RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 8
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I have a lot of mental freetime each day, and have been playing around with the idea of a "support" character in PFS. We had an event recently and a GM from outta town mentioned that we lack support characters in my region. Well, I'd like to change that. So I'm going to build someone that exists only to help his fellows be better adventurers, in an manner that's so overzealous it borders on obsessive. I'm picturing a personable, meaty, good hearted dwarf bard.
We shall call him Tassel Packbearer
The Concept Bard 5 / Pathfinder Chronicler 7
Our dwarf is going be (ab)using Bardic Performance, to inspire courage among his allies. He'll pick up lingering performance to get the most out of his daily usages. But this is all standard "bard behavior," what's going to separate Tassel from the herd?
Muleback Cords. These, combined with a decent STR score and the dwarven "slow and steady" racial (speed never reduced by encumbrance) we are going to have a dwarf that can carry a lot of stuff. He'll have several handy haversacks, in addition to being overloaded with gear. Ladders, pots, pans, potions, scrolls, tents, flasks, food stuffs -- anything and everything listed as standard adventuring gear. Combining this with things like aRobe of Useful Items and the Pathfinder Chronicler's deep pocket's ability, Tassel will never be unprepared for a situation.
We'll give him ranks in UMD, dangerously curious, and skill focus (UMD) to make him a wand and scroll master. Strap on a couple spring-loaded wrist sheathes and a Glove of Storing and Tassel will always have the right utility spell for the job.
In combat, we'll have Tassel aid another (which is pumped to a +4 by Improved Aid), or hand people potions, scrolls, or just pick up the wounded and move them around. Heck, I could even see him carrying around a gnome or halfling whatever -- moving them into advantageous spots each round. His bardic performance is going to get silly good when Tassel hits level 11, and picks up Inspire Action. Giving away move actions like candy to his teammates.
Outside of combat, his skills will come in handy defusing any social situation. His perform (oratory), and another skill focus probably, will make his diplomacy and sense motive untouchable (you can't fool a dwarf!).
Overall, this is all seeming legit, but how about some numbers to back that up Walter? you might say. Touche, you beautiful person. Touche.
The Breakdown Stats STR: 14 DEX: 10 CON: 16 INT: 10 WIS: 15 CHA: 13
Tassel is stout, tough, and strong willed. Not the quickest creature, but a reliable companion.
Feats
1. Lingering Performance -- yes.
3. Skill Focus (UMD) -- gotta make sure those wands always go off
5. Skill Focus (perform, oratory) -- yes.
7. Stone Singer -- double the range of your performance underground. Question: what percentage of tombs, dungeons, and crypts are underground? Yes, you in the back? ALL OF THEM. Mwahahahaa.
9. Iron Will -- he is also incredibly stubborn
11. Improved Iron Will -- nothing gives the finger to a GM like rerolls, and a reroll on a will save is legit.
Fun Stuff
As Tassel grows in renown and prestige from his adventuring with the Pathfinders, he will gain some nifty abilities. Here's a short highlight of some nice things.
1. Bardic Performance, Inspire Courage. -- "Hey guys, want +1 to hit, damage and some saves? Kay." Combined with Lingering Performance for instant win.
2. Versitle Performance, Perform Oratory. -- Use my best skill in place of Diplomacy and Sense Motive, awesome.
3. Skill Focus, UMD. -- At this point (or quite soon) ol' Tassel will be sporting a sexy new Circlet of Persuasion and that, coupled with his trait and ranks will give him a +11 (3 ranks, 3 item, 3 feat, 1 stat, 1 trait) to UMD. Later down the line those spring-loaded scrolls of Breath of Life are going to be a walk in the park ;)
4. At this point, Tassel will round his Charisma up to a 14.
5. Lore Master.-- Taking 10 on every knowledge check seems pretty awesome. And it is. Taking 20 on the BBEG each game is never bad either.
6. Deep Pockets. -- First level of your prestige class, and now you will find that you can carry even more crap. In addition, if you somehow don't have item X, look again, now you do. Booyah.
7. Live to Tell the Tale. -- Wow. This ability is awesome. Rerolls are always good. And rerolls against mind control (if they even could on Tassel), paralysis, and other continual nasties is even better. We also get the Stone Singer feat, and double the range of our performance underground. A solid level.
8. Bardic Performance, Improved Aid -- Our performance starts leveling again, and when we aid another we give them +4 instead of +2. Legit! And lets make that Wisdom a 16, get that save a +1.
9. Iron Will, Epic Tales -- You are immune to spells that require will saves. Well...almost. Epic Tales is kinda cool, good if you have a deaf party member (dang oracles!), but probably not worth the time. If you are going to split the group, you can always send a quick pamphlet out with the other party, but I doubt Tassel will make use of it much.
