After having a brief discussion a few weeks back with some Pathfinder buddies regarding the Fox Shape feat, I've been quite taken with the idea of building a character (Pathfinder Society-legal) that actually makes use of the feat.
Here's what I've come up with so far:
Starting Stats:
STR: 5 DEX: 19 CON: 15 INT: 10 WIS: 12 CHA: 14
Class: Barbarian
Archetype(s): Urban Barbarian (need that +4 dex rage), and Superstitious (trapsense is boring, extra initiative bonus is fun!)
Race: Kitsune, taking the fast shifter alternate trait.
Feat/Specials Progress:
1: Controlled Rage, Crowd Control, Weapon Finesse
2: Lesser Beast Totem, Uncanny Dodge
3: Fox Shape, Sixth Sense
4: Lesser Elemental Rage, +1 Dex
5: Improved Uncanny Dodge, Piranha Strike
6: Sixth Sense +2, Rage Power? (Maybe Reckless Abandon)
7: Keen Senses, Combat Reflexes
8: Elemental Rage, +1 Con
9: Sixth Sense +3, Swift Kitsune Shapechanger
10: Rage Power (Flesh Wound, maybe?)
11: Greater Controlled Rage (+6), Vulpine Pounce
12: Come and Get Me
13+: ??? (Unlikely to be used in any post-PFS modules)
The idea behind this build being to stack dex upon dex upon dex, getting an agile amulet of mighty fists the moment he's got 18 fame, voluntarily provoking attacks of opportunity since his AC and HP will both be pretty good anyway, and ripping things apart with natural attacks [bite/claw/claw while raging, +gore attack if I get a Helm of the Mammoth Lord)
I figure I'll put a skill point or two into UMD so he can attempt to cast Mage Armor and Cure Light Wounds / Infernal Healing off the wands he'll carry (gotta be self-sufficient in PFS), some points into diplomacy and intimidate, and plenty of points into acrobatics.
Personality-wise, he's probably going to end up being the calm, composed, refined sort... who flies into a frothing, animalistic bout of fury once battle starts.
I'm a little bit worried about how he'll play in low levels (before he gets an agile amulet of mighty fists) due to having 5 str (3str while fox shaped). He's not going to be doing much damage, so I'll probably be going for trip/disarm attacks in combat. How stupid of an idea is it to try to bite an enemy's weapon?
I do have a GMball of credit to bump him instantly to level 2, and 2/3 of level 3, so he won't be in that awkward spot for too long.
Anything I seem to be missing, or any suggestions on other rage powers or feats I ought to be looking at?
im pretty sure you will loose the "gore attack if I get a Helm of the Mammoth Lord)" when you shapeshift. at least if the gore is from a horn on the helm that shapeshift with you.
It seems a little odd, but I'm fairly certain as-written, the bonus from the Helm of the Mammoth Lord continues to apply while polymorphed:
=Polymorph Rules=
When you cast a polymorph spell that changes you into a creature of the animal, dragon, elemental, magical beast, plant, or vermin type, all of your gear melds into your body. Items that provide constant bonuses and do not need to be activated continue to function while melded in this way (with the exception of armor and shield bonuses, which cease to function). Items that require activation cannot be used while you maintain that form.
=Helm of the Mammoth Lord=
This hide helm is set with plates of ivory carved with primitive runes, with a pair of tusks curving down on either side of the wearer’s face for cheek guards. The tusks of the helm provide a gore attack dealing 1d6 points of damage for a Medium wearers (or 1d4 points of damage for Small wearers) and counts as a magic weapon for the purposes of overcoming damage reduction.
The gore attack isn't part of the "with the exception of armor and shield bonuses, which cease to function" exception to retaining constant bonuses, so I assume it'd continue to function, and my character would be a tiny little fox with tiny little terrifying horns.
Or if that doesn't work, my character could always just get a tiny little viking helmet with tiny little terrifying horns, and have his party members put the tiny little helmet on his tiny little head after he turns into a tiny little fox. :P
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You're not going to be putting out meaningful melee damage till level 4 when you can get your amulet. That's 4 scenarios where you're struggling to contribute.
Consider making rapid reload your first level feat and using a light crossbow then retraining to weapon finesse once you can afford that amulet. You can also make use of grenade weapons.
Hm, grenade weapons are actually probably a good idea.
I'll be using plenty of trip/disarm attacks for the few sessions I need to play without that amulet (three at 2nd level, one at 3rd; GMball of credit fills out the rest), but having a source of damage would be good... and splash weapons sounds like they would suit my needs.
Given it would take at least three or so feats to get, probably not.
Come and Get Me allows about the same effect, for one rage power, at level 12. I won't get it for a while, but there's too many things I really need before then.
Maybe on a similar sort of build, done as a monk, those options could work.
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Here's what I've come up with so far:
Starting Stats:
STR: 5How are you going to carry your basic inventory with a light load capacity of 16 pounds?
Are you willing to accept that a single solid hit from a Shadow will one-shot you beyond hope of Raise Dead?
Equipment will be melded into your tiny quadruped fox form, there should never be any encumbrance issues.
Shadows are a concern, but touch AC will be very high.
Equipment? What equipment? Why would I need any equipment? Maybe some wands, and a set of clothes so I can have pockets to put the wands into. Not really anything else I need.
I'll stay away from shadows. That's my plan there. :P
Edit: I'm already dealing with a light load limit of 16 lbs on my sorcerer. It's been tougher with him, because he actually needs to carry around some metamagic rods and stuff.