The main mechanical selling point is metamagic. Twin Spell and Quicken Spell let the sorcerer break the action economy like no other class. Subtle Spell opens up entirely new opportunities to cast charm and detection spells without being noticed.
Just as importantly, I'm in love with the idea of a sorcerer. They don't need a book. Magic is as natural to a sorcerer as breath itself. Magic, to a sorcerer, is a pure extension of who they are, of the raw power of their being, the sheer force of their personality.
The main mechanical selling point is metamagic. Twin Spell and Quicken Spell let the sorcerer break the action economy like no other class. Subtle Spell opens up entirely new opportunities to cast charm and detection spells without being noticed.
Just as importantly, I'm in love with the idea of a sorcerer. They don't need a book. Magic is as natural to a sorcerer as breath itself. Magic, to a sorcerer, is a pure extension of who they are, of the raw power of their being, the sheer force of their personality.
And if you use an Arcane Focus, you don't need components or a pouch.
Edit: I feel I need to clarify how a Sorcerer gets their power.
Either they come across wild magic and are imbued with its power, or they have heritage linking back to Dragons. If you choose Dragon, you get breath weapon and dragon wings at higher levels, which is pretty cool.
I love that they're intuitive magic users- they do what wizards do, but naturally.
Mechanically? they have interesting subclasses with powerful benefits and meta magic- which can make your spells a lot more effective than another classes- they also multiclass well with warlocks.
I like the Tides of Chaos and Bend Luck features. I always feel a little bit like a Jedi when these work in the right moment. It is also fun, but not easy, to "Twin" a spell like Witch Bolt!
Sorcerers focus on few spells but specialize on manipulating them. Twin spell, Quicken, Subtle, etc. All these metamagic options change the feel and use of the spell.
Wizards have a spell for every occasion. Sorcerers have a few go-to spells they can MAKE work for every occasion. If not, they can always fireball the party via tides of chaos...y'know, mix things up a bit.
I view sorcerers as a taskmage, like Jaya Ballard from the old Magic: the Gathering novels. Ballard didn't know many spells, mostly just ways to conjure fire, but she found lots of interesting ways to use her narrow magic to solve problems.
"Of course you should fight fire with fire. You should fight everything with fire." —Jaya Ballard, task mage
Sorcerers focus on few spells but specialize on manipulating them. Twin spell, Quicken, Subtle, etc. All these metamagic options change the feel and use of the spell.
Wizards have a spell for every occasion. Sorcerers have a few go-to spells they can MAKE work for every occasion. If not, they can always fireball the party via tides of chaos...y'know, mix things up a bit.
I agree. I tend to think that sorcerer's definitely focus a bit more on combat than the wizard, some of their metamagic can make a huge difference.
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"The hero sought to save the world.
"If I keep trying, I'll be able to win," the hero thought.
But the harder the hero fought, the further the world seemed to tumble away.
Drowning in doubt, the hero could not even save themselves.
Hero, if you still believe in a brighter future, hold in your heart a thorn that can pierce all doubt."
Sorcerers know far, far fewer spells than wizards, and for that reason are far less versatile. Due primarily to metamagic, however, Sorcerers hit harder and faster than wizards do with the equivalent spell. A sorcerer casting fireball can cast it as a bonus action instead of an action (with Quicken), can re-roll his low damage dice (with empowered), can force disadvantage on a target's saving throw (with heightened) or cast it without verbal or somatic components (with Subtle), which incidentally means he can cast it while inside the area of a silence spell, while his hands are bound, and the casting cannot be counterspelled. A few wizard archetypes have bits and pieces of this sort of thing but no wizard casting fireball remotely approaches what a sorcerer casting fireball can do. The same applies in various ways for near all the spells that a sorcerer can cast.
One good suggestion I saw once - sorcerers only ever know 15 spells. Have a look at the sorcerer spell list and choose 15 spells. If you're comfortable with the idea that those are the only spells you'll ever be able to cast, then sorcerer is something you might want to consider. If you can't live with the idea of giving up all those situational utility spells, then stick with wizard.
Just as importantly, I'm in love with the idea of a sorcerer. They don't need a book. Magic is as natural to a sorcerer as breath itself. Magic, to a sorcerer, is a pure extension of who they are, of the raw power of their being, the sheer force of their personality.
I agree.
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"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both" -- allegedly Benjamin Franklin
Also later on you can sacrifice low level spell slots and convert them into metamagic effects or into higher level spell slots which is also pretty darn handy.