11. Inspire Action, Improved Iron Will. -- We can now give people extra move actions. We can also cast haste. Also, we can reroll a failed will save once a day. Also with Improved Iron Will, now Tassel is immune to spells that force will saves.
12. Call Down Legends -- Tassel can summon a flock, scratch that, a murder of barbarians. That's just silly, but hey, fodder is fodder.
So yea, that's about all I've come up with so far. Any suggestions are welcome. I want to make the most supportive supporting dwarf ever. He should be a walking utility belt, a skill checking sidekick, always ready with a spell, scroll, or helping hand when his allies are down.
RPG Superstar 2015 Top 32, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
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This would be even better if a local regular coordinated with you to make some kind of halfling archer who sits in your backpack, delays until right after your turn (during which you move him to a strategic location) and then full-attacks away. He'd be the turret on your dwarf-tank. ;)
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RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 8
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This would be even better if a local regular coordinated with you to make some kind of halfling archer who sits in your backpack, delays until right after your turn (during which you move him to a strategic location) and then full-attacks away. He'd be the turret on your dwarf-tank. ;)
Indeed! A similar idea was spurned in my brain parts last night while I was GMing. A halfling alchemist used an extract to become size Tiny and chill out in the Paladin-tank's square. The paladin then picked him up and moved him around, so that he could always get his rapid shot without moving ;)
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ah... I already am the real "support" character...
Giamo Casanunda, at your service. (need to update a bunch of his info) -
Dwarven Cleric of Cayden, the god of love - and beer!
Dimentional Hop lets me Dim Door as a move action, and then cast Dim. Door - so he can jump himself (and up to 3 other PCs) into or out of combat. Yeah - Hop in, pick a PC right out of the monsters grip and Teleport away so the Barbarian gets another charge attack.
Been a Support Character sense 1st level, been a front line support (high AC, "un-hittable" sometimes - and no attack to speak of) sense 2nd level.
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RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 8
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ah... I already am the real "support" character...
Giamo Casanunda, at your service. (need to update a bunch of his info) -
Dwarven Cleric of Cayden, the god of love - and beer!
Dimentional Hop lets me Dim Door as a move action, and then cast Dim. Door - so he can jump himself (and up to 3 other PCs) into or out of combat. Yeah - Hop in, pick a PC right out of the monsters grip and Teleport away so the Barbarian gets another charge attack.
Been a Support Character sense 1st level, been a front line support (high AC, "un-hittable" sometimes - and no attack to speak of) sense 2nd level.
But where's the bardic performance? Where's the endless bags of tricks? Where's the carrying capacity that lets me tote around a baby grand piano, just in case? DDooring is great, don't get me wrong, but I can pull that sort of thing on my witch. And how many times can you double DDoor a game?
You've got a boss build, I'll admit. And you'll outheal Tassel any day of the week -- but I'm looking to be more of a utility belt than anything. And if worse comes to worse, I'll reduce person whoever is about to get smashed in the front lines and put them in my handy haversack.
"Tassel away!!"
if you had a saddle - could the halfling use mounted combat to prevent the first hit from hitting his "mount"?
I could see Tassel with a saddle, provided he gamed with the same small sized companion on a regular basis.
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RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 8
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For sure Nosig, I was just trying to make this kind of "support" character. Like a jockstrap for adventurers. He holds them up, carries them about, and talks about how awesome they are all the time.
Improved Reposition and Improved Drag (to get your party members out of harms way if they need some help) and Improved Steal could all prove to be very useful.
Why would I need feats to perform those maneuvers? I hope my allies wouldn't take an AOO on me. :P
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RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 8
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Vanish, to cast on other party members (helps your rogue hide, and wounded PCs get out of combat, tripped PC stand with out taking AOOs, etc).
Good call. Starting my Wand List.
Lvl 1: CLW, Grease, Infernal Healing (Lesser), Mage Armor, Shield, Vanish,Lvl 2: Invisibility, Knock
Help!
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For sure Nosig, I was just trying to make this kind of "support" character. Like a jockstrap for adventurers. He holds them up, carries them about, and talks about how awesome they are all the time.
Improved Reposition and Improved Drag (to get your party members out of harms way if they need some help) and Improved Steal could all prove to be very useful.Why would I need feats to perform those maneuvers? I hope my allies wouldn't take an AOO on me. :P
yeah Walter, I think I see where you are going with this. I'm been doing this sort of thing for a while, but with a cleric.
Shield Other to give the Max Damage more HP, (AC and saves).
all the buff spells clerics get (more spells than the Bard).
Less skill points than the bard - but I always use guidance to boost thier rolls.
Travel domain to get there faster (30ft move, 40ft with Longstrider - so he keeps up with the Barbarian and is always there to help.
