A "Simple" fix for Sorcerers...? [Archive] - Wizards Community

A "Simple" fix for Sorcerers...? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
darkone7141981
08-01-05, 01:04 AM So, I have never felt Sorcerers were really underpowered, but I do feel that it is a problem if there is absolutely no reason to avoid going into a Prestige Class as soon as possible... In that spirit I thought that a simple fix to this situation would be better than something really complicated, and I wanted people's thoughts on these ideas:

Before beginning, I am allowing players to become either Standard PHB Sorcerers or Unearthed Arcana Battle Sorcerers. The following points specify which adjustment would be made to which class.

1. Standard Sorcerers do not gain the aid of Familiars normally. Instead they gain the Draconic Ray (SU) ability described in Dragon #332 (1/day ranged touch for 1d4 +1/Sorcerer Level energy damage and secondary effect, range 25 ft + 5 ft/2 Sorcerer levels; energy damage type and secondary effect depend on the Draconic Heritage chosen by the Sorcerer; the Sorcerer's Draconic Heritage must be the same for this ray and all Draconic Feats).

2. All Sorcerers gain bonus Feats at levels 1, 5, 10, 15, and 20. These must either be Draconic Feats (for Standard Sorcerers) from Complete Arcane or any of the Sudden Metamagic Feats (for Battle Sorcerers) from that book.

3. All Sorcerers gain Eschew Materials as a bonus Feat at level 1.

*Standard Sorcerers are in some manner associated with dragons. Battle Sorcerers are simply innately talented with magic.

**I am using the Flaws variant found in UA, and would encourage Battle Sorcerers who do not plan to use a Familiar to choose Forlorn [Flaw] from Dragon #333 ("Flaws for Wizards," p. 94), with the understanding that they must make a significant investment in the class (to avoid abuse of the Flaw as discussed in UA).

How are these adjustements? The only thing that really discourages PrCs ASAP is the bonus Feats, but that can also be said about the Wizard class too, so I don't feel too bad about that. I think these changes would fit flavor-wise, and would also not be too much.

Any thoughts? Thanks for the input!

DarkOne7141981
James Wildspell
08-01-05, 01:21 AM If something is going to be a "must", it should be something from the PHB. But that leaves you with the core class...maybe you should try that.
syrinth
08-01-05, 02:14 AM Personally I really like the Eschew Materials as a bonus feat at level 1. I also want to try to implement the following in my campaign:

Power Burn: When casting a spell with a costly material component the sorceror may instead burn an amount of XP equal to 1/5th of the total price for the item in GP. In addition whenever a sorceror is casting a spell with a focus he may instead burn an amount of XP equal to the GP value of the focus or 100 XP if the focus has no clearly listed value, whichever is greater.

and I also like the idea of spell surges as given in the thread Sorcerors are too weak by cryto.
Nani?
08-01-05, 09:34 AM I like.

But I'd deempahise the assumption of Draconic heritage for all Sorcerers. There's no reason that Draconic claw can't be a demon claw or a really wierd reaction to the mixing of elven and human blood or a wizard using some poor commoner as a lab rat.
I'd also make exeptions on feats for characters who have logical in game reasons. Example: the Character has a high craft skill, how about create Wonderous Item.

Finnally, allow characters to instead of having to eschew materials make it an option but allow him to choose his own at about the same cost and define them and minor effects of the spell Example:"My Obscureing Mist is Salmon Pink, I got it by mixing my Amber and Blue I use in my Color Spray. I was going for emerald green but I kind like the pink. What do you think?" Could it be the fish bones I used in the dye?

All the Best,

Nani?
syrinth
08-01-05, 02:35 PM Eh, its a personal preference. Personally in my campaigns Sorcerors ARe descended from dragons, everyone who has a different lineage taps their powers in different ways.

BTW are you an artist IRL? The way you post it certainly sounds like it ^_^
eggplantm
08-01-05, 04:58 PM Except for the draconic ray and eschew materials part, this is how I play my sorcerers right now. 1st, 5th, 10th, 15th and 20th levels give a bonus feat that must be metamagic or draconic feat.
ninjarabbit
08-01-05, 05:11 PM The best fix for the sorcerer is the battle sorcerer from Unearthed Arcana.
Nani?
08-01-05, 11:38 PM Eh, its a personal preference. Personally in my campaigns Sorcerors ARe descended from dragons, everyone who has a different lineage taps their powers in different ways.

BTW are you an artist IRL? The way you post it certainly sounds like it ^_^

1) That's cool, everyone should interpret things as they see best.

2) No, but until a few days ago I was working on a comic book script (me as writer, him as artist), hopeing to make it big time. So I had to "think visual". I do work with words though in work.

