Hi people,
I've always been a wizard fan, but I'm wondering now if it's better to choose a sorcerer or not? Does he get the same spells as a wizard? Is he more powerful in battle? What's his advantages compared to a mage?
I'd like to hear your opinion, especially those who have played the game with both characters, but any other comments are welcome.
Thanks!
~Brynn
Wizard or sorcerer?
Wizard or sorcerer?
Up the IRONS!
There are no sorcerors in BG1, only in BG2. That being said, most people feel that sorcs are a bit more powerful if played right.
Wizards are more versatile, because you learn and unlearn all kinds of spells. Sorcs can't do that. They can learn and use less spells, but what they have, they can use more times.
So it's very important to plan ahead if you want to use a sorc: what spells are useful, which are not? If a wizard memorizes a spell that he has no use for, he can just drop that spell and get another one. A sorc will be stuck in that situation. Still, if you pick the right spells, a sorceror is one of the most powerful pc's around.
The most fun, for me, was playing with a wild mage (also only in BG2, with ToB installed).
Wizards are more versatile, because you learn and unlearn all kinds of spells. Sorcs can't do that. They can learn and use less spells, but what they have, they can use more times.
So it's very important to plan ahead if you want to use a sorc: what spells are useful, which are not? If a wizard memorizes a spell that he has no use for, he can just drop that spell and get another one. A sorc will be stuck in that situation. Still, if you pick the right spells, a sorceror is one of the most powerful pc's around.
The most fun, for me, was playing with a wild mage (also only in BG2, with ToB installed).
She says: Lou, it's the Beginning of a Great Adventure
Unfortunately, Sorcerers are not available in Baldur's Gate.
Sorcerers have some advantages over Mages and Specialist Mages. First of all, they don't need to find scrolls in order to learn new spells; when you're able to learn a new spell, you can choose from any spell on the list. Sorcerers don't require high Intelligence because instead of learning spells, they are born with the ability to cast spells (they become more powerful as they gain more experience). Second of all, they don't need to memorize spells in advance. When they cast a spell, they can choose any spell in their spellbook. For example, if they can cast four 1st Level spells per day, they can cast Magic Missile four times or Chromatic Orb four times or Magic Missile twice and Chromatic Orb twice, or whichever combination they prefer--they aren't constrained by choices they had to make before they rested. Furthermore, like Specialist Mages, they can cast more spells per level than Mages.
Sorcerers have one major disadvantage: they can only learn a few spells. If you play a Sorcerer, you have to choose your spells very carefully. For example, at first level, you can only have one spell in your spellbook. You can choose from the entire list of 1st Level spells, but the question is, which one should you pick? In Shadows of Amn, there are about ten 6th Level Spells that I really like, but if I can only have four or five in my spellbook, I have to make some tough decisions. This will have a big effect on your playing strategy, and it's a good reason to have more than one spellcaster in your party.
Creating a character always involves tradeoffs. If you play a multi-class character, your character will have more abilities than a single-class character, but your character will have to split experience between two classes and advance more slowly. If you play a Specialist Mage, you'll be able to cast one extra spell per level, but you won't be able to cast any spells from the Opposition School. Sorcerers offer an interesting tradeoff: extreme flexibility, but a limited number of spells. You can't have it both ways.
Sorcerers have some advantages over Mages and Specialist Mages. First of all, they don't need to find scrolls in order to learn new spells; when you're able to learn a new spell, you can choose from any spell on the list. Sorcerers don't require high Intelligence because instead of learning spells, they are born with the ability to cast spells (they become more powerful as they gain more experience). Second of all, they don't need to memorize spells in advance. When they cast a spell, they can choose any spell in their spellbook. For example, if they can cast four 1st Level spells per day, they can cast Magic Missile four times or Chromatic Orb four times or Magic Missile twice and Chromatic Orb twice, or whichever combination they prefer--they aren't constrained by choices they had to make before they rested. Furthermore, like Specialist Mages, they can cast more spells per level than Mages.
Sorcerers have one major disadvantage: they can only learn a few spells. If you play a Sorcerer, you have to choose your spells very carefully. For example, at first level, you can only have one spell in your spellbook. You can choose from the entire list of 1st Level spells, but the question is, which one should you pick? In Shadows of Amn, there are about ten 6th Level Spells that I really like, but if I can only have four or five in my spellbook, I have to make some tough decisions. This will have a big effect on your playing strategy, and it's a good reason to have more than one spellcaster in your party.
Creating a character always involves tradeoffs. If you play a multi-class character, your character will have more abilities than a single-class character, but your character will have to split experience between two classes and advance more slowly. If you play a Specialist Mage, you'll be able to cast one extra spell per level, but you won't be able to cast any spells from the Opposition School. Sorcerers offer an interesting tradeoff: extreme flexibility, but a limited number of spells. You can't have it both ways.
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The Great Hairy
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Actually you can not play a sorcerer in vanilla BG 1, you will have to install a mod, or play it through Tutu.
The main differences between sorcerer and wizard are that sorcerers do not have to prepare spells before casting them, they simply select one of the spells they know and then cast it. Sorcerers can have less spells in their spellbook, but they can cast them more often.
Cheers,
TGHO
The main differences between sorcerer and wizard are that sorcerers do not have to prepare spells before casting them, they simply select one of the spells they know and then cast it. Sorcerers can have less spells in their spellbook, but they can cast them more often.
Cheers,
TGHO
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Thanks for the detailed posts, guys
I still don't see why I should choose Sorcerer over Wizard. The number of his spells depends on his wisdom, right? Or charisma?
Will he be more efficient in battle than a Mage if his strength is high enough? Does he get more fighting skills, weapon or armor proficiencies, or anything?
