Sorcerer Variant [Archive] - Wizards Community

Sorcerer Variant [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
darczero
10-02-04, 09:29 PM This is somewhere along the lines of the Divine Sorcerer post, but it's a slightly different spin on things...

In a campaign I played in a while back I played a Sorcerer. The DM didn't want to let me have a standard sorcerer (I'm not sure why) and requested that I come up with something different. Not personally satisfied with any variant sorcerers I'd yet found, I decided to create my own (since I was thoroughly determined to play a Sorcerer).

In the end, the class was the same, but their spell list had disappeared, having been replaced by Clerical Domains. Not the Cleric list as a whole, just the domains. Here's how it works:

The sorcerer who takes this option still learns the normal 0 level Sorcerer spells, and still casts Arcane spells with the normal sorcerer method.

Each time the character gains a new 1st level spell (including those gained at 1st class level), they select one domain from the list of Cleric domains. As with standard clerics, they may not choose domains that are opposed to their alignment (either component). They only gain new domains when they gain 1st level spells, so all of their higher level spells will be somewhat related to the lower level ones.

As they advance in levels, they learn their new spells from those made available by their domains. Even if they choose feats such as "Extra Spell" and its epic counterpart "Spell Knowledge" they are still limited to the domains they know. At epic levels, they may take the Bonus Domain feat to expand their spell list (choosing any domain not restricted from them).

Certain domains have requirements (such as the Healing domain requiring 5 ranks of the Heal skill, and the Plant domain requiring 5 ranks of the Wilderness Lore/Survival skill), tailored to the domains themselves (there are too many to list them all here, but I've got most of the list worked out). Some of the higher-powered domains require other domains as prerequisites, much like feats.

But, with the ability to learn virtually any spell out there, and the fact that all my spells were related in some way, I saw it as worth the tradeoff. Especially since I didn't want to be just another fireball slinging sorcerer like so many already are.
hamilcar
10-02-04, 10:33 PM I think your idea is great. I like the idea of adding more focus to the spells a sorcerer gets, it fits more with how I always envision sorcerers, sort of having a connection with certain forces of magic.

Have you taken a look at the arcane domains from UA? They might or might not fit into your system, but I think you should take a look at them.
darczero
10-03-04, 09:37 PM Yes, I've taken a look at the Arcane domains...

From what I can gather, there is no problem with allowing this variant to use those (either instead of or in addition to) the Divine domains.

One thing I forgot to mention is that this variant of the Sorcerer, while they do sort of gain access to clerical domains, does not receive the granted powers of those domains; that is still restricted to those who are faithful and pledge their service to the deities that grant those domains.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
darczero 10-02-04, 09:29 PM	This is somewhere along the lines of the Divine Sorcerer post, but it's a slightly different spin on things... In a campaign I played in a while back I played a Sorcerer. The DM didn't want to let me have a standard sorcerer (I'm not sure why) and requested that I come up with something different. Not personally satisfied with any variant sorcerers I'd yet found, I decided to create my own (since I was thoroughly determined to play a Sorcerer). In the end, the class was the same, but their spell list had disappeared, having been replaced by Clerical Domains. Not the Cleric list as a whole, just the domains. Here's how it works: The sorcerer who takes this option still learns the normal 0 level Sorcerer spells, and still casts Arcane spells with the normal sorcerer method. Each time the character gains a new 1st level spell (including those gained at 1st class level), they select one domain from the list of Cleric domains. As with standard clerics, they may not choose domains that are opposed to their alignment (either component). They only gain new domains when they gain 1st level spells, so all of their higher level spells will be somewhat related to the lower level ones. As they advance in levels, they learn their new spells from those made available by their domains. Even if they choose feats such as "Extra Spell" and its epic counterpart "Spell Knowledge" they are still limited to the domains they know. At epic levels, they may take the Bonus Domain feat to expand their spell list (choosing any domain not restricted from them). Certain domains have requirements (such as the Healing domain requiring 5 ranks of the Heal skill, and the Plant domain requiring 5 ranks of the Wilderness Lore/Survival skill), tailored to the domains themselves (there are too many to list them all here, but I've got most of the list worked out). Some of the higher-powered domains require other domains as prerequisites, much like feats. But, with the ability to learn virtually any spell out there, and the fact that all my spells were related in some way, I saw it as worth the tradeoff. Especially since I didn't want to be just another fireball slinging sorcerer like so many already are.
hamilcar 10-02-04, 10:33 PM	I think your idea is great. I like the idea of adding more focus to the spells a sorcerer gets, it fits more with how I always envision sorcerers, sort of having a connection with certain forces of magic. Have you taken a look at the arcane domains from UA? They might or might not fit into your system, but I think you should take a look at them.
darczero 10-03-04, 09:37 PM	Yes, I've taken a look at the Arcane domains... From what I can gather, there is no problem with allowing this variant to use those (either instead of or in addition to) the Divine domains. One thing I forgot to mention is that this variant of the Sorcerer, while they do sort of gain access to clerical domains, does not receive the granted powers of those domains; that is still restricted to those who are faithful and pledge their service to the deities that grant those domains.