Spell selection for Sorcerer

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This is what I came up with for SoA & ToB.

(Note: A long time ago I posted my, much revised, list for a BG2:SoA solo sorcerer.)

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Spell selection for non-solo Sorcerer

Number in parenthesis is the level at which spell is selected.

Level 1:
- Magic Missile --- (1)
- Chromatic Orb --- (1)
- Spook --- (3)
- Friends --- (5)
- Protection from Petrification --- (7)

Level 2:
- Mirror Image --- (4)
- Melf's Acid Arrow --- (5)
- Web --- (7)
- Blur --- (9)
- Vocalize --- (11)

Level 3:
- Fireball --- (6)
- Flame Arrow --- (7)
- Slow --- (9)
- Skull Trap --- (11)
- Remove Magic --- (22)

Level 4:
- Stoneskin --- (8)
- Greater Malison --- (9)
- Minor Sequencer --- (11)
- Wizard Eye --- (13)
- Fireshield Red --- (23)

Level 5:
- Breach --- (10)
- Lower Resistance --- (11)
- Sunfire --- (13)
- Animate Dead --- (15)
- Spell Immunity --- (28)

Level 6:
- Death Spell --- (12)
- Improved Haste --- (13)
- Protection from Magic Energy --- (15)
- Protection from Magical Weapons --- (21)
- Chain Lightning --- (30)

Level 7:
- Project Image --- (14)
- Mordenkainen's Sword --- (15)
- Power Word, Stun --- (17)
- Protection from the Elements --- (22)
- Finger of Death --- (31)

Level 8:
- Abi Dalzim's Horrid Wilting --- (16)
- Spell Trigger --- (17)
- Protection from Energy --- (19)
- Power Word, Blind --- (23)

Level 9:
- Time Stop --- (18)
- Spellstrike --- (19)
- Chain Contingency --- (20)
- Wish --- (25)

Comments? Yes, I thought so...

Just one explanation before you all start complaining about it:

I admit that both Fireball and Skull Trap can seem unnecessary, but the longer range of Fireball makes it best in battle while Skull Trap allows for higher damage, non-fire damage and especially later on combined with Protection from Magic Energy, ambush opportunities that are just plain fun!

 

What was the motive for choosing Friends Lvl 1? In case of bad charisma? But if you were covered on charisma you wouldn't need that spell, in which case I would vote for blindness. All others are good choices.

 

Few questions, Why is finger of death so low on the level 7 list. Also why minor sequencer there are better ones out there. Of course this is my opinion only and I've never played a sorcerer.

 

ruby ray of reversal instaed of one of the lvl 7 spells, I think would be ok

 

I just started ToB (second time around) with a pc sorcerer. Obviously I'm equipped with the death spell, but are there that many 8hd or less monsters in ToB? I just used it in scene one of Saradush, no effect whatsoever, even on the orcs.

>sigh< I'm gonna miss that spell.

 

You can still use it to slay summoned creatures.

 

Good to see some comments! Keep it coming.

Death Spell:
Only there to slay summoned monsters.

Ruby Ray:
Yeah, I used to love Ruby Ray and still am not sure if I should include it or not. Ruby Ray's only purpose is of course to dispel Spell Traps, so the question is how bad you need that? Your secondary mage could have that one Ruby Ray memorized instead.

Friends:
At level 1 only MM is mandatory, the rest are really unimportant. The motivation for Friends is that you can get extreme Charisma in case you ever need it.

Minor Sequencer:
With my plan you get this at level 11 and have to wait until level 17 before you get another sequencer (Spell Trigger). I really like sequencers and don't want to wait until level 17 to get one!

Finger of Death:
Agreed, this is a good spell - after Greater Malison - but clerics also get this spell. If you do not have a cleric I would move up Finger of Death so you get it at level 17.

