Build Help: Crime Fighting Inquisitor


Advice


So ever since I read the Gray Gardener(link) PrC I've like the idea of an inquisitor as a sort of vigilantly crime fighter, like a divine medieval Punisher/Batman/etc. With ACG's Sanctified Slayer(link) I hoped it was more viable. However, tho I really like the flavor of the GG, mechanically I'm not sure what's gained is worth what's lost. Also the theme/build is a nonlethal+intimidate and the later abilities are about killing dudes and keeping them dead which makes them less useful/appealing.

To make the build really break faces requires a fair number of feats:

  • Bludgeoner
  • Hurtful
  • Sap Adept, Sap Master
  • Power Attack

  • Enforcer
  • AND/OR
  • Dazzling Display, Shatter Defenses

Now you can get some of the above (and others possible useful ones) from the GG, meaning it reduces the feat load and helps bring the build together sooner.(Also a 2 level dip in Cavalier of the Cockatrice helps.)

So the first question is whether this PrC is worth those extra feats and the little extras it gives?

Second question) Gendarme OR Huntsmaster archetype for the Cavalier dip? One gets power attack, the other gives an animal companion(dog/bird). I think a bird would pretty cool thematically. Also useful for getting off team work feats (hopefully there'll be an archetype like the Valet familiar before long). But I'd need boon companion to keep it from getting out leveled too completely, which is another feat. Probably not worth it but I can't bring myself to fully dismiss it tho.

Third question) Again one I think I know the answer to but want confirmation. The consensus I've seen is that Str based Inquisitors are better than Dex based. But I recall that was partly due in part to the judgments. However as I'm trading that (at least partially depending on whether I use GG or not) for sneak and studied target I wonder if investing into Dex could work? It would help deal with MAD as I'd rather not use heavy armor.

Any amount of advice is appreciated.


bump

Also I realized I needed to add/amend that list of feats;

Bludgeoner(maybe)
Power Attack, Hurtful
Sap Adept, Sap Master
Weapon Focus
Dazzling Display, Shatter Defenses, Violent Display, Intimidating Bane(maybe)
Enforcer(maybe)

If the feat progression feels too slow I can always just use a sap and leave Bludgoner till later, if at all. While Enforcer combined with hurtful could lead to getting an extra attack every round, it simple might not be necessary as the DD feats are probably enough to keep things shaken and Violent Display could chain with hurtful in the same way.


You will still be very feat starved. I would consider the Blade of Mercy trait, which would however require worshipping Sarenrae... truth be told, not a terrible deity for this concept, though that inclines you more towards Batman than Punisher, which have very distinct... methods.

Considering that you might be charging a lot, perhaps give Cudgeler Style featline a look. The swift action to activate is more annoying than it seems I think, considering you already want your swifts for Litanies, Studied Target, Bane, etc. But it might be thematic... I don't really remember if Cudgeler required bludgeoning weapons though.

Anyway, once you figure out a deity, you can probably decide on a build better.


So I feel that you don't have enough sneak attack damage to make sap adepts and sap master useful.


@Secret Wizard: The deity would be Ragathiel(empyreal lord of vengeance). The fluff was there for the non-lethal angle to work, but that is a good trait. I'm not fussed on Cudgeler Style and it's still pretty feat intensive.

@Chess Pwn: The bonus damage is less than a 10d6 class. The bonuses to skills and such might help balance it out(my GM is ok with me checking the usefulness of such things beforehand for a given campaign). But It's still a point I need to consider.

I think I have two conflicting aspects to the character (the part that wants to scare and maim people and the part that wants to not kill them), so I'll have to think on that.

In the meantime I would really like people's opinion on the grey guard in general. Is it worth the losses?

Silver Crusade

inquisitor could do this, however I feel an investigator would fit it better...


Theres an investigator who's going to work with this character who's the 'other side of the coin' as it were. So you have the scary vigilantly who goes out and collects info through being scary and beating+interrogating low level goons and going where a law abiding person generally can't. The investigator questions the those higher up and puts all the facts together to try and figure out whats going on. Basically if you combined the two you get Batman, if that makes sense.


Imprisonment Inquisition
Sometimes it is better to capture foes than to kill them—whether your intention is to punish them for their crimes or to torture them for information.

Granted Powers:

Caging Strike (Su): With a devastating weapon strike, spectral chains wrap around your target for a short period of time. Whenever you confirm a critical hit with a melee or ranged weapon attack (including spells that require attack rolls), you can choose to also entangle that target for 1d4 rounds (Fortitude negates). You may use this ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + your Wisdom modifier.

Divine Prison: At 8th level, once per day upon making a successful melee attack, you can affect your target with hold monster (Will negates)

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