Need help with Arcane Trickster Spells

[Alchemist 23]

Need help with spells for an indecisive player build. He's gone Snakebite Stalker Brawler for the sneak attack. We figure it's got better BAB, First level HD, and saves then just a Unchained Rogue dip. His Spell casting is a Tattooed Salamander Sorcerer. He won't go wizard since he's paranoid about losing his spell book, bound item, or familiar. He has (for free) Spell Focus (only in Illusion, Transmutation, or Conjuration) and Mage’s Tattoo (which can be in anything and is not linked to Spell Focus here).
The problem is we just can't nail down his spell list. He's going to have a +2DC in Illusion, Transmutation, or Conjuration or a +1DC in one and +1DC in something else.

Any ideas on spell list?

[Dasrak]

You'll want to grab a few ranged touch attacks for any time you can catch enemies flat-footed for that juicy sneak attack bonus damage, so something like Scorching Ray would work well, but otherwise if you can't decide on anything in particular you can go with staples like Haste, Slow, Glitterdust, Invisibility, or Obscuring Mist that can fit on anyone's spell list quite easily.

[Dragonchess Player]

Don't bother with rogue after one level of snakebite stalker brawler. Brawler 1/sorcerer 4/arcane trickster, with the Accomplished Sneak Attacker feat. To sneak attack at range more reliably, a sylph with the Cloud Gazer feat and obscuring mist.

In addition to obscuring mist, acid splash and/or ray of frost, coin shot, snowball, acid arrow, blindness/deafness (blind opponents are vulnerable to sneak attacks), fiery shuriken or scorching ray, molten orb, and iron stake might be worth looking at. Also, consider the metamagic feats Reach Spell and Intensified Spell for use with shocking grasp, force punch, vampiric touch, etc.

[Azothath]

he's a tattooed sorcerer bloodline salamander with some brawler levels. It's best to snag 2 levels in Brawler and yes, it hurts your spellcasting.
A monk weapon with Brawler's Flurry works for you. Cestus, unarmed strike, scizore, and maybe gladius(shortsword).

The spell focus and tattoo should be bound to a school(don't muck with that) or a custom home game defined thematic spell list. It really needs to be a limited list.

Salamander(fire)
Class Skill: Acrobatics.
Bonus Spells: Magic weapon (3rd){T, mtl}, molten orb (5th){K, erth,fire}, magic vestment (7th){T}, fire shield (warm shield) (9th){K, fire}, fire snake (11th){K, fire}, tar pool (13th){T, erth, fire}, firebrand (15th){T, fire}, wall of lava (17th){C(creat) erth, fire}, meteor swarm (19th){K, fire}.
Bonus Feats: Cleave, Craft Wondrous Item, Iron Will, Power Attack, Prodigy, Skill Focus (Acrobatics), Skill Focus (Perception), Toughness.
Bloodline Arcana: The DCs of your sorcerer spells increase by 2 against creatures that are suffering ongoing fire damage.
Bloodline Powers: Your salamander blood gives you great skill at crafting, even as it reshapes your form.

bloodline spells are split between evoc(K)ation & Transmutation [fire] spells which is trying to be a bit different than the elemental bloodline fire spell list. Clearly they are similar and they have the same theme(fire).
A theme gives you a criteria for spells. Thematically it boils down to; 1) a fire type specialist, 2)a conjuration specialist seeking to add fire planar traits to his summons, or 3) a crafter. With the limited spell list of a sorcerer you can't do it all and their low skill points makes option 3 unappealing.
The salamander theme dosn't include sneaking about, trickery, or misdirection. I'd avoid Arcane Trickster class as it's a poor choice IMO. However, if that's where you are headed then you have your theme for spell choices.

So, you'll generally need 2 attacks, 1 defence, and 1 movement/utility spell per spell level as that maximizes your spellcasting options and metamagic options. Expect more First level spells than normal (Page of Spell Knowledge).

A general First level spell list for a sorcerer will be;
Mage Armor, Shield, Magic missile, Vanish (those 4 are kinda standard issue and I'd question the Wis score of an arcane caster without them), one of(Burning Hands(fire)|Shocking Grasp|Ear-piercing Scream|Clr Spray(trade out later)|Snapdragon Fireworks){atks}, {def already done}, one of(Exp Retreat|Long Arm|Obs Mist|Disguise Self|MonSum1). Use Page of Spell Knowledge to pick up a few. Don't put wand spells on your known list unless they scale with level, Infernal healing is the exception as it can save you if you lose your wand.

Runestones, Ioun stones are overpriced at low levels. Page of spell knowledge is good for First level spells. Wands of first level spells are great. A few scrolls will be handy to reduce overhead costs on spells you only need occasionally.

Traits: Magical Knack(!)
Feats... As he chose a familiar, plan on Improved Familiar feat at Lvl 7.
Conjuration requires 2-3 feats, spell focus, augment summoning, ...
Illusion school has multiple problems and it's mostly effective on commoners (not high HD monsters or Undead). 1) how GM interprets 'interaction' and Will saves. 2) martial problem (like Enchantment school) doesn't kill anybody. 3) Shadow C/K spells are underpowered and cost you a spell level....
Transmutation isn't bad but again a martial issue until mid levels.

I'd review a wizard or sorcerer class guide at ZenithGames to get broader advice.

[Alchemist 23]

Azothath wrote:

he's a tattooed sorcerer bloodline salamander with some brawler levels. It's best to snag 2 levels in Brawler and yes, it hurts your spellcasting.

A monk weapon with Brawler's Flurry works for you. Cestus, unarmed strike, scizore, and maybe gladius(shortsword).

The spell focus and tattoo should be bound to a school(don't muck with that) or a custom home game defined thematic spell list. It really needs to be a limited list.

Salamander(fire)
Class Skill: Acrobatics.
Bonus Spells: Magic weapon (3rd){T, mtl}, molten orb (5th){K, erth,fire}, magic vestment (7th){T}, fire shield (warm shield) (9th){K, fire}, fire snake (11th){K, fire}, tar pool (13th){T, erth, fire}, firebrand (15th){T, fire}, wall of lava (17th){C(creat) erth, fire}, meteor swarm (19th){K, fire}.
Bonus Feats: Cleave, Craft Wondrous Item, Iron Will, Power Attack, Prodigy, Skill Focus (Acrobatics), Skill Focus (Perception), Toughness.
Bloodline Arcana: The DCs of your sorcerer spells increase by 2 against creatures that are suffering ongoing fire damage.
Bloodline Powers: Your salamander blood gives you great skill at crafting, even as it reshapes your form.

bloodline spells are split between evoc(K)ation & Transmutation [fire] spells which is trying to be a bit different than the elemental bloodline fire spell list. Clearly they are similar and they have the same theme(fire).
A theme gives you a criteria for spells. Thematically it boils down to; 1) a fire type specialist, 2)a conjuration specialist seeking to add fire planar traits to his summons, or 3) a crafter. With the limited spell list of a sorcerer you can't do it all and their low skill points makes option 3 unappealing.
The salamander theme dosn't include sneaking about, trickery, or misdirection. I'd avoid Arcane Trickster class as it's a poor choice IMO. However, if that's where you are headed then you have your theme for spell choices.

So, you'll generally need 2 attacks, 1 defence, and 1 movement/utility spell per spell level as...

Yeah he rolled an 8 for STR. He's an elf so he's just going to use a bow for when he's not spell casting. The 1 lvl in Brawler was just a better option all things considered. Also he'll only be getting 1 bloodline spell, magic weapon, which will give him or his buddy a +1 flaming weapon whenever.