Optimizing a lightning blaster sorcerer.


Advice


Im building my very first blaster sorcerer and I was hoping to build an electric dragon sorcerer. So I was going to go bronze dragon for the electric damage on the draconic bloodline. I was thinking maybe magic lineage trait on the lightning bolt spell? My stats on 20 point buy are str:10 Dex:12 Con:14 int:10 wis:10 and Cha:19. Im playing a human as i figured it would be my best option. How do i optimize this sorcerer to get the most "bang" for my buck?


First look at Bloodline Mutations. They're made for blasters.

When blasting with electricity Empower Spell is the first generally useful metamagic feat. Piercing Spell, Lingering Spell or Reach Spell could theoretically be useful but you're more likely to spend feats on the simple numbers-buffing of Spell Focus, Spell Penetration, Varisian Tattoo & maybe Spell Specialization.

The human alternate favored class bonus is indeed good. Half-elves, half-orcs and gillmen can get the same though, it's not essential - the human extra feat is good but doesn't make them the only possibility.


As avr said: Bloodline Mutations, particularly Blood Havoc for +1 damage per die rolled on bloodline spells and spells from schools you have Spell Focused.

Then you pick up the Crossblooded Archetype and take the Orc Bloodline for another +1 damage per die rolled. Combine this with the Dragon Bloodline Arcana for a total of +3 damage per die rolled, which on Lightning Bolt (and any other d6 damaging spell) doubles your average damage.


I don't think crossblooded is worth it. Also, if you are crossblooded, you have to wait until you get a bloodline feat to sub for blood havoc.


What spells do you plan to cast? Seems lightning bolt will be your main spell once you hit level 6. Before that you are stuck with shocking grasp as your only lightning spell (so be prepared to play in melee).

As a dragon blooded sorcerer your lightning bolt will do average 4.5 damage per d6. Blood havok brings this up to 5.5, an increase of 22%. If you cross blood orc then it increases to 6.5 an increase of 18% or a total increase of 44% for taking the two vs not taking either option.

You probably want to take feats and traits that make it easier to use metamagic with lightning bolt. Not only will it allow you to have stronger casts of the spell, but you will be able to use it more times per day.

I would figure out what else you want to do at this point, in addition to shooting lightning bolts.


If this isn't for PFS, check with your GM about allowing Lesser Orb of Electricity (1st level, ranged touch) and Orb of Electricity (4th level, more damage, adds a condition) from the D&D 3.5 Spell Compendium. That will definitely help from a low and mid-level spell selection aspect - it's at least something in addition to Shocking Grasp.


Vanykrye wrote:
If this isn't for PFS, check with your GM about allowing Lesser Orb of Electricity (1st level, ranged touch) and Orb of Electricity (4th level, more damage, adds a condition) from the D&D 3.5 Spell Compendium. That will definitely help from a low and mid-level spell selection aspect - it's at least something in addition to Shocking Grasp.

Jolt is a thing. Not as good as those older 3.5 spells but it is a Cantrip and with Both Mutation and Bloodline you can be doing 1d3+2 (or +3 if cross-blooded). To me that should be good enough to get through Levels 1 and 2. Then you will have more spells per day, spell choices, and possibly a wand.


Look for the blockbuster wizard guide for good blasting advice.

If you can, take the experimental spellcaster feat to dabble in the words of power system, versatile blasting at every level. Look for the 'thus she spoke' guide for that.


Cult of Vorg wrote:
Look for the blockbuster wizard guide for good blasting advice.

It is a decent guide.

Outdated a bit but still has some solid info to add to the player's Knowledge of the system.


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