Editing Sorcerer (Dungeons & Dragons) (section)

==Pathfinder==
[[Pathfinder]] gave every class a unified system of feat progression, removing one problem with the wizard comparison right there; it also offers traits to let them make the charisma-based skills they should ''always have fucking had in-class'' into class skills, and indirectly helps them out by making prestige classes much rarer and more corner-case. It also added a series of "bloodline powers" to let the player customize them a little and to make them a little less like weaker versions of wizards; it does a good job of that, though they still lack some of the wizard's raw versatility. Greatly helping their limited spells known is that Humans (and anything that counts as Human, so [[Half-Elf]], [[Half-Orc]] and certain [[Planetouched]]) can select to learn an extra spell of a lower level as their favored class bonus instead of bonus HP or skill points (though this will make them even squishier). Those bloodlines show what monster in your ancestry is the source of your powers, making it the class equivalent of half-elf or half-orc or whatever. It's possible to be descended from an undead or an aberration; best not to think about how, though at least ''some'' undead [[vampire|are generally considered quite attractive]] and officially all exposure to mutating magical forces is a possible source of becoming a sorcerer instead of just good ol' fashioned breeding. The article for [[Android]]s in the first ''[[Adventure Path|Iron Gods]]'' book implies reincarnation is also a potential source of bloodline. 

Either way, said bloodlines dramatically increase the power of the sorcerers: each bloodline gives you a list of bonus feats, bonus spells, and "bloodline powers" which range from mediocre (1d6 blast) to getting even moar bonus spells, +6 str, [[What|having all of your internal organs shifted so that you are immune to critical hits and cannot be backstabbed]], and casting metamagic without increased casting time.  Core bloodlines are pretty standard, being classic themes as Abyssal/Infernal/Celestial/Dragonkin/Fey/etc, with the aberration and undead being kind of oddballs, the destined being hilarious, and the arcane pretty boring but obviously the most powerful, as it is clearly the most viable option in the entire game for metamagic users. Yes, now [[Powergamer|munchkins]] can be sorcerers too. Then Paizo started printing all of its "Ultimate X" stuff and things kept going weird(er), with sorcerers descending from nearly everything that can sport a reproductive system, including (but not limited to) Cthulhu-like abominations and plant monsters. They also introduced the "wildblooded" concept of variant bloodlines, though most of these are negligible difference in ancestry and exist mainly for mechanical changes. To get an idea of how weird things can get, here is the full list:

