Hello! I discovered the Sylvan bloodline for Sorcerer and once I found out about the share spells ability of animal companions I knew it was something I wanted to try. I'd like some advice on my planned build before I actually try to play with it.
The idea is to have the animal companion (wolf) be the main focus with myself (a halfling) riding on top of it buffing it.
Why a halfling? I need to be small to ride my wolf before level 7. Plus, halfling can take the Caretaker trait. I'll be riding so the low movement speed won't bother me either. Not to mention the bonus to CHA and DEX are perfect.
I would take the following feats: Mounted Combat, Indomitable Mount, Trick Riding, and Skill Focus: Ride. These feats should make my wolf extremely hard to hit with both attacks and anything involving a save. (hopefully) Oh, and I'd take the trait Beast Bond to get Ride as a class skill.
Other feats I'm planning on taking are of course Boon Companion and Improved Share Spell (with Improved Initiative from bloodline). My wolf would take the Spell Sponge feat, but I'm sure what else yet. Probably Combat Reflexes and Power Attack.
My spell selections are as follows. I've planned it out as if the character were level 11, so spells like Enlarge Person and Bull's Strength have already been replaced but would be on my spell list at lower levels. I also tried to put at least one CC-like spell at each spell level so I can still be useful as a caster and not just a wolf-buffer.
1)Mage Armor, Shield, Windy Escape, True Strike, Silent Image
2)Mirror Image, Carry Companion, False Life, Invisibility, Create Pit
3)Haste, Heroism, Displacement, Fly
4)Dimension Door, Black Tentacles, Controlled Fireball
5)Animal Growth, Wall of Force
If I got to 6th level spells I'd take Transformation and Form of the Dragon I.
So, wrapping it all together, here is the plan. I'd start off with Invisibility so no one can see me riding my wolf. I'd use the Fey bloodline ability for this as well. Then, my wolf would go into combat. He'd be really hard to hit with my riding feats and spells like Displacement and Mirror Image. He'd have great mobility with myself casting Dimension Door and Fly. He'd pack a decent punch with Animal Growth, Haste, and Heroism. Plus, each attack will be a trip attempt for a wolf, and I can start off a fight with True Strike to pretty much guarantee one.
Then, as the situation dictates, I can use things like Wall of Force and Silent Image to control the battlefield while staying invisible. I'd have to pop out if I used Black Tentacles or Controlled Fireball (I wanted at least one damage spell in there) but I'd probably have displacement or Mirror Image on me from Improved Share Spells so I hopefully wouldn't get immediately crushed.
Thoughts? Ideas? Would my halfling just get squished if I tried this? Will this work as intended? Am I missing anything? Are there some better suggestions out there?
Thanks in advance!
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I ran a gnome like this and I'm still alive at level 13 and I have never been invisible. I do have a spell storing haramaki with frigid touch in it though.
Spell sponge is good for your animal companion as you said. You will want quicken spell at high levels (11). This way you can quicken shield or mirror image.
Horse master's saddle is good for improved spell sharing(teamwork) as the AC does not qualify for it (it's weirdly designed for hunter animal companions don't have). You are spending money but it's a better feat so that is a preference call.
Flash forward, true strike (quicken) and telekinetic charge are amazing. If you get a ring of spell knowledge you can also get blade tutor's spirit off the magus list as well as frostbite off the bloodrager/witch list.
Overland flight! My version of this has a flying animal companion and it's awesome. Check the carrying capacity for a large quadruped and carry half your team on your AC.
Consider swapping out your bloodline powers for intensify and piercing bloodline mutations.
There is a lot of value to Shield Companion (level 1 version) as it will greatly increase your animal companions survivability.
Absolutely great advice! Thank you!
I really like the Horsemaster's Saddle and Improved Spell Sharing feat. That will let me realize my dream of casting Form of the Dragon and turning us into TWO dragons. Plus the extra +5 to ride is much appreciated.
I've switched out the bonus spell Improved Initiative for Quicken Spell, and I've switched Dimension Door to Telekinetic Charge. I thought Dimension Door would be better, but upon reading it again I wouldn't be able to use it with my wolf on animal growth until level 12. Plus, Telekinetic Charge is pretty cool. I could start a fight potentially by charging TWO different enemies and potentially tripping them both.
I don't understand why Flash Forward is so good. Isn't the point to get into melee and then stay there for full round attacks? I feel like my animal companion can tank pretty well with this build.
Blade Tutor's Spirit from the spell ring is a great idea. I've never heard of the spell before. I've also never heard of the bloodline mutations. I was trying my best to find a way to switch out my lvl 3 bloodline ability and here it is! I'll be taking the intensify one.
Any chance you could show me your spell list? I've been having a rough time managing mine and I'd be curious to see it. Also, why do you use frostbite? Just as something to do during your actual character's turn?
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"As part of the action to cast the spell, you make a charge attack against an enemy."
You cast the spell. Your AC makes a charge attack and trips. Banff, it is back to where it started. Now it charges to another creature and trips.
Ignore the frostbite recommendation it works with familiars to give them damage or with natural attack druids to boost damage but not with animal companions. If you start to attack as a dragon frostbite can be delivered as touch spells (frostbite) with your natural attacks. This give each attack 1d6+ level extra damage.
When I get a change I will dm you the spell list. I use a paper sheet so I have to find time to write it out.
Also get a mnemonic vestment.
Oh, I get it now. Thanks for that. Both charge spells are 4th level spells so not much of a point in getting both of them. I'll probably roll with Telekinetic Charge just because it guarantees the charge while terrain or something could potentially block Flash Forward for the second target.
Also, how did you manage to survive without invisibility? Did you just not get attacked or just simply play it smart? A sorcerer in melee is a dangerous thing. Did mirror image do enough for you?
Looking forward to the spell list!
Note that unlike other Teamwork feats, Improved Share Spells dos not have anything in its description that requires the other party to have the feat. In other words, it's a teamwork feat so that it may be selected as a Hunter bonus feat, not because it uses normal Teamwork feat mechanics.
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You might want to double check that you are no confusing improved spell share and improved spell sharing. The latter is a teamwork feat and has the phrase "When you are adjacent to or sharing a square with your companion creature and that companion creature has this feat".
The former is a general feat but it is less powerful and can't be taken until level 10.