"Psionic" Sorcerer? [Archive] - Wizards Community

"Psionic" Sorcerer? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
LukiLoki
08-12-04, 04:07 PM I know there's a lot of discussion/debate on the topic of alternate sorcerer classes, and I have no desire to bring up the issue of whether the sorc. is underpowered.
I have a specific request from a player, and I'm trying to tinker wiht the class to make it fit what he wants to play, without giving away the store.

Basically, I run a "core" campaign. I don't allow psionics. (The subject for another thread, I suppose, but it's not a hard and fast objection. More of just a flavor issue. And I don't really know the rules, or have the new book, etc.)

But the PC is "special": he's a stranded Githyanki on the Material. He's weird. He's funky. I see no problem with having his magic be "mental" or "innate" to a greater degree than a normal sorc. Basically, the player feels, why should I have to speak these arcane phrases to evoke an effect, if my magic is "in my blood (or brain or whatever)" And I kind of agree.

So, while I don't want to incorporate a psion, I'm open to using a sorcerer class variant to "emulate" a psionic character. And this is what we're trying to do.

So what would you do to this class concept in terms of further balance?
Give up the Familiar, get Eschew Materials as a bonus feat, and a Silent Spell effect w/no level bump on all spells w/ V component.

I'm thinking a pretty severely limited spell list, or maybe fewer spells known. Idunno. The Sorc.'s pretty bare bones. Not a lot to strip away.
starfire311
08-12-04, 04:18 PM another option he could use WIsdom or Con as his relevent attribute rather than Charisma

Also what I did
Was for Sorc. is I got rid of Familiar and granted the following
1st level Eschew Materials
2nd level Silent Spell Feat
4th level Still Spell Feat
8th level Improved Eschew Materials
12th level Improved Silent Spell
16th level Improved Still spell

Improved Eschew Materials As eschew Materials except you no longer need any material components. Each 5 GP value of a material costs you 1 XP instead

Improved Silent Spell As Silent Spell except there is no level increase for spells

Improved Still Spell As Still Spell except tehre is no level increase for spells
LukiLoki
08-12-04, 08:07 PM Bippety Boppity........

:bump:
Vaelan
08-13-04, 07:21 AM I allow Sorcerers to attempt to Still and/or Silent any spell they cast with no level adjustment if they succeed on a Spellcraft check. I won't go into DCs because such things are far better if each DM adjusts it for their campaign.

If a Sorcerer fails this check, he fails to cast the spell and loses the spell slot that would normally have been used.

I use this rule because I believe Sorcerers could use some abilities that reflect the flavor of their class. It also never made much sense to me how Sorcerers cast spells in the same manner as Wizards. Exacting gestures and incantations don't fit my vision of a Sorcerer, as I see them more like creatures with Spell-Like Abilities than Wizards.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
LukiLoki 08-12-04, 04:07 PM	I know there's a lot of discussion/debate on the topic of alternate sorcerer classes, and I have no desire to bring up the issue of whether the sorc. is underpowered. I have a specific request from a player, and I'm trying to tinker wiht the class to make it fit what he wants to play, without giving away the store. Basically, I run a "core" campaign. I don't allow psionics. (The subject for another thread, I suppose, but it's not a hard and fast objection. More of just a flavor issue. And I don't really know the rules, or have the new book, etc.) But the PC is "special": he's a stranded Githyanki on the Material. He's weird. He's funky. I see no problem with having his magic be "mental" or "innate" to a greater degree than a normal sorc. Basically, the player feels, why should I have to speak these arcane phrases to evoke an effect, if my magic is "in my blood (or brain or whatever)" And I kind of agree. So, while I don't want to incorporate a psion, I'm open to using a sorcerer class variant to "emulate" a psionic character. And this is what we're trying to do. So what would you do to this class concept in terms of further balance? Give up the Familiar, get Eschew Materials as a bonus feat, and a Silent Spell effect w/no level bump on all spells w/ V component. I'm thinking a pretty severely limited spell list, or maybe fewer spells known. Idunno. The Sorc.'s pretty bare bones. Not a lot to strip away.
starfire311 08-12-04, 04:18 PM	another option he could use WIsdom or Con as his relevent attribute rather than Charisma Also what I did Was for Sorc. is I got rid of Familiar and granted the following 1st level Eschew Materials 2nd level Silent Spell Feat 4th level Still Spell Feat 8th level Improved Eschew Materials 12th level Improved Silent Spell 16th level Improved Still spell Improved Eschew Materials As eschew Materials except you no longer need any material components. Each 5 GP value of a material costs you 1 XP instead Improved Silent Spell As Silent Spell except there is no level increase for spells Improved Still Spell As Still Spell except tehre is no level increase for spells
LukiLoki 08-12-04, 08:07 PM	Bippety Boppity........ :bump:
Vaelan 08-13-04, 07:21 AM	I allow Sorcerers to attempt to Still and/or Silent any spell they cast with no level adjustment if they succeed on a Spellcraft check. I won't go into DCs because such things are far better if each DM adjusts it for their campaign. If a Sorcerer fails this check, he fails to cast the spell and loses the spell slot that would normally have been used. I use this rule because I believe Sorcerers could use some abilities that reflect the flavor of their class. It also never made much sense to me how Sorcerers cast spells in the same manner as Wizards. Exacting gestures and incantations don't fit my vision of a Sorcerer, as I see them more like creatures with Spell-Like Abilities than Wizards.