Optimize a fire sorcerer!

[KellKheraptis]

For stuff like this, I usually refer people to fellow black mages Solo, Sor0, and Cantrip.  Though I am a bit notorious for Acorn of Far Travel trickery, and using it with Frost Magic/Snowcasting/Cold Spell Spec/Storm Magic is an easy way to get +1 spell level/+2 damage per die/+3 CL (which is actually functionally +1 die, +2 damage per die, +4 CL).  War Mage of Krynn combined with this is super solid for casting spells that makes the peoples fall down, damage-wise, and if you really wanna go overboard with fire, take three levels of Spellwarp Sniper, Arcane Thesis (Fireball), and then use Fireball as a range Long Dragunov.  Split-Ray+Twin with all that extra damage means you'll one-shot damn near anything long before it's a threat to you.  And if you also take/have access to at least 5 levels of Seeker of the Lost Wizard Traditions, your spells are all uncapped, and automatically enlarged and widened.  Once I get off work I'll see if I can post a build for this, as I've been wanting to see if I can turn it into a cogent though concerning a fire-based gish.

[bkdubs123]

For stuff like this, I usually refer people to fellow black mages Solo, Sor0, and Cantrip.  Though I am a bit notorious for Acorn of Far Travel trickery, and using it with Frost Magic/Snowcasting/Cold Spell Spec/Storm Magic is an easy way to get +1 spell level/+2 damage per die/+3 CL (which is actually functionally +1 die, +2 damage per die, +4 CL).

Yeah, Acorn of Far Travel won't be appearing in this film, lol. But, even without it, it's no big deal. Control Temperature + Cold Spell Spec + War Mage = +3 damage per die at 8th level.  Even a lowly Scorching Ray is launching two bolts each dealing 4d6+12 (total avg damage at one target 64, not bad). Fireball blows up a whole group of foes for +7.5 extra damage albeit with a reflex save.

War Mage of Krynn combined with this is super solid for casting spells that makes the peoples fall down, damage-wise, and if you really wanna go overboard with fire, take three levels of Spellwarp Sniper, Arcane Thesis (Fireball), and then use Fireball as a range Long Dragunov.  Split-Ray+Twin with all that extra damage means you'll one-shot damn near anything long before it's a threat to you.

A pretty cool idea. I'll be sure to let the player know.

And if you also take/have access to at least 5 levels of Seeker of the Lost Wizard Traditions, your spells are all uncapped, and automatically enlarged and widened.

lollwuhuhuaat? That sounds silly fun.

[The_Mad_Linguist]

Instead of control yrmperature, perhaps consider blue ice armor?

[X-Codes]

Nitpick: Residual metamagic won't apply on the last Quickened Scorching Ray.  You used it the turn before.

Nitpick: The feat is Residual MAGIC.  Why doesn't anyone ever get it right?

That said, I guess I see where you're coming from now.  I never figured that to be the meaning of that clause in the ability, but it does make sense to read it that way now that you've brought it up.

That said, effective blasting (especially Fire blasting) will invariably require metamagic feats and metamagic cost reducers.  Proper application of the Residual Magic feat (both through Wand and Scroll use, as well as the better-known ability for free metamagic) will be invaluable.

[bkdubs123]

While Blue Ice Armor IS really awesome, I have a feeling the player may not like it, AND more importantly it doesn't actually do anything to create a colder environment. The way I read it you Snowcasting and Frozen Magic literally require an environment with a low temperature.

[The_Mad_Linguist]

Well, blue ice is cold enough that frost forms on its surface when you're just walking around in it.  I figure that's cold enough for your immediate environment.

[CantripN]

Well, blue ice is cold enough that frost forms on its surface when you're just walking around in it.  I figure that's cold enough for your immediate environment.

I wouldn't count on it, but ask your DM. That said, Blue Ice Armor is still great for a Snowcaster, as you'll have no ASF for your [Cold] spells, which is all of them. Go around in Hellforged Blue Ice Breastplate +1 (5,350) = +6 Armor AC / +3 Max. Dex / No ACP / 20% ASF (0% for [Cold]). If you're not worried about the ACP killing your attack rolls (or have proficiency...), take heavier armor, but that's the best compromise, seeing as it's Light Armor, with no ACP, and a decent Max. Dex.

