any suggestions would be of great help.


It's never bad to have a couple of control spells. Just the classics like web and grease. If you're worried about provided the best tactical support, I've never seen anyone go wrong with summons. Ask your GM first if he'll allow summons though.

Go here for more in-depth analysis.

Off the top of head though, I'd use your crossblood to have one blasty bloodline and one supportive bloodline. Something like Elemental/Arcane for example.


Remember that spontaneous casters can swap out an old spell for a new one (when raising a level), which is pretty good for spells that are only effective at low level like sleep or a save 'that evades all effects' spell.

Considering the size of the group, playing a bard would be pretty effective as well. But make sure to play what you want and have fun.

RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32

are you asking for advice on building a sorcerer, or advice on building your party's first 'true caster'?

if you just want to make a sorc:
personally, i think crossblooded is a trap... -2 to Will saves (and no real need to prioritize Wis) leaves you with basically 0 good saves, and losing 1 spell known/spell level means that even though you gain new spell levels every even level you'll know 0 spells of that level until you level again (so, at 6th level, for example, you gain 3 third level spells/day but you know 0 3rd level spells so you can't actually cast a 3rd level spells until you learn one at 7th... unless you take a metamagic feat just to make 1st or 2nd level spells into 3rd level spells, but then they'll take a full round action to cast). you're better off spending feats for the Eldritch Heritage line if you want powers from 2 bloodlines. crossblooded is really only good (IMHO) for dipping if you're optimizing a blaster wizard (the arcana benefits from 1 level of elemental/draconic sorcerer can be a pretty big boost for an evocation wizard).

i'd suggest choosing one bloodline that supports the kind of caster you want to be and jusr running with it. sorc is easier to use than wiz because you only need to really understand/remember the spells you know instead of everything in your spellbook, and you don't need to worry about preparing spells each day. the flipside of that coin is that your selection of spells known is very important... don't overload on any one type of spells- go for a mix of blasts, utility, buffs, and control. and when you see a spell that you feel like you really want to have "just in case" but know you won't use very often at all, remember that you can buy scrolls for just such occasions.

if you're interested in other caster advice:
let us know... i'd suggest one or two other options if you're open to them, and i suspect others would as well.


I think crossblooded can be well worth it, IF you can take Experimental Spellcaster feat for the Words of Power optional system. That gives you an effect word known for every spell level, countering the otherwise crippling penalty to spells known.

Whether crossblooded or not, picking a race with alternate favored class bonus is practically required, especially as the group's only arcane caster.

Otherwise a big +1 to that last post.

Grand Lodge

What races are allowed?

What is the point buy?


blackbloodtroll wrote:

What races are allowed?

What is the point buy?

We have rolled 4d6.. with nothing below double digits allowed.

I ended up with 12, 12, 14,16, 16 and 15

Any race is allowed.


nate lange wrote:

are you asking for advice on building a sorcerer, or advice on building your party's first 'true caster'?

if you just want to make a sorc:
personally, i think crossblooded is a trap... -2 to Will saves (and no real need to prioritize Wis) leaves you with basically 0 good saves, and losing 1 spell known/spell level means that even though you gain new spell levels every even level you'll know 0 spells of that level until you level again (so, at 6th level, for example, you gain 3 third level spells/day but you know 0 3rd level spells so you can't actually cast a 3rd level spells until you learn one at 7th... unless you take a metamagic feat just to make 1st or 2nd level spells into 3rd level spells, but then they'll take a full round action to cast). you're better off spending feats for the Eldritch Heritage line if you want powers from 2 bloodlines. crossblooded is really only good (IMHO) for dipping if you're optimizing a blaster wizard (the arcana benefits from 1 level of elemental/draconic sorcerer can be a pretty big boost for an evocation wizard).

i'd suggest choosing one bloodline that supports the kind of caster you want to be and jusr running with it. sorc is easier to use than wiz because you only need to really understand/remember the spells you know instead of everything in your spellbook, and you don't need to worry about preparing spells each day. the flipside of that coin is that your selection of spells known is very important... don't overload on any one type of spells- go for a mix of blasts, utility, buffs, and control. and when you see a spell that you feel like you really want to have "just in case" but know you won't use very often at all, remember that you can buy scrolls for just such occasions.

if you're interested in other caster advice:
let us know... i'd suggest one or two other options if you're open to them, and i suspect others would as well.