Strength domain maybe for carring stuff?
Not to say Cleric is better... but maybe?
I've run both the Support Cleric and Support Bard. Both are my kind of character.
OH! and check on Unseen Servant for the Bard - so you have another "little helper". A wand of Unseen Servant to set up the camp for the night...
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RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 8
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yeah Walter, I think I see where you are going with this. I'm been doing this sort of thing for a while, but with a cleric.Shield Other to give the Max Damage more HP, (AC and saves).
all the buff spells clerics get (more spells than the Bard).
Less skill points than the bard - but I always use guidance to boost thier rolls.
Travel domain to get there faster (30ft move, 40ft with Longstrider - so he keeps up with the Barbarian and is always there to help.
Strength domain maybe for carring stuff?Not to say Cleric is better... but maybe?
I've run both the Support Cleric and Support Bard. Both are my kind of character.
OH! and check on Unseen Servant for the Bard - so you have another "little helper". A wand of Unseen Servant to set up the camp for the night...
Hmm, I'll check out the clerical side of things. I just don't want to miss out on all the goodness of giving people extra move actions, haste, +to attacks/damage, etc. The bard would need boots of striding to keep up, or fly. Either of which I don't mind grabbing. I do like Shield Other, so maybe a wand or scroll of that...
Updated Wand List:
Lvl 1: CLW, Enlarge Person, Grease, Infernal Healing (Lesser), Mage Armor, Shield, Unseen Servant, Vanish (maybe)
Lvl 2: Invisibility, Knock
Scrolls:
Level 1: Air Bubble
Level 2: Lesser Restoration, Shield Other
Level 5: Breath of Life
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No..No...No...No!!!!
Your doing it all wrong!!!1!
You don't have a min 18 in your primary.
Your DPR is in the trash...wait..its so bad it missed the trash and is sitting by the can.
Your casting stat is too low to start.
Aid Another???? Really????
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RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 8
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Oh, yes. Grab pretty much every utility item you can think of. Holy water, alchemists fire, smoke sticks, nets, basic backup weapons for all occassions, antitoxins, etc. Might be undervalued, but a well timed net toss can change everything.
Oh dear. I just realized how much paperwork this character is going to have. I'm going to need a sheet of paper per bag.
GM: "What does Tassel do this turn?"Me: "He locates sack 3-F and retrieves item #53, appropriate for this situation."
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Oh, yes. Grab pretty much every utility item you can think of. Holy water, alchemists fire, smoke sticks, nets, basic backup weapons for all occassions, antitoxins, etc. Might be undervalued, but a well timed net toss can change everything.Oh dear. I just realized how much paperwork this character is going to have. I'm going to need a sheet of paper per bag.
GM: "What does Tassel do this turn?"
Me: "He locates sack 3-F and retrieves item #53, appropriate for this situation."
True, but having "that one item" that makes an encounter so much easier is just awesome.
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I would also recommend scrolls of the communal spell types. 1 scroll can get you a whole party buff. Prot from evil, Endure Elements, Phantom Stead, Prot from Energy, etc. If the single is worth it, the communal for 1 extra level is definitely worth it.
As far as the packrat with an organization system....embrace it. It is an awesome idea to build a character from. I can just envision this short dwarf with a literal mountain of stuff on his back.
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Don't forget pathfinder chronicles! They give a +2 circumstance bonus to a knowledge check after 1d4 rounds checking out the book. Not sure if they stack with MW Tool (do circumstance bonuses stack?), but they are quite handy. When people ask what my lore oracle looks like, I say that he looks (ooc mind you) like a standard Pathfinder GM at a convention.
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Other interesting items:
Feather tokens - You never know when you need a whip, or a tree, or an anchor, or even a swan boat.
Sustaining Spoon - Food for four. With a little prestidigitation its it's nutritious paste in whatever flavor you desire.
hand of Glory - Gives you an additional ring slot and can cast see invisibility and daylight once a day. Very useful in those quite common scenarios.
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RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 8
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I tend to play support characters a lot. I have an oracle, cleric, and three bards. Each provides support in totally different ways. One of the traps that you can easily fall into when making a support character is that sometimes the support the team needs is for you to just kill something.
Without spoilers, I'll be vague, but recently my archer bard was buffing and trying to heal in a situation that was quickly becoming a TPK. One of the players of a character that was bleeding out simply looked at me as I tried to figure out how to get to him, and said, "What we really need is for you to simply kill them."
I then realized that, with my Holy bow, he was right. My character's damage was the support needed most at that moment.
My point in all of this is that support characters are fantastic, but unless you play with a regular group as part of a well-oiled team, you probably do not want to make too niche a character.
Definitely some good advice. I'll ponder some backup damaging strategies for him.
