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Mainly I redid how I uploaded the main page to make it much easier to edit. It also let's me see how many people are actually viewing it.
Both things are fairly important as I wanted to address some issues of formatting (people complained it was hard to read) and make it easier to add things in (when new content is released). Also, I like to see when people are reading thigns as it lets me know just how popular/useful they are.
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Im only getting the talents review
Im only getting the talents review
Same here. Fortunately, the old link still works.
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That's my fault. I put in the wrong link.
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^Thanks -- haven't checked every link, but seems to work now.
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Looks good, though I'll note that a number of builds are somewhat below their stated point-buy (mostly due to not getting enough points back from Cha 7, and thus having 2 point-buy more...Int 15 being a good option in many cases).
You also don't list a Weapon Finesse Investigator, which seems very much like a build worth noting, given how nicely Fencing Grace can make that work.
You state that the investigator has all the skills except for fly and swim. But it seems he is lacking ride and handle animal, too. Not a big thing but it's two skills I like to put a single point into. Ride because you sometimes need it while travelling and handle animal because I've been in a lot of groups where no one has it and it can't be used untrained.
Looks good, though I'll note that a number of builds are somewhat below their stated point-buy (mostly due to not getting enough points back from Cha 7, and thus having 2 point-buy more...Int 15 being a good option in many cases).
You also don't list a Weapon Finesse Investigator, which seems very much like a build worth noting, given how nicely Fencing Grace can make that work.
It would essentially be identical to the brawn build except with a three feat tax attached. (Focus, Finnesse, Grace). You wouldn't be able to get this off the ground for a good while.
I have seen it done effectively with a dip in fighter or swashbuckler. But, I'm of the opinion that if you have to dip to make a build work it's not really a viable build for that class anyway.
Like Domino Strike it seems like a good idea until you look at the details.
If you want a full finessing investigator the brains investigator that uses TWF and studied combat as the primary means of damage is a bit more reasonable.
I think I'll sit down later and crunch some numbers on it to see what works out better. But, as of now I don't see fencing grace as being terribly viable
You state that the investigator has all the skills except for fly and swim. But it seems he is lacking ride and handle animal, too. Not a big thing but it's two skills I like to put a single point into. Ride because you sometimes need it while travelling and handle animal because I've been in a lot of groups where no one has it and it can't be used untrained.
That'll need to be corrected but I don't think it'll change very much in terms of ratings.
You state that the investigator has all the skills except for fly and swim. But it seems he is lacking ride and handle animal, too. Not a big thing but it's two skills I like to put a single point into. Ride because you sometimes need it while travelling and handle animal because I've been in a lot of groups where no one has it and it can't be used untrained.That'll need to be corrected but I don't think it'll change very much in terms of ratings.
Sure. But when I read that part of your guide I thought I had made a mistake noting my class skills. If a pc needs one of those four skills he can take a trait to make it a class skill.
Hey Tark, thanks for another excellent guide! The halfling support build in particular was a clever idea. I just started a 4th level PbP where the party are all Red Mantis Assassins and here is Mama Bess my halfling investigator / den mother to a gang of fanatical assassins (built on a 20pt buy). I splashed a level of fighter (vengeful hunter) at 1st, which gives me an extra feat and whip proficiency. (I wanted three feats off the bat to be able to have Bodyguard, Combat Reflexes, & Weapon Finesse).
We've just begun our first encounter but the whip seems like an awesome choice for Aid Another since the 15' reach + finesse is more important than the ability to deal damage, and I've already found the ability to disarm with it awesome (fighting a wizard who was casting a powerful Summon Monster spell from a scroll). I expect to be standing right behind the main line much of the time, making them hard to hit as a free action with my AoOs, and spending my Move and Standard helping them hit (or buffing their AC even further).
Depending on how far I want to push the Aid thing, I may get Beneficial armor + Gloves of Arcane Striking. With those at L5 (assuming I take Arcane Strike as my next feat) I should be adding +7 to AC or +4 to hit/+2 to damage.
Tark, for the elf/half-elf int-based investigator, what potions are worth using enhance potion on? Barkskin would be good, but it doesn't seem like most other potionable spells gain much from enhance that they couldn't get from extend (which your build also takes)
Anything with a duration really. Extend is meant to combine with Enhance. It can be used as a roundabout way to get extend on common extracts you might use anyway.
