Arcane trickster (sylvan) sorceror build

[Tomice]

I'm currently playing as wizard-based elven arcane trickster, a great choice generally.

But I'm already considering starting a new playthrough once the most glaring bugs are fixed, and I want to try something else (but in the same general direction).

I'm thinking about an sorceror-based arcane trickster, and I'd really like to have the animal companion from being a sylvan sorceror.
I have a feeling that sorceror is generally worse as base for an arcane trickster, but for various reasons I'm still inclined to try:
- I really like being a diplomat and finding peaceful solutions (high charisma)
- Scrolls are seemingly hard to find, nullifying the main wizard advantage (spell variety)
- Arcane tricksters tend to use 90% blast spells anyway

I don't like to roleplay an halfling (the probably best race), so I guess Azata-blooded Aasimar is the next best? It certainly gives better stats than half-elf...

Questions:
- The animal companion doesn't level while I take arcane trickster levels, right?
- Even if I take a companion that "grows" quickly (Leopard at lvl4), it still misses a lot of stats?
- Are other types of sorceror much better for an AT?
- Is there any good reason not to drop strength?
- Finally, what are the most important spells for each level?

Lvl1: SNOWBALL, mage armor, magic missile, true strike?
Lvl2: SCORCHING RAY,

A pity we can't exchange spells, this makes so many good spells worthless (summons, sleep, color spray,...)

[Tomice]

I just experimented a bit, the lack of skill points for less intelligence certainly hurts, as does the level you're behind in unlocking spell levels. And when you finally reach spell level 2, you may only take a single spell :-/ sure I knew this, but it hurts more in practical gameplay than in theorycrafting...

[nshawmc]

I made sylvan sorc with leopard to level 5 and went 1 level alchemist for sneak attack but even with sneak attack and low dc to hit the damage was so behind melee. Maybe i should have stuck with it but i am going to try something different next time.

Main purpose of my sorc was mage armor on like 4 characters: cleric, magus/monk, rogue/monk, and the sorc. but you can do mage armor wand.

You should not need strength. just dex for hits with your range spell attacks and cha.

[Sotanaht]

I like sorcerers myself. I very rarely use more than 2 or 3 spells from a given spell level, so by the time I get to choosing my 4th spell for that level I don't even know what to pick, nothing looks useful (because it isn't)

Sylvan Sorcerer is pretty great pure, but blaster casters are trash anyway. I use a Sylvan pure. She uses the following spells on a regular bases: Mage armor (on all 3 pets), Shield, Stormbow, Sense Vitals, xHaste, (greater) Heroism, Stinking Cloud, Hideous laughter, Animal Growth, Vinetrap, Chains of Light, Sirocco, Entangle, Resist Energy (communal), that's it so far (Spell level 6), I almost never touch anything else on the sorc.

My inquisitor is similar, she uses Shield of Faith, Bless, Magic Vestment, Delay Poison Communal, Restoration and heals. I think I also gave her communal stone skin but I loathe using it because of the material cost.

[djinnxy]

I hired a 1 scaled fist/ rest sylvan sorc aasimar. The added ac helps. At lower levels you and the pet can tank once buffed while you cast cantrips. It should be fairly durable at later levels. I took conjuration and summoning feats so when anything else fails I have a 1 man army.

[Sotanaht]

Escrito originalmente por djinnxy:

I hired a 1 scaled fist/ rest sylvan sorc aasimar. The added ac helps. At lower levels you and the pet can tank once buffed while you cast cantrips. It should be fairly durable at later levels. I took conjuration and summoning feats so when anything else fails I have a 1 man army.

Not a bad plan. I personally just rely on my casters not getting involved in melee combat, which with 3 pets and 3 melee characters is easy enough to do most of the time. One level for +10 AC is pretty good though.

[Tomice]

Thx for the input!
How bad is it to not have the pet level while you take AT levels? That's a lack of 10 levels, 4 of which can be compensated by taking a feat...

[Marcos_DS]

Escrito originalmente por Tomice:

Thx for the input!
How bad is it to not have the pet level while you take AT levels? That's a lack of 10 levels, 4 of which can be compensated by taking a feat...

Basically all your pet will do is help carry stuff. At least at max AT level. Loosing 7 levels (10 AT + 1 Rogue - 4 Boon Companion) is just a bit much to be still useful in combat...

[Thalaton]

Escrito originalmente por Tomice:

I'm currently playing as wizard-based elven arcane trickster, a great choice generally.

But I'm already considering starting a new playthrough once the most glaring bugs are fixed, and I want to try something else (but in the same general direction).

I'm thinking about an sorceror-based arcane trickster, and I'd really like to have the animal companion from being a sylvan sorceror.
I have a feeling that sorceror is generally worse as base for an arcane trickster, but for various reasons I'm still inclined to try:
- I really like being a diplomat and finding peaceful solutions (high charisma)
- Scrolls are seemingly hard to find, nullifying the main wizard advantage (spell variety)
- Arcane tricksters tend to use 90% blast spells anyway

I don't like to roleplay an halfling (the probably best race), so I guess Azata-blooded Aasimar is the next best? It certainly gives better stats than half-elf...