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"Where words fail, swords prevail. Where blood is spilled, my cup is filled" -Cartaphilus
"I have found the answer to the meaning of life. You ask me what the answer is? You already know what the answer to life is. You fear it more than the strike of a viper, the ravages of disease, the ire of a lover. The answer is always death. But death is a gentle mistress with a sweet embrace, and you owe her a debt of restitution. Life is not a gift, it is a loan."
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Sell me on why I should play as a Sorcerer! :) I've been debating between wizards and sorcerers so I was wondering what makes a Sorcerer so great!
I chose sorcerer because of wild magic. I love playing character random and would magic plays well into it.
Edit for spelling, stupid phone.
A dwarf with a canoe on his back? What could go wrong?
It is not a versatile class, but in combat is formidable.
The main mechanical selling point is metamagic. Twin Spell and Quicken Spell let the sorcerer break the action economy like no other class. Subtle Spell opens up entirely new opportunities to cast charm and detection spells without being noticed.
Just as importantly, I'm in love with the idea of a sorcerer. They don't need a book. Magic is as natural to a sorcerer as breath itself. Magic, to a sorcerer, is a pure extension of who they are, of the raw power of their being, the sheer force of their personality.
A dwarf with a canoe on his back? What could go wrong?
I love that they're intuitive magic users- they do what wizards do, but naturally.
Mechanically? they have interesting subclasses with powerful benefits and meta magic- which can make your spells a lot more effective than another classes- they also multiclass well with warlocks.
Bards too!
I like the Tides of Chaos and Bend Luck features. I always feel a little bit like a Jedi when these work in the right moment. It is also fun, but not easy, to "Twin" a spell like Witch Bolt!
Sorcerers focus on few spells but specialize on manipulating them. Twin spell, Quicken, Subtle, etc. All these metamagic options change the feel and use of the spell.
Wizards have a spell for every occasion. Sorcerers have a few go-to spells they can MAKE work for every occasion. If not, they can always fireball the party via tides of chaos...y'know, mix things up a bit.
Favored Souls (FvS) have the healing of a cleric and the blasting of your standard arcane. Pretty good caster actually.
Just an average metalhead who plays DnD in his spare time.
PbP Character: Roberta Thalan, Void Beyond the Stars Otherside
PbP Character: Primus Eidolon, Eotha 2
PbP Character: Usmor Illiqai, Tomb of Corrosion
PbP Character: "Templar" Danver, You're the Villains
Homebrew stuff
I view sorcerers as a taskmage, like Jaya Ballard from the old Magic: the Gathering novels. Ballard didn't know many spells, mostly just ways to conjure fire, but she found lots of interesting ways to use her narrow magic to solve problems.
"Of course you should fight fire with fire. You should fight everything with fire."
—Jaya Ballard, task mage
"The hero sought to save the world.
"If I keep trying, I'll be able to win," the hero thought.
But the harder the hero fought, the further the world seemed to tumble away.
Drowning in doubt, the hero could not even save themselves.
Hero, if you still believe in a brighter future, hold in your heart a thorn that can pierce all doubt."
~ Guild Wars 2
Sorcerers know far, far fewer spells than wizards, and for that reason are far less versatile. Due primarily to metamagic, however, Sorcerers hit harder and faster than wizards do with the equivalent spell. A sorcerer casting fireball can cast it as a bonus action instead of an action (with Quicken), can re-roll his low damage dice (with empowered), can force disadvantage on a target's saving throw (with heightened) or cast it without verbal or somatic components (with Subtle), which incidentally means he can cast it while inside the area of a silence spell, while his hands are bound, and the casting cannot be counterspelled. A few wizard archetypes have bits and pieces of this sort of thing but no wizard casting fireball remotely approaches what a sorcerer casting fireball can do. The same applies in various ways for near all the spells that a sorcerer can cast.
One good suggestion I saw once - sorcerers only ever know 15 spells. Have a look at the sorcerer spell list and choose 15 spells. If you're comfortable with the idea that those are the only spells you'll ever be able to cast, then sorcerer is something you might want to consider. If you can't live with the idea of giving up all those situational utility spells, then stick with wizard.
"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both" -- allegedly Benjamin Franklin
Tooltips (Help/aid)
I love saving the day with a well timed Bend Luck. Downside is sometimes party members expect you to spam it like it's an unlimited resource.
Also later on you can sacrifice low level spell slots and convert them into metamagic effects or into higher level spell slots which is also pretty darn handy.
"Where words fail, swords prevail. Where blood is spilled, my cup is filled" -Cartaphilus
"I have found the answer to the meaning of life. You ask me what the answer is? You already know what the answer to life is. You fear it more than the strike of a viper, the ravages of disease, the ire of a lover. The answer is always death. But death is a gentle mistress with a sweet embrace, and you owe her a debt of restitution. Life is not a gift, it is a loan."