NeoSeraphi |
Hey guys! What's your favorite class feature in PF? Paizo content only please. By class feature, I mean a specific ability that is listed in a class or archetype's section (stuff like Smite Evil or Rage, not spells or rage powers or rogue talents).
Your decision could be based on the power of the ability, the utility of the ability, or just how plain cool it is thematically. But let us know the reason as well!
I'll start. My favorite class feature in Pathfinder is the Dancing Flame supernatural ability from the Fire wizard (Arcane Elemental Schools, APG). This ability just epitomizes everything I think a fire mage should be able to do, and I'm depressed that sorcerers don't get it because I feel like it displays an innate control over fire rather than something you studied to get.
Picture this, the ability to raise your hand and instantly move any nonmagical fire 30 feet. If the fire has a new fuel source, that fuel source catches fire and the fire continues to burn. If it doesn't, the fire is extinguished. So awesome! In a game without electricity, this gives you unchecked power at night. Sure, we can all assume the torches are lit, but unless those flames are completely covered in glass, I can move the flames and extinguish them and instantly disappear from sight along with the rest of my party. Or I can move fire from a guard's torch to his leather boots and laugh as I run away while he tries to put himself out. (Again, all of this seems like a sorcerer's innate ability rather than a studious wizard).
So, that's my favorite class feature. What's yours?
Angry Wiggles RPG Superstar 2015 Top 32 |
pennywit |
Bardic Music: Distraction and Bardic Music: Countersong. They're thematically awesome, especially if your GM follows the Rule of Cool. I love the idea of an enemy using music to attach the PCs ... only for a PC bard to step up and turn it into a music battle.
Viscount K |
A more general one: The Oracle Curses. Obviously, they're not terribly powerful most of the time - but they never fail to give the character some awesome flavor. I rarely encounter an ability that forces the player to think some about what it means for their character, but having a serious disability usually does the trick. Also, the progression they offer from harming you to being a major strength is neat.
And a more specific one: The Rogue Talents, Obfuscate Story and then Steal the Story. I just love these. The first one lets the rogue interject during someone else's account of an event with an opposed Diplomacy check, which causes them to confuse or omit details about the event. The second lets your further alter the story to the point that it insults or discredits the teller to anyone who hears it. Mechanically, this just gives them penalties to Diplomacy and Intimidate, but flavorwise, this is hilarious. Sure, you can use it to insult or harass your political or undercover enemies, but you can also use it to mess with your party members to no end without seriously harming them - and when has that not been awesome?
rknop |
4 people marked this as a favorite. |
Cantrips. They're listed in class features, so by the OP rules they count :)
The ability to do diddily little magic tricks at will all day long is very important. It allows wizards (and other casters) to feel like wizards, to just be cool and do little magic things, in a way that low-level 1st edition wizards never did. ("I cast my Magic Missile, now for the rest of the day I'm just a weak guy with two hit points.")
Kairos Dawnfury |
There's so many swimming in my head, I have to say if I had to pick one, Fast Movement, whether from Barbarians, Travel Domain Clerics, Fighter Armor Training or some of the Oracle Mysteries.
I currently have a Travel Cleric of Kelemvor in a FR setting and with his Mithral Breastplate, Longstrider which lasts like all day and Fast Movement, I can charge 100 ft across a battlefield. I can hold the line and catch up to my teammates when we have to retreat or run back and give that life saving heal.
Joe M. |
Cantrips. They're listed in class features, so by the OP rules they count :)
The ability to do diddily little magic tricks at will all day long is very important. It allows wizards (and other casters) to feel like wizards, to just be cool and do little magic things, in a way that low-level 1st edition wizards never did. ("I cast my Magic Missile, now for the rest of the day I'm just a weak guy with two hit points.")
+1 to this.
SmiloDan RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32 |
Quath |
I know you don't want an answer to be a specific rage power but Body Bludgeon is my favorite class option. The idea of using an enemy like a baseball bat or a sack of potatoes is just too good to pass up.
Next in line is the Assassin/Master Spy death attack. I keep wanting to play a character that is Ranger 5/Assassin 5/Master Spy 10 that goes around the world trying to replace major world leaders for short periods of time.
Threeshades |
Wild Shape
fear my velociraptor fury
can't find me, I'm a mouse
scouting? eagle shape!
triceratops with a howda = party buswith feats to let me talk and cast spells
So yeah, wild shape.
Don't forget party boat in Orca form or even party plane in Quetzalcoatlus form. If necessary get a Roc or Giant Vulture companion if you have more than two medium sized party members to carry.
Cornielius |
party boat was allosaurus with attached netting
party plane was triceratops with howda under effect of fly spell
(saurian shaman)
fun part was traveling through the jungle (with longstrider and ant haul), carrying the party, watching the halfling jungle warriors fall behind as we cruised through their sacred lands
Martial, Martial, Martial! |
The Cleric power for the Radiation subdomain of Earth!
Yes! Fall ill! Weaken, Sicken and die for the inherent awesomeness that I exude.
Well...basically the concept of radiation and similar effects in PF, there aren't many at all.
Personally its Lay on Hands - self-heal as a swift action? With condition removal? Yes please.
I'm also a big fan of the Madness Domain's granted powers, but I'm not sure that's appropriate to the question. Visions of Madness has got to be one of the best buffs/debuffs in the game due to its tremendous versatility.
ArmouredMonk13 |
I am partial to the Urban Barbarian's Controlled Rage and Crowd Control. This is great because "Hey I'm going to get really really mad at these two junkies in front of me, turn them into food for the druids animal companion, and I won't suffer any ill effects until I'm done beating the S#!+ out of them." Also, the Invulnerability is great. Especially when all these three combine.