Character options for sorcerer

[Ger. Bessa]

Hello peopleitp, I was looking at what I would get if I started a build as sorcerer 20 and changed/prestiged/added all the "good things" available without going into crippling overspecialization.

And I found a few issues that I could not solve. Some are rules questions, other are just asking if, by experience, these choices are worth it.

Question 1 : Does an elf necropolitan keeps his proficiencies ? His access to elf-only prestige classes or feats ? Does he keep an elf subtype or "augmented elf" ? The same question for the human bonus feat would help too.

Question 2 : Can a sorcerer with domain access (Hero) use a runestaff for three more uses per day of Divine Power or Giant Size ?

Question 3 : Can a sorcerer with levels in the Nightmare Spinner (Complete Mage) prestige class use his illusion spell slot to power a non-illusion spell from a runestaff ? (I ask because specialists archmages can use secialist spell slots to get high arcanas)

Question 4 : A stalwart (not battle) sorcerer trades one spell known of the highest level for proficiencie and the weapon focus feat (and more hp). With an (ancestral relic) (elvencraft longbow) runestaff, the spell known loss can become a cost in WBL. Is a bonus feat worth some gold knowing that as level goes up the price will go up as well ? (I mainly speak of a feat tax/prerequisite since weapon focus isn't the hottest feat in PHB.) We all know that Iron Will is worth 3000 gp.

Question 5 : Can Divine Power push your BAB higher than your hd if you have a big caster level ?

PS : My sorcerer will wear a shirt.

[AvatarVecna]

Hello peopleitp, I was looking at what I would get if I started a build as sorcerer 20 and changed/prestiged/added all the "good things" available without going into crippling overspecialization.

And I found a few issues that I could not solve. Some are rules questions, other are just asking if, by experience, these choices are worth it.

Question 1 : Does an elf necropolitan keeps his proficiencies ? His access to elf-only prestige classes or feats ? Does he keep an elf subtype or "augmented elf" ? The same question for the human bonus feat would help too.

Question 2 : Can a sorcerer with domain access (Hero) use a runestaff for three more uses per day of Divine Power or Giant Size ?

Question 3 : Can a sorcerer with levels in the Nightmare Spinner (Complete Mage) prestige class use his illusion spell slot to power a non-illusion spell from a runestaff ? (I ask because specialists archmages can use secialist spell slots to get high arcanas)

Question 4 : A stalwart (not battle) sorcerer trades one spell known of the highest level for proficiencie and the weapon focus feat (and more hp). With an (ancestral relic) (elvencraft longbow) runestaff, the spell known loss can become a cost in WBL. Is a bonus feat worth some gold knowing that as level goes up the price will go up as well ? (I mainly speak of a feat tax/prerequisite since weapon focus isn't the hottest feat in PHB.) We all know that Iron Will is worth 3000 gp.

Question 5 : Can Divine Power push your BAB higher than your hd if you have a big caster level ?

PS : My sorcerer will wear a shirt.

1. I'm not sure what RAW says on this matter; you're still mostly an elf, so you probably still count as an elf for purposes of pre-reqs, but you're also not technically a humanoid (elf) anymore, so there's definitely an argument. This is the kind of thing I'd say you should ask your DM about.

2-4. I'm not familiar enough with runestaffs to say one way or the other.

5. No. Divine Power grants you BAB equal to your character level, not your caster level. Boosting your caster level to infinite doesn't change your character level, and therefore doesn't change the BAB you gain from Divine Power.

P.S.: Oh thank the Nine.

[Segev]

PS : My sorcerer will wear a shirt.

Well, of course he will! That way his permanent Symbol of Persuasion tatooed on his back will only affect people when he dramatically removes said vestment. Or he gets in a Kirk-fight and has his shirt shredded.

[Ger. Bessa]

Well, of course he will! That way his permanent Symbol of Persuasion tatooed on his back will only affect people when he dramatically removes said vestment. Or he gets in a Kirk-fight and has his shirt shredded.