Also, speaking from personal experience, when you make a powerful blaster, the DM responds by giving everyone and anyone Resist Energy / Protection from Energy / Mass Resist Energy or one of the many other types of protection against elemental damage. Getting Untyped/Holy damage is crucial, as is being able to punch through SR and getting high DCs/No Save spells. That said, beware Target spells at high levels, as those are liable to kill you - being able to deal 30d6+150 (Fort ½) with Extract Water Elemental at level 14 doesn't mean you can survive the same.

Greater Arcane Sight is CRUCIAL to know what defenses the enemies have! So crucial, in fact, that my DM banned it.

[bkdubs123]

I don't think that'll be a problem. The DM specifically asked us to create powerful characters, and since he's just dealing lots of damage it should be fine. I don't think he's going to change encounters just to give everyone resistance/immunity, I think he just wants to throw really tough/interesting stuff at us.

[KellKheraptis]

Thaumaturge 4/Metaphysical Spellshaper 3/Seeker of the Lost Wizard Traditions 6/Sacred One of Kord 1/Elemental Savant 1/War Mage of Krynn 5

19/20 CL, tons of metamagic, no banned schools, casts spontaneously from the Sor/Wiz, Druid, and Cleric lists, all elemental typed spells are fire spells, all fire spells do untyped damage, all damage spells do +3 damage/die, you and two allies get Cha to AC, -2 to final metamagic costs, free metamagic at the cost of attributes (which you can heal with restoration easily), and it gets a familar.  Take Miser With Magic, persist Unfettered Heroism, and make a trivial spellcraft check to retain every slot ever (as you have half the base slots as a non-specialist wizard).  Oh, and with an Acorn of Far Travel (a druid spell) and the Snowcasting/Frozen Magic/Cold Spell Spec/Storm Magic combo, get effectively +1 die, +1 DC, +4 CL, +2 damage/die.  All spells also are widened and enlarged for free.

Now, if you want a Dragunov in there, make sure to always have Arcane Spellsurge active, or take Rapid Spell, and then sub the ES level and the last two SotLWT levels for Spellwarp Sniper 3 and Arcane Thesis (Fireball).  Enjoy a double long range untyped easily quadruple (and then the whole thing times 1.5) ray of death...

"Megatron...is that you?"
"Here's a hint!" -ashifies-

EDIT : Also, if you happen to want to gish, you have the three best lists for it, and the possibilities are absolutely staggering...imagine Draconic Polymorph into a Fleshraker with a huge CL Venomfire attached, in addition to Wraithstrike and Bite of the Werebear.  Hi Welcome, meet Galvatron.

[bkdubs123]

What and where is this Seeker of the Lost Wizard Traditions?

[KellKheraptis]

What and where is this Seeker of the Lost Wizard Traditions?

Here you go.  Making lolwut's since it was first written, I'm sure.

[BeholderSlayer]

Seeker of the Lost Wizard Traditions is also found in the most updated Frank & K tome, along with Thaumaturge, if that will give it any more credibility.

[KellKheraptis]

Seeker of the Lost Wizard Traditions is also found in the most updated Frank & K tome, along with Thaumaturge, if that will give it any more credibility.

True as well   Also...imagine Hi Welcome with Sacred Flames tech...doesn't change much, but I like burning things, so it matters in my mind

[SorO_Lost]

I'm a fan of Electricity over most types. Simple because Stormcaster^SW lets you tack on save vs stun to everything you use. IGnoring even half the damage is no longer a big deal, they lose a turn and die anyway.

The player will definitely be excited to hear this; however, I'm unfamiliar with damn near all of that material. Is War Mage in the Miniatures Handbook? What is the effectiveness of the build at 8th level? Would you mind giving an example of typical tactics?

Elemental Savant^CA: All energy spells you cast can become fire based.
Kinda like Energy Substitution, but as a class level rather than a feat. Depending on build, the feat can be better.

Sanctified One of Kord^CC: Fire spells are no longer fire, but holy and deal good damage.
Skips the need to take Searing Spell. Given it is a choice to use, you can still use Raging Flame against none high resist creatures.

Academy Sorcerer^{Age of Mortals}: Take Pyromancy three times. Each one gives +1 bypassing spell resistance and save DCs with fire spells and they stack. Also you get +4 to Aid Other on UMD and one bonus metamagic feat.
It helps vs SR checks and area bursts.

