The Sorcerer Domain System

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Spell Progression Chart

Bloodlines

Arcane Domains

Magical power is his birthright, and arcane energies leap to obey his commands. His very blood is the essence of the mystical forces that underlie creation.

He is the sorcerer.

This system attempts to evoke in rules terms the magical heritage of the sorcerer that is mentioned in his Core Rulebook I entry, yet not truly followed through in the rules. In this system, the sorcerer is born to power, either by circumstance of birth or by the nature of his ancestors.

It should be noted that various potential ancestor creatures may have different sorcerous connotations based on an individual DM's campaign world. If in one setting all dragons are symbols of strength, and are used as such on heraldry and so forth, then adding Strength to the draconic bloodlines might work better in a campaign set in such a place. Consider the differences that would need to be made in Dark Sun, for example, to use this system. Also note that some of the bloodlines have more 'conceptual' grounding, such as the elements. Fire is in many cultures a vital, active force, and so Vitality was created as a domain for Fire Elementals. Such conceptual groundings will need to be catered to individually in a campaign.

In the end, it is  encouraged that you tinker, customize, and do whatever it takes to make this system fit your vision of sorcery!

Some bloodlines have more domains than others. This is usually because certain creatures have more symbolic or mythic significance, such as devils, demons, dragons, titans, and so forth - their flavor is a blend of many ideas. While it adds more choices, any one sorcerer is only going to ever have two domains, so it adds no extra 'power' to those sorcerers who choose such bloodlines.

Alt.Sorceror (Domain Based)

Proficiencies: as per PHB
Skills: as per PHB
Familiar: as per PHB
Hit Dice, BAB, Saves: as per PHB

Spells per day: As per PHB
Spells Known: See below

Choose a source of sorcerous powers (bloodline).
At first level, select one domain from that source’s domains, nine 0-level spells from the sorcerer/wizard spell list, and one first level spell from the sorcerer/wizard list.

At second level, select two spells of any level you can cast from the wizard/wizard list and add them to your spells known. At third level, select your second domain from your bloodline’s list of domains.
At every other level at which new domain spells do not become available to you (for example 5th, 7th, 9th, 11th, etc) select any two spells of any level you can cast from the wizard/wizard spell list.

When adding Sorcerer Spells, they may be of any level the sorcerer can cast or lower. Thus, the sorcerer’s spells known may vary depending on where the sorcerer focuses his learning. This allows the sorcerer greater flexibility with the few spell choices he must make.

The symbol ‘#’ signifies a number that will vary, based on the sorcerer’s flexible allocation of new spells on levels 2, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, and 20. The use of ‘d’ signifies the first arcane domain and its spells. The use of ‘2d’ signifies the spells from both of the sorcerer’s arcane domains. Only one domain spell is learned from each domain, though on odd levels, a sorcerer may learn spells not previously chosen from the alternative spell options on his Domain spell lists.