Quote Originally Posted by Bad Wolf View Post
Hmm..that'll be a little feat-intensive. And ESR requires me to be a illusionist, which means I have to take a level of wizard?
Yeah, I forgot about that bit of ESR, sorry.

Shadowcrafter isn't mandatory, it just gives your shadow spells a nice bump. Spell selection IS mandatory if you're reaching for tier 1 with a sorcerer. What separates tier 1 from tier 2 is versatility, not power. Shadow conjuration/evocation, their Greater counterparts, Shades, Limited Wish, Wish, and Miracle (a feat just for Miracle IS worth it, IMO) give you an amazing amount of versatility. Add in polymorph and shapechange and you're good to go. You will still be 2 caster levels behind a wizard, though, which hurts.