*'''Aberrant''': Your ancestor messed around with an [[Aboleth]], [[Beholder]] or something similar.
**'''Warped''': Your shapesifting powers are contagious.
*'''Abyssal''': Your ancestor messed around with a [[demon]].
**'''Brutal''':Your ancestor messed around with another demon, one that let you inherit wing-a-lings.
*'''Accursed''': Your ancestor was cursed, possibly by a [[Hag]].
*'''Aquatic''': Your ancestor messed with an aquatic creature like a [[Merfolk]], [[Triton]]... or a [[Deep One]].
**'''Seaborn''': Your powers wax and wane in power like the tides.
*'''Arcane''': Your ancestors were [[wizard]]s, and powerful ones at that.
**'''Sage''': You control your powers with research, using intelligence instead of charisma. Unlike Empyreal there's not really anything fun to do with this because intelligence based arcane casters already existed.
*'''Boreal''': Your ancestor was <s>[[Indrick Boreale]]</s> a creature living in cold regions up north.
**'''Rimeblooded''': Your power focuses more on ice than snow.
*'''Celestial''': Your ancestor was touched by an angel in ''that'' way.
**'''Empyreal''': You control your powers with insight instead of willpower, meaning you use wisdom instead of charisma. Has interesting combos with zen Archer Monk and Arcane Archer.
*'''Daemon''': Your ancestor messed around with a life-hating [[daemon]].
*'''Deep Earth''': Your ancestor messed around with a creature of the earth.
**'''Bedrock''': More of a stylistic difference, this bloodline offers more protection than offense.
*'''Destined''': Your family was destined for greatness, and it produced you. Better deliver the goods, kiddo.
**'''Karmic''': Your magic now flows upon the premise of delivering bad things to those who do them. Now those who hit you are cursed for it.
*'''Div''': Your ancestor messed around with one of the nihilistic [[div]].
*'''Djinni''': Your ancestor messed around with a Djinni, an air [[genie]].
*'''Draconic''': Your ancestor got fucked by a [[dragon]]. Comes in the full Chromatic and Metallic spectrum. A feat can also allow you to use Outer Dragons as well. 
**'''Linnorm''': Instead of a 4 legged dragon, your ancestor was a norse style serpent dragon. Given their sub-orc intelligence, inability to shapeshift, growing instead of gaining class levels and tendency to curse people, this one was ''probably'' not from genetics.
*'''Dreamspun''': Your family has always been able to mess around with dreams, and now it's your turn.
**'''Visionary''': Your family might has a history of rampantly harmless insomnia because what dreams you do have actually happen to come true.
*'''Ectoplasm''': Your family is somehow linked to ectoplasm, which does not have to mean they fucked [[ghost]]s, but probably does.
*'''Efreeti''': Your ancestor messed around with an Efreeti, a fire [[genie]].
*'''Elemental''': Your ancestor fucked a powerful elemental being, or was exposed to strong elemental energy. Comes in variations of the usual four element ensemble. 
**'''Lifewater''': Your ancestor managed to fuck water (or rather, an elemental of water) and got it's healing properties.
**'''Primal''': Your elemental power is on overload.
*'''Fey''': Your ancestor messed around with a fairy, and not of the [[gay|homosexual]] kind.
**'''Dark Fey''': Your ancestor messed around with a dark fairy. Like a normal one, but darker and edgier.
**'''Sylvan''': Your ancestor had more of a tie to nature than fairies. Oh, and now you have a pet.
*'''Ghoul''': Your ancestor probably ate a bit too much [[human|long pig]], and now you're a bit ghoulish.
*'''Harrow''': Your ancestor played too much with their not-[[Tarot]] deck, which nets you [[JoJo's Bizarre Adventure|magical powers linked to this not-Tarot]].
*'''Imperious''': Your ancestor was so much into [[Humanity Fuck Yeah]] it gained you magical powers [[Zarus|to secure a future for the human race]]. For [[human]]s only.
*'''Impossible''': You're here to kick reason to the curb and do the impossible.
*'''Infernal''': Your ancestor messed around with a [[devil]], or didn't read the fine print when they made a deal with one.
**'''Pit-Touched''': Your deal with the devil made you a bit tougher than normal.
*'''Kobold''': You carry the blood of dragons inside you, which other kobolds are really impressed with. As expected, it's for [[kobold]]s only.
*'''Maestro''': Your ancestor was way into music and sound, like a [[bard]], trumpet [[archon]], [[lillend]] or something less wholesome like a [[harpy]] or even a [[Gibbering Mouther]].
*'''Marid''': Your ancestor messed around with a Marid, a water [[genie]].
**'''Shahzada''': Your ancestor fooled around with an elite Marid, and now you're hydrokinetic.
*'''Martyred''': Your ancestor died for their beliefs, which nets you powers courtesy of grandpa Jesus.
**'''Retribution''': What happens when you ignore "let he who is without sin cast the first stone" and reap holy vengeance.
*'''Nanite''': Your ancestor messed around with [[Metal Gear|NANOMACHINES, SON!]] They grant you magical powers.
*'''Oni''': Your ancestor messed around with one of the hedonistic [[Oni]].
*'''Orc''': Your ancestor messed around with an [[orc]], which gives you [[rage]] powers. Not actually limited to orcs or humans, meaning that you could be an [[elf]] with this bloodline. This is due to the fact that the orc in question was an orc warlord, as implied by its fluff and capstone. 
*'''Pestilence''': You are a disturbed individual who's down with the sickness and gains magical powers through your blighted soul.
*'''Phoenix''': Your ancestor witnessed the rebrith of a [[Phoenix]] (though the sole NPC of this bloodline actually got it by being resurrected at a young age). You can turn your fire blast spells into ranged AoE healing spells.
*'''Possessed''': You're kind of a [[Spiritualist]]: you have a spirit riding your soul who gets you magical powers, except you get casting like a sorcerer.
*'''Protean''': Your ancestor messed around with a [[Protean]], the [[Slaad]] standins of [[Pathfinder]].
**'''Anarchic''': Instead of touching beings made of chaos, your ancestor was literally corrupted by literal chaos itself.
*'''Psychic''': Your family includes many [[Psion|psychics]], and you're too.
*'''Rakshasa''': Your ancestor messed around with a [[Rakshasa]], making them a [[furry]].
*'''Salamander''': Your ancestor messed around with a [[Salamander]], giving you all sorts of neat fire and smithing powers.
*'''Serpentine''': Your ancestor messed around with one flavor or another of [[snek]], meaning you have snake powers.
**'''Envenomed''': Your ancestor inherited the snake's venom rather than its sneakiness.
*'''Shadow''': Your ancestor messed around with edgy powers, and now you have a shadowy soul and matching powers.
**'''Umbral''': Slightly different sort of shadowy power, now granting concealment.
*'''Shapechanger''': Your ancestor was a shapechanger (presumably one that wasn't an outsider or dragon), so you're better at polymorph spells, even able to maintain one near-permanently.
*'''Shaitan''': Your ancestor messed around with a Shaitan, an earth [[genie]].
*'''Starsoul''': Your ancestor traveled through space, and instead of getting irradiated and dying their descendants gained magical powers.
**'''Void-Touched''': Your ancestor's powers didn't come from a star, but from that giant black vacuum the stars were sitting in.
*'''Stormborn''': Your ancestor messed around with <s>[[A Song of Ice and Fire|House Targaryen]]</s> a creature of storm and electricity.
**'''Arial''': Your ancestor actually messed around with the element of wind.
*'''Undead''': Your ancestor [[Discworld|has something to do with death, which nets you magical powers]].
**'''Sanguine''': Your ancestor may have been some sort of vampire. You're no [[dhampir]], but you still feel that thirst.
*'''Unicorn''': Your ancestor was a unicorn ''rider''. You get healing spells as bonus spells known, but little condition removal so you can't replace a dedicated divine caster.
*'''Verdant''': Your ancestor messed around with plants, making being [[Batman|Poison Ivy]] a hereditary trait to your family.
**'''Groveborn''': Your ancestry's more prevalent in how everything looks all wooden.

