Help with Sorcerer gish spell pick?

[Charraj]

The build is an old school Sorcerer/Paladin/EK/ASoC. For her last level 8 spell, should she take Ironbody or Sunburst?

How useful is Ironbody in PvE?

Her DC is relatively low, so Sunburst is not the best choice, mechanically speaking. But since she hunts undead, Sunburst would make more sense from a RP perspective. She already took Firebrand though, so maybe Sunburst would be kind of redundant?

Thoughts? Pls help D:

[Steve]

Isn't it that if you cast Freedom of Movement before Iron Body, you mitigate some of the deficiencies applied by the Spell? Cause reduced speed sucks eggs, mate.

I also think that Iron Body can be found on scrolls and potions rather easily, if there is something from that Spell that, mechanically, your build cannot do without.

[Tsidkenu]

Sorcerer would need to use UMD to cast Freedom of Movement via scroll or wand, else elixirs brewed by a cleric or druid. It isn't particularly a common loot drop but it does turn up. Your friendly wizard could give you a few scrolls to use when the situation arises (if at all ever).

The 15/- adamantine and immunity to criticals will certainly help out in melee, as would the damage immunities (50% fire & acid) and +6 STR. The problem is -3 AC (-6 DEX) and 50% ASF. Of course, that build probably has Auto Still Spell so the ASF is a non-issue.

The question is whether you will really use Iron Body over Premonition for DR. They're both the same level; Prem is hr/lvl duration and 30/adamantine DR (absorbs 10 damage/CL) that should keep your butt covered in most situations. That build is probably only ever going to be 'meh' in melee and you probably already kill everything with spell spam. Why not get another spell to spam?

If you had higher DCs I would recommend Battle Precognition because there's nothing better than not getting hit at all. But since you already admitted this is not the case, this spell is not advised.

Power Word Petrify is also situational, but works identical to Power Word Kill (same 100hp limit) at a lower spell level and death ward/undead immunity won't block it. Could be an interesting single-target option for undeaders and RP. The only let down for this spell, like all the Power Words, is NWN2's max HP shenanigans on mobs. The spell HP values should be doubled (at least +50%) to compensate, really (pnp most mobs have half hp, making Power Words fantastic). Being a sorcerer it is unlikely you will ever want to chain Ilhundyl's Primer with a Power Word. Waste of 2 rounds you could do better casting Empowered IGMS with those spell slots.

Not sure if your build will get Improved Empower Spell, but Empowered Polar Ray still owns even if you're not a Frost Mage. Not so much use vs. Undead, though.

Last consideration, esp. if you travel in party with some tanky guy, is Mischevious Image. Works like Shadow Simulacrum: cast on your friendly dude; you get a copy of them to tank for you. Except it doesn't do damage, only tank it. Situational but can be fun. I never tried if it works when cast on your own summons.

[Charraj]

Yeah, she will have Auto-Still. She also already took Premonition and Polar Ray as level 8 spells, so she's got one more to choose.

She has Improved Empower Spell. Assuming she empowers a Sunburst, and assuming the undead make the save, they'd be taking an average of 71 damage from a level 9 spell slot. If they fail the save, obviously it would be an average of 140 damage from a level 9 spell slot.

So is Sunburst worth it on a low DC caster, if I already took Firebrand? I am thinking Ironbody might be useful in boss fights or something?

Sunburst is so fitting on an undead-hunting paladin! Ugh. But it might be so bad. >_<