Hey, I'd love some advice on optimising a 2/2 Sorcerer/Oracle (both fire) now that I am reaching 5th level.
I'm playing a half-orc sorcerer who raised as an orphan in a monastery (had an accidental brush with a magic item that left me with sorcerous abilities, got kicked out of the Monastery). I was killed as I reached third level, and raised from the dead. Except my guy's body burst into flames during the raise, and none of the components were consumed during the spell. My body came out unharmed (i.e. alive) although there is suspicion that that I am not alone inside my skin - hence, I am haunted and seem to argue with the other resident in my body (to comic affect, though it pisses the party off that we are rarely ever able to be stealthy). My next two levels were oracle.
I've chosen the eclectic feat and tended to load on fire damage instead of extra HP or skill. I also have improved initiative, though I think I can retrain that.
For traits I have Focussed mind and indomitable faith.
Thematically, speaking, I have the character as somewhat crazy, worshipping the "one true fire at the beginning of all (also know as the first burning)."
Any advice on choices for level 5 would be great (right now I'm leaning on going back to Sorcerer to have both arcane and divine burning hands).
Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber
Are you looking for optimization advice or more general concept advice?
Kudos for going with a concept build.
If you are looking for more optimization then I'd consider retraining the Sorcerer or Oracle levels out and go single class.
Both classes are normally a level behind on spell acquisition, the additional 2 level dip really hurts. Unless your campaign has special rules or circumstances that is.
If you want to stick with that concept, I would suggest trying to get into mystic theurge early with spell-like abilities.
If you're willing to change either your race or your oracle mystery, you could retrain to be a Sorcerer 1/Oracle 2/Mystic Theurge 2 or a Sorcerer 2/Oracle 1/Mystic Theurge 2 by fifth level.
If you don't want to change either of those things, then you can still get into Mystic Theurge at sixth level by going Sorcerer 1/Oracle 4.
Does that seem like something you would want to do? You have to jump through some hoops to qualify, but it's the best way to combine arcane and divine spellcasting.
I like the character concept a lot. If you want to really make it work, you could look at the Mystic Theurge Prestige Class. That will let you use your spells for either class. Take the Enlarge and Maximize metamagic feats when they become viable. You'll want them to up your damage even more.
Granted, you'll miss out on 9th level spells and your Caster Level and DCs will be a little low. So, look for ways to pump them up. Elemental Focus, Spell Focus, and Spell Penetration will be good choices. The worst downside is that you're stuck at 2nd level spells until level 10. If you want to go this route, pump your UMD sky high. You'll be relying on Scrolls and Wands for a while.
But let's look at some of the positives of this build, as well. The straight number of spells you'll get is insane. Both your spell casting class cast off the same stat, so you don't need to double you money to boost casting stats like a normal Wizard/Cleric Mystic Theurge. And because you're a spontaneous caster you choose which spells you're casting when you're casting. You get double the spells known which is good thing for a spontaneous caster. It really helps your utility. You'll be able to do a lot of both buffing and blasting. And if you pull up your fire damage enough, you'll still be able to destroy groups of enemies.
Best of all, the concept fits perfectly as your character has all ready begun to mix arcane and divine magic without even realizing it.
EDIT: Ninja'd and done better by Avolon. I had forgotten that spell-like abilities qualify for prestige class prerequisites. I'm not seeing how he can get it done by level 6. Level 8 yes, but perhaps you should spell it out, since newbie and everything.
EDIT 2: I see what he's thinking. Two more levels of Oracle will give you Levitate as a spell known. A really loose interpretation will let you add Levitate to your Sorcerer's Spells Known as the ability doesn't specifically say to add it to your Oracle's Spells Known. I think that's a little cheesy, but you could run it by your GM. That would get you Oracle 4/Sorcerer 2 at level 6. Level 7 you go for Mystic Theurge.
If your GM doesn't allow that you could still go for a level of Oracle then pick up 2 more levels of Sorcerer (order doesn't really matter) you are now a Sorcerer 4/ Oracle 3. You get Levitate as an Oracle spell. You go Mystic Theurge with your 8th level.
Yeah, sorry, I should have explained myself, but I wanted to confirm that Brookamus was interested in trying to qualify before overwhelming them with the specifics.
Switching spells known between classes doesn't work, because of this FAQ.
But spell-like abilities do.
You can get a second level arcane spell-like ability by taking Racial Heritage (drow) and Spider Step.
You have three options for getting a second level divine spell-like ability as well:
Be a Scion of Humanity Agathion-Blooded Aasimar instead of a Half-Orc. (summon nature's ally II, from your racial spell-like ability).
Be a wood oracle instead of a flame oracle (wood shape or warp wood, from the bend the grain revelation).
Just take four levels in oracle, letting you enter Mystic Theurge at level 6, but not level 4.
Thanks for the quick advice. I'm keen to work the concept, but realise there are some limitations, so what to maximise what I can do behind the idea. Because this is my first time in PF, I can likely convince my GM to let some retraining in -- but likely just skills or feats. Because we've been playing twice month for a year, and the story is a good one, I don't think we can smoothly retcon my race or the 4 levels I've allocated. (the character suffered in-game from prejudice and etc. and that altered the story arc in interesting ways). Also, a half-orc with high CHA is usually a bully or the like, so it has been fun trying to be compelling/commanding without being able to resort to the threat of brute force.
So and tips in that direction would be cool. I read "practised spellcaster" is a good feat, as it lets you cast at a level up to total hit dice -- which is an important way to mitigate the compounded loss I get by multi-classing in two spontaneous classes. Sadly, I may have to argue for it as it is 3.5, not PF. I think I can say think it fits the theme: because both classes are fire-based, increased knowledge/ability in one class might naturally bleed into increased ability in the other.
Any thoughts at all are totally welcome.
Avoron wrote: Yeah, sorry, I should have explained myself, but I wanted to confirm that Brookamus was interested in trying to qualify before overwhelming them with the specifics.
Switching spells known between classes doesn't work, because of this FAQ.
But spell-like abilities do.
You can get a second level arcane spell-like ability by taking Racial Heritage (drow) and Spider Step.
You have three options for getting a second level divine spell-like ability as well:
Be a Scion of Humanity Agathion-Blooded Aasimar instead of a Half-Orc. (summon nature's ally II, from your racial spell-like ability).
Be a wood oracle instead of a flame oracle (wood shape or warp wood, from the bend the grain revelation).
Just take four levels in oracle, letting you enter Mystic Theurge at level 6, but not level 4.
Okay, if you're keeping your race/class levels/mystery, is taking Racial Heritage (drow) an option?
If so, I would suggest taking two more levels in oracle and getting that feat and Spider Step. Not sure how you would work that into your backstory, but it would help a lot with your mechanics.
You could then take Mystic Theurge at level 7.
Otherwise, you'll probably just have to go Sorcerer 4/Oracle 4/Mystic Theurge X.
I'd suggest trading a trait for magical knack and picking one of the classes and sticking with it. This makes up for the two caster levels you lost by multiclassing. You'll still be behind in spell levels, but at least the spell you have will be full strength. And you could have more levels with FCB
Mystic theurge could work, but it come really late and you casting will be quite poor. getting it at lv9 means you a lv5 caster in both your classes with only lv2 spells, while a wizard will have lv5 spells. At lv 10 you'd finally have fireball for 6d6, but if you go magical knack you'd have fireball at lv 8 and at lv 10 it'd be 10d6.
Plus you really miss out on the classes bonuses for either class if you multiclass into mystic theurge.
|