Other thoughts I've been having.
1. Ways to make drawing a wand/scroll/potion quicker than a standard action. The ones I know of: glove of storing, spring-loaded wrist sheath, handy haversack. Any others?
2. He needs a wealth of useful items. Above just the mundane. I like the feather tokens, and all the bonuses to skill check items, but is there anything else? Something that produces magical equipment? Something that everyone would like to have as a character, but usually puts low on the list of stuff to buy. Like a Cape of the Mountebank perhaps.
3. How much will he actually be able to carry? A STR of 14 (22 for carrying with the Muleback Cords) means at max he'll be carrying 520 pounds. That should be enough considering the amount of extradimensional storage he'll have, leaving him with hopefully 300ish free "weight" that he can use for toting party members about. Does anyone see a problem with me being heavily encumbered essentially all the time?
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RPG Superstar 2015 Top 32, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
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1. Ways to make drawing a wand/scroll/potion quicker than a standard action. The ones I know of: glove of storing, spring-loaded wrist sheath, handy haversack. Any others?
Per Core Rules, retrieving a stored item is a move action. Additionally, drawing a weapon-shaped item (a given example is a wand) counts as drawing a weapon and doesn't provoke.
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RPG Superstar 2015 Top 32, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
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while I think this is true - I have had judges rule otherwise. does it say this: "drawing a weapon-shaped item (a given example is a wand) counts as drawing a weapon and doesn't provoke" anywhere in RAW?
1. Ways to make drawing a wand/scroll/potion quicker than a standard action. The ones I know of: glove of storing, spring-loaded wrist sheath, handy haversack. Any others?Per Core Rules, retrieving a stored item is a move action. Additionally, drawing a weapon-shaped item (a given example is a wand) counts as drawing a weapon and doesn't provoke.
Yes, in the Core Rules, Combat chapter:
Drawing a weapon so that you can use it in combat, or putting it away so that you have a free hand, requires a move action. This action also applies to weapon-like objects carried in easy reach, such as wands. If your weapon or weapon-like object is stored in a pack or otherwise out of easy reach, treat this action as retrieving a stored item.
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RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 8
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1. Ways to make drawing a wand/scroll/potion quicker than a standard action. The ones I know of: glove of storing, spring-loaded wrist sheath, handy haversack. Any others?Per Core Rules, retrieving a stored item is a move action. Additionally, drawing a weapon-shaped item (a given example is a wand) counts as drawing a weapon and doesn't provoke.
My brain farted there. Anything quicker than a move -- so only the glove of storing and spring-loaded wrist sheath. Anyone know if a consensus was reached as to the power of Efficient Quivers in regards to wands and the like?
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RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 8
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Who the what now?
Efficient Quiver. Can you draw a wand out of the arrow slot as per the: "quickly produce any item she wishes that is within the quiver, as if from a regular quiver or scabbard." Can I take the quick draw feat and quick draw wands?
That was the question of this thread, dunno if it ever got resolved thou.
EDIT: I don't think you can, but I wanted to be sure.
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RPG Superstar 2015 Top 32, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
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Who the what now?Efficient Quiver. Can you draw a wand out of the arrow slot as per the: "quickly produce any item she wishes that is within the quiver, as if from a regular quiver or scabbard." Can I take the quick draw feat and quick draw wands?
That was the question of this thread, dunno if it ever got resolved thou.
EDIT: I don't think you can, but I wanted to be sure.
Off the top of my head:
1. "As if from a regular quiver or scabbard" seems to imply that the action/nature of the drawing of the item is unchanged except as specified.
2. Quickdraw specifies in black and white that it doesn't apply to wands.
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RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 8
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Might be good to have a generous supply of weapons/ammunition of various material types for overcoming DR they weren't prepared for. Perhaps an Efficient Quiver to fill up.
wood and piercing? Here ya go.
silver and good? Got you covered.Some blunt/slashing/piercing weapons in various shapes and sizes.
A bunch cold-iron/silver items, perhaps adamantine... etc. etc.
Not things for him necessarily to use, but stuff he can lend out in a pinch.Add wands of align weapon and magic weapon, and their good to go vs pretty much anything.
Oh, I like that suggestion a lot. Tassel may not be the best fighter, but he's seen the best. And they're always prepared. So here you are, friend, take some cold iron arrows.
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RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 8
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Improved Iron Will is okay, but consider Steel Soul as an alternative. No reroll, but you have Live to Tell the Tale already, which is nearly as good. +2 to all saves against spells (most of them are against spells) is pretty amazing, and it will pad your *relatively* weak Fortitude save as well.
Noted and changed! I'm working on a comprehensive list of everything I'll ever want to purchase. It's....hard. And I've only included storage items so far >.<