All the Best,

Nani?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
darkone7141981 08-01-05, 01:04 AM	So, I have never felt Sorcerers were really underpowered, but I do feel that it is a problem if there is absolutely no reason to avoid going into a Prestige Class as soon as possible... In that spirit I thought that a simple fix to this situation would be better than something really complicated, and I wanted people's thoughts on these ideas: Before beginning, I am allowing players to become either Standard PHB Sorcerers or Unearthed Arcana Battle Sorcerers. The following points specify which adjustment would be made to which class. 1. Standard Sorcerers do not gain the aid of Familiars normally. Instead they gain the Draconic Ray (SU) ability described in Dragon #332 (1/day ranged touch for 1d4 +1/Sorcerer Level energy damage and secondary effect, range 25 ft + 5 ft/2 Sorcerer levels; energy damage type and secondary effect depend on the Draconic Heritage chosen by the Sorcerer; the Sorcerer's Draconic Heritage must be the same for this ray and all Draconic Feats). 2. All Sorcerers gain bonus Feats at levels 1, 5, 10, 15, and 20. These must either be Draconic Feats (for Standard Sorcerers) from Complete Arcane or any of the Sudden Metamagic Feats (for Battle Sorcerers) from that book. 3. All Sorcerers gain Eschew Materials as a bonus Feat at level 1. Standard Sorcerers are in some manner associated with dragons. Battle Sorcerers are simply innately talented with magic. *I am using the Flaws variant found in UA, and would encourage Battle Sorcerers who do not plan to use a Familiar to choose Forlorn [Flaw] from Dragon #333 ("Flaws for Wizards," p. 94), with the understanding that they must make a significant investment in the class (to avoid abuse of the Flaw as discussed in UA). How are these adjustements? The only thing that really discourages PrCs ASAP is the bonus Feats, but that can also be said about the Wizard class too, so I don't feel too bad about that. I think these changes would fit flavor-wise, and would also not be too much. Any thoughts? Thanks for the input! DarkOne7141981
James Wildspell 08-01-05, 01:21 AM	If something is going to be a "must", it should be something from the PHB. But that leaves you with the core class...maybe you should try that.
syrinth 08-01-05, 02:14 AM	Personally I really like the Eschew Materials as a bonus feat at level 1. I also want to try to implement the following in my campaign: Power Burn: When casting a spell with a costly material component the sorceror may instead burn an amount of XP equal to 1/5th of the total price for the item in GP. In addition whenever a sorceror is casting a spell with a focus he may instead burn an amount of XP equal to the GP value of the focus or 100 XP if the focus has no clearly listed value, whichever is greater. and I also like the idea of spell surges as given in the thread Sorcerors are too weak by cryto.
Nani? 08-01-05, 09:34 AM	I like. But I'd deempahise the assumption of Draconic heritage for all Sorcerers. There's no reason that Draconic claw can't be a demon claw or a really wierd reaction to the mixing of elven and human blood or a wizard using some poor commoner as a lab rat. I'd also make exeptions on feats for characters who have logical in game reasons. Example: the Character has a high craft skill, how about create Wonderous Item. Finnally, allow characters to instead of having to eschew materials make it an option but allow him to choose his own at about the same cost and define them and minor effects of the spell Example:"My Obscureing Mist is Salmon Pink, I got it by mixing my Amber and Blue I use in my Color Spray. I was going for emerald green but I kind like the pink. What do you think?" Could it be the fish bones I used in the dye? All the Best, Nani?
syrinth 08-01-05, 02:35 PM	Eh, its a personal preference. Personally in my campaigns Sorcerors ARe descended from dragons, everyone who has a different lineage taps their powers in different ways. BTW are you an artist IRL? The way you post it certainly sounds like it ^_^
eggplantm 08-01-05, 04:58 PM	Except for the draconic ray and eschew materials part, this is how I play my sorcerers right now. 1st, 5th, 10th, 15th and 20th levels give a bonus feat that must be metamagic or draconic feat.
ninjarabbit 08-01-05, 05:11 PM	The best fix for the sorcerer is the battle sorcerer from Unearthed Arcana.
Nani? 08-01-05, 11:38 PM	Eh, its a personal preference. Personally in my campaigns Sorcerors ARe descended from dragons, everyone who has a different lineage taps their powers in different ways. BTW are you an artist IRL? The way you post it certainly sounds like it ^_^ 1) That's cool, everyone should interpret things as they see best. 2) No, but until a few days ago I was working on a comic book script (me as writer, him as artist), hopeing to make it big time. So I had to "think visual". I do work with words though in work. All the Best, Nani?