With natural magic ability from a mysterious bloodline, high charisma, and spotting magic spells or loot, the Pathfinder sorcerer has it all.
Pathfinder Sorcerers don’t choose and study to become spellcasters, they are born. For them, the magic has been in their blood since the beginning. It may come from an ancestor, a powerful entity, a ritual that forever altered your lineage, or something else, but for the Sorcerer, magic is as natural as breathing. Study and self-reflection allow them to strengthen their inherent abilities. But this natural power can also carry dangerous risks.
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The Pathfinder Sorcerer Basics
Sorcerers are a spellcasting class known for their Charisma, and take a boost to that attribute at character creation. They also start their adventures with expert-level training in their Will saving throw.
Sorcerers will also get through character creation with training in Perception, Fortitude, Reflex, Simple Weapons, Unarmed Attack, Unarmored Defense, two skills as determined by their bloodline, and a number of additional skills equal to their Intelligence Modifier plus two. They are specifically noted to be untrained in all armor.
In combat, Sorcerers heavily utilize spells on the battlefield. Whether it’s to offensively deal damage, to influence an enemy’s next move or give them a disadvantage and their own part an advantage, magic is the Sorcerer’s primary tool.
Chances are this will be a more physically weak and venerable character, so Pathfinder Sorcerers will tend to keep a little distance between themselves and the heart of the battle. Or, they may require a little extra protection from their more hearty teammates. Though, some bloodlines may help a Sorcerer be a bit less squishy. They will also need to be smart in using their cantrips and more powerful spells strategically so spell isn’t unavailable when they need it the most.
In non-combat situations, Sorcerers have a natural charisma that makes them very good at talking to people. They may not have the same ability to trick people or sway hearts and minds like some of their party members, but chances are the Sorcerer won’t be the one to get your group kicked out the tavern due to a social blunder, either.
They have an almost uncanny ability to detect magic around them, which can mean finding traps or treasures in equal measure. Between battles, the Sorcerer may spend their time crafting magic items, writing scrolls, or focusing on their research.
Sorcerer Spellcasting
Their bloodline will provide the Pathfinder Sorcerer with a deep pool of magical power. Their spellcasting tradition is influenced by which bloodline they have, so your Sorcerer’s specific spells and style will have a little guidance from the get-go. Sorcerers draw power from within themselves, and will focus and shape this power with incantations and gestures.
As Sorcerer’s level up, they will be able to cast both higher-level spells and lower-level spells at a higher level. This is to say, that even their more introductory magic will get more powerful as they do. Many of these spells have specific improvements as they are heightened to certain levels.
Bloodlines
A Sorcerer’s bloodline is what gives them their magic ability. These bloodlines will determine the spell list they choose from and kinds of spells they can cast, as well as give the character additional skills. They will also gain focus points and special focus spells based on the bloodline the player chooses at character creation.
Aberrant: With this bloodline, a strange entity gives the Sorcerer power from beyond the stars or beneath the earth. Their tradition is occult, their added skills are Intimidation and Occultism.
Angelic: The Angelic bloodline gives a Sorcerer power from a celestial realm or an ancestor’s devotion. Their tradition is divine, and their skills are Diplomacy and Religion.
Demonic: One of their ancestors fell victim to demonic corruption, and now the Sorcerer is burdened by that sin. And magic. Their tradition is Divine and their Skills are Intimidation and Religion.
Diabolic: Similar to the previous bloodline, these Sorcerers have ancestors who made infernal pacts. Their tradition is divine and their skills are Deception and Religion.
Draconic: These Sorcerers get their power from dragon blood that flows in their veins. Their tradition and skills vary depending on the kind of dragon in their family line. The book encourages you to work with your GM to pick your specifics from a chart of various Draconic Exemplars.
Elemental: With this bloodline, an elemental influence has imbued the Sorcerer’s blood with primal fury and power. Their tradition is primal and their skills are Intimidation and Nature. Their spells will depend on the kind of elemental blood (earth, fire, metal, water, or wood) they have.
Fey: These Sorcerers may have had a family member who succumbed to Fey whimsey or had a moonlit tryst. And now that Sorcerer has a little extra fey blood… And Magic. Their tradition is primal and their skills are Deception and Nature.
Hag: With this bloodline, a hag cursed the Sorcerer’s family long ago or they are the descendant of a hag or a changeling. Their tradition is occult and their skills are Deception and Occultism.
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Imperial: These Sorcerers had an ancestor that mastered magic and they have inherited those gifts. Their tradition is arcane and their skills are Arcana and Society.
Undead: Sorcerers with this bloodline have the touch of death running through their veins. It’s possible that their family tree has included someone undead like a vampire. Their tradition is divine and their skills are Intimidation and Religion.
Multiclassing a Pathfinder Sorcerer
A character who already has a class, but has recently been discovering their own innate magic, it may be the right move to multiclass as a Sorcerer. This would be a useful multiclass for anyone looking to add a little magic to their build. Or, it could be a good way to incorporate aspects of the various bloodlines into a character. For example, an undead bloodline for a dhampir character.
Characters multiclassing as a Sorcerer gain access to the feats Sorcerer Dedication Basic, Expert and Master Sorcerer Spellcasting, Basic and Advanced Blood Potency, Basic Bloodline Spell, and Bloodline Bredth.
How to Play a Pathfinder Sorcerer
Two of the most important aspects of the Pathfinder sorcerer are the bloodline and their spellcasting ability. Picking bloodline at character creation will be one of the most important choices you make for your character. It will not only affect what their background looks like, but their magic, the skills they have, and possibly their goals and aspects of their personality as well.
Whether you have a fully fleshed out character in mind and just need to pick a bloodline to match, or you’re more or less coming up with a blank slate that you’ll add story to later, you’ll want to make sure that you pick a bloodline you’re happy playing for a while.
For spells, players will want to make sure that they keep themselves organized. Running out of spell slots of picking spells that don’t end up being useful for your adventure isn’t fun. Utilize those cantrips as strategically as possible so you’ll have the more powerful spells when you need them. Of course, this doesn’t mean never using your spells because they’re always being saved. It’s a balancing act.
Finally, your sorcerer is likely going to be useful out of battle as well as in it. Remember to use that charisma in social situations—especially if you’re party members are a little less personable. Remember to check for traps and magical loot. There’s no reason to walk by something cool or walk directly into a trap you could have seen coming!
Happy adventuring!
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