[3.5] First time blaster sorcerer. Best feats and spells?

[Myou]

A friend is making a level 1 blaster sorcerer, starting with three feats, and we're having trouble finding the best feats and spells. Can anyone help?

[Boci]

A friend is making a level 1 blaster sorcerer, starting with three feats, and we're having trouble finding the best feats and spells. Can anyone help?

Energy substitution is a must, and you'd want at least one reserve feat latter one so take that into account. Apart from that you could start taking metamgic like empower for latter use.

[Myou]

Energy substitution is a must, and you'd want at least one reserve feat latter one so take that into account. Apart from that you could start taking metamgic like empower for latter use.

Since the campaign may never get past low levels this is my dilemma - taking feats for the future may never pay off. ><

So, we're hoping for feat that will be useful right away. Hmm, I wonder what the requirements are for Arcane Theisis.

[Siosilvar]

Since the campaign may never get past low levels this is my dilemma - taking feats for the future may never pay off. ><

So, we're hoping for feat that will be useful right away. Hmm, I wonder what the requirements are for Arcane Theisis.

Arcane Caster level 4 and 6 9 ranks in knowledge (Arcana).

[Myou]

Arcane Caster level 4 and 6 9 ranks in knowledge (Arcana).

Yeah, I looked it up as you did. xD

So, back to looking. Dx

[drengnikrafe]

School Focus (Evocation). I think that's a real feat. Adds 1 to your saving throw DCs for Evocation. Hold on... can Sorcerers take that feat? I'm not sure... Energy Substitution is a given (reminds me of a time I forgot to take that feat, and was useless for a whole level because the only spell I could cast that would hurt those stupid fire-based creatures was Ray of Frost). Really, though, the number of feats geared towards low-level anything are fairly slim, and those towards low level casters are even slimmer.

EDIT: How are you getting 3 feats?

[Myou]

School Focus (Evocation). I think that's a real feat. Adds 1 to your saving throw DCs for Evocation. Hold on... can Sorcerers take that feat? I'm not sure... Energy Substitution is a given (reminds me of a time I forgot to take that feat, and was useless for a whole level because the only spell I could cast that would hurt those stupid fire-based creatures was Ray of Frost). Really, though, the number of feats geared towards low-level anything are fairly slim, and those towards low level casters are even slimmer.

EDIT: How are you getting 3 feats?

But you can't take Energy Sub at level 1.

And houserules.

[Tanaric]

Start as an Azurin, metamagic specialist variant, take Spell Focus (Evocation), Metamagic School Focus (Evocation), Fell Drain, and Midnight Metamagic.

Blasting and debuffing in one. Probably better to retrain much of that stuff if the campaign lasts, though.

[Jayngfet]

Celestial or infernal sorcerer heritige. From there take either lance or howl. Now you have a larger range or dice than you'd get from similar spells a that level(at level one howl does 2d4, double burning hands). The other feat I'm thinking should be celestial sorcerer wings or infernal sorcerer eyes, no knowing when you'll need to fly for one round or see in the dark in color for one round.

[Boci]

But you can't take Energy Sub at level 1.

And houserules.

Right you are. Well thats stupid. Maybe see if your DM will houserule otherwise.

I'm not sure if this is legal but could you take precocious apprentice, arcane mastery, and then some reserve feat.

[Kylarra]

Take precocious apprentice for now, and retrain it later. :smalltongue:

[Pharaoh's Fist]

Magic Missile at level 1, Scorching Ray at level 2, Unicorn Arrow at level three. No more blasting spells than that.

Retrain Scorching Ray when the time comes for Unicorn Arrow, incidentally.

[Myou]

Start as an Azurin, metamagic specialist variant, take Spell Focus (Evocation), Metamagic School Focus (Evocation), Fell Drain, and Midnight Metamagic.

Blasting and debuffing in one. Probably better to retrain much of that stuff if the campaign lasts, though.

The Azurin race don't exist, sorry. XD

I thought Metamagic School Focus was only 3 times a day?
Although, not bad at level 1!

What's Midnight Metamagic?


Celestial or infernal sorcerer heritige. From there take either lance or howl. Now you have a larger range or dice than you'd get from similar spells a that level(at level one howl does 2d4, double burning hands). The other feat I'm thinking should be celestial sorcerer wings or infernal sorcerer eyes, no knowing when you'll need to fly for one round or see in the dark in color for one round.

Where are those heritages from?


Right you are. Well thats stupid. Maybe see if your DM will houserule otherwise.

I'm not sure if this is legal but could you take precocious apprentice, arcane mastery, and then some reserve feat.

Oh, I forgot that feat! Good idea!

[Myrmex]

Take precocious apprentice for now, and retrain it later. :smalltongue:

Grab Versatile Spellcaster, so you can use it more than once/day (I think that's legit). I'd pick scorching ray.

[Tanaric]

The Azurin race don't exist, sorry. XD

I thought Metamagic School Focus was only 3 times a day?
Although, not bad at level 1!

What's Midnight Metamagic?


It is only 3 times a day.

Midnight Metamagic reduces by 1 for every point of essentia invested the cost of metamagic. Coupled with Metamagic School Focus, you can fire off Fell Drained Magic Missiles/Kelgore's Fire Bolts twice a day, and another Fell Drained Sonic Snap, for a total cost of 3 1st level spell slots. That's 3 negative levels per day, in addition to your normal damage, none of which give a saving throw or require an attack roll.

