Empiricist Investigator

[Third Mind]

Hello all,

I've been toying with the empiricist investigator for funzies, with a focus on skills ala a skill monkey and dex based fighting. I was mainly looking at the best ways to get free inspiration to the most amount of skills he'd use possible.

I haven't put down the saves, hp, equipment really at all. So it's all skills, attributes and feats really.

So, if anyone'd be willing, could they let me know what they think about my first attempt at building an investigator?

5th lvl. Human Empiricist Investigator:

Attributes

STR: 10
DEX: 13
CON: 12
INT: 20 (+2 racial bonus)
WIS: 10
CHA: 8

Skills:
Perception: 5 ranks + 3 Class bonus + 5 INT = +13
Diplomacy: 5 ranks + 3 Class bonus – 1 CHA = +7 (5 ranks + 3 Class bonus + 5 INT = +13 when gathering information)
Bluff: 5 ranks + 3 Class bonus – 1 CHA = +7
Sense Motive: 5 ranks + 3 Class bonus + 5 INT = +13
Disable Device: 5 ranks + 3 Class bonus + 5 INT = +13
Use Magical Device: 5 ranks + 3 Class bonus + 5 INT = +13
Stealth: 5 ranks + 3 class bonus + 1 DEX = +9
Sleight of Hand: 5 ranks + 3 class bonus + 1 DEX = +9
Spellcraft: 5 ranks + 3 class bonus + 5 INT = +13
Knowledge: Arcane: 1 rank + 3 class bonus + 5 INT = +9
Knowledge: Nature: 1 rank + 3 class bonus + 5 INT = +9
Knowledge: Local: 1 rank + 3 class bonus + 5 INT = +9
Knowledge: Planes: 1 rank + 3 class bonus + 5 INT = +9
Knowledge: Dungeoneering: 1 rank + 3 class bonus + 5 INT = +9
Knowledge: Religion: 1 rank + 3 class bonus + 5 INT = +9
Knowledge: Nobility: 1 rank + 3 class bonus + 5 INT = +9
Knowledge: History: 1 rank + 3 class bonus + 5 INT = +9
Knowledge: Geography (favored class bonus): 1 rank + 3 class bonus + 5 INT = +9

Talents:
Expanded Inspiration
Inspired Intelligence

Feats:
Weapon Finesse
Weapon Focus: Rapier
Fencing Grace (when it comes out)

I might actually build one that attempts to focus on the studied combat primarily later, but inspiration seems like such a useful tool to get.

I know this builds CHA is a bit low, but I wasn't sure if I wanted to go low on STR what with possible necessary equipment. Dropping STR a bit instead of CHA might be best though now that I think about it.

[Slacker2010]

I dont think you need the 20 in INT. If you put 18 this gives you chance to buff your other stats.

[LessPopMoreFizz]

No, feel free to dump Cha.

Empiricist lets you use Int for UMD, which is the most important Charisma skill, as well as Diplo for Gather Information.

Student of Philosophy gives you +Int to all other uses of Diplomacy, as well as Bluff to convince somebody of a lie.

Between the two, you're covered for all social uses of Bluff and Diplo using +Int instead of +Cha

Unless you want to Feint in combat (you shouldn't want to) or Intimidate someone, you don't need Charisma at all.

Even if you do want to Intimidate someone, you have access to Mutagen, and there are so many buffs to Intimidate out there that you still don't need Charisma for it unless you're making a Dazzling Display type of build - in which case, consider Brutal Intellect instead of Student of Philosophy, and give up on using Diplo and Bluff beyond simple Gather Information checks.

Other than that... Disguise, Handle Animal and Perform... you can cope with the penalty. (Or just cast Disguise Self! That's on your spell list!)

[Deadmanwalking]

Yeah...20 Int is way too high. It gives you +1 on a lot of skills and that's about it. Wouldn't you rather forego that +1 for +2 to hit, +2 AC, and a vast improvement in combat in general?

You'd be vastly better off going something like:

Str 12
Dex 16
Con 12
Int 18
Wis 10
Cha 7

Then throw a point into Str at 4th and buy Power Attack at some point (maybe 7th level). If you don't want to do that, you could drop Str to 9 for Dex 17 and raise that at 4th instead.

Either way, grabbing Student of Philosophy as suggested is the right thing to do.

You're also one Feat low, which I'd use for Extra Investigator Talent to grab Quick Study. With that and the stats above, you're 90% as good at skills and an order of magnitude better in combat, which is no small thing in Pathfinder.

[Thistlepatch]

Why are you taking Inspired Intelligence?

Inspiration is able to be used free on Spellcraft, Linguistics and Knowledge already if you are trained in the skill according to the class ability itself. Inspired Intelligence only allows you to use it on those skills if you are untrained. Looking at the build you have, you have training in all of them already except Knowledge (Enigineering).

I'd maybe pick one of the other talents like Underworld Inspiration or Device Talent if you are looking to expand the pool of skills you can use inspiration on.

[Third Mind]

Did not expect any answers, but I am grateful none the less.

Lets see.

Deadmanwalking, that sounds like a good idea actually. I'll probably go with what you're suggesting but will have to take a skill out somewhere. I'll have to look back over and see which would be best.

Student of Philosophy is indeed a must. I think I'll probably either get the trait that allows drinking of potions quicker as my second trait, or more likely the one that ups the fortitude save a little.

Thistlepatch, you are correct. I had overlooked that little snippet and will replace Inspired Intelligence probably with either Empathy or Underworld Inspiration. Probably the latter as I like the idea of using inspiration freely on skills I'll heavily use. However Empathy is so flavorful, so it's a slightly tougher call than I may think currently.

Thanks for the help everyone.