Arcane Casters and non optimized spell choices

[All The Sinners Saints]

I am playing a sorceror, and several spells that are normally the "bread and butter" of arcane caster classes, like IGMS are not ones that I can terribly easily justify for my character, based on bloodline and concept. My question is that how much will not picking spells like this gimp an arcane spell caster in both pvm, and pvp?

[RED GANOT]

Not too badly. I have had two anti-evocation arcanists, and they did fine. Notably, they excelled in PvM. I do not have too many PvP encounters to judge from, but I believe I can think of a few viable strategies. Enchantment, abjuration, and conjuration are your friends.

[Lorkas]

I played a pure sorcerer to epic levels who had a total of 3 offensive spells (1 damage spell, 1 damage/disable, and 1 disable), not counting acid sheath. It's definitely doable. This was before sorc paths.

You won't be the most powerful sorcerer in the world, but if your RP is fun and entertaining enough, and you provide some good buffs, then people will want you along anyway.

[Urch]

It's always refreshing to see mages cast something that isn't a commonly picked spell. It breaks out of that mold that not all mages are carbon copies of each other.

[Seven Sons of Sin]

I played a pure sorcerer to epic levels who had a total of 3 offensive spells (1 damage spell, 1 damage/disable, and 1 disable), not counting acid sheath. It's definitely doable. This was before sorc paths.

You won't be the most powerful sorcerer in the world, but if your RP is fun and entertaining enough, and you provide some good buffs, then people will want you along anyway.

Now I'm curious. What spell foci?

My first instinct when people say they don't have disables or damage spells is, "they are either conjurors or necromancers."

Prove me wrong?

[Lorkas]

Divination and abjuration. I had no creature-summoning spells at all.

I did have shapechange, but that was worthless with that character apart from as a defensive tool.

[Seven Sons of Sin]

"Impressive!"

[Twily]

Mage classes can definitely be experimented with like this. I made a lightning/frost true flame once, and had very few issues with it, despite having no fire or missile spells

[Urch]

Truestrike + ghoul touch/vampiric touch is always funny. Works with Pale masters since they can get the AC to survive being closer in melee.

[msterswrdsmn]

Believe it or not, sometimes the non-optimized route is in your benefit in pvp.

Some things some people consider "optimized" actually aren't that good, or come with too big a sacrifice to be worthwhile. Even if this isn't the case, a lot of people expect "optimized" in pvp and have already prepared for such.

Short version: sometimes "optimized" is predictable, and being unpredictable works in your benefit more than having high numbers on your character sheet.

[frightnight]

is there any hidden benefit in using ranged or touch based spells? i read somewhere that if successful on a ranged touch you can bypass sr or spell immunity and hit for near maximum damage on your rolls? is that true?

or is it simply another check you have to bypass and saves and sr and damage rolls all work the same?

[msterswrdsmn]

Touch spells, both melee and ranged, ignore a good portion of the targets AC. Armor/deflection/shield AC is lost, I think? The downside with casters is that it uses caster AB to make an attack.

Beyond that, any further benefit would probably depend on the spell. I'm not sure about SR interactions.

[Seven Sons of Sin]

Touch spells hit your "touch AC" - this ignores all Deflection, Natural, Armour and Shield bonuses from your equipment and gear.

Dex bonuses and Dodge bonuses are retained.

Typically, touch-based attacks are pretty good against non-dex foes. Unfortunately, these are the guys without Evasion, typically, anyways.

[frightnight]

thx for that

[Rattus_norvegicus99]

On my wizard, who is tucked away atm, has foci in conjuration, divination (good for scrying, not much else) and transmutation.