[3.5] Sorcerer/Blasting build, limited to PHB+ToM

[JW86]

Hey,

My friend is starting a new campaign. I was wanting to play a Sorcerer/Warlock/Eldritch Theurge or Eldritch Disciple build, or possibly a Mailman Sorcerer, but as we have new players joining the group he is keeping things very basic.

So, I am limited to PHB and Tome of Magic - for race, class, feat, spells, everything.

Which kind of sucks for my plans of delivering the mail, or hellfire blasting everything in sight.

Starting at Level 2. I would still like to explore the possibility of playing a Sorcerer, perhaps a Binder.. but I really want to focus on blasting, with utility/buff/BFC a secondary concern.

No Eldritch Blast, no Orbs of Anything, bah....

I'll assume no flaws, and the stats I'm working with are 14, 13, 13, 12, 12, 11.

Any ideas on how to create a semi-decent blaster within these limitations? If not I might need to think of a different approach/character concept, in which case I am open to suggestions.

My experience with D&D is fairly limited, having played one year-long campaign before (which went ridiculous into Epic with divine ranks and StP Erudites etc.) I consider myself a bit of a newbie with Vancian casting/metamagic, most of my experience is with psionics.

[Bad Wolf]

Anima Mage? It's a theurge build for arcane casters and Binders. Start out with two levels of Sorcerer, maybe take the Metamagic Specialist, and pick up a level of Binder. A metamagic feat at first level, maybe Quicken Spell if you give up your Familiar, and Improved Binding at third to get a second-level vestige. That'll get you 12th level sorcerer casting and the soul binding of a 13th level Binder, if I've done my math correctly.

[Tarlek Flamehai]

I would take a gander at the Dark Creature template (only +1 LA) on page 161 of Tome of Magic.

[Troacctid]

Seconding Anima Mage. The free metamagic helps with blasting, which is nice, but the real advantage of it is it vastly expands your options. Sorcerers naturally have problems with versatility, and blasting sorcerers even more so. But binding makes it so that you always have the ability to contribute to an encounter even if you don't know a spell for it. Just make sure you grab Expel Vestige for one of your feats.

[ericgrau]

Primary blasting, secondary utility/buff/BFC. Ok, that's doable. I'm not sure why you'd want orb spells at low level anyway. SR doesn't come until level 8-14+.

0: Daze, whatever (better last resort than a crossbow)
1: Color spray or sleep (swap out later), burning hands (swap out eventually), mage armor (also for friendly druids, monks, casters who want to learn other spells), feather fall, magic missile, unseen servant
2: flaming sphere (swap out later), web (combo with burning hands + flaming sphere), scorching ray, levitate (hits allies and objects too), invisibility, false life, bull's strength.
3: fireball, GMW, sleet storm, haste
4: Evard's black tentacles (combo w/ fireball)
If there are many dungeon runs get resist energy or protection from energy and ward the whole party against fire for care free fireballing.

Level 9+: SR and fire resistance are coming, so don't be afraid to be 75% damage and 25% BFC/etc. in combat. That's the simplest answer. You can still hurt most things and when you can't, don't feel bad about no longer using damage. Chain lightning and empowered magic missile is ok for getting around fire resistance too, but BFC tends to be a better backup due to all the SR. And don't forget fire resistance 5 or 10 doesn't really count.

Scrolls
1: enlarge person (buff round) , protection from evil (buff round), shield (buff round), hold portal, alarm, endure elements, shield, mount, obscuring mist, unseen servant, comprehend languages, identify, Tenser's floating disk (CL 3), disguise self (urban settings only), silent image (only subtle illusions that won't be examined or interacted with => no save)
2: spider climb, levitate, maybe see invisibility.
Typ. ~1-2 each, unless you need to hit multiple party members, restock later. Start with a couple like the buffs, pick up more over time. Burn level 1s like water and restock, they're cheap.

Weapon: Longspear at low level for the reach. You can still let go with one hand on your turn to cast, same as a quarterstaff.

Other Gear:
If you get greater magic weapon, false life and/or mage armor then pick up a lesser rod of extend spell. A wand of invisibility is amazing if you don't know the spell. AKA wand of whole party encounter bypassing. Random utility wondrous items and rings can be nice.

Feats:
Empower is good if you get magic missile, false life, scorching ray and/or fireball. If you face a lot of single targets you can get scorching ray, empowered ray of enfeeblement, and precise shot.

[JW86]

Great advice, thank you.

The Binder is not very appealing, perhaps a level to grab Naberius for the ability healing and diplomacy advantages/disguise self, then into Anima Mage/more Sorc...

Thanks for the simple spell suggestions. I was waning to get into Arcane Fusion/Spellsurge with Orbs of Fire and Force but they belong not to the allowed books... perhaps later in the campaign they shall be allowed, I can hope.

[Gwendol]

I like the flaming sphere/pyrotechnics combo for a low-level damage dealing/debuffing/BFC combo. It's surprisingly efficient, and being able to hit two saves (reflex + either will or fort) is useful.