Prime requisite for BG2 sorcerer?

georgelappies

When creating a character the info box tells one that intelligence is the prime requisite for a sorcerer in bg2? I was under the impression that a sorcerers spells came via charisma?

Dee

In the BG games, sorcerers don't use their ability scores to determine spells.

The Intelligence requisite is more academic than anything.

Shin

Neither of them matter for sorcerers in the game actually.

georgelappies

What then determines the max amount of spells they can have per level?

Shin

Their spell progression and spells per level are dependant on the level of the sorcerer, regardless of ability scores.

Dee

Their level.

A sorcerer gets a specific number of spells known, which can't be changed. You learn new spells when you gain levels, but that's it.

CaptRory

You only need intelligence for using Scrolls. You could focus entirely on physical stats if you wanted.

neleothesze

They basically have no ability requirements only level requirements for casting a certain number of spells. You can make a 18/18/18/3/3/3 sorcerer if it suits your fancy and he will still have the same number of spells as a more intelligent and/or charismatic arcane colleague. I wasn't sure you knew this from your question, so, just in case you need it, here's a table which shows how many spells per level you get ( and this applies regardless of your stats ):
http://playithardcore.com/pihwiki/index.php?title=Baldur's_Gate:_Progression_Charts#Sorcerer
If you already knew this, sorry.

georgelappies

Thanks for the fast replies and helpfull info. That sucks Specialised wizard seems much better then...

Shin

It's more like they have different strengths, depends on how you like to play.

Dee

Sorcerer can be great, too. If you have an idea of what strategy you're going to employ, then being able to choose those spells reliably (without waiting for the right scroll to come along) can be a great boon, even if it means less versatility over all.

And you really can't beat the number of spells per day (it's usually about half again what you'd get as a wizard).

OperativeNL

I basically prefer sorcerers because I've played the game so much, I usually end up using the same spells all over anyway. On the other hand, this is their greatest limiting factor - you're stuck with whatever spell set you choose. Now that I think of it, using the same spells over and over starts to bore me, so I might choose a wizard after all, simply because I could use some of the spells I'd usually never use for some time, just for fun. Because after all, ALL spells are very useful - somehow.

Sorcerers don't really need any ability score, you could make a sorcerer with melee stats but that'd be silly because he can't use armor or weapons. I usually end up giving them max int and wis anyway because it helps with identifying and lore...

Corvino

Slightly silly, but the prime stat of a sorcerer is dex. You only need 16 con for max HP, but max dex helps with ranged thac0, which is moderately important for casters in BG1 and AC.

As previously stated, int and char both have no impact on Sorcerer casting. There is a minimum int required to cast from scrolls though Wis had an impact on the options available in wish/limited wish but is otherwise irrelevant.

So overall - sorcerers can get away with crap stats all round because their class works that way. They're still bloody useful with good spell picks, but work best in tandem with a pure/spec mage due to limited spell choices.

DJKajuru

A warning, though - only select spells you know you'll be using at any point of the game, stuff that enemies are hardly immune to , such as magic missiles , invisibility and remove magic...

CaptRory

Another upside of sorcerors: If you like having a lot of arcane muscle, you don't ned to scrounge up enough scrolls for three mages. The sorceror doesn't need them so you should have enough for everyone without pulling your hair out trying to get extras.

Dee

@CaptRory, actually I find myself hoarding scrolls with my sorcerer whenever I find a spell I don't know, because I know it's the only way I'll be able to cast it.

Kind of adds an element of collection for a class whose versatility is limited, which is something I like about it.

CaptRory

That's true. My point was more if you wanted to have a lot of mages, if you made one a sorceror than that one guy doesn't need scrolls so they can all be memorized by the two normal wizards.

Dee

Ah, true. I was in my Charname-is-a-selfish-bastard mode.

Corvino

The main thing for sorcerers is forward planning. You need to know which spells you want at each level well in advance, especially starting at level 1.

Avoiding redundancy is key. Never have 2 spells that do the same job if you can help it.

Dragonwing

I thought Charisma is needed to make your spells more potent, harder to resist, etc.? Or is that only in dnd 3e like in Neverwinter nights? So you're telling me that there is absolutely no advantage whatsoever to having a high charisma for a sorcerer in BG1/2, except maybe for persuasion?

Brude

Dragonwing said:

I thought Charisma is needed to make your spells more potent, harder to resist, etc.? Or is that only in dnd 3e like in Neverwinter nights? So you're telling me that there is absolutely no advantage whatsoever to having a high charisma for a sorcerer in BG1/2, except maybe for persuasion?

Only 3e (and maybe one of the IWD games?).

In the BG games, a Sorcerer with straight 10s in every attribute is just as powerful a caster as a Sorcerer with straight 18s*.

*Only difference is: The guy with 18 WIS can cast Wish without chugging a potion first.

Dragonspear

@Brude

You would be correct IWD2 does infact use the 3e ruleset

Dragonwing

Would the new Wild Mage NPC work exactly like a sorcerer in BG?

Koson

@Dragonwing No, a wild mage is a mage kit, so Int is his/her main stat.

Jaxsbudgie

They should have implemented the Sorcerer a bit better. One thing I would have liked is the ability to swap out lower level spells for new spells every 4 or so levels just like in 3rd edition. Would have made them a little friendlier for BG newbies.