 

Clerics may get it but sorcerers can cast it ALOT faster with their robes of vecna and amulets of power =) Also on the wish pick, Wouldn't it be better for it to be on one of your backup casters? I see no need for having wish at my fingertips at any time and would prefer some other level 9 spell. Can't think of any off the top of my head but I'll check =)

[This message has been edited by Talwin (edited August 24, 2001).]

 

Wish, is more of combat use in ToB than limited wish was in SoA. I dont know if it is just me screwing up the spell, but I only got a chance (not high wis though) to let whole party get physical hardiness(isn't that the name? physical damage resistant 40%)

[This message has been edited by Lokken (edited August 24, 2001).]

 

I like this spell selection, but...

1.) Protection from petrification doesn't seem to be important to take in; why not choose protection from evil instead?

2.) Vocalize? Why? The Amulet of power, given by Aran Linvail gives vocalize all the time(suspecting that you choose the good path)

3.) Also minor sequencer and spell trigger is just too mutch. I would have chosen spider spawn over minor sequencer.

4.) There aren't any good spell protections in the selection, I saw only the spell immunity.
-Spell turning and spell trap would have come in handy.

That is all...I think.

[This message has been edited by TIN_MAN (edited August 24, 2001).]

 

The use of Spell Trap fades away rather quickly with the aqcuisition of the Staff of the Magi. However, I see your point about Protection from Petrification. Personally, my Level 1 spell picks included Magic Missile, Chromatic Orb, Friends, Burning Hands, and Spook. I think that only once in my game did someone get petrified, and it wasn't my main character; but that was in SoA, where I eventually dropped everyone out, not solo from the beginning.

 

Protection from Petrification.
Beholders can cast Flesh to Stone, so there is a use for that spell. Protection from Evil is a very good choice too, for being 1st level.

Vocalize.
Assume that you have a second mage, then you can give the Amulet of Power to him/her.

Spell protections.
It's my style of play I guess, I hardly ever use Spell Turning/Deflection.

Wish.
This spell practically demands very high Wisdom, and perhaps also Intelligence, so be prepared with Potion of Insight and Potion of Genius if these attributes are not good enough.

 

Overall it's a nice selection, though I would replace Sunfire with Cloudkill. And about spell protections, my Sorcerer wipes enemies across the floor over and over before they start hitting him (spoiler.)

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(EXCEPT AMELYSSAN! GRR!)

 

Here are my spell picks for my sorcerer when soloing (I choose different spells if playing with a party).

level 1-
magic missile
chromatic orb
identify
prot. from evil
prot. from petrification

level 2-
blur
mirror image
resist fear
melfs acid arrow
knock

level 3-
skull trap
slow
remove magic
lightning bolt
flame arrow

level 4-
stoneskin
greater malison
fireshield red
fireshield blue
secret word

level 5-
breach
lower resistance
animate dead
cone of cold
spell immunity

level 6-
death spell
prot. from magic energy
prot. from magic weapons
tensers transformation
true sight

level 7-
finger of death
mordenkaaniens sword
project image
spell sequencer
spell turning

level 8-
abi dalzims horrid wilting
spell trigger
pierce shield
prot. from energy

level 9-
chain contingency
spellstrike
timestop
wish

Note: when choosing my spells I always keep in mind the gear that I will be using and the abilities I will choose. While it can be extremely difficult to get some of the items I want (ring of gaxx or staff of the magi come to mind), when I get them my sorcerer is nearly unstoppable

 

Another reply to Tin_Man's post August 24:

Vocalize:
I now agree with you and will recommend Invisibility instead. Also I'd take it at level 7 or 9, before picking Blur.

Minor Sequencer:
Agree with you again and think Spider Spawn is a choice that will help alot in the early game.

Revised Level 3 spells picks:
- Melf's Minute Meteors --- (6)
- Haste --- (7)
- Fireball --- (9)
- Slow --- (11)
- Skull Trap --- (22)

- Flame Arrow is out. MM, Melf's Acid Arrow and Fireball should be enough.
- Remove Magic is out. It's a spell I never use anyway.
- Skull Trap is taken very late but is a spell that can be very effective in ToB.
- Haste is in. Excellent in the early game.
- MMM is in. This is an excellent spell that I've always loved. Make sure you have 18 (or 19) Dexterity!