So you can do Heroism as an example, or perhaps invisibility for long scouting trips. Depends on what you want.
I mainly use enhance potion for heroism (if the bard doesn't hand out good hope), ablative armor or cure serious wounds I combine with alchemical allocation.
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I took a look at your last build where you firmly stated that
By RAW multiple Aid another actions on the same bonus stack this is regardless of the source since the bonus is nameless.
I thought bonuses from the same source don't stack, regardless of whether or not it was nameless.
Bonuses without a type always stack, unless they are from the same source.
I guess you are discounting this based on the fact that it shows up in the magic section of the rules?
Multiple characters can aid the same friend, and similar bonuses stack.
Otherwise, I don't see how this quote let's you ignore the above.
It's from the line you quoted last, it's an exception to the "can't be from same source"
I'll do a bit of reading on aid another checks and get back to you. It might require an honest to god faq.
As far as Cleave/great cleave and domino effect yes that is a fair use but not a great one. You can achieve the same effect with multiple attacks and a full attack without the feat investment or clever use of attacks of opportunity.
I'll do a bit of reading on aid another checks and get back to you. It might require an honest to god faq.
As far as Cleave/great cleave and domino effect yes that is a fair use but not a great one. You can achieve the same effect with multiple attacks and a full attack without the feat investment or clever use of attacks of opportunity.
Tried getting a FAQ when the ACG came out. Unfortunately, It didn't really pick up steam. It is a really good candidate for one though.
I think all of the relevant rules are in the aid another section, so there is not much to go on.|
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You called Sapping Offensive the core of the Harrier build after Quick Study... then none of your Harrier builds actually included it. So, how relevant is it, really?
Is it worth explaining why having Extend/Enhance/Eternal Potion is especially worth using to make an intelligence based fighter?
(PS, your build document includes the word "alchemist".)
You called Sapping Offensive the core of the Harrier build after Quick Study... then none of your Harrier builds actually included it. So, how relevant is it, really?
Is it worth explaining why having Extend/Enhance/Eternal Potion is especially worth using to make an intelligence based fighter?
(PS, your build document includes the word "alchemist".)
Personal preference in all honesty. You can replace sickening offensive with sapping offensive.
The reason I call it the core is that it allows you more mobility which is what keeps the harrier safe and allows him to do his thing. "Core" might be too strong a word.
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Second, I plan on doing the dex based TWF Brains build, and was wondering why you chose to go extend potion at 3rd level as opposed to mutagen or enhance potion? I understand we need extend eventually for eternal potion, but why not wait until later on to get it? The bonuses from Mutagen seem really helpful, especially early on while extend potion really only seems good for those potions you buy.
Mutagen for a brains build is bad until later levels because your emphasis is on intelligence. So taking a mutagen that reduces your intelligence (which translates to inspiration, rounds of studied combat, and a million other little things) is bad. Later on when your intelligence is much higher and a vest of stable mutation is in the budget it works better for you.
Enhance potion is not useful to you until post level 5 due to the nature of potion buying. Potions are always made at the minimum level and don't go past level 3. So the most expensive potions you have will have a CL of 5.
As stated earlier in the thread Extend potion allows you a roundabout way of getting the extend spell feat on your infusions. Combined with Alchemical Allocation it's like having an Extended Heroism spell (a 4th level slot for some) in a 2nd level slot. It will allow you to extend buffs that might normally only last one or two combats for several or even an entire day. That's creating action economy. Which is huge.
The important thing to remember about Brains builds is that they play the long game. They're not going to be strong in the early levels and will do okay in the early mid levels. Once you start looking at 3rd level extracts. By that point some of the scarier combat forms come online and you are starting to stack natural attacks over your twf.
Seriously considering a variant of your Intelligence build and wanted to know what you thought of Dual-Wielding Rapiers with an Effortless Lace?
Go for it if you think you can get away with it.
Seems to be working out. Also lets me snag Piranha Strike instead of Power Strike, which frees up those points in Strength. Do you think it'd be worth massively dumping Strength for an Int/Dex Investigator that can get away with light weapons? I didn't see any other feats with a higher Strength requirement.Seriously considering a variant of your Intelligence build and wanted to know what you thought of Dual-Wielding Rapiers with an Effortless Lace?Go for it if you think you can get away with it.
