Optimized Solo Sorcerer (BG1 -> BG2: ToB) [Help needed!]

[zeeb]

So I've read several guides and used a lot of different sources for my decisions, now to finalize it I would need your help.

This build should be strictly for Vanilla, no mods and no cheese(I think) have been accounted for.

I've tried to pick spells that will prove useful throughout the whole game, so 'Sleep' for example have been discarded due to this.

I've also taken items into account, so 'Staff of the Magi' removes the need for 'Protection from Evil' for example, however hard the playthrough might become, I really don't want any sort of redudancy in my spellbook.
I want every spell at max level to still has its use, but no idea if that is possible, I've tried my best.

Feedback would be highly appreciated since I'm just a beginner trying to make a minmax build for my first full playthrough of the games with the same character.

Solo Sorcerer Build

Race:
Elf

Aligntment:
Good

Abilities:
Strength 18
Dexterity 19
Constitution 16
Intelligence 11 (If you get 96 total or more, then get 16)
Wisdom 18
Charisma 9 ('Ring of Human Influence' gives you 18 when worn)

Total 91

Spells (Max) (Chosen in order of importance, could use input on this)
Level 1 (5):
Spook > Identify > Grease > Magic Missile > Chromatic Orb
Level 2 (5):
Mirror Image > Web > Knock > Blur > Melf's Acid Arrow
Level 3 (5):
Skull Trap > Slow > Remove Magic > Melf's Minute Meteors > Haste
Level 4 (5):
Stoneskin > Greater Malison > Polymorph Other > Emotion: Hopelessness > Teleport Field
Level 5 (5):
Sunfire > Animate Dead > Breach > Lower Resistance > Spell Immunity
Level 6 (5):
Death Spell > Mislead > True Sight > Protection from Magical Weapons > Contingency
Level 7 (5):
Project Image > Mordenkainen's Sword > Ruby Ray of Reversal > Khelben's Warding Whip > Spell Sequencer
Level 8 (4):
Abi-Dalzim's Horrid Wilting > Power Word, Blind > Symbol, Stun > Spell Trigger
Level 9 (4):
Time Stop > Shapechange > Chain Contingency > Wish
Level 10 (2/5 HLA)
Summon Planetar > Improved Alacrity (> Dragon's Breath > Energy Blades > Comet)
Spend the remaining 6/3 HLA points to get additional spellslots.

Items
Weapon 1: Staff of the Magi
Weapon 2: Sling of Everard/Sling of Seeking/Asp's Nest
Armor: Robe of Vecna
Cloak: Cloak of Mirroring
Bracers: Bracers of Defense AC 3
Boots: The Paws of the Cheetah
Helmet: Mask of King Strohm III
Belt: Belt of Inertial Barrier
Ring 1: Evermemory (aka Ring of Wizardry)
Ring 2: Ring of Gaxx
Amulet: Amulet of Power

Weapon 2 is just situational, still you'll want a good weapon for such times.

This is what I have so far, any advice?
Feels like I covered a lot with the spell picks.

Thanks in advance!

Main sources:
https://sorcerers.net/Games/BG2/SpellsReference/Main.htm
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1y7r2Z3FfZk74NdAVHuZuiNmWh14y1tAytNrsFMSY7zc/edit?usp=sharing

[mrandocalrissian]

I'd pick Resist Fear (which is useful all game) over Glitterdust. You can also replace Shield with Blindness. You can buy the Shield Amulet quite early on in BG1. Or just replace Horror with Blindness.

[zeeb]

Yeah I was leaning on either 'Resist Fear' and 'Glitterdust', but if 'Resist Fear' is more useful in the long run I will pick that. I also read that 'Emotion: Hopelessness' gives 'Resist Fear' to the player and in a solo that is great, but I also read that the spell has been nerfed to hell.

So more or less 'Shield Amulet' > 'Amulet of Power'?
I've just tried to find the best item setup possible and 'Amulet of Power' was the one I found.
But if 'Amulet of Power' is better overall than 'Shield Amulet' I will stick with that, which also results in 'Shield' keeping its place.

The reason I opted out of picking 'Blindness'(even if it's really useful) is because I picked 'Power Word, Blind' at level 8, making 'Blindness' just a weaker version of it. But I might be wrong.
At least that is my understanding of the two spells.

[mrandocalrissian]

Shield Amulet just for BG1, By the time you get Amulet of Power, you won't really need Shield; you can reduce AC more with potions and no-one significant after BG1 really uses magic missiles against you.

Power Word: Blind's decent due to no-save so understand that, though it's duration is super-short compared to Blindness. Blindness can really help when you're up against hordes in BG1.

[Tyler Durden]

Now you have me wanting to do this too. Shame on you. :p

[zeeb]

Originally posted by mrandocalrissian:

Shield Amulet just for BG1, By the time you get Amulet of Power, you won't really need Shield; you can reduce AC more with potions and no-one significant after BG1 really uses magic missiles against you.

Power Word: Blind's decent due to no-save so understand that, though it's duration is super-short compared to Blindness. Blindness can really help when you're up against hordes in BG1.

