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I have a garuda-blooded aasimar druid with a celestial roc animal companion that I don't really want to play until the roc's big enough that it can serve as my mount. So, I've been dumping GM credits on it and I'll start playing the character once he hits 7th level. In the meantime, I have a 7th level character to put together. Here's my starting point:
DRUID
Ability Scores: Str 14, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 21 (includes bonus from headband), Cha 8
Feats: Celestial Servant, Mounted Combat, [insert feat here], [insert feat here]
Notable Equipment: +1 bronze dragonhide breastplate, +1 scythe, headband of inspired wisdom +2, acrimony veil (from GM cert)
ROC
Ability Scores: Str 22, Dex 19, Con 13, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 14 (includes bonus from headband)
Feats: Light Armour Proficiency, Combat Reflexes, Power Attack
Tricks: Attack (x2), Come, Defend, Down, Fetch, Guard, Heel, Stay
Notable Equipment: +1 chain shirt barding, headband of alluring charisma +2
And tactically, my plan is not to really wild shape often (if ever), but to ride around on my mount, letting it take full attacks when possible, and raining down lightning from the sky in the form of (sometimes empowered) call lightnings and ball lightnings. I like that I can move ball lightning as a move action, and call down lightning bolts as a standard action, allowing me to do both while either remaining mobile or letting my mount do even further damage.
It's more a concept build than a power gaming strategy. I like the idea of stormy heavenly bird druid guy, riding around on his great big heavenly bird. Consequently, I'm a little stumped on the feat slots. Celestial servant is a non-negotiable, and mounted combat makes a lot of sense since I plan to pretty much always be mounted, but after that I'm at a loss. Natural spell seems like an obvious choice since I'm a druid and I can wild shape, but it's not really a cornerstone of my strategy. And I considered ride-by attack and possibly spirited charge, but I just don't see myself charging very often. Ride-by attack isn't very clear, but it doesn't necessarily seem to involve my mount being able to attack too, and frankly my mount's the one that wants to be making melee attacks, not me. And my mount would rather be full-attacking.
I don't know. Does anyone have recommendations for feats that advance or synergize with my proposed strategy?
Thanks!
Benn,
From what you've described here I'd say you definitely want the metamagic feat Empower Spell. In addition you might want to look at Animal Affinity, which would help with Ride and Handle Animal checks. Spell Focus (evocation) might not be a bad idea, if you are really going to focus on those lightning spells. In fact, if you don't want to take the metamagic feat, you might just want to look at Spell Focus and then Greater Spell Focus (evocation) to up the DCs for the saves on those spells.
Just my 2cp.
If only you could cast consecrate! Then you could get consecrate spell instead of maximize and save a spell slot, since PFS (as I understand) focuses so heavily on evil enemies. Perhaps consider going cleric with the air and feather domains, and then using boon companion and and consecrate for your other spells? It'll help you a ton to be able to use those maximized spells at a level lower. You won't have as much lightning, though, so I don't know. Otherwise, MendedWall's advice is solid.
EDIT: The air alternate channeling would be a good fit, too.
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Those are all interesting ideas. I'm looking into this cleric idea, but I think ultimately I'll probably stick with druid. I did notice that if I went with the weather domain rather than air, the "lightning lord" ability is pretty excellent, and it would give me call lightning as a domain spell. But you're right it would still be a whole lot less lightning overall, and as awesome as the consecrate spell idea is, it's just not as good without any real lightning to maximize.
Thanks for the ideas to chew on, though! I'm currently thinking natural spell and spell focus (evocation) might be the way to go... I was just hoping there was something obscure that would fit my concept really well. Thanks again!
Natural spell really seems like a waste if you don't plan on wild shaping. Improved initiative is always a solid choice. Elemental focus (electricity) is a good choice too, and should stack with spell focus for +2 to all your DCs. Mounted archery could be good if you're making lots of ranged touch attacks, and you could toally throw some javelins from atop your roc, too.
I would also plan for something to do when not mounted. Since your title expresses this is for PFS and a lot of PFS is indoors.