I still don't see why I should choose Sorcerer over Wizard. The number of his spells depends on his wisdom, right? Or charisma?
Will he be more efficient in battle than a Mage if his strength is high enough? Does he get more fighting skills, weapon or armor proficiencies, or anything?
Up the IRONS!
[QUOTE=Brynn]I still don't see why I should choose Sorcerer over Wizard...[/QUOTE]
The best way to answer that is, you should play a Sorcerer if it suits your playing style; otherwise, you shouldn't play one.
A Sorcerer's skills are exactly the same as a Mage's. The only differences are the way spells are acquired, how many spells you can have in your spellbook, how many spells you can cast per level, and the amount of flexibility you have in your spellcasting. Just think of a Sorcerer as a Mage who doesn't have to rest before she can cast a spell she didn't memorize the day before. Is the convenience worth the tradeoff? That's up to you.
The number of spells a Sorcerer can learn and cast is determined solely by level; stats don't have any effect on it. In Icewind Dale II, which uses "3rd Edition Rules", Charisma has an effect on a Sorcerer's ability to bypass an enemy's resistance to magic, but in Baldur's Gate 2, your Sorcerer can have Intelligence 9, Wisdom 3, and Charisma 9, and it won't have any effect on your spellcasting ability.
The best way to answer that is, you should play a Sorcerer if it suits your playing style; otherwise, you shouldn't play one.
A Sorcerer's skills are exactly the same as a Mage's. The only differences are the way spells are acquired, how many spells you can have in your spellbook, how many spells you can cast per level, and the amount of flexibility you have in your spellcasting. Just think of a Sorcerer as a Mage who doesn't have to rest before she can cast a spell she didn't memorize the day before. Is the convenience worth the tradeoff? That's up to you.
The number of spells a Sorcerer can learn and cast is determined solely by level; stats don't have any effect on it. In Icewind Dale II, which uses "3rd Edition Rules", Charisma has an effect on a Sorcerer's ability to bypass an enemy's resistance to magic, but in Baldur's Gate 2, your Sorcerer can have Intelligence 9, Wisdom 3, and Charisma 9, and it won't have any effect on your spellcasting ability.
I wouldn't bother giving a Sorcerer Strength 18 unless you're going solo and need the extra carrying capacity. (But if I were soloing, I would cheat in a Bag of Holding, and weight limits wouldn't be an issue.) The extra +1 to hit and +2 damage just wouldn't make much difference since Sorcerors and Mages are so weak in melee. I'd rather have 19 Dexterity and use missile weapons. I'd summon Skeletons and hire henchmen (like Minsc and Boo) if I needed melee power.
For a Sorcerer, I'd recommend the following stats:
STR 13-15 (sufficient for using most items useable by a Mage and carrying a full load)
DEX 18 (19 if you play an Elf)
CON 16 (for maximum Hit Points)
INT 9 or higher (it might affect a couple of dialogue options)
WIS 3 or higher
CHA 16 or higher (for store discounts and positive NPC reactions)
A character like that is easier to roll than a Mage with Intelligence 18 (all other things being equal), so that's another advantage for Sorcerers.
For a Sorcerer, I'd recommend the following stats:
STR 13-15 (sufficient for using most items useable by a Mage and carrying a full load)
DEX 18 (19 if you play an Elf)
CON 16 (for maximum Hit Points)
INT 9 or higher (it might affect a couple of dialogue options)
WIS 3 or higher
CHA 16 or higher (for store discounts and positive NPC reactions)
A character like that is easier to roll than a Mage with Intelligence 18 (all other things being equal), so that's another advantage for Sorcerers.
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moltovir
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I advise putting your wisdom to the highest possible, because it will affect the choices you'll have for the wish spell. Con and Str. don't matter that much because you'll have enough spells to protect you.
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The Great Hairy
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[QUOTE=VonDondu]In Icewind Dale II, which uses "3rd Edition Rules", Charisma has an effect on a Sorceror's ability to bypass an enemy's resistance to magic,[/QUOTE]
Actually in 3rd Ed a Sorceror with higher Charisma gets a bonus to the number of spells they can cast per day. And the DC (the target number for the enemy to resist the spell effect) is raised by the Charisma bonus.
But since it is years since I played IWD2, I'm not sure how they implimented it!
@Brynn
As to playing Sorcerors or Wizards, I personally prefer Wizards, but as VonDondu said, it's really a personal thing. You can have fun either way!
Cheers,
TGHO
Actually in 3rd Ed a Sorceror with higher Charisma gets a bonus to the number of spells they can cast per day. And the DC (the target number for the enemy to resist the spell effect) is raised by the Charisma bonus.
But since it is years since I played IWD2, I'm not sure how they implimented it!
@Brynn
As to playing Sorcerors or Wizards, I personally prefer Wizards, but as VonDondu said, it's really a personal thing. You can have fun either way!
Cheers,
TGHO
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The Great Hairy
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[QUOTE=Brynn]Btw, there's no sorcerer NPC in BG II, right?
Thanks again for your help![/QUOTE]
Not in the vanilla BG 2, but there are two mods (Kelsey and Taisha) which introduce Sorcerer NPCs. I haven't tried either of them though. I've read that Kelsey is pretty good (aimed at giving ladies a second choice for romancing) but Taisha's familiar is cheesy (apparently).
No worries mate,
TGHO
Thanks again for your help![/QUOTE]
Not in the vanilla BG 2, but there are two mods (Kelsey and Taisha) which introduce Sorcerer NPCs. I haven't tried either of them though. I've read that Kelsey is pretty good (aimed at giving ladies a second choice for romancing) but Taisha's familiar is cheesy (apparently).
No worries mate,
TGHO
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