I don't understand, could you post an image to explain ? (<=should be in blue but I'm on my phone)

Edit : Are you playing with my mind ?



Thanks for the answers, AvatarVecna, but I wouldn't mind something more decisive for all questions. And I can't believe that this question never happened before.

I think there are rules about types and templates in Savage Species but I do not own the book. Are the proficiencies special qualities ? If so the template does not remove them, even if he doesn't grant the "augmented humanoid (elf)", since it's a necropolitan elf. I just wanted confirmation by good rule lawyers.

Any idea about the runestaves and domain/illusion spell slots ?

[Xervous]

Question 2 : Can a sorcerer with domain access (Hero) use a runestaff for three more uses per day of Divine Power or Giant Size ?



A runestaff allows its wielder to use her own arcane energy to generate magical effects. Typically, a runestaff has anywhere from two to five spells. By expending a prepared arcane spell or arcane spell slot, the wielder can cast a spell of the same level or lower from the runestaffs list, as long as that spell also appears on the wielder's class spell list.


Add the chosen domain's spells to your class list of arcane spells.

I'm not seeing anything to the contrary, it's all cleanly there with nothing to dispute. The only issue I can foresee is actually acquiring said runestaff because that involves someone crafting it... DM might not feel fine with handing it out because of the unique combination that is required for its crafting. Crafting it yourself or using the ancestral relic feat can help get around this.


~


Question 3 : Can a sorcerer with levels in the Nightmare Spinner (Complete Mage) prestige class use his illusion spell slot to power a non-illusion spell from a runestaff ? (I ask because specialists archmages can use secialist spell slots to get high arcanas)

The rules in MIC for runestaves are quite clear in this regard. Nightmare Spinner prepares more spells, he's an arcane caster thus those are arcane spell slots, perfectly eligible to use for runestaff fueling.


~



Question 4 : A stalwart (not battle) sorcerer trades one spell known of the highest level for proficiencie and the weapon focus feat (and more hp). With an (ancestral relic) (elvencraft longbow) runestaff, the spell known loss can become a cost in WBL. Is a bonus feat worth some gold knowing that as level goes up the price will go up as well ? (I mainly speak of a feat tax/prerequisite since weapon focus isn't the hottest feat in PHB.) We all know that Iron Will is worth 3000 gp.

2 hp a level isn't going to solve your bigger problems in most groups, and losing a precious high level spell known is going to really set you back in terms of usefulness. If you continue playing into the higher levels you're going to hurt more and more for that missing spell. The sorcerer is chained up by his limited spells known, you want that runestaff because it gives you more spells known, why do you want to throw away spells known for pitiful numeric bonuses that won't matter in a majority of situations?

Weapon proficiency is... well... why WOULD you as a sorcerer need a martial weapon? If you're gishing then there's plenty of other ways to pick up martial weapon proficiencies. Weapon focus is a laughable feat, +1 on attack rolls is a negligible benefit.

[Ger. Bessa]

Thanks, getting the runestaff by ancestral relic was the mean from the begining.

The question about the "worth" of the feat weapon focus, I know, depends on the build/prestige class wanted, but my main concern was "If necropolitan takes away the elvish proficiencies, how can I get into Abjurant Champion and/or get the proficiency for elvencraft longbow" and so, instead of having a feat tax, I had a spell known tax (via acf/sorcerer variant) that ended on my WBL.

[Xervous]

Oddly enough the example necropolitan in Libris Mortis does not appear to have the human bonus feat even though it specifically calls out that "A necropolitan retains all the special qualities of the base creature"

Looks like the necro elf keeps all its goodies, though he's an Undead (augmented) now, not humanoid (elf)

[Segev]

The Necropolitan template doesn't say it strips away racial features, to my knowledge. Fluff-wise, you haven't suddenly gotten amnesia from the years of training you had growing up as an elf. I don't think you need to re-acquire the proficiency with the bow or sword; you should have it from being an elf (who happens to have the necropolitan template).