Quote Originally Posted by Xiadais View Post
So swap extend and toughness? I understand that subtle spellcasting is terrible, but there was nothing else to fill in the slots with. (minimum AP spent for other enhancements.)

On my level 9 sorc somewhat following this build, I find myself crit-ing quite a bit, I usually only use maximize and empower on bosses and tough enemies, and I haven't had any problems dying yet. I also tend to hand out extended blur to everyone and not worrying about re-buffing is nice (for me).

As far as the 12 int goes, I find myself using diplomacy quite a bit. So I want ranks into diplomacy. I realize that having 10 str is probably a good idea, but I don't want to sacrifice my 2 points in int or any con. If someone could explain more about how different stat distributions perform, that would be nice.

Skills:
Should I put a rank into tumble just so I can use it?
Is diplomacy really not worth it for a sorcerer?
Would balance be a good idea if diplomacy isn't?

Enhancements:
Is there anything else with similar AP costs to subtle spellcasting that I could use to fill gaps for required AP in other enhancements?

Feats:
Should toughness and extend be swapped in my feats?
I am deliberately avoiding spells with SR, because I don't want to take the spell penetration feats.
I'll try to come up with a spell list soon. That would help with decisions too.
So far, I am debating between mental toughness and evocation focus. Almost all of my spells are evocation or buffs, and while I realize that sorcs have quite enough SP already, I still want more to maximize my effectiveness. If there are any other good feats as a nuker sorc with no CC and almost nothing with SR, please tell me.
Yes, absolutely need spell pen feats to use Firewall which is most useful spell more or less. Makes leveling up in undead heavy content a breeze. Also very useful for Epic content where no other spell will do the trick.

Yes, you need some insta-death and CC spells, don't go without them. You can still be the nuker that you want to be while having these spells handy so that people in your party won't hate you.
Some quests, like let sleeping dust lie, cannot be completed unless you have a specific spell. Let Sleeping Dust Lie, has a 1 enemy and 5 hostiles that you aren't allowed to kill in each encounter. If you want to do this quest then you need finger of death to take out the single enemy so the others will no longer be hostile. No nuking spell can effectively single out this single enemy without hitting one of the others. If you choose to go the "pure nuker" path then you won't be able to do this quest unless you go with others who can and just buff them and sit back.
Crowd Control is the same, there are some crowd control spells that you simply have to have. Ottos irrestible dance and sphere of dancing are just much to useful not to take.

Few concerns:
Nuker: a nuker can never have enough SP to continuously cast no SR spells and keep up with DPS of melee types. The best DPS spell is firewall which has an SR check and so you will want those spell penetration feats or at least one of them. The problem is that it is easy to have good DPS as a sorc while still being able to use some very handy CC spells. I would suggest concentrating on a more balanced sorcerer approach which can focus on nuking if that is what you want to do but will still be able to have the versatility that you need to solo or play in a group.

Fire/cold: Don't limit yourself to just 2 energy types, there is enough enemies in the game that are immune to fire and cold to make this a bad idea. Invest a couple of points into acid/electricity and keep at least 1 acid and 1 lightning spell prepped for when it is useful. Oozes, blackbone skeletons etc, really benefit from having acid blast or chain lightning. Also, before level 8 when you get firewall its better to be specced as acid/lightning sorcerer to maximise DPS against oozes.

Drow: drow is a bad choice imo for a sorcerer. To my understanding in the current state of the game human and drow can gain the same modifier on their charisma but the human is much better as has a lot of extra HP. Therefore, human for maximum DCs with good HP or WF are the best choices for sorcerer. As a nuking drow sorcerer you simply wouldn't have enough HP to survive the aggro you will get.

Skills: i like having extra skill points as a sorcerer, 1 rank in tumble, some balance, some intimidate are quite useful. Intimidate lets you pull mobs into your firewalls when the annoying melee characters are too dumb too. UMD and concentration are obvious.

Feats: (in order) toughness, maximise, empower, extend, heighten, spell penetration, greater spell penetration. If human ... 1 more, enlarge?