Questions:
- The animal companion doesn't level while I take arcane trickster levels, right?
- Even if I take a companion that "grows" quickly (Leopard at lvl4), it still misses a lot of stats?
- Are other types of sorceror much better for an AT?
- Is there any good reason not to drop strength?
- Finally, what are the most important spells for each level?

Lvl1: SNOWBALL, mage armor, magic missile, true strike?
Lvl2: SCORCHING RAY,

A pity we can't exchange spells, this makes so many good spells worthless (summons, sleep, color spray,...)

I am playing now an AT 10 / Vivi 1/ Wiz 6 Solo on unfair difficulty and i am steamrolling the game. As for spells:

Lvl 1: Expeditious Retreat (one of the most important Spells for Kiting)/ Snowball/ magic Missile, Mage Armor, Color Spray

Lvl 2: Scorching Ray (best early damage Spell)

Lvl 3: Fire Ball, Heroism

Lvl 4: Greater Invisibility, Ice Storm

Lvl 5: Cone of Cold

Lvl 6: Heroism Greater, Transmutation, Chain Lightning

Lvl 7: Prismatic Spray, Legendary Proportions

Lvl 8: Greater Shout

Sorcerer is better if u are in a Party. Wiz is better for Solo. AT needs a lot of Micro and Kiting to really shine. If done well its one of the most Op chars .
I tested several LVL 17 builds on unfair and the conclusion is that probably only ranged Casters are viable on this mode for a solo play.

Have fun with this great game.

[Alan Chu]

my choice of spells ( but I prefer as a melee magic fighter and so my choice of spells)

level 1 )
Mage armor (from bloodline ), True strike, Enlargement, Ray of enbleement, Touch of Gracelessness, +/-
? Shield ( in case I use 2 weapon) , ? Hurricane bow, ? Ear pierce screening, ? Protection from Alignment

level 2 )
Resist Energy (from bloodline), Scorching ray, Sense vitals, Blindness, See invisibility, Web
? what do you think about using Glitterdust to replace both blindness and see invisibility, and add acid arrow (mainly for enemy spellcaster) ?

level 3
Dispel magic ( from bloodline), Haste, Slow, Protection from energy, Stinking Cloud

level 4
Fear ( from bloodline), Stoneskin, Dimension door, Dragon's breath, Greater invisibility

level 5
Feeblemind, Caustic blood, Cloudkill, +/-
? Cone of cold ( depend on whether dragon's breath can provide cold damage) ,
or ? Baleful polymorph

level 6
Chain lightning, ( 20d6 to all ? or 20d6 to first target and 10d6 to others?)
? Disintegrate or ? Hellfire Ray
? Great Dispel magic ( or use Quicken Dispel magic + dispel magic) or ? Greater Heroism

level 7
Banishment, Caustic Eruption, Finger of death

level 8
Dragonform III, Euphoric Tranquility

level 9
Wail of Banshee


Spell choice Analysis:

Damage ( try to include different element)
- Scorching ray (fire)
- Dragon's breath (?cold)
+/- cone of cold ( depend on whether dragon's breath can provide cold damage)
- Cloudkill ( damage over time when use it with web/stinking cloud )
- Chain lightning ( lighting)
- Hellfire Ray ( fire + unholy)
- Caustric eruption ( acid)
- Finger of Death
- wail of Banshee
(.... no sonic damage )

Control:
- Web ( reflex save)
- Stinking cloud ( fort save)
- Fear ( will save)
- Euphoric transquility ( no save)

Protection:
- resist energy
- protection from energy
- stoneskin
- Caustric blood ( 15d6 + 7d6 to those melee fighter who hit you)
- greater invisibility ( 50% miss chance)
- Mage armor
+/- protection from alignment
+/- shield

Detect:
- see invisibility ( ...no true seeing )

Mobility
- Dimension Door ( for both the enemy caster behind melee enemy, or for escape)
- Greater invisibility

Dispel Magic
- dispel magic , +/- greater dispel magic

Banishment
- Banishment

Self buff:
- True strike
- Sense vitals
- Haste
- Enlargement
+/- Greater heroism ( if I do not choose greater dispel magic)
+/- Hurricane bow

Debuff:
- Ray of enfeeblement,
- Touch of gracelessness
- blindness
- Slow
- Feeblemind
( no wave of exhaustion .....)

Transform:
- Dragonform III
+/- Baleful polymorph

[Trolleur_Durden]

I have the feeling that sorcerers are slightly better than wizards in this game, simply because the spell list is quite short compared to PnP, thus negating somehow the supposed versatily of wizards.

[AuraForLaura]

I think you can wait 6 months or more until they have fixed bugs.