Level 5:
- Spell Immunity at level 13 instead of Sunfire.

Level 6:
- Chain Lightning at level 12.
Death Spell - I'll call it DS - is out. A second mage will keep DS instead or alternatively you keep some scrolls of DS handy. I mainly use DS to get rid of Nishruu's and Hakeashar's which I abhor!

Level 7:
- Ruby Ray of Reversal at level 14.
Power Word Stun is out.
Finger of Death (pointed out by Talwin) and Ruby Ray (as pointed out by Lokken) are both spells I think are more useful. I still leave FoD until level 31 though.

Level 8:
- Pierce Shield at level 19.
Power Word Blind is out. My experience with this spell is shall we say... lacking. It could be good but I just don't know.

[This message has been edited by Earl Grey (edited September 03, 2001).]

 

AvaLance204's Solo Spell Picks:

Level I:
Identify
Chromatic Orb
Friends
Magic Missile
Spook

All of these spells have fairly obvious uses.

Level II:
Invisibility
Knock
Melf's Acid Arrow
Mirror Image
Vocalize

I took Vocalize in case I wanted to use a better/different amulet.

Level III:
Flame Arrow
Melf's Minute Meteors
Skull Trap
Slow
Protection from Normal Missiles

I don't think any of these need to be explained, except for the Missiles one. Occasionally, archers will get on your nerves, and you don't want to waste another Stoneskin.

Level IV:
Fireshield (Red)
Greater Malison
Stoneskin
Polymorph Self
Wizard Eye

No explanation required.

Level V:
Animate Dead
Breach
Cloudkill
Lower Resistance
Spell Immunity

I chose Cloudkill over Sunfire for one reason: It's more disruptive

Level VI:
Chain Lightning
Pierce Magic
Protection from Magical Energy
Protection from Magical Weapons
True Sight

All have very obvious uses, one being the fact that you get more fun with Cloudkill and Protection from Magical Energy!

Level VII:
Finger of Death
Limited Wish
Mordenkainen's Sword
Project Image
Protection from the Elements

Again, no explanation required. All very useful.

Level VIII:
Abi-Dalzim's Horrid Wilting
Power Word Blind
Spell Trigger
Summon Fiend

Power Word Blind is merely a mage-disabler, while Summon Fiend is to take care of people I can't attack without the rest of the town going hostile on me

Level IX:
Chain Contingency
Spellstrike
Timestop
Wish

Powergaming, anyone?

Overall, I think it's a nice bunch (esp. with rings of Acuity and Wizardry and Amulet of Power, Robe of Vecna. Then you learn the definition of power.) Any suggestions, just tell me.

 

selection of melf's minute meteors is a good call =)

 

Protection from energy is a good choice in my opinion: cast it twice to get 127 resistance to all energy attacks. This covers all resistances (except poison and MR i think) eliminating the need to take the 6th lvl protectiion from magical energy and 7th lvl protection from elements.

Also i think powerword blind is good...very good spellcaster disabler. It penetrates all defences except MR.

Also in spellcasting combat, a spell immunity:divination combined with improved invisibility is EVIL. Enemies cant true sight, thus they cant target spells at you.

Is spellstrike really worth taking? the only reason to take out a mages spell defence is to finger of death, powerword stun etc that target the caster. Why not use area spells like horrid wilting instead that are not affected by spell defences? (how often does an enemy have spell immunity:necromacery any way?) breach and ruby ray of reversal will suffice.

i suggest taking chain contingency and perhaps leaving out spell trigger (unless theres nothing better). Is it a common misconception that chain contingencies can only be cast before battle? (the effective casting time of the spell is 0) instead of spell triggering create another ch. contingency DURING battle (even during thick melee combat...set the condition to hit and spells will go off right away)