Feat Progression for Sorc TR

[Desdemonte]

I'm wondering what people think- And I apologize if this has been discussed here already-my Forum Search Fu is bad...

I'm going to TR soon- human sorc (1st life) into another human sorc. It will be the one and only TR for this character.

I was initially planning to take spell pen and greater spell pen, but I won't be taking any of the spell pen enhancements (not enough AP's). My reasoning was to increase my FoD's, Wail's etc even though it is an Evocation build (Air primary with water second). I figured she would need all the spell pen help she could get. Is this a waste of 2 feats though? Even with them, is my spell pen going to be dismal to the point of not worthwhile?

Also what do people think of the sorc pastlife feat? It looks pretty lousy to me- essentially mental toughness with a few free low damage spells per rest.

Thanks-

[soulaeon]

I was initially planning to take spell pen and greater spell pen, but I won't be taking any of the spell pen enhancements (not enough AP's). My reasoning was to increase my FoD's, Wail's etc even though it is an Evocation build (Air primary with water second). I figured she would need all the spell pen help she could get. Is this a waste of 2 feats though? Even with them, is my spell pen going to be dismal to the point of not worthwhile?

One past life is not enough if you want to be as good at something as wizards usually are. And the same goes the other way around, too.
Sorcerers are slowly and surely becoming a DPS class, rather than wizards with more spell points and faster casting. You should be able to get along without a lot of death spells, or a lot of spells that require a spell resistance check. For example, you could spend the same amount of SP killing something with your electric spells as you would trying to Finger something until you pass its spell resistance.
For a no-fail Wail of Death or mass Hold, you would need over 30 spell penetration, wich is just not possible with one past life unless you were an elf.

[Enoach]

The spell penetration feats are good investment if you are using enough spells that require SR checks.

Spell Pen is important for FoD and Wail but only against enemies that have SR. However, it will still be effective against non SR creatures without this investment.

What I would recommend is take the time to list out the spells you have come to enjoy this life, review the school that they belong in and if they have SR checks. You listed 2 spells so far out of all the spells you have in your arsenal. Do these two spells carry enough weight to justify 2 feats to boost their effectiveness? What feats are you giving up to accomplish this?

As for my personal opinion for sorcerers not focusing on Instant kills or Enchantments I would invest in only one feat and supplement with a Spell Pen Item or Greater Spell Pen Item (DT robes can get Greater Spell Pen VIII) that can be switched in when these types of spells when they are more effecient then using Damaging spells that do not have SR checks. Yes, your Spell Pen will be lower but it is worth the sacrifice to increase the damage of your spells.