Sorcerer/PrCs Build - Feat Help Please!

[Moonlitdreams]

I am currently in the process of building a Sorcerer that will be going about...

Sorcerer 6/Mindbender 3 (or 4)/Mage of the Arcane Order 10/ Archmage 5

The campaign promises to be long. (Into the epic levels) Magical Aptitude has been taken at first level, for flavor reasons.

What would you all suggest for the other feats? What order should the prerequisites for the PrCs be in, if any? And lastly, if the campaign goes longer than the above build counts on () where would you suggest I go from there, class or PrC wise?

[Pharaoh's Fist]

Why sorcerer 6, when you can qualify for MotAO at level 5? Why more than 1 level of Mindbender, and how are you filling the skill requirements?

Anyways, take Mindsight (Lords of Madness) to be able to mentally locate intelligent creatures within the range of your telepathy.

To qualify for Mindbender, I'd ditch Magical Aptitude because it prevents you from getting your prerequisite feats in on time.

If you take Able Learner and Arcane Preparation at first level, Co-Operative Metamagic at third, and a metamagic feat at 6th, you can take your 6th level as a Mindbender and your 7th as a Mage of the Arcane Order, which is a more efficient way of doing things. Then you fill out your Mage of the Arcane Order and Archmage levels before taking the rest of your Mindbender levels, so you don't lose caster levels before Epic Casting.

Feats you will want to consider are Sculpt Spell, Heighten Spell, Invisible Spell, Empower Spell, Versatile Spellcaster, Arcane Thesis, and maybe Quicken Spell, unless you go for the Arcane Spellsurge+Arcane Fusion route.

Also, advice: do not yield to the temptation to take Epic Casting. Epic spells are either useless or broken.

[Moonlitdreams]

Why sorcerer 6, when you can qualify for MotAO at level 5? Why more than 1 level of Mindbender, and how are you filling the skill requirements?

Anyways, take Mindsight (Lords of Madness) to be able to mentally locate intelligent creatures within the range of your telepathy.

First off, Sorcerers cannot meet the "Ability to cast 3rd level arcane spells" until level 6 without the use of a feat which name I cannot remember.

Secondly, the 3rd level ability of Mindbender is Mindread, and I thought that fit my character well. Why only 1? But by the time I finish MotAO, I have figured the numbers and will have enough points to fill the skill requirements. Unless you have a suggestion to make the process less painful?

[Pharaoh's Fist]

First off, Sorcerers cannot meet the "Ability to cast 3rd level arcane spells" until level 6 without the use of a feat which name I cannot remember.

Heighten Spell + Versatile Spellcaster.

Although if I remember correctly, Mindbender requires Charm Person and some skill points, and MotAO only requires 2nd level spells to qualify for.

Secondly, the 3rd level ability of Mindbender is Mindread, and I thought that fit my character well.

You know Mindread is a very weak ability right? The save DC will be low, many enemies at mid to higher levels are immune to mind affecting, and the 2nd level spell Detect Thoughts will do about as well.

Why only 1? But by the time I finish MotAO, I have figured the numbers and will have enough points to fill the skill requirements. Unless you have a suggestion to make the process less painful?

You can qualify at level 5 if you take the feat Able Learner at first level instead of Magical Aptitude, enabling you to buy cross class skills at a 1:1 cost, with normal cross class caps. This lets your 6th level be in Mindbender.

If you spend your second 1st level feat on Arcane Preparation, your 3rd level feat on Co-Operative Metamagic, and your 6th level feat on a metamagic feat, you can take your 7th level in Mage of the Arcane Order. This gets you the best ability of Mindbender early, and then throws you into MotAO.

[Paul H]

Hi

Depending on what you expect your charater to do, what about Beguiler 6/Mindbenderxxx ?

Enchanter/Illusionist, spont caster like Sorceror, more spells known (but smaller spell list). Int based caster/skill monkey. More HP, can wear light armour, free feats/powers, etc, etc.

Admittedly, no 'real' damage spells, unless you take some 'shadow' spells.

I think Sorcerors were made redundant with the release of Beguilers & Warmages. The only use i can think of is the Draconic series of feats, or a Kobold theme/PrC.

Cheers
Paul H

[Eldariel]

Mindbender only requires Arcane Caster Level 5th. So yeah, cut a Sorc-level if you're already going Mindbender anyways; the extra Sorc doesn't give you anything. Also, Mindbender is best as a 1-level dip; most of the rest you can replicate with spells anyways.

I think Sorcerors were made redundant with the release of Beguilers & Warmages. The only use i can think of is the Draconic series of feats, or a Kobold theme/PrC.

Sorcerers definitely weren't made redundant. They still can specialize however the hell they want, or even generalize, an option denied to the "built specialists". A Sorcerer is a better blaster than Warmage anyways.

Sorcerers still serve the role of "an innately magical character with an extremely narrow, but unrestricted range of abilities" while Beguilers, Warmages & company are more akin to specialist Wizards.

[Pharaoh's Fist]

I think Sorcerors were made redundant with the release of Beguilers & Warmages. The only use i can think of is the Draconic series of feats, or a Kobold theme/PrC.

You left out Wings of Cover, Wings of Flurry, Arcane Spellsurge, Arcane Fusion, Ruin Delver's Fortune...

[Paul H]

Hi

Oh - and Beguiler/Nightmare Spinner might be worth looking into.

Cheers again
Paul H

[Thurbane]

Rapid Metamagic at level 9, Quicken Spell at level 12.

[Pharaoh's Fist]

The need for Rapid Metamagic is somewhat reduced because Arcane Preparation lets you prepare a metamagicked spell and cast it without casting time increases.

[Thurbane]

True, but I'd also like to be able to cast any spell I know with metamagic on the fly, as it were. Still, point taken.

[herrhauptmann]

Have you looked at spellcasting prodigy from Forgotten Realms campaign setting? It would probably help your build a bit. Though it won't fit the flavor you've chosen.

[Optimystik]

Secondly, the 3rd level ability of Mindbender is Mindread, and I thought that fit my character well. Why only 1?

Mindbender is only good for 1 level - more makes you lose precious caster levels (you're already behind the prepared casters) for very little benefit. Instead, dip into Fatespinner for some cool luck-based abilities.