1st Level Sorcerer Spells [Archive] - Wizards Community

1st Level Sorcerer Spells [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Harliquinn
03-10-04, 05:49 PM I was curious what would be the best choices for a 1st level Sorcerer to have if he was taking combat levels as a ranged attacker? I figure True Strike would be a must? Just curious what others thought as far as the ideal 4 0th level and 2 1st level spells.
Sisyfos
03-10-04, 05:52 PM Color spray
Sleep
Grease
Expeditious retreat

True strike is not a must. Your bow damage will most likely be very low anyhow. Get a ranged attack spell and use that in addition to your bow when necessary. At later levels you can swap the spell out.
Matt Neuman
03-10-04, 06:06 PM 0 Lvl:
Dancing Lights
Detect Magic
Disrupt Undead
Mage Hand

1 Lvl:
True Strike
Ray of Enfeeblement
Neonsamurai
03-10-04, 06:27 PM sleep and color spray are very good first spells. They can knock out a large number of enemies and can easily turn the tide of an otherwise grim looking battle.

Single target spells should be taken later, when your spell repertoir is a bit larger.
Matt Neuman
03-10-04, 06:32 PM Normally I'd agree with you, but in this case he stated that he was taking levels in combat classes as a ranged attacker.

I assumed that meant fighter or ranger levels.

Since his caster level is therefore likely to be low for his character level, I'd avoid things like sleep and color spray which really are only useful against very weak creatures.
Teh Lurv
03-10-04, 06:47 PM 0-lvl:
Presdigitation
Detect Magic
Read Magic
Mage Hand

1-lvl
Feather Fall
Shield
PeggeyandScott
03-10-04, 10:24 PM I would lean toward Shield and Ray of Enfeeblement. Shield never goes out of style and the AC boost comes in real handy since both your hands will be occupied with your bow.

The no save of RoE is a huge bonus. Reducing that 20 STR raging orc barbarian to about a 15 STR at low levels can keep the whole party alive. Plus, the ranged attack roll should not be a big deal with the BAB progression of your warrior classes.

Color Spray or Sleep are fantastic at lower levels, but lose their effectiveness in a hurry. If you can get these on scrolls or if there is another wizard or sorcerer in the party, you should be able to get by without knowing these yourself.

True Strike is nice when you run into an ultra high AC critter, but is usually a waste of time otherwise. In my experience, it usually does not pay to waste a round to cast the spell to assure a hit on the next round. Hitting earlier is usually more important, and once you have rapid shot, you are forgoing A LOT of attacks to get a big bonus on a single arrow. Get a wand of True Strike if you can and it will probably last your whole career.

Unless you plan to take levels of Spellsword or have some other way of reducing the arcane casting penalty for armor, you might want to take Mage Armor and just get a Wand of Shield.
Harliquinn
03-11-04, 10:11 AM I will most likely be taking only 1 level of sorcerer, perhaps 2. Therefore buff type spells are the best, since the DC"s will be low. I hadn't thought about Shield but that might be a great spell also. I will probably stay away from the damaging spells as I'll be able to do damage with ranged attacks. THanks!
Vorpal Warhammer
03-11-04, 10:42 AM If you're goint to take some Rogue levels for your ranged attacks, be sure to take Acid Splash as one of your 0-level spells. It can be combined with sneak attack damage for some nasty no-save no-SR goodness
iN.fuSioN
03-11-04, 04:26 PM Since you only taking 1-2 levels of sorcerer, you should consider the White Dragonspawn Template for a cheap LA+1. With it you get:

+7 natural armor
wings
+1 level of sorcerer (for spells only)
claw and bite attacks
minor breath
death throes
etc

I guess it sounds great for a ranged character (fly at low levels plus the massive natural armor AND sorcerer spells)

It's only downside is the loss of one HD (minor) and the lack of insane dms to allow it (major) :angel:

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Harliquinn 03-10-04, 05:49 PM	I was curious what would be the best choices for a 1st level Sorcerer to have if he was taking combat levels as a ranged attacker? I figure True Strike would be a must? Just curious what others thought as far as the ideal 4 0th level and 2 1st level spells.
Sisyfos 03-10-04, 05:52 PM	Color spray Sleep Grease Expeditious retreat True strike is not a must. Your bow damage will most likely be very low anyhow. Get a ranged attack spell and use that in addition to your bow when necessary. At later levels you can swap the spell out.
Matt Neuman 03-10-04, 06:06 PM	0 Lvl: Dancing Lights Detect Magic Disrupt Undead Mage Hand 1 Lvl: True Strike Ray of Enfeeblement
Neonsamurai 03-10-04, 06:27 PM	sleep and color spray are very good first spells. They can knock out a large number of enemies and can easily turn the tide of an otherwise grim looking battle. Single target spells should be taken later, when your spell repertoir is a bit larger.
Matt Neuman 03-10-04, 06:32 PM	Normally I'd agree with you, but in this case he stated that he was taking levels in combat classes as a ranged attacker. I assumed that meant fighter or ranger levels. Since his caster level is therefore likely to be low for his character level, I'd avoid things like sleep and color spray which really are only useful against very weak creatures.
Teh Lurv 03-10-04, 06:47 PM	0-lvl: Presdigitation Detect Magic Read Magic Mage Hand 1-lvl Feather Fall Shield
PeggeyandScott 03-10-04, 10:24 PM	I would lean toward Shield and Ray of Enfeeblement. Shield never goes out of style and the AC boost comes in real handy since both your hands will be occupied with your bow. The no save of RoE is a huge bonus. Reducing that 20 STR raging orc barbarian to about a 15 STR at low levels can keep the whole party alive. Plus, the ranged attack roll should not be a big deal with the BAB progression of your warrior classes. Color Spray or Sleep are fantastic at lower levels, but lose their effectiveness in a hurry. If you can get these on scrolls or if there is another wizard or sorcerer in the party, you should be able to get by without knowing these yourself. True Strike is nice when you run into an ultra high AC critter, but is usually a waste of time otherwise. In my experience, it usually does not pay to waste a round to cast the spell to assure a hit on the next round. Hitting earlier is usually more important, and once you have rapid shot, you are forgoing A LOT of attacks to get a big bonus on a single arrow. Get a wand of True Strike if you can and it will probably last your whole career. Unless you plan to take levels of Spellsword or have some other way of reducing the arcane casting penalty for armor, you might want to take Mage Armor and just get a Wand of Shield.
Harliquinn 03-11-04, 10:11 AM	I will most likely be taking only 1 level of sorcerer, perhaps 2. Therefore buff type spells are the best, since the DC"s will be low. I hadn't thought about Shield but that might be a great spell also. I will probably stay away from the damaging spells as I'll be able to do damage with ranged attacks. THanks!
Vorpal Warhammer 03-11-04, 10:42 AM	If you're goint to take some Rogue levels for your ranged attacks, be sure to take Acid Splash as one of your 0-level spells. It can be combined with sneak attack damage for some nasty no-save no-SR goodness
iN.fuSioN 03-11-04, 04:26 PM	Since you only taking 1-2 levels of sorcerer, you should consider the White Dragonspawn Template for a cheap LA+1. With it you get: +7 natural armor wings +1 level of sorcerer (for spells only) claw and bite attacks minor breath death throes etc I guess it sounds great for a ranged character (fly at low levels plus the massive natural armor AND sorcerer spells) It's only downside is the loss of one HD (minor) and the lack of insane dms to allow it (major) :angel: