I'm helping a friend build their first Sorcerer in Pathfinder. We have decided to take the Arcane Bloodline. While I am not used to playing a magic user, I am GM every other weekend with my group. I have always been a little shaky on the way some of the magic works.
The Arcane Bloodline gets an Arcane Bond like a Wizard does. This allows a wizard to cast a spell from his spell book without having to prepare it in one of his spell slots ahead of time. The sorcerer is a spontaneous caster.
The Sorcerer's bloodline Arcane Bond says:
Once per day, your bonded item allows you to cast any one of your
spells known.
Then what is the point of that feature, and how does it work? My player has a choice between using a familiar or a bonded item.
Can the sorcerer cast a spell they know without using a spell slot? They already cast any spell that they know at will, as long as they have the slot to use it. What's the benefit?
Best Answer
This isn't such a great pick for a sorcerer, a familiar will be nicer for them in the long run generally.
The sorcerer has limited spells per day and per level - so a bonded item will give the sorcerer a free extra spell of any level that they can cast.
For example - if they've used up all their level 3 spells and really want to cast a fireball? Then they can by using the bonded item.
Note the title of this question was "does casting a spell with your familiar cost a spell slot? If so, whats the point?"
The choice for the arcane bond is a familiar OR a bonded item, not both. The familiar will not let you cast a bonus spell, but they may be able to use wands, scout, dance amusingly, get you into trouble....