The combo isn't worth much of anything at level 1 without an Azurin as the base race, though.

It's also easier to pull off as a Wizard, as you don't need Spell Focus to take Metamagic School Focus that way, but oh well.

[Myou]

Take precocious apprentice for now, and retrain it later. :smalltongue:

I've suggested it. We'll see if he likes it. :3


Magic Missile at level 1, Scorching Ray at level 2, Unicorn Arrow at level three. No more blasting spells than that.

Retrain Scorching Ray when the time comes for Unicorn Arrow, incidentally.

What does Unicorn Arrow do?


Grab Versatile Spellcaster, so you can use it more than once/day (I think that's legit). I'd pick scorching ray.

We ue spell points, so he can do that anyway. ^^


It is only 3 times a day.

Midnight Metamagic reduces by 1 for every point of essentia invested the cost of metamagic. Coupled with Metamagic School Focus, you can fire off Fell Drained Magic Missiles/Kelgore's Fire Bolts twice a day, and another Fell Drained Sonic Snap, for a total cost of 3 1st level spell slots. That's 3 negative levels per day, in addition to your normal damage, none of which give a saving throw or require an attack roll.

The combo isn't worth much of anything at level 1 without an Azurin as the base race, though.

It's also easier to pull off as a Wizard, as you don't need Spell Focus to take Metamagic School Focus that way, but oh well.

Essentia?

[Kylarra]

Grab Versatile Spellcaster, so you can use it more than once/day (I think that's legit). I'd pick scorching ray.Not useful for getting a second level spell at first level, but yes, it's more or less better than PA in terms of actual usage in that niche.


How does your DM do reserve feats with spell points?


Also, in light of the horrible way blasting scales with the spellpoint system, have you suggested psionics?

[Tanaric]

Azurins, Midnight Metamagic, and the explanation of what Essentia is/does are all in Magic of Incarnum.

Azurins are basically humans that trade extra skillpoints for a bonus point of Essentia. If you have humans in your world, it's not a big stretch to have Azurins too.

Of course, that's up to your DM.

[Draken]

I will second Infernal Sorcerer Heritage + Infernal Sorcerer Howl.

ISHowl will give you a better attack than you would otherwise have at level 1, with 1° level spells. It will deal 2d6/spell level damage to all enemies inside a 30 feet cone. It is also a supernatural ability. This means you don't really have to chose any directly offensive spells.

Infernal Sorcerer Heritage will give you a +2 bonus to caster level when using a conjuration (summon) spell to bring out an evil outsider. RAW, it is of no help until Summon Monster II, but personally I would overlook the fact that summonable Fiendish creatures are magical beasts.

[Tanaric]

Eh. If you want direct damage, see if you can swing being a Lesser Aasimar from Calimsham. Take the Bloodline of Fire and Spell Thematic feats from PGtF, and the Spellgifted (Evocation) trait. Congrats, you have 5d6 KFBs at level 1.

Of course, you can't cast anything but Evocation until level 2, but if you're keen on the blasty aspect...

Oh, a human from Calimsham works as well, but Aasimar get you a charisma bonus.

[Pharaoh's Fist]

Melf's Unicorn Arrow is in the SpC/ It launches one or more 1d8+1 arrows at someone and bull rushes them.

[Triaxx]

Level 1 Blaster Sorc? Improved Initiative, Eschew Materials, and when in doubt, go with Spell Penetration. I keep hoping to have a chance to try out Spellcasting Prodigy myself, but I never get around to it.

[dougch]

1d8+8 pharoh

[Pharaoh's Fist]

Right, right, whatever.

[Draken]

Actually, if you take a look at the tables in the Player Handbook and Spell Compendium you would quickly notice that Eschew Materials doesn't affect any 1st level spells (the only 1st level spell with a material component is identify, and Eschew Materials does nothing there because the material component costs 100 gold).

[Myrmex]

Actually, if you take a look at the tables in the Player Handbook and Spell Compendium you would quickly notice that Eschew Materials doesn't affect any 1st level spells (the only 1st level spell with a material component is identify, and Eschew Materials does nothing there because the material component costs 100 gold).

:smallconfused:
About 80% of 1st level spells have material components.

[Darrin]

School Focus: Evocation? No, you're doing it wrong.

You need to take a look at the Mailman (http://community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/75882/19868534/The_Mailman_A_Direct_Damage_Sorcerer).

Scorching Ray is good, but your bread-and-butter direct damage spells should be orbs.

[Draken]

:smallconfused:
About 80% of 1st level spells have material components.

Hmm... No. Just identify. There are a couple of 1 level cleric spells with material components, but none with costs bellow 1 gp.

You aren't mistaking material components (M) for somatic components (S) are you? Because indeed, 80% of all spells have somatic components.

[Dracomorph]

Infernal Sorcerer Heritage and Howl are in the PHB2. I always liked them better than Draconic heritage, because they aren't the focus of like five different books, and sonic damage can actually be helpful.

[Pharaoh's Fist]

Hmm... No. Just identify. There are a couple of 1 level cleric spells with material components, but none with costs bellow 1 gp.

You aren't mistaking material components (M) for somatic components (S) are you? Because indeed, 80% of all spells have somatic components.

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