I get you with dropping Shield but since the amulet will also be switched out Shield might have its use, even if it's limited. But switching it for Blindness which will ultimately be replaced by Power Word, Blind seems like a trade I don't really feel comfortable with, I'm sitting on the edge in this matter, both options intrigue me.

I'm just still very torn between Glitterdust and Resist Fear however.
But yeah, Glitterdust does seem to become redundant the moment Power Word, Blind & True Sight comes into play, because those two seems to basically be Glitterdust that's been split into two spells with more power. Do you guys also feels that this is true?

What about Emotion: Hopelessness, is that spell viable? Do creatures wake up from sleep if they're hit? Emotion: Hopelessness can prove a valuable addition and it should also replace Resist Fear since I'm going solo.

I've also switched some spells around.
This is what I have currently:

Level 1 (5):
Spook > Magic Missile > Shield > Identify > Grease
Level 2 (5):
Mirror Image > Knock > Web > Melf's Acid Arrow > Glitterdust/Resist Fear
Level 3 (5):
Skull Trap > Remove Magic > Melf's Minute Meteors > Haste > Slow
Level 4 (5):
Stoneskin > Greater Malison > Polymorph Other > Teleport Field > Minor Spell Sequencer
Level 5 (5):
Breach > Lower Resistance > Spell Immunity > Animate Dead > Chaos
Level 6 (5):
Death Spell > Mislead > True Sight > Protection from Magical Weapons > Contingency
Level 7 (5):
Project Image > Mordenkainen's Sword > Ruby Ray of Reversal > Khelben's Warding Whip > Spell Sequencer
Level 8 (4):
Abi-Dalzim's Horrid Wilting > Power Word, Blind > Symbol, Stun > Spell Trigger
Level 9 (4):
Time Stop > Power Word, Kill > Chain Contingency > Wish

The spell order could use some work I guess, if anyone have any insight on this matter I would gladly accept it.

I'm not sure if I should replace Death Spell with Death Fog, both alternatives seems viable and both gets rid of summons. Disregarding the summon slaying ability, which one of these do you think would prove most useful until the very end?

I also read that all the Sequencers and Contingencies along with Spell Trigger can be used at the same time, not just 2x Spell Trigger for example. Which is why I have them all.

The only reason why I have Identify and Knock is because I'm a slave to my own greed, if I miss an oppurtunity to gain wealth (opening a chest for example) I get panic attacks.

Originally posted by Tyler Durden:

Now you have me wanting to do this too. Shame on you. :p

Do it!

[Hugh de Salle]

Are you playing no reload?.

You took Web but no Cloudkill?.

I would also swap out Identify for Chromatic Orb which scales very well like Spook and why bother with Grease when you can use Sleep which will make your starting game so much easier.

Forget that i see what your doing , Dont need them when you have wands.

[zeeb]

I'm playing reload.

I did, I was opting to take Death Fog but I've taken other stuff instead.

Chromatic Orb has been included, it replaced Shield. Identify is QoL that I really want.
Grease I use to combo with Web etc. I don't want Sleep due to it being a wasted slot in BG2, even if it's really powerful in BG1, I've been guided to search for Wands/Scrolls of Sleep to make up for this shortcoming.

This is what I currently have:

Level 1 (5):
Spook > Identify > Grease > Magic Missile > Chromatic Orb
Level 2 (5):
Mirror Image > Web > Knock > Blur > Melf's Acid Arrow
Level 3 (5):
Skull Trap > Slow > Remove Magic > Melf's Minute Meteors > Haste
Level 4 (5):
Stoneskin > Greater Malison > Polymorph Other > Emotion: Hopelessness > Teleport Field
Level 5 (5):
Sunfire > Animate Dead > Breach > Lower Resistance > Spell Immunity
Level 6 (5):
Death Spell > Mislead > True Sight > Protection from Magical Weapons > Contingency
Level 7 (5):
Project Image > Mordenkainen's Sword > Ruby Ray of Reversal > Khelben's Warding Whip > Spell Sequencer
Level 8 (4):
Abi-Dalzim's Horrid Wilting > Power Word, Blind > Symbol, Stun > Spell Trigger
Level 9 (4):
Time Stop > Shapechange > Chain Contingency > Wish

I currently lack the knowledge to pick spells that'll combo really well even if I've read some cheesy tactics, after my first playthrough I will discard what I found useless and keep what I found useful as well as learn how to combo my spells efficiently.

[jonnin]

poly self has a lot of merits. I forget the forms, seems like you can heal (troll regen) and wallk thru some traps/areas that do damage or run casters out of spells (jelly) and more.

[zeeb]

Yeah, I switched 'Power Word, Kill > Shapechange' to make up for the fact that I can't pick 'Polymorph Self' due to running out of slots. 'Mustard Jelly' would've been really nice and I would've welcomed the addition of 'Spider' + 'Web' combo.

'Time Stop' + 'Mind Flayer Shape' combo will be nasty though.

[Biggus Dickus]

I think the Mask of Strohm doesn't provide immunity to critical hits anymore, if that's why you wanted it.

[zeeb]

Yeah that was why, thank you for pointing that out.