War Mage^{Age of Mortals}: Cha to saves, and +3 per die to a spell (constitution modifier) times per day. It had errata issued to nerf it.

And to add to CantripN's suggestion. Learn Raging Flame^SpC, it is a fire spell that makes all fire spells deal +1 per die and as a 1st level spell, it can be cast though Arcane Fusion. Also the divine side has their own runestaff, or just make sure your runestaff was made by a Steel Dragon, but getting Cold Snap^FB adds +1 per die to damage so long as the spell is [Cold] (see snowcast) as well as dropping the temperature by another 50 degrees to give your Control Temperature^FB spell that extra boost to reaching 'its fraking cold out here' for Cold Spell Specialization's +2/die.

For stuff like this, I usually refer people to fellow black mages Solo, Sor0, and Cantrip.

I'm honored. I hope adding +2/die to Cantrip's lives up to it.

[bkdubs123]

Yeah, the only problem I'm seeing with the character now is that he won't have a way to deal with fire resistant/immune mobs because he couldn't fit searing spell into his feat selection. Thoughts?

[CantripN]

Yeah, the only problem I'm seeing with the character now is that he won't have a way to deal with fire resistant/immune mobs because he couldn't fit searing spell into his feat selection. Thoughts?

Sacred One of Kord 1 => All your Fire Damage is no longer Fire, but rather Holy.

Academy Sorcerer: Actually, take Cryomancy three times. Each one gives +1 bypassing spell resistance and save DCs with [Cold] spells and they stack. That's better, because it'll work on all your spells, not just energy blasting ones.

War Mage: Cha to AC, and +3 per die to a spell (constitution modifier) times per day. It had errata issued to nerf it => Yes, but that's a ruling many DMs would ignore, seeing as that alone makes it a crappy class. Plus, it's not actual Errata, but rather an updated version.

[KellKheraptis]

Ok, with that bit from Sor0...

Thaumaturge 4/MPSS 3/War Mage 5/Seeker 7/Sanctified One 1

3 free metamagic feats from classes, free widen and enlarge, all spells uncapped, with those two spells and the Cold feats, a whopping +7/die, Cha to AC, free XP from monsters you char to barbecue, -2 level final adjustment to metamagic spells, invincible Stone Skin (damn near), complete bypass of immunity to fire (or anything else for that matter), and if you wanna go all out damage, sub in 4 levels of Incantatrix and drop something lame that doesn't involve burning (like Enchantment), to snag full capability to put in Twin/Admix/Split Ray/Scorching/Fiery, for a total of x6 and +10/die.  Fusion cannon, anyone?

[CantripN]

Too bad Seeker and Thaumaturge are TOME CLASSES, and not meant for play with regular D&D. Not to mention, they aren't WotC, unless I'm sorely mistaken. And let's not forget the Book of Erotic Fantasy being contested turf... Still, an Uncapped Orb of Fire with all of the above (assume CL 20, for convenience, but we'll have it much sooner than ECL 20. ECL 14, at most.) would be dealing 120d6+1200 or so. Shiny.

That said, if you miss on even one roll, and they have the Spell Reflection ACF, you're toast. Literally.

[BeholderSlayer]

I don't really understand why people hold WotC material as the utmost standard. They've shown to be thoroughly incompetent before enough times. At least a lot of the Tome classes are something somebody would actually want to play, rather than just taking up space like most of WotC creations.

This is, of course, just my opinion. As DM, I agree with a lot of Frank & K's assessments and go with their material quite often.

[KellKheraptis]

Too bad Seeker and Thaumaturge are TOME CLASSES, and not meant for play with regular D&D. Not to mention, they aren't WotC, unless I'm sorely mistaken. And let's not forget the Book of Erotic Fantasy being contested turf... Still, an Uncapped Orb of Fire with all of the above (assume CL 20, for convenience, but we'll have it much sooner than ECL 20. ECL 14, at most.) would be dealing 120d6+1200 or so. Shiny.

That said, if you miss on even one roll, and they have the Spell Reflection ACF, you're toast. Literally.

If said DM is allowing all that, he's sure as fuck allowing Wings of Cover

EDIT : Ring of Spellguard.  I am my own ally, and am immune to my own spells.  Yay!