Larian Studios Forums Baldur's Gate III Baldur's Gate III - General Storm Sorcerer over Divine Soul?

thinking there's a lot of lightning items and interactions in the game so its thematic.

Sure,

So, my experience with it has been that if you play a storm sorcerer like most sorcerers tend to play (staying back, avoiding the fray), you will end up feeling like the subclass has no identity and no flavour, because you will never get much use out of its features. The way it plays best, in my experience, has been *aggressive*. Front and centre, in the thick of thing, using abilities and spells that give you movement or that move others as you deal damage. You get free AoE damage when you cast, and you can get a 10ft reposition before or after you cast that is a flying speed which does not provoke opportunity. Lightning bolt is generally the mid-level bread and butter, for a storm sorcerer, and you can make the most out of hitting the most targets with it by being in the middle of the combat, and being able to freely circle around your main target without opportunity from other things, in order to line up the most valuable shot. Thunderwave is often a low-level signature spell, and it's another great close-quarters AoE that helps you move other targets, either to put them into more favourable positions, or to get them away from you if you need, or other utility options.

My sorceress has been a gnome with 10AC, and she does not, in fact, stock mirror image or mage armour (but does use Shield and has pretty decent con and hp); she's often angry, often violent, and hasn't met a problem yet that she couldn't electrocute away (personal emotional traumas and loses aside; we use the anger and other distractions to avoid engaging with those). Our DM doesn't pull punches; party members go down often, we've had numerous deaths on our journey to level 12 (so far). She's gone down only once, recently, and it was in an encounter involving a villain that had singled her out as the focus of his particular ire and blame... most of the time, intelligent play that is aggressive, but tactically sound makes sure that she can put herself in the thick of danger, but get out again as she need, or else resolve the encounter before she's overwhelmed.

This is personal experience only; compared to other subclasses, the raw numerical punch of the subclass perks is lacking, it's true, and there are places where it could be better - aforementioned not getting our fly speed until level 18 is a huge kick in the teeth, and Storm's Fury (reaction on damage to push back the target and deal damage) is nice in theory but as a sorceress I've already got a lot of pressure on my reaction (I'm our groups only counter-speller, for one thing).

Emily Axford played a pretty sweet Tempest Cleric/ Storm Sorcerer on Crown of Candy. I think Storm Sorcerer sounds pretty fun. Also Larian has not been shy about homebrewing some things. They may revise the less good parts of SS

why would you need Divine Soul since Wizards can learn divine spells or have they fixed that yet?

Yep, the ability for wizards to learn divine spells was removed in one of the later patches, and the number of divine scrolls findable was reduced hugely. It's of course possible (and in my view desirable) that scroll use will be further restricted come full release so I don't think we can rely on that to plug any gaps!

I was going to play a draconic sorcerer, but now I might pick a storm sorcerer instead!

Storm Sorc seems fine, especially with the changes to lightning damage in this game (with the wet condition), and perhaps some slight changes.

What I really don't understand is why you would include both Swords and Valor Bard. It is not that Swords Bard is terrible or anything but it is basically the exact same thing again. Bard with armor, extra attack and so on. Why?

There are so many cool Bard options. Glamour, Whispers, ...
But now, 2/3 have extra attack and we basically only have 2 real options

I’ll admit that one puzzled me as well. I guess Larian felt they had to include Valor as it’s PHB, but folk seem to prefer Swords so they’ve added that. I don’t really know anything about 5e that I’ve not learned through BG3 so am not sure why. From my reading Swords are probably better fighters as they get a fighting style and can use their inspiration themselves for flourishes, whereas Valor bards boost allies with combat inspiration?

Personally I think I’d have preferred a more distinctive third bard class as well, but that said Swords does sound pretty cool.

Swords was a kind of soft replacement for Valour. But, since Larian said "everything in the PHB" the felt they couldn't just skip Valour. Same as they couldn't just skip Champion Fighter or Assassin rogue.

@Niara Thanks! That all sounds super interesting and cool. I've always liked the idea of a spellsword type magic warrior. It sounds like I'll be adding a half-orc Storm Sorceress to my list of characters to play, since their relentless endurance and savage attacks would mesh quite well. Plus the description of them as passionate resonates with me quite nicely.

Will anyone even play Champion (and be happy with their decision)?!?? Even with Larian's additions to the action economy--BA jump, potion, etc--the 5e Champion is just so boring. You literally get one subclass choice from leveling up, and even that choice likely won't add any additional options during gameplay; it'll simply make a number go up. There's a reason the Battle Master is by and large considered the "default fighter."

I could see myself choosing Champion in a RtwP game with 6 party members, just to make one party member easier to control, but in a 4-person TB game... I especially feel bad for someone who chooses Champion in a multiplayer game. I wonder if Larian will make any changes to the Champion...

oh, that is good news. I not played for a patch or two, waiting for full release.

I'm hoping they give it a makeover like they did the barbarian subclasses.