Lore warden 2-4 / magus - is this a fun idea?


Advice


I'm thinking about making my third PFS character and have been wanting to play a high int character but not a pure wizard. So I've been looking at a Lore Warden as a starting point.

So the option of magus makes some sense - another martial but INT focused class and the bonus feats and skills of the lore warden should help. Debatable whether to take 2 or 4 levels of lore warden however (and whether to I straight lore warden to start or to alternate classes for a bit)

I'm also not sure what race to use - I may use a boon to play a Tiefling which might be really fun (Dex and Int plus great special abilities...) but I may also want to wait for the tiefling book and race guide books to be published first and see what they offer for PFS play...

But if I go this way what other options should I conside? I was looking closely at the Hexblade archetype (hexes being pretty awesome - though spell recall is nice and arcana are already very good) but the lore warden levels might weaken some hexes via lower DCs.

Dark Archive

So, you want to give up multiple levels of spell progression, at least 1 Arcana, who knows how many skill points and all ability to wear heavy armor and push wearing medium armor off till the last level or 2 of your PFS career for what?
2 extra skill points a level, a +2 on your CMB & CMD and the Combat Expertise feat?

You would be giving up a LOT for that +2 to your CMD/CMB (that's the only thing you can't just have by 3rd level if you wanted it).

Grand Lodge

You don't have to play a class that uses INT to have a high INT.

I'm an 8th level fighter (no archetypes, even) and have 17 INT. I speak 13 languages and have a +14 to Linguistics.


I'm not really interested in wearing heavy armor - I'm looking to play a mobile dex based character over a tank. Taking levels of fighter with a magus would also give me a higher BAB.

Sure I could play a non-int based class with a high int but that isn't the exact concept I'm going for - I want to play something that leverages int in an interesting way.

I also am willing to take the penalities of multiclassing as long as my character remains effective and able to contribute well to any party.

Grand Lodge RPG Superstar 2015 Top 32, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32

Rycaut wrote:
I want to play something that leverages int in an interesting way.

Taking levels in a class that uses INT for its primary class feature is an interesting leverage of INT?


Yes. I have yet to play such a class in PFS so that is what I define for myself as interesting. To date I've played classes that minimized INT in favor of WIS and other stats. So I want to play a character with INT focused classes. Hence Lore Warden and probably Magus (which I realize many play as a STR focused class for max damage output)

Sovereign Court

Lore warden / white haired witch2 (depending on final errata) for INT grappling goodness.


I'm still searching for ways to make an interesting Lore Warden that isn't maximally cheesed out with whip trip or Dervish dance (and on the other end of the spectrum, isn't just a fighter who can't wear heavy armor)... I'll be keeping an eye on this thread

Grand Lodge RPG Superstar 2015 Top 32, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32

Rycaut wrote:
Yes. I have yet to play such a class in PFS so that is what I define for myself as interesting. To date I've played classes that minimized INT in favor of WIS and other stats. So I want to play a character with INT focused classes. Hence Lore Warden and probably Magus (which I realize many play as a STR focused class for max damage output)

Ah, okay, I'm with you now.

Have you considered perhaps a Fighter/Wizard/Eldritch Knight?

Liberty's Edge

I think it would be an interesting choice. Don't listen to all the min-maxers who will tell you the build isn't worth it because it isn't uber.

I think any build, unless purposely gimped a ton, will be perfectly reasonable. I play a Battle Oracle 4 / Barbarian 2 / Rage Prophet 4 with a 13 Cha & 20 Str. He's basically a well-rounded tank. Sure, his DPR is less than what a straight fighter or barbarian could do with his build, but I think anyone that has played with Bbauzh would agree that he's pretty potent.


Yes that is an option but the magus feels similar though more melee focused and with more limited spell casting. But also a faster ability to do both effectively. The eldritch knight would require at least five levels of straight wizard and one level of fighter (at minimum). Definitely a fun class but probably more wizard than I precisely want to play with this character - the magus appeals more to what I have in mind. But it is definitely an option I've looked at. (this is for PFS play so features that don't show up until higher levels mean it will be less likely I ever get to play with them)

Grand Lodge RPG Superstar 2015 Top 32, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32

Rycaut wrote:
Yes that is an option but the magus feels similar though more melee focused and with more limited spell casting. But also a faster ability to do both effectively. The eldritch knight would require at least five levels of straight wizard and one level of fighter (at minimum). Definitely a fun class but probably more wizard than I precisely want to play with this character - the magus appeals more to what I have in mind. But it is definitely an option I've looked at. (this is for PFS play so features that don't show up until higher levels mean it will be less likely I ever get to play with them)

I confess I have Eldritch Knight on the brain, as I'm currently working on one myself. Currently Fighter1/Wizard2 (man, 4th level is gonna be HUGE for him - new spell level and bumping my STR to 18). I've only played him once (mostly GM credits used), but he's fun. Foresight FTW. Until you get a GM who decides that the enemy's ambush is something that happens before combat, instead of a "surprise round"...

Shadow Lodge RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 8

I've got a build for one of my characters that's going lore warden 2/gunslinger 4/duelist 6. And the lore warden is perfect for it. I dipped the gunslinger to get firearm proficiency, bonus feat and the +1 AC and +2 initiative/ cooler quick draw. Miss Lucia is currently level 6 and has been great fun the last two times I've played her. Frontline light armor tank, looking toward duelist to boost my AC a bit more. I tried to hamper it by giving her a subpar con (8, as a melee fighter), but her AC get's pretty insane.

Take my attack, fighting defensively, then move, with acrobatics. If it provokes an AOO, I have an AC of 30. /shrug. But when I get hit, hoo boy. It's like "Oh god oh god, I need healing -- NOW!!" I also really like making a full attack while hasted that's slash, slash, five foot step, shoot the caster in the back.

Dark Archive

Rycaut wrote:
Yes that is an option but the magus feels similar though more melee focused and with more limited spell casting. But also a faster ability to do both effectively. The eldritch knight would require at least five levels of straight wizard and one level of fighter (at minimum). Definitely a fun class but probably more wizard than I precisely want to play with this character - the magus appeals more to what I have in mind. But it is definitely an option I've looked at. (this is for PFS play so features that don't show up until higher levels mean it will be less likely I ever get to play with them)

Ok, then let me ask you this then.

WHY do you want to play a high int melee character ?
What aspect of the game do you want this character to excel at that uses that Int?
Most of the people here would be happy to advise you on building anything you want but have no idea what you're asking for.

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