Mage Blaster Dilemma

[AlfarinIcebreaker]

So I was wondering what would be better choice for a blaster character - Sorcerer or a Wizard with a Reserve Feat (and which one is the best?). Sorcerer gets 6 spells per level to cast, but a specialized Wizard will have only 1 less per level, but will have access to most of the spells and some extra feats.

What do you think?

[Eden]

Don't count on reserve feats, once you reach 30 you'll feel like you've threw a feat away.
Anyway, if your aim is blasting, blasting and blasting, that's sorcerer's work. No saving throws spells are there for a reason. Frostmage may be your prc.
If you intend to control, anyway, a wizard will be better.

[Nomster]

Either works, as you say, the spell slot difference is not that big. With a wizard you can have more variety, I can tell you it gets a bit tiring casting the same spells over and over.

I would suggest a Reserve Feat -if- you want to do something every round. Might not be much damage but you will feel like you are contributing more in a party. If you go all offensive at every creature you see, you will likely not make it to the end of the dungeon ;P Some people can't stand to do nothing in long events for example, when no resting is allowed. If you use up your spells too soon, will you have any left for the big boss?! Or you could invest in wands or scrolls but that would become costly. Or get a warlock, that's the true blaster.

Consider the background and what you want to RP. A know-it-all or a loose cannon. I never saw why wizards = controllers and sorcerers = blasters. They are what you make them...

[mrm3ntalist]

Sorcerer is a better blaster than wizard not only because of slightly more spells, but the ability to choose which of your known spells to cast at will. For example a wizard can have 1 mords memorized so he can use it only once. A sorcerer can cast it many times or not at all allowing more castings of the other 2 level9 spells. Sorcerer gets full advantage of Asoc and the Archmage class. Especially the latter, allows you to have extra spells as Spell like abilities and the mastery of elements means that you don't need to learn spells of different elemental damage. Turn mastery of elements on and you can cast polar rays that deal fire damage.

[Considerate_]

I think the chief argument between picking sorcerer or wizard, isn't the amount of spells they can cast. It's a matter of taste.

Do you prefer spontaneous casting? To balance your selection of spells between offence and defence, combined with the ability to switch role mid-fight, making use of that versatility to improve the odds.

Or do you like being the meticulous researcher and planner, joggling your spell book around based on what you estimate will be needed. Will you find companions? How many buffs should you prepare for them? What mobs will you face, is fire balls or no-save spells best for what area?


Personally, wizard wins out every time for me. I like the control, I like having to plan ahead and estimate what spells I might need this time and for what. I like studying, experimenting with various spells and not get stuck in a certain routine of always using the same spells over and over for every area.


I hope that gave you some food for thought, good luck with creating a mageline - whatever you might chose

[Eclypticon]

I used to say sorc, but now with all the spells, wizards are amazing blasters. I can craft any wand I need for reserves and pick the best spells to win. Also, I know everything.

[mrm3ntalist]

RP aside, nwn2 is a game of numbers. Putting them down, I cannot see how a wizard can be a better blaster than a sorcerer. Wands and other consumables bring nothing, since both classes can use them. Craft wands and knowing 255+ spells do not make wizards better at blasting. Higher number of spells and spontaneous casting is what makes the difference. And as I said before, the Archmage PRC makes it much easier for sorcerer since it helps them with their limited spell selection.

An experienced player can play a wizard and be as good at blasting as a sorcerer, but not better. The number of spells that a sorcerer can use to blast things and spontaneous casting are the two things that give sorcerers the edge in terms of blasting. If the discussion was about who can buff others better and be a decent offensive caster then yes, wizards are better at that

[AlwaysSummer Day]

A wizards advantage comes in the form of skills and RP spells. When I am not running through a dungeon hitting things with my pan like a mad half dwarf I usually have about a dozen different RP spells prepared. A secret RP meeting pops up? Alarm. A DM decides to spawn a bunch of skeletons? Detect Undead. Sorcerers usually give up at least a few RP spells so they can have decent buffs and blasting powers. A Wizard on the other hand can have both whenever they happen to need them.

That said a sorcerer is the better blaster. If you want a reserve feat then most players take invisible needle because it uses force spells such as Bigby's which a mage almost always has in reserve.

[Nomster]

I love the RP spells... Sadly have to give up -a lot- to take any of them, that's how limiting the known spells are. Some are not sold in shops either so...

[King Of Clouds]

I love the RP spells... Sadly have to give up -a lot- to take any of them, that's how limiting the known spells are. Some are not sold in shops either so...

Yeah this is very true.
You will have only 3 level 6-9 spells, 4 level 5-3 spells and only the level 1 & 2 spells have 5 spells to pick from. Without buffs you're toast in a second, with all the buffs you have no room for combat spells so where to fit the RP spells?

If you get sorcerer metamagic feats (extend, empower and maximize) are your big pals because with them you can get enough diversity and even drop all combat spells from one spell level because you can use lower level spells with metamagic in that slot. Just remember that not all spells can be used with metamagic.

Overall playing a sorcerer requires a great deal of planning, optimizing and making sacrifices in order to be effecive.

If you're new to Arcane spellcasters I'd definitely recommend wizard, blaster or not.

[Simian]

Generally it is a choice between Acidic Splatter and Invisible Needle. I prefer the splatter, as it uses "Greater Shadow Conjuration" as its highest fueling spell. (A level seven spell.) And deals slightly more damage than the Invisible Needle even with a 9th level spell. It also fries trolls.

For a Wizard, Greater Shadow Conjuration is kind of a no brainer, but for a sorcerer, with their more limited spell selection Invisible Needle can be the cheaper option.


As for Sorcerer, go for a build like Sorcerer 10/Arcane Scholar 10/Archmage 10. Arcane Scholar nets you the metamagic feats, and Archmage the Spell-Like Abilities to expand your spell list.

[Lockonnow]

First of all it is what is you background story next is lore there not many lore around sorcerers then with wizad/mage sorcerer is not a Blaster caster we know that is the warlock way, but i wish we could have more Blaster spell for the wizard/sorcerer we only have few

[Karond]

Some RP spells, like detect undead or antagonize DM, can be cast from scrolls. I use them with my sorcerer, which diminishes the gap between wizards and sorcerers when it comes to RP IMO.

[blue_penguin]

Some RP spells, like detect undead or antagonize DM, can be cast from scrolls. I use them with my sorcerer, which diminishes the gap between wizards and sorcerers when it comes to RP IMO.

You can also ask/pay a Wizard to create scrolls of the spells for you, which should promote some RP too

[Deathgrowl]

I cringe when I see blaster wizards. They're much better as controllers.