|
I am an otaku. I will shamelessly admit this. I am also something of a furry, something else I will admit, though with a fair amount of shame. As you can probably guess from these facts, the race I have eluded to in the title is the Kitsune, and to their new-found legality I am like FINALLY!!!! =D
Thus, in the name of Inari, I have decided that I'll make a Kitsune for PFS, but I am caught up on something...what kind of Kitsune? I have two ideas in mind, and am not sure which route to go...my ideas are below..
Sorcerer- The most obvious. As expected, bloodline would be fey for perfect Tsukuyo..err really strong enchantment DCs. Not much here beyond your typical Kitsune uber-enchanter.
Support Bard- Since Kitsune get a strength penalty, the role of the support bard would be best for them as appose to the combat bard. Archtypes I'd be looking at would be either lotus gesha(for oriental fluff) or Magician, and possibly songhealer paired with the former if I feel like I really want to be the backup healer(I am one of the few who actually likes legit social skills on my bards as appose to waiting for versatile performance to kick in...I like to do the diplomacy thing at level 1 too, thank you.) Either way, this character will focus on skills and spells first and foremost(mostly the skills), due to the fact the strength penalty will make combat difficult.
Dawnflower Dervish Bard- Admitedly, I am not a fan of being good and worshiping sarenrae. However, if I want to go the combat bard route, for a kitsune, this would be the best way to do it. So I am at least -considering- it if you all feel the support bard would be a bad idea.
Oracle- A divine alternative to the sorcerer, I'd be making a caster oracle(obviously) and would be leaning to either making a "mage killer" of sorts in the spellscar oracle, a standard lore oracle or possibly a JuJu Oracle(The PFS legal errataed version is less of a necromancer and more focused on a combination of enchantment and soul-swapping shenanigans...as well as defending against undead.) or even a Bones Oracle(for that necromantic flavor alone)
Anyway, out of all of these, which do you think would be best for PFS?
|
Well a cross-blooded Serpentine/Fey bloodline Sorcerer would be the strongest use of a Kitsune. It basically makes you a enchanter/domination character.
Second I would say 1 level cross-blooded Serpentine/Fey bloodline Sorcerer + 10 Dirge bard would be really strong. You would only fear Constructs but your Enchantment spells will hit more targets now. You also get performances. You can buff the party and use Dirge of Doom to give -2 to your target as a move action. As for just damage did you know that Ray spells are considered damage? Ray of frost, Disrupt undead, Admonishing/Scorching Ray all get boosted by Bardic performance and Good Hope spell so you can do well with wands and cantrips for damage. Also i'm not 100% sure but I also believe Discordant Voice works on Rays as well as long as the target is within 30 feet.
Full support bard comes in a 3rd place slot.
Oracle would be a 5th after an Evangelist Cleric focused on Enchantments.
|
|
I forgot totally about dirge bard, that would be another great idea and I do enjoy myself some necromancy-themed characters. Anyway, what would you say to a -straight- dirge bard....I don't like dipping much, so if I wanted to go dirge I'd likely go dirge for the full 12 levels PF society goes....Also, never considered evangelist cleric, either...that would certainly be a fun option, too....Likely would make them a combination summoner/enchanter, following General Susumu for the glory(heroism) domain and a LE aura(LE has the best sacred summons options) and longbow proficiency(as appose to mixing it up in melee with a str penalty.)...and oriental fluff.
|
|
I forgot totally about dirge bard, that would be another great idea and I do enjoy myself some necromancy-themed characters. Anyway, what would you say to a -straight- dirge bard....I don't like dipping much, so if I wanted to go dirge I'd likely go dirge for the full 12 levels PF society goes
Dirge bard is Great. You don't need to dip it just adds more things you can use your enchantments on and adds +2 to the DCs of those spells. But a smart player knows not to put all his eggs into 1 enchantment basket. You can forgo using enchantment on them and use necromancy or other spells (glitter dust) to effect those targets.
A Wand of Scorching ray or Admonishing Ray does 4d6 damage on hit. Combined with your bardic performance and the spell Good Hope you can be doing a decent amount of damage. Once you get discordant voice at level 10 that Ray will be doing 5d6+6 with an extra +6 to hit. That is not bad damage considering your not taking feats for archery and can focus heavy on your enchantment or necromancy spells.
I do recommend Lingering performance and Discordant voice regardless of what build you make. I also recommend for a bard the Masterpiece Pageant of the Peacock. Make those Bardic know checks with a bluff check is freaking too good to pass up.
|
|
Of the 4 presented, I think the support bard would be most appreciated at tables. My experience with PFS has been that you often have melee-heavy parties, so someone who can inspire courage in the 2-4 beatsticks you can get at every table helps clean up encounters fast. And as they all dump Cha, they'll appreciate a party face as well.
I'll also throw a Kitsune concept I've had for a while out for adoption.
ACG swashbuckler class. Fights using daggers. Stack river rat (river fox?) trait, weapon specialization dagger, swashbuckler weapon training, precise strike deed and pirana strike and you get a surprising amount of damage out of a dagger, without needing any Str.
The problem currently with daggers is that you need the agile enhancement to get dex to damage on them (since they kinda fumbled the ball with slashing grace to be only one handed, slashing weapons)
I have a level 5 kistune swashbuckler/DD bard 1... the dervish dancer level i took does a lot more swashbuckly stuff than the swashbuckler does. Exp. retreat lets me dance all over the map. Vanish lets me stick and move from unexpected places, and pull the very fox appropriate trick of running in, causing havoc and being gone before it hits the fan.
The good thing with slashing grace is you don't need to be a DD bard to get the goodies anymore: you can be a regular bard, buff the backupgrou.. erm.. party, and fight effectively yourself even on a dex build.
|
|
The problem currently with daggers is that you need the agile enhancement to get dex to damage on them (since they kinda fumbled the ball with slashing grace to be only one handed, slashing weapons)
That's absolutely true, but they qualify for Pirana Strike, while rapiers and scimitars do not. Pirana strike doesn't require the 13 Str that Power Attack does, and 13 Str is tough to get on a race with a Str penalty.
of course the Fey / Serpentine crossblood thing will get you the best one-trick pony in the world. But that's not the kitsune style! No, the kitsune are all about subverting expectations. Surprising their foes with things they never expected.
I would suggest then, a Kitsune fighter (or perhaps swashbuckler or ranger, since they have some finagle room for feats) who devotes his non-combat feat slots to Magical Tails. yes, you have a -2 Strength... but you have the ability to charm with a caster level equal to your HD, and being Kitsune, you get +1 on the DC anyway. if your pet beefslab gets upset, well, you're a fighter too, just smash him in the face with a shield until he complies. Or scamper away and peg him in the butt with your ranged weapon.
No, it's not the Absolute Best Ever™ but damn, it's pretty fun to offer a chocolate bar to an ogre and suddenly have a best friend who enjoys the idea of smashing everything you put in front of it... and still have the hit dice and AC to back yourself up if thigns go wrong.