Pretty simple request, I'm planning a backup for our modernized 5e campaign. I've never played a sorcerer before, but the Shadow Magic caught my attention. What "stuff" is good for it? Races, feats, backgrounds, etc.
However, our DM doesn't allow multiclassing, and the only races allowed are: Aasimar, Changeling, Dragonbron, Dwarf, Elf, Gnome, Goliath, Half-Elf, Halfling, Half-Orc, Human, and Tiefling. All subraces and variants are allowed, minus Feral Tiefling.
I wanna make them as strong as I can, and I've heard some stuff about just stacking save spells to use with Hound of Ill Omen. Any advice is welcome, and greatly appreciated! Thanks :D
Pretty much anything that boosts your Charisma is useful like Aasimar and Tiefling. A fallen aasimar will fit very thematically with their racial ability necrotic shroud, their +2 cha, their ability to heal keeps you in combat longer, so it fits well.
Tieflings are good too for their devilish appearance, ability to cast darkness for free and +2 cha.
Half Elf gives +2 cha and +1 to two other scores so this is a good starting bonus and you can choose drow half elf for casting Darkness once for free or high half elf for an extra cantrip (make it a utility one).
Human Variant is also decent for the starting feat. Go Magic Initiate Sorcerer and this gives you 2 extra cantrips plus a free casting of Mage Armour which boosts your AC. With a Dex of 16 or more then Mage Armour is instantly more effective than Medium armour.
Changeling is also good for the +2 cha but none of the other features are that beneficial.
Ignore the previous poster's mention of avoiding darkvision creatures. There is no point avoiding very useful racial benefits just because the race already has 60 ft darkvision considering you are still improving it to 120 ft (unless you choose drow but then, faerie fire and darkness casting for free once a day each is nothing to ignore because of that).
For cantrips you have to choose Chill Touch, just have to, and thematically consider False Life spell and Ray of Sickness.
I'd also recommend things like Message and Minor Illusion cantrip and spell schools of necromancy and illusion and anything dealing necrotic damage or "dark" themed.
Human Variant is also decent for the starting feat. Go Magic Initiate Sorcerer and this gives you 2 extra cantrips plus a free casting of Mage Armour which boosts your AC. With a Dex of 16 or more then Mage Armour is instantly more effective than Medium armour.
I'm a big fan of vHuman as well for the bonus feat, but would be more tempted with Ritual Caster (Wizard). Getting the ability to ritual cast on Sorcerer is pretty massive, since you're so limited on spells.
Bonus points for taking Find Familiar and having a raven or black cat or something similar.
Depending on your play-style, if you took Variant-Human Magic Initiate, I'd go Warlock for Eldritch Blast and minor Illusion. Or go Spell sniper to pick up Eldritch blast that way at double the range. If you're a Charisma-based caster EB is a go-to damage dealing cantrip. This way you can focus on picking up spells that focus on utility, social interactions, or battlefield control without needing to narrow your spell selection with several damage dealing spells.
Eldritch Blast and a spell Like Synaptic Static should cover you for damage dealing if you want to build your character around stealth, deception and social interaction. How to build a Shadow Sorcerer is really dependent on what role you'll be playing in the campaign, ie damage dealing, battlefield control, or party face.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
Pretty simple request, I'm planning a backup for our modernized 5e campaign. I've never played a sorcerer before, but the Shadow Magic caught my attention. What "stuff" is good for it? Races, feats, backgrounds, etc.
However, our DM doesn't allow multiclassing, and the only races allowed are: Aasimar, Changeling, Dragonbron, Dwarf, Elf, Gnome, Goliath, Half-Elf, Halfling, Half-Orc, Human, and Tiefling. All subraces and variants are allowed, minus Feral Tiefling.
I wanna make them as strong as I can, and I've heard some stuff about just stacking save spells to use with Hound of Ill Omen. Any advice is welcome, and greatly appreciated! Thanks :D
I haven't played a Shadow Magic sorcerer either but here are my two cents.
I would pick a race that doesn't naturally have darkvision. Of those the best options seem to be changeling, variant human, and lightfoot halfling.
For spell selection, hold person and hold monster seem to have good synergy with Hound of Ill Omen.
Pretty much anything that boosts your Charisma is useful like Aasimar and Tiefling. A fallen aasimar will fit very thematically with their racial ability necrotic shroud, their +2 cha, their ability to heal keeps you in combat longer, so it fits well.
Tieflings are good too for their devilish appearance, ability to cast darkness for free and +2 cha.
Half Elf gives +2 cha and +1 to two other scores so this is a good starting bonus and you can choose drow half elf for casting Darkness once for free or high half elf for an extra cantrip (make it a utility one).
Human Variant is also decent for the starting feat. Go Magic Initiate Sorcerer and this gives you 2 extra cantrips plus a free casting of Mage Armour which boosts your AC. With a Dex of 16 or more then Mage Armour is instantly more effective than Medium armour.
Changeling is also good for the +2 cha but none of the other features are that beneficial.
Ignore the previous poster's mention of avoiding darkvision creatures. There is no point avoiding very useful racial benefits just because the race already has 60 ft darkvision considering you are still improving it to 120 ft (unless you choose drow but then, faerie fire and darkness casting for free once a day each is nothing to ignore because of that).
For cantrips you have to choose Chill Touch, just have to, and thematically consider False Life spell and Ray of Sickness.
I'd also recommend things like Message and Minor Illusion cantrip and spell schools of necromancy and illusion and anything dealing necrotic damage or "dark" themed.
My Homebrew: Races | Subclasses | Backgrounds | Spells | Magic Items | Feats
Need help with Homebrew? Check out this FAQ/Guide thread by IamSposta
See My Youtube Videos for Tips & Tricks using D&D Beyond
I'm a big fan of vHuman as well for the bonus feat, but would be more tempted with Ritual Caster (Wizard). Getting the ability to ritual cast on Sorcerer is pretty massive, since you're so limited on spells.
Bonus points for taking Find Familiar and having a raven or black cat or something similar.
Depending on your play-style, if you took Variant-Human Magic Initiate, I'd go Warlock for Eldritch Blast and minor Illusion. Or go Spell sniper to pick up Eldritch blast that way at double the range. If you're a Charisma-based caster EB is a go-to damage dealing cantrip. This way you can focus on picking up spells that focus on utility, social interactions, or battlefield control without needing to narrow your spell selection with several damage dealing spells.
Eldritch Blast and a spell Like Synaptic Static should cover you for damage dealing if you want to build your character around stealth, deception and social interaction. How to build a Shadow Sorcerer is really dependent on what role you'll be playing in the campaign, ie damage dealing, battlefield control, or party face.