Ye Olde Neophyte Querries!!

[Ninetoes]

A friend of mine commented that I only ever play melee characters in MMO's (or anything other than PnP, really), and he's correct. I typically find caster classes boring and "not my bag", however, he got me thinking. I decided to take a stab at Sorcerer, and it went horribly. I was out of SP halfway through the second quest, couldn't hit anything with Niacs (cool, it's like an ice laser, right?) and in general created a totally bad character. So, I started over. I've done a bit of research, and this is what I've come up with so far.

(Actual questions after Copy/Pasta.)

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 3.18
DDO Character Planner Home Page

Insecticide Dispersal Technician
Level 3 True Neutral Warforged Male
(3 Sorcerer) 
Hit Points: 44
Spell Points: 358 
BAB: 1\1
Fortitude: 5
Reflex: 1
Will: 1

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(32 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 3)
Strength             10                    10
Dexterity            10                    10
Constitution         18                    19
Intelligence         10                    10
Wisdom                6                     6
Charisma             16                    18

Tomes Used
+1 Tome of Charisma used at level 3

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 3)
Balance               0                     0
Bluff                 3                     4
Concentration         8                    10
Diplomacy             3                     4
Disable Device        n/a                   n/a
Haggle                3                     4
Heal                 -2                    -2
Hide                  0                     0
Intimidate            3                     4
Jump                  0                     0
Listen               -2                    -2
Move Silently         0                     0
Open Lock             n/a                   n/a
Perform               n/a                   n/a
Repair                0                     0
Search                0                     0
Spot                 -2                    -2
Swim                  0                     0
Tumble                n/a                   n/a
Use Magic Device      5                     7

Level 1 (Sorcerer)
Skill: Concentration (+4)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+2)
Feat: (Selected) Empower Spell
Spell (1): Master's Touch
Spell (1): Repair Light Damage
Enhancement: Sorcerer Energy Manipulation I
Enhancement: Sorcerer Elemental Manipulation I
Enhancement: Sorcerer Energy of the Dragonblooded I
Enhancement: Warforged Construct Thinking I


Level 2 (Sorcerer)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+0.5)
Feat: (Automatic) Defensive Fighting
Feat: (Automatic) Sunder
Feat: (Automatic) Trip
Spell (1): Acid Spray
Enhancement: Sorcerer Force Manipulation I
Enhancement: Sorcerer Charisma I
Enhancement: Warforged Inscribed Armor I


Level 3 (Sorcerer)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+0.5)
Feat: (Selected) Extend Spell
Spell (1): Charm Person
Enhancement: Sorcerer Lineage of Energy I
Enhancement: Warforged Constitution I

So far, all I've needed are Master's Touch, Light Repair, and something to swing. I'm not dumb enough to think that this will last past lvl 3-4 or so, but it's been pretty effective for solo. FAR more than taking niacs or MM (blech), or some other damage spells.

I added acid splash at 2 to soften up the groups of kobolds/whatever that mobbed up on me. At 3, I added charm person, passed myself a +2 cloak from my main, and it became 10 times more fun. I can't even describe how hilarious butcher's path was with charm person. Watching kobolds slaughter each other while yelling "KOBOLDS SHOULD STICK TOGETHER" was a thing of beauty.

So, right now my strategy is to just hit a couple of mobs with charm, let them group up in a big ball of hilarious mayhem, spray them with acid once if I have the SP to spare, and then mow them down with a +2 greataxe.

If I stupidly run out of SP, the archivist's set gives me enough to master's touch my way to a shrine with a couple of repairs left to spare.


So the real questions is: What do I do with the upcoming undead quests? Obviously charm won't work. Should I just man up and hack my way though it, and save my sp for repair light?

More to the point, I'm aware that this playstyle isn't really what I'll be doing forever. Will playing a mele sorc early on hurt me later? I'm sure I'll pick up a few bat habits, and whatnot. I fully expect to replace those lvl 1 spells, at least master's touch.


I guess what I'm really asking is "how do I play a REAL sorc, once I need to stop acting like a paladin" (Buff buff swing). Do I need to start practicing now, or can I laze through it with an axe and some CC/Buffs/cone AOE's until lvl 8?

Also, any other caster tips are more than welcome. In my reading of these forums, EVERYONE has their own different idea's about how to play an arcane caster. I welcome all of your input. Try to keep the infighting, racial preferences, etc. to a dull roar

<3 Toes