sorcerer spell casting problem

spillmind · Post by **spillmind** » Fri Feb 07, 2003 1:03 am

I am plaing Icewind Dale II and i am playing a sorcerer. However, I can't seem to get my frekaing character to cast spells!

what gives?

Demis · Post by **Demis** » Fri Feb 07, 2003 5:39 am

Sorcerers relay on the charisma (instead for intelligence) to cast spells, that means that in order to cast a certain level of spells you will need an ability score of 10 + spell level. For example for level 1 spells you need 10 + 1=11 charisma score while for level 9 spells you need 10 + 9=19 charisma score. Maybe this is the case with your sorcerer.

The Z · Post by **The Z** » Fri Feb 07, 2003 10:34 pm

Erm...I may be a little thick headed, but what is the logic for a sorcerer using charisma as their main attribute?

Demis · Post by **Demis** » Sat Feb 08, 2003 5:46 am

Sorcerers have a inborn talent with magic, they have no need for spellbooks and no need to study magic, they just practice it, in other words they are considered charismatic, thus their skill to cast spells is tight to their charisma.

fable · Post by **fable** » Sat Feb 08, 2003 9:24 am

Some of those attributes are merely conventions we've accepted, without much rhyme or reason all along. Otherwise, all our fighters, paladins, rangers, clerics and such would be drooling idiots in these games, since we suck out their brains (Intellect) in order to spend the attribute points elsewhere.

Charisma might have been selected as the attribute-du-jour for sorcs because it's a self-regarding quality, and sorcs focus on their inborn "talent" rather than "learning." At least, that's the theory, and you can believe it if you'd like to.

spillmind · Post by **spillmind** » Sat Feb 15, 2003 4:22 pm

i figured out the charisma thing

but like "The Z" i wonder this myself.

so does this mean that intelligence has zero to do with the power of those spells as well??

i tried buffing out both of these just so i could get more feat slots, but i still think it's a meager attempt to differenciate sorcerers and wizards.... call me crazy...

also, do these rules apply to regular (paper based) D&D?? anybody?

HighLordDave · Post by **HighLordDave** » Sat Feb 15, 2003 10:26 pm

Re: i figured out the charisma thing

Originally posted by spillmind
also, do these rules apply to regular (paper based) D&D?? anybody?

Yes, under the D&D3 ruleset, the sorcerer was created as a magic-user who comes by their power innately as opposed to a wizard who must study magic in order to learn it. Think of sorcerers as magic savants; their power in inborn, not taught.

Consequently a sorcerer's INT has nothing to do with magic. Conceivably, someone could have a moron-level IQ and still be a very powerful sorcerer.