Which do you enjoy playing more, a Wizard or a Sorcerer? I know this topic came up every once in a while for BG2, so I thought that I would go ahead and start some discussion in this area. I am planning to play an arcane spellcaster type (not Bard) my next run through the game (not finished yet, but getting there). In addition to choosing one, give me some insights into how different it is from BG2, and what things you like/dislike about the two classes. Thank you in advance for answering this question for me.

Just from a game mechanics point of view I think Wizards are a better spellcasting class in NWN. They get spells faster, and have a greater selection. The draw back, of course, is that they must plan ahead. But in a game where reloading, reseting spells if you need it, and resting takes maybe 2 minutes that isn't a big drawback. The tabletop game, on the other hand, is a whole different story.

I think sorcerers make better pure artillery though, because they can respond to the different needs of massively violent death in a more precise manner.

I'm itching to play through it again as a spellcaster too... I'm considering either Monk/Wizard or Paladin/Sorcerer.

for starters, i would suggest being a wizard. after you know which spells you like best, i would say go with sorceror. i just played through with a wizard and im eyeballing those extra spells that a sorceror gets [img]smile.gif[/img]

i dont use that many spells, so being a sorceror seems better.

Well, it seems like the sorcerer is winning out, but no one is stating why. Is it the extra number of spells? Not having to prepare spells? I know being able to remove spells you don't like is a big improvement over BG2.

probably the more spells per day thing. [img]smile.gif[/img]

I do like that new option allowing you to erase spells you choose that you do not like (Bard and Sorcerer). Very useful, making Sorcerer playable as a new player (I would never recommend it for a first time player in BG2).

With the new system of point allocation to the stats, if you want a character with a high charisma, you'd better pick a sorcerer over a wizard. It gives a second use to your charisma.

Also a great point. Persuade is a vital skill, and a high charisma really helps. Starting to lean even more towards sorcerer now, with some of the feedback that is coming in.

charisma and persuade are important, but the flip side is that the Wizard's higher INT gives the PC more points to spend on skills, including persuade...

If you sink 1/4 the extra skill points you get into Persuade, it will result in a better Persuade ability than a Sorcerer with a 19 Charisma...

The NWN dev team made the sorceror too powerful by allowing the "unlearning" of a spell. This lack of flexibility of a sorcerer is supposed to be the drawback for the ability to cast MORE spells.

Prior to modifiers:

At 20th level a Sorcerer can cast 60 spells, including cantrips. At 20th level a Wizard can cast 40 spells. But the wizard can KNOW an infinite number of spells (in theory, but not in practice as you would need an infinite number of monkeys to transcribe them...).

Thus, the Wizard is POWERFUL due to his FLEXIBILITY and the Sorcerer is POWERFUL due to his ABILITY.

The game took away much of the downside of the Sorcerer by giving the PC the ability to erase selection mistakes. Thus, some game mechanic imbalance occured because the sorcerer now has some additional flexibility.

For example, Sleep is a good spell in the early levels, against weak opponents, while Magic Missile starts as a weak spell but increases in power in the mid-levels.

By being able to replace Sleep with Magic Missile, you're losing the consequences of your intial choice. i.e., you have chosen a powerful early game spell that becomes useless by mid-game. You then dump it in favor for a weak early-game spell that increases in power and becomes useful in the mid-game.

I understand WHY the dev. team took this route. Too many players are not going to be DnD players and rather than have a bunch of whining power-gamers trash their game in the forums, they'll put up with a few hard-core gamers who, if they play the game in their "hard-core" way, won't take advantage of this "loop-hole."

As far as the original question goes, I prefer a Wizard. Even with the dev team "loop-hole," the Wizard is still more flexible than the sorcerer and (not discussed in above) gets to higher level spells ONE LEVEL SOONER than the sorceror (on the odd level, not the even). This allows for greater multi-classing opportunities, especially with Rogue, Ranger and Fighter class skill-sets.

Oh yes, I forgot to add, Wizards also get the Metamagic feat of Still Spell. Just put on that magical FULL PLATE ARMOUR and memorize everything as a Still Spell... (Urinating Dog!)

Honestly, I can't see why ANYONE would want to play as a Sorcerer unless he/she will dual as a Bard, Paladin or Cleric.

<font color="#0077cc">I like the wizard, just because the Mechanics works better for me. In a novel, I think sorc's make a better character, but in gaming I like the wizards. </font>

Actually, I never thought of that ability as a loophole, but now I can see why you call it that. It works great if you, for example, chose a spell you thought was alright and it turns out it sucks. But one could easily abuse it the way you were stating. I personally would only use it to erase mistakes, not to powergame. But still, it opens the door to abuse big time.

Actually, I never thought of that ability as a loophole, but now I can see why you call it that. It works great if you, for example, chose a spell you thought was alright and it turns out it sucks. But one could easily abuse it the way you were stating. I personally would only use it to erase mistakes, not to powergame. But still, it opens the door to abuse big time.</font>[/QUOTE]I agree, I haven't played the sorceror in NWN yet, but being able to change your spells on level-up is ridiculous. It's one of the biggest advantages of using a wizard over a sorc...variety. Also the extra feats; [img]smile.gif[/img]

In PnP the wizard is more able to be a magic item creator as well, the extra wizard feats help immensely.

I always choose wizard, the variety of spells to choose from is much more appealing to me. It seems, especially in CRPG's, that people who play sorcs always seem to pick the same spells anyway.

I play as an "Barbarian" female can that be bad longer in the game?

I ran about 12 pc's to level 3, but I enjoyed my Barbarian (Male, Half Orc) the most... I've got him to Chapter 3/level 15, and have no complaints whatsoever.

Changing spells is the key to playing a sorceror well. For example, you never keep more than one summoning spell in your book, but change it as you get the next level of spells. Similarly, you can replace weaker versions of spells as you learn the stronger ones (Lesser Dispel for Dispel).

The strength of the sorceror is that you get a certain number of castings at a certain spell level. For example, four first level spells. You can then cast any of your first level spells seven times, or mix and match as you see fit. The wizard, on the other hand, has to select which four spells to memorize. If he's casted two magic missiles and two identifies, once he's cast those two magic missiles, he's out of first level combat spells. The sorceror can choose to cast four magic missiles, four identifies or any combination in between. This allows for greater flexibility.

the erasing of the spells doesn't give the Sorceror that much of an edge. The Wizard is far more flexible in the "NOW". If you need a spell for a certain situation, you just memorize it, rest, and go... no need to wait until level up.

yeah but see that's the thing...if you're role playing it, you WON'T rest, until you really need to. That's the beauty of a sorceror (without the erasing thing). The sorceror can run into a situation and suddenly adapt to it, whereas the wizard has to rest, or else go into a fight with inferior spells. In BG2, this was esp. significant...you could project image, Time Stop, hit the opponent with the various resistance/throw lowerers, then do it again with another PI, only this time with Horrid Wiltings. But with NWN that's not the case, cause the sorceror, rather than being an oddity that only experienced players play, is geared for newbies.