I know in-combat healing is not optimal, but by using a half-elf life oracle and throwing all my FCBs into increasing my effective cleric level for channeling (using elf FCB,) I'm wondering how well I can do. Not only does this increase the effectiveness of channels by 50%, it also lets me qualify for Liberation Channel (or other channeling feats) much sooner. Plus, the oracle's excellent Cha will make Clarifying Channel extremely effective.
Feats of interest so far include Selective Channel, Clarifying Channel, Liberation Channel, Eldritch Heritage (arcane) and Improved Eldritch Heritage (arcane).
I don't want to be completely reactive, so I want to hopefully have some decent battlefield control as well as healbot duty. So my two questions are, how can I best use a life oracle for battlefield control? And, do you have any other recommendations for a channel-focused build?
(Bonus third question would be what to pick for a wizard spell of level 5 or lower when I get Improved Eldritch Heritage at level 11.)
|
Isn't clarifying channel off of Shelyn, and liberation channel off of Cayden Cailean? If so, you may need GM permission to be able to take both feats.
Regarding your bonus third question: the FAQ prevents you from picking up wizard spells that aren't already on your spell list via Improved Eldritch Heritage. You might be able to pick up spells that are shared between the divine and arcane lists.
If you're going battlefield control, have you looked into the Spirit Guide Archetype? It gives you access to some fairly interesting hexes. Do you know what else you have in your party?
Hmm
First off, you're going to have to choose between Liberation Channel and Clarifying Channel. You can only get the benefits of worshipping one diety. Maybe look into Channeled Revival at level 7 and retrain out at level 10 when you get Breath of Life.
If you're gonna be a channel specialist get Quick Channel for burst capability.
Get a spear. When you're not healing or buffing you can stand behind a melee person and use it to aid another.
About Eldritch Heritage, remember that it has a prerequisite of Skill Focus for the selected bloodline.
For both (yes both) of my life oracles, I am converting them both to the Spirit Guide archetype for the extra bank of channels at level 7 (although without the FCB boost) when choosing the Life Spirit. If you want to have a look here is one of them (without the archetype): http://paizo.com/people/KaerilAdon
I didn't realize Clarifying Channel was for Shelynites - this character is probably for a homebrew setting anyway so I'll need GM permission one way or another, but that's good to know.
I did not know about the Improved Eldritch Heritage FAQ - in that case, it's not really worth spending a feat to pick up a new spell. Since half-elves get free Skill Focus, I might still want the bonded item or familiar from the first Eldritch Heritage feat. Probably the familiar now that I'm thinking about it, as a bonded item loses most of its luster when you are casting spontaneously.
I will have to look into Spirit Guide.
LazarX, are you referring to the fact that the channeling feats require the "Channel Energy class feature"? I was not 100% sure whether the life Oracle's "Channel" ability qualified them as having the " Channel Energy class feature", does anyone have clarification on that?
|
|
For those asking, here is the Official FAQ and here is the discussion by the designers of what this means for Arcane Improved Eldritch Heritage.
Basically, for a sorcerer improved eldritch heritage would add to their spells known. For any other spontaneous caster, the spells you pick had better be already on the spell list for your class. For prepared casters, this affects spells known, not spells you can prepare, so it is equally useless.
Do look at the Spirit Guide Archetype. But keep in mind that the lore spirit's arcane enlightenment hex would require a GM buy-in since it refers to spells that you can prepare. However, even without that hex, the choices are pretty interesting. You can vary up your spells just based on the spirit you pick, and several of the spirits have some very interesting abilities. Look at Heaven's Leap -- a once a day teleport for each ally in your party, coming on line at third level.
There is some really interesting abilities there.
Hmm
EDITED TO ADD: You're a life oracle, and thus your class gives you the channel energy class feature. If you were from another mystery, you'd be out of luck. However, for you this is a class ability.
If allowed, seriously consider a race change. I wish my life oracle had been Aasimar with the force channel feats.
If not, consider the variant channeling for whichever deity you pick. Some of them are pretty durn excellent. Most however, are not so great.
If the campaign (or GM preferences) seem likely to make outsiders very common, alignment channel can be very good. If they aren't going to be common however, then it would be a waste.
Do you know what level the campaign will eventually reach? It can make a big difference in your plans.
In combat healing is just barely possible to be effective as a standard tactic if you really build for it and concentrate. Most players get rather bored with it after a while.
My life oracle was primarily a positive energy undead blaster. He actually could heal pretty well, but that was only a side effect of his concentration on killing undead.
If undead were not the enemy, he was pretty much a buff caster with a few multi-use attack spells.
He only healed in combat if absolutely necessary. Even then, usually only enough to get someone conscious so they could withdraw. He didn't try to keep people topped up during combat.
There are usually better things that can be done with your actions.
You will probably be maxing your charisma to get the most out of your channels anyway. So you spell DC's should be decent. Get greater spell penetration or the meta feat that adds to the caster level check. you should then be able to affect most things with your spells and you still have lots of feats left for channeling.
Chain of perdition and pilfering hand can be loads of fun.
Ok, I've made some refinements. Starting at level 11.
Main questions remaining: What to do with my racial Skill Focus? And are there any cool items I'm missing? Or must-have spells?
strength 8, dexterity 12, constitution 12, intelligence 14, wisdom 10, charisma 27 (+2 racial, +2 level, +6 headband)
traits: Overwhelming Beauty, Inspired
1: Fast Learner, Skill Focus (Perform oratory), Channel
3: Quick Channel, Spirit Boost
5: Clarifying Channel
7: Selective Channel, Combat Healer
9: Alignment Channel (evil outsiders)
11: Divine Protection, Lifesense
gear: Headband of Alluring Charisma +6 (*36,000), Quick Runner’s Mnemonic Vestment (*6,500), Mitre of the Hierophant (*18,000), Necklace of Positive Channeling (*11,000), Handy Haversack (*2,000)
spells:
5th: Greater Command, Wall of Stone, Breth of Life
4th: Dismissal, Holy Smite, Air Walk, Freedom of Movement, Divination
3rd: Chain of Perdition, Dispel Magic, Archon’s Aura, Communal Align Weapon, Charitable Impulse, Divine Illumination
2nd: Burst of Radiance, Hold Person, Pilfering Hand, Soothing Word, Sound Burst, Early Judgment, Calm Emotions
1st: Burning Disarm, Command, Comprehend Languages, Liberating Command, Protection from Evil, Tap Inner Beauty, Shield of Faith
orisons: Detect Magic, Create Water, Light, Stabilize, Guidance, Purify Food and Drink, Mending, Detect Poison, Read Magic