No. For the simple reason that carrying capacity and shadows are a thing.
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No. For the simple reason that carrying capacity and shadows are a thing.Seems to be working out. Also lets me snag Piranha Strike instead of Power Strike, which frees up those points in Strength. Do you think it'd be worth massively dumping Strength for an Int/Dex Investigator that can get away with light weapons? I didn't see any other feats with a higher Strength requirement.Seriously considering a variant of your Intelligence build and wanted to know what you thought of Dual-Wielding Rapiers with an Effortless Lace?Go for it if you think you can get away with it.
Carrying Capacity - Muleback Cords//Ant Haul
Shadows - Ghost Touch on armorNot fullproof but not impossible.
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And muscle of the society trait.
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Your wisdom and especially your constitution scores make me nervous. You'll want wisdom to help with your will save (especially with the -1 from mutagen) and constitution to help your poor fortitude save and low amount of HP. Conversely I think your INT is too high, you can easily get by with 14-16.
Piranha Strike won't work with a scimitar unless you pick up an Effortless Lace, since the scimitar is not a light weapon.
Alchemists don't qualify for Arcane Strike, since SLAs no longer lets you qualify for spellcasting feats. :(
I'd strongly advice looking into the Infusion discovery, which lets you hand out some truly amazing extracts to other party members.
Carrying Capacity - Muleback Cords//Ant Haul
Shadows - Ghost Touch on armorNot fullproof but not impossible.
Frankly you're better off just having a 13 strength.
At least than you can survive the early levels much more easily.
Spending gold/extracts just so you can walk around leaves a serious distaste in my mouth.
And there are so many things that love to deal strength damage. Shadows are an early one. Early enough, in fact that you won't have ghost touch armor.
How do you feel about Mutagen? I don't think it is a great fit, but can't help but feel the class is sort of balanced around having it. Thoughts?
Largely depends on build.
On a strength based investigator absolutely take it. On an Int or Dex based one than it needs to wait until you get a vest of stable mutation.
Overall it's not super necessary. Alchemists are built around it. Investigators just happen to have it.
Why wait on a DEX or INT based Investigator? For DEX it applies a penalty to WIS and that doesn't seem that bad.
Overall it's not super necessary. Alchemists are built around it. Investigators just happen to have it.
It's a penalty on important skills and on a save that probably won't be super great since Wis is a fairly low priority from the start.
Plus, you can get about the same effect off a Reduce person or alter self extract. This freees up your early level talent for something else.
LAter on when your mutagen can last for hours and your skills and saves are high enough the minor penalty can be ignored it's a bit better.
As for INT investigators the last thing you want is a penalty to INT. That harms so many important things to you it's best just to wait.
i would say that ghost touch can be easily achievable by lvl4-5 with a simple elixir of spirit sight (which for it's price, given alchemical allocation, is a steal either way, solves so many problems...)
as for dex based, i would say that it is nice to have that mutagen option, not only is it a quick +4 to ac, it's also (usually) a free +2att/damage for most dex/int investigators (who usually have dipped a lvl of inspired blade)
and while yeah, it hurts your will a bit (-1), it boosts your reflex by +2. so sure, i see it as invaluable, just be smart when to actually down it (i.e. not when you are fighting something that can sent you running for the hills)
by lvl4, you can have up to 10+4 (+1 darkleaf studded armor) +7 (dex with mutagen) +2 (+1buckler) or 23 ac vs shadows which would mean they would only hit on like a 19-20
This is all assuming of course the GM let's you get all these things, or that it's feasible at all to get them.
And sadly at the level you achieve this Shadows shouldn't be a problem anyway. They're CR3, which puts them at a level you can encounter at 1st.
Than there are the other low CR things that can rip up your strength score. Giant spiders for example.
Overall I prefer to deal in things I know you will get rather than what is possible in a perfect world.
Moral of the story: don't dump strength. The extra +1 or +2 somewhere else is not going to make you that much better and the GM isn't always going to simply have muleback cords fall from the sky.
Tark, any thoughts on the Psychic Detective archetype?