[PFS] More EK Advice


Advice

Grand Lodge

This EK has hit retirement levels in PFS, and has started playing through the "Eyes of the Ten" retirement arc. I've played parts 1 and 2, so there are 2 sessions left. I've got about 12,000gp or so to spend, and I've also now made it to 13th level. Here's a rundown of my current situation, as best I can remember it:

Human
Fighter1/Wiz6/EK6
Divination (Foresight), opposition schools are Necromancy and Illusion
Stats (including items):

STR 20
DEX 18
CON 14
INT 20
WIS 10
CHA 07

Traits: Reactionary, World Traveler (Diplomacy), Magical Knack, Fate's Favored.

Feats: Toughness, Dodge, Improved Initiative, Weapon Focus (longsword), Spell Focus (conjuration), Arcane Armor Training, Empower Spell, Arcane Strike, Additional Traits, Arcane Armor Mastery, Weapon Specialization (longsword), Improved Critical (longsword)

Gear:
Headband INT +4
Belt of STR/DEX/CON +2
Jingasa of the fortunate soldier
Cloak of Resistance +2
+4 mithral breastplate
Amulet of Natural Armor +3
Ring of Protection +2
Dusty rose prism ioun stone for +1 AC (insight)
Ioun stone for +1 attack (competence)
Ioun stone for +1 to saves (competence)
Wayfinder + Clear spindle ioun stone (immune to mind control ala PfE)
Gloves of Reconnaissance
Adamantine longsword
Lesser Extend Rod
2x Pearl of Power I
3x Snapleaf

That's all I can remember. Note the lack of a magic weapon, because I use an Extended greater magic weapon to keep my adamantine longsword at +3 for 24 hours a day. I also extend a darkvision all day, and save the third Extend for when I decide to cast heroism, making it last 4 hours.

I also don't have a shield; typically, if it looks like I'll be fighting in melee, I cast shield first, taking my AC to 37 total.

Now, throughout my first 11 levels of play, the key to this EK has been versatility: since table make-ups are random, it's nice to be able to slide into whichever of the tank, caster, or Knowledge roles happens to be missing. However, I'm now planning on another two sessions with a single group. With that in mind, I feel like I should maybe specialize a little more...?

There's a gunslinger/inquisitor (awesome damage from range, Sense Motive, Survival), a zen archer (awesome damage from range), a druid (casting focused, plus celestial tiger companion), and a wizard (uber damage from range via crossblooded dip and CL boosts, and most Knowledge skills about 7-12 points higher than mine).

As you may have noticed, I'm a mostly-CRB generalist in a stable party of expansion-reliant specialists. This means most of the time, my main contributions have been to supply additional slots of group buffs (like communal resist energy).

If I want to just do damage, I have to spend a round getting into melee (plus either a single attack or a shield, unless I had to double move), during which time the three DPR machines who don't have to move first have been able to spew out around 70-100 damage apiece with full-attacks or spells. On the other hand, my spell save DCs are only so-so, since I don't have the 26 INT that a devoted caster would have.

Hitting 13th level now, I have some options.

First, I could take Power Attack, taking my usual melee damage from +15 to +24. That seems like it could help, but I'll also take -3 to hit, taking me from +20 to +17. At 13th level, that feels a bit low. Heroism helps, but that's not a sure thing.

I guess I could take maybe a level of barbarian instead of EK at 13th, so that when I do attack in melee I can rage for an extra +2 attack and +3 damage. With Power Attack, this would put me at +19 (or +21 if I have heroism up) for 1d8+27. Seems nice, but that also means I don't get 6th-level spells this level. Or rather, I don't get my one 6th-level spell.

Alternatively, I could just say "Screw it, I'm a wizard" and take Persistent Spell, helping to make up for low-ish DCs on some key spells.

Or maybe there's some other option, via spell selections, feat selection, or spending 12k gold?

Any advice welcome, thanks!


Just out of curiosity, do you find yourself preparing more offensive/save or lose spells, or more along the lines of buffs/defensive spells?

Grand Lodge RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32

SPACEBALL12345 wrote:
Just out of curiosity, do you find yourself preparing more offensive/save or lose spells, or more along the lines of buffs/defensive spells?

Via a lesser Extend rod, I usually have darkvision, water breathing and greater magic weapon running all day. I usually prep a heroism, which lasts a couple of hours. I also use overland flight which lasts most of the day, and I prep a couple slots of shield in case I go into melee.

I usually prep a little bit of offense, like an Empowered scorching ray/fireball, maybe a black tentacles. I keep some utility or non-damaging offense on hand too, like liberating command, pilfering hand, blood biography, scrying, teleport, dimension door, etc.

Does that paint a full enough picture to answer your question?

Grand Lodge RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32

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