Arcanist or Sorcerer

[Darx]

So im thinking of playing as a Arcanist this time instead of a sorc. but i dont really see the advantage the arcanist.

can somebody explain if the arcane exploits make him a better nuker or if he can just use his spells more often.

[nightmage80]

I think the thread in the link is more about the tabletop game but I think it may help answer some of this question.

https://rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/139296/which-is-more-powerful-an-arcanist-or-an-exploiter-wizard

[Procrastinating Gamer]

Okay so I see a bunch of replies so this is just my compilation.

Spellcasting: The Arcanist is an Int-based caster like a wizard but with one distinct caveat - while it prepares like a wizard, it casts like a sorcerer. They may have slightly slower spell progression than either class, but play like a spontaneous caster who can change their spells known each morning (if you've played a wizard in DnD 5e, or Pillars of Eternity 1 [not 2, they changed spells to per-encounter in the sequel] then you know what to expect). Intelligence affects your spells in the same way it does a wizard - more spell slots and higher DCs the targets have to save against.

Arcane Exploits: Now I can't remember which ones were in the video game, and only used a few of them when I played one in tabletop, but these are all keyed off your Charisma as far as damage, save DCs, and so-on go.

And that's really it. Most of the Arcanist's appeal is either in its archetypes or just in how its spellcasting differs from a wizard and a sorcerer. I haven't played around with metamagic in the video game yet but in tabletop you could either prepare a spell with the metamagic already there (like a wizard) and then every time you cast that spell that day those metamagic effects are applied, or you could spontaneously apply metamagic (like a sorcerer) but with the resulting increase in casting time.

[Mr Fred]

Side note for browfur transmuter arcanist mercenary being the best buff bot in the game.

Boosting the stats of both enhancement and size buffs and putting normally personal only buffs (Frightful aspect,fiery body) on all your team.

[Poliamida]

The main draw of the Arcanist for me is the Brown-Fur Transmuter, either as your MC or a mercenary. They are the absolutely best buffers in the game. You can enhance all your transmutation spells so they give extra ability points (the +4 of bull’s strength becomes +6) and they can cast transmutation spells that normally only work on the caster on other characters. They can, for example, cast Dragonkin on your warriors so you have a full frontline of dragons.

Edit: damn it! I didnt see that someone had already commented on it. Oh, well, that’s what I get for not reading.

[SoundsOfNight]

Arcanists gain higher level spells slower, but have some cool exploits and can scribe scrolls.

I'm playing a Gnome Phantasmal Mage, and it's awesome...you just have to get used to lower level spells for a while.

[Eternal Wait]

does abundant spells give arcanist more spell slots I kinda could not enjoy the class with the few spell slots and had to switch to normal wizard

[Lihodel]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzX88a2W8yw

[Feanor]

Автор сообщения: lindavius

The main draws for the Arcanist are: They are the unparalleled masters of Metamagic, and they still keep the sizeable Wizard spellbook; providing utility if needed..

Exept that they didnt implement the most important arcanist exploit for that: Metamagic Knowledge and Greater Metamagic knowledge! (the first one mean arcanist exploit = bonus metamagic feat and the second one is a changeable metamagic).

They also "forget" Quick study, Familiar, Scholl understanding, the feat extra arcanist exploit and so on.
They also didnt add the school savant archetype but this one I may understand because he might be too powerfull.

Anyway, sorry for the rant, but I was keen to try this class and found out that they butchered it.

[Ghost]

Автор сообщения: Eternal Wait

does abundant spells give arcanist more spell slots I kinda could not enjoy the class with the few spell slots and had to switch to normal wizard

no. abundant gives an arcanist double spell casts per level, but does not increase the number of spell slots.

Sorc is better in general but you could have an Abyssal Sorc summoning monsters for a BFT buffmax

[Gorwe]

Sorcerer for the min max. That's the literal selling point of a Sorc(cherry picking Bloodlines in order to have something ridiculous like d6+3 or 6d1+3 if maxxed, on appropriate Element like Fire).

For a more relaxed play, Arcanist is a much better choice. Too bad it don't have Quick Study per default(maybe in EE, otherwise TT Tweaks). But it's awesome given that you have, de facto, a spont.caster that can learn spells(!), prepare right ones(!!) and even manipulate DCs to a high degree(!!!). If it only had QS. ;(

Edit: Sorc is a better nuker, no questions asked.