The Greyhawk Chronicles

When the third edition of DnD was first announced and followed by fans across the world, the big question was “Why would someone want to play a sorcerer?” Sorcerers, unlike Mages, did not have spell books, they have a list of known spells, and can cast them a set number of times per day (by level), much like a celestial being or dragon can use spell like abilities. Mages, on the other hand, can draw from all the spells he has previously scribed into his spell book, and cast them as needed. So, when the numbers came out and it looked like a low level sorcerer would have access to fewer (and lower level) spells then a mage, and with out the versatility, cries of “my sorcerer is broken! Underpowered!” came ringing across forums and game sites around the world.

I was one of those that thought sorcerers were bad and underpowered. We were wrong. Horribly wrong.

My first play session of a pen and paper game showed me how powerful Sorcerers are. They can cast VAST amounts of combat spells and STILL have plenty left for the next battle, when a mage is out of options fast, especially a hasted mage. They can drop high level spells for low level ones, ensuring an extra disintegrate or flesh to stone, should the first six castings fail to slay. In a video game setting, Sorcerers have a giant advantage, since if you played a wizard there are a certain number of necessary combat spells to take, but you would have to rest constantly to use them each fight. Admit it, most of you pick combat spells after you rest in games like Icewind Dale and Baldur’s Gate. “Let’s see, I have 6 first level spells. Let’s take 4 magic missile and 2 chromatic orb. *sigh*” A Sorcerer will take the same spells and have free on-the-fly access to them with out needing to rest (or reload) nearly as often. Anyone who has played a Sorcerer in Baldur’s Gate II and it’s expansion knows exactly how powerful these guys can be, especially at high levels. For some hard stats on Sorcerers and Wizards, the open gaming source version of the core rulebooks can be found at the link at the end of this article.

However, while I largely enjoy Sorcerers now more then mages, in Pen and Paper the Wizard is much closer in power level, and I do say they are balanced. In video games, no, the sorcerer has a clear advantage, which has made several folks upset, myself included.

First, the fine lads at Troika are integrating item creation, one of the most fascinating aspects of the 3E system. To create an item, you have to have the appropriate spells that go with it. Boots of speed require the Haste spell to be cast one time each day the item is being manufactured. If you’re a sorcerer, spending time, money, and experience on boots of speed is sort of silly, since you can CAST haste about 7 times a day or so, if it is one of the small number of spells you have picked (and if you don’t pick haste ASAP as a sorcerer, shame on you!). A wizard can make use of his item creation feet to make these boots, then only prepare 1 haste for the day, and wear the boots for later use if needed.

This leads to my second point about mages’ return to power in video games, Wizards get a free (bonus) feat every 5^th level. This means, not only are they better, more adept, and versatile with creating various types of items, they get the option of choosing some extra feats that include item creation feats. In ToEE, the level cap is 10, so a maxed out Wizard can have two extra feats then a sorcerer, and Wizards can start out with Scribe Scroll, which is a very big deal, since if a mage can take the time to scribe some scrolls, he has the same casting potential as a sorcerer (in theory) while retaining his own versatility. And Scrolls, after inflation, are practically free to make.[1]

This isn’t to say a sorcerer cannot take scribe scrolls, however since you can only scribe scrolls you can cast or are in your spell book the sorcerer sort of falls short with this (and many other item creation feats). Honestly, how many magic missiles or sleep spells do you think your going to need that you have to create an item to let you cast more? If you’re a sorcerer, use your feats to get spell focus in your favorite schools, so your spells are better focused and have a greater chance of working, or spell penetration, you’ll wish you had it at some point or another to overcome Spell Resistance easier. Creating items is a mage’s domain, and I am thrilled this is going to be in.

So the video game mage becomes more practical because of magic items, it’s true, but that isn’t the only reason ToEE mages will be viable (more so then other games of late). Another fantastic thing about the mage is a naturally higher Intelligence (INT) score (sorcerers use Charisma (CHA), since this stat will determine the difficulty with which spells are resisted when he casts them, as well as bonus spells per level with which to cast per day. Which means she will enjoy more starting languages as well as (more importantly) have more Skill Points per level, since these are based on INT as well. Again, this isn’t to say a Sorcerer cannot have a higher INT, but if your using point buy, or aren’t a follower of Lady Luck with the dice, most sorcerers will put there best score in CHA for more bonus spells. So, a mage will have a natural advantage just like a rogue will have a natural side effect of having a higher armor class (most players want a high Dexterity with there rogues).

I am for the first time since the video game industry started using 3E excited to use a Mage over a Sorcerer in a video game. Mages have been short sheeted in any game a sorcerer appears in for many reasons, and now it seems they will be the equals they are in Pen and Paper once again, for which magic lovers the world over may rejoice over.

[1] Low level scrolls (spell levels 1-3) are very cheap, and exceptionally useful. Above level 3, or any spell with an expensive component, and they aren’t quite so casually crafted, but still cheaper then a potion.