I am willing to give about anything a whirl. I and my GM am hoping to have a successful caster will spark interest in making more in future adventures so he is my corner on making this character as awesome without going crazy.

Scarab Sages

Cross-blooded works best for builds which work around options other than your spellcasting, such as a melee dragon disciple or possibly a summoning sorceror using Celestial/Abyssal as a combination (to gain extra summonings and DR against most enemies). As others have said though the reduced casting capabilities combined with only getting the same number of powers overall is generally not worth it.

Also, given you're starting at 10th level, a straight up god-wizard may be a better bet, offering a broader range of spells, allowing you to meet more situations. A conjurer offers a good deal of flexibilty both with control spells (the Create Pit range is scary), and summons for dealing damage. Otherwise a transmuter would strengthen your group's melee output with defensive spells, polymorphs and haste as a strong combo.


One option, which can be viewed as highly cheesy, is to go Half-Elf and pick up the Paragon Surge spell, a 3rd level spell.

The spell gives you a temporary boost to Int and Dex, which is nice, but the real reason for it being cheese incarnate is it also allows you to temporarily gain any feat that you meet the pre-requisites for. Expanded Arcana, a general CRB feat requiring at least caster level 1, gives you extra spells known (either 1 at your maximum level, or 2 at a lower level).

So at a certain point, once you're not squeezed for 3rd level spells per day, you can start using it to gain access to all those neat utility spells on an as needed basis, without having to lug around a spell book, or prepare them in advance.


Pathfinder Lost Omens Subscriber

cross blooded is for sorcerers who want to not be casters and want very specific things from two bloodlines, crossblooded is not a boon to a caster. go heritage feat tree if you want another blood line.


Thank you for all the suggestions so far.. Sounds like going one bloodline.. Wildblooded Sage is where I am leaning towards.. Using INT
for my primary stat offers more than using CHA.. Suggestions?


If you're interested in pursuing other classes, maybe a Dark Tapestry Oracle would be better than a Sorcerer? Dual-Cursed archetype gets you Misfortune which is always good for debuffs; the mystery comes with some really nice control spells with Black Tentacles and Dust of Twilight and has a revelation that gives you 60 ft. fly speed that lasts long enough to basically always use.

RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32

since you're open to other casters...

a witch could be pretty handy. they have a lot of the same issues as wizards in terms of spell preparation but their hexes are super useful and can be used repeatedly so they don't have to worry as much about resource management.

in terms of an ultimate caster though, there's few options that can rival a mystic theurge... this would require a lot more work on your part (since you'd have to pick/learn a lot more spells), but an emberkin aasimar wizard 2 can take 1 level of cleric with either the trickery domain or the fate inquisition and start leveling as a Mystic Theurge at 4th (spell-like abilities count as spells for feats and prestige classes, so you get 2nd level arcane from pyrotechnics and 2nd level divine from mirror image or augry). so, at 10th level you'd only cast as a 9th level wizard, but you'd also cast as an 8th level cleric! focus your stat points/items on Int and think of yourself primarily as a wiz, but you also have all those divine spells to fill in some of your utility casting and give options a normal wizard wouldn't have. for starting stats i'd go with something like: Str 12, Dex 15, Con 14, Int 18 (16+2race), Wis 16, Cha 14 (12+2race).

the arcanist from the Advanced Class Guide playtest might be worth looking at too- its kind of in between a wizard and a sorcerer and (IMO) has more flexibility than either. they're probably the easiest full caster to get right because like a sorcerer they can use each spell as the need arises instead of burning it up too soon, but like a wizard they can change the spells they have access to each day if one isn't really working out or they know they'll have a special need.

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