Sorcerors

[Troll66]

Simple question - does a 1st level scholar/sorceror start the game with any spells - can't seem to pin this down in the rules - do you auto get a spell when you gain a new sorcery syle?

Thanks for any help.

 

[Clovenhoof]

Of course. The rule you want is in the Scholar class discription under "New Sorcery Style": the scholar automatically gains the basic spell associated with it.

So a level 1 sorcerer starts with exactly one spell.

 

[KemperBoyd]

So a level 1 sorcerer starts with exactly one spell.

Technically two, since they get the defensive blast too.

 

[Stygian Devout]

Interesting... I think this could lead into a good question - What is the most advisable sorcery style for a Scholar to take at 1st?

I would have to say Prestidigitation myself, as Conjuring is a highly versatile and useful spell in the hands of a creative player.

 

[Clovenhoof]

Yeah, I'd go for Conjuring / Prestidigitation / Telekinesis

 

[WeakAsAKhitan]

I think Divination is a decent choice first, because the free defensive blast is probably most likely to save the life of a 1st level PC. I'm disinclined to bother with it after that. Prestidigitation is a better style, but the required ranks in sleight of hand can sap skill points when it's a cross-class skill. But it can be made a class skill at character creation.

The other thing to consider is that for an "independant" scholar you might not always get to pick the spells you want; at least with prestidigitation as a known style you're less likely to be landed with any duds.

 

[Clovenhoof]

Prestidigitation is a better style, but the required ranks in sleight of hand can sap skill points when it's a cross-class skill. But it can be made a class skill at character creation.

A Scholar is very likely to have INT 12+, so he can just as well use the skill point(s) granted by high Int to buy Sleight of Hand ranks.

The other thing to consider is that for an "independant" scholar you might not always get to pick the spells you want; at least with prestidigitation as a known style you're less likely to be landed with any duds.

That's basically true, but the actual effect in game is small. At low levels, the selection of spells / styles for which you meet the prereqs is limited. Just a few levels later, the Knowledge: Magic skill is so high that the odds of botching an Advanced Spell roll are very low, and soon non-existent.

Our first Scholar player failed her very first Style roll, so I rolled randomly for her and came up with Presti. Could have been worse.

 

[kintire]

Our first Scholar player failed her very first Style roll, so I rolled randomly for her and came up with Presti. Could have been worse.

I am very dubious abiout the whole idea of rolling random styles. What happens if your character is a good hearted seeker after truth, or a druid type, and the first style you roll is Summoning?

 

[Clovenhoof]

Then the player should just explain why s/he wants a certain style. I have absolutely no problem with that. But then the character might rather be an Acolyte, especially in the Druid flavour.

(The player I mentioned actually wanted to go into the Summoning direction, but I strongly advised against a Demonic Pact, because it would have caused group conflict pretty soon)

 

[WeakAsAKhitan]

I don't really have too much of a proplem with the concept that independents should have a haphazard element to their style and spell selection. It feels more Conan, a harsh reality. You do get to pick initially and only if you fail the knowledge (aracana) roll does the randomness come in.

My first ever scholar did just that too and was then randomly given Necromancy, which wasn't really what I had in mind for the character. The get-out-of-jail-free card was being allowed to forgo the unwanted style and take the skill points and feat instead. This is now the house rule for unwanted spells and styles. Seems fair enough, especially when the feat can be Sorcerors Boon.

 

[Clovenhoof]

Well, rolling Necromancy early up really sucks and I don't think a GM should force this style onto a lowlevel character. You may get the basic prereqs by level 4, but you don't get an Advanced spell until level TEN, and that's just a huge waste and won't do the character any good. The char will likely run out of Spell choices pretty soon and have to take Skill points he doesn't need because he doesn't qualify for any Advanced Spell. IMHO you shouldn't force that on a player.

So random rolls or not, the GM should have the final say if the player has to accept a random style, and shift to something more favourable in cases like the above.