Still, sorcerers are really an interesting, entertaining choice and can be tailored and customized to be whatever the fuck you may desire, with great opportunities for roleplaying. Even the lack of spells is less severe - you get one free spell among your bloodline ones every odd level beyond the first, and a good chunk of races has a favored class bonus that nets you 1 bonus spell each level, even if it has to be one level lower than your highest spell's level. Even better is the inclusion of Bloodline Mutations from the "Magic Tactics Toolbox", which let you trade off less desirable bloodline abilities or unwanted bloodline feats for a few perks that are far more applicable.

If you don't mind being a special snowflake, check out the "build your own spells" Words of Power system from "Ultimate Magic." The sky's falling in on our heads, 'cause someone in a 3.X game actually put in an alternate casting system that favors sorcerers over their [[wizard|spoiled rotten cousins]]. Think on how some of the elemental bloodlines boost power for ''any'' spell with the right elemental subtype. Think how easy it is to slip a level zero ''cold snap'' or ''spark'' keyword into a larger spell. Engage trollface, because you just made the best "blaster" mage in 3.X history.

Also in Pathfinder, sorcerers make arguably better mystic theurges than wizards because they can choose to multiclass in [[Oracle]]. The oracle is a divine equivalent of the sorcerer that uses charisma as his casting stat, thus avoiding being [[MAD]], or can take the empyreal bloodline and swap their casting stat with Wisdom, making it a perfect multiclass option for druids or clerics that want to go theurge. Obviously, this advantage becomes moot when you notice that Pathfinder theurges suck pretty bad, and one of their (few) features only works for prepared spellcasters. Oops!

See also the [[Dragon Disciple]], which synchronizes heavily with the Draconic Bloodline. You don't gain magic as much as the pure Sorcerer, but their bloodline powers come faster or more powerful.  The spellcasting loss can be mitigated by taking the [http://aonprd.com/FeatDisplay.aspx?ItemName=Prestigious%20Spellcaster Prestigious Spellcaster] feat three times (one for each Dragon Disciple level that lacks spellcasting progression) but that and its prerequisite feat ([http://aonprd.com/FeatDisplay.aspx?ItemName=Favored%20Prestige%20Class Favoured Prestige Class]) is a pretty hefty feat investment.  And man, that's a whole lotta sprinting just to get where you coulda been standing still.

Sorcerers are still tier 2, though they've had ways to go even higher this time. Firstly the Razmirian Priest archetype is stinky [[Cheese]] that can cast any cleric spell as long as they have a magic item with the spell, effectively a tier 0. Paragon Surge is a [[Half-Elf]] only spell that gives a bonus feat, which can be spent to learn spells when you learn you need them, also making them tier 0. Errata nerfed this to always pick the same feat/spells every time it is cast each day, but it's still very good and enough to make them tier 1.

===[[Spheres of Power]]===
In Spheres, Sorcerers and Wizards become yet more equal, due to the unified casting system. The only major difference between them now is how their talents are gained and how their defining abilities are changed. The Sorcerer Bloodlines have been boosted slightly, allowing them to replace their Arcana with a focus sphere and they gain a bonus spell point per sorcerer level. However, why would someone choose to be a sorcerer instead of being an [[Incanter]] with a Sorcerer bloodline? Simple, they get to have Arcana, the free spell points and feats whilst an Incanter doesn't. Additionally, Sorcerers have the ability to use Spell Points to regain access to their bloodline powers if they run out.

Additionally, Sorcerers also get access to one archetype, but it's an archetype that's immensely potent: the Inheritor. This Champion archetype not only replaces their 1 magic talent per level with one blended talent per level (granting them the choice of magic or combat) [[Gish|but also grants them a 3/4 BAB and d8 hit dice]]. Additionally, it delays the ability to regain uses of Bloodline Powers with spell points by being able to first freely use 1st level powers with 3/day limits and later empower and improve the 1s level power. Last, but not least, the archetype's roots as an "improved Eldritch Scrapper" shows up as it gains Martial Flexibility from the [[Brawler]], replacing the bonus spell points per level. Even better, the Inheritor can even use Martial Flexiblity to gain [[Awesome|Magic and Combat talents]]!