PFS - not just a glass cannon build


Advice


Ok, a friend of mine has asked for some help with a new character. His last three characters were a fighter, a barbarian, and a fighter/barbarian. All were max str with minimal mental stats. What he said was “I’m tired of always going last in initiative, always getting surprised, never having anything to do if it’s not a fight, and being constantly worried about failing a freaking will save! I want something that changes that. But it still has to be able to fight.”
He didn’t give any other restrictions, but since I know him there are a couple of others that should be in place.
Not too complex. He’s not a beginner, but he won’t enjoy himself if he has to spend lots of time figuring out and memorizing how to do his basic actions. So he probably wouldn’t like a magus’ spell strike/spellcombat. I think keeping track of a pet class would also be more than he wants. A multi-dip-class conglomeration will also probably leave him confused.
A pure caster would probably only work if it was a spontaneous caster with moderately simple spells known. He’s never played casting more than the little bit that a ranger gets.

So he wants a moderately simple to play character that has a reasonable chance to do ‘something’ in most situations. Decent initiative, perception, and saves. Can fight well enough to be counted on in combat.

So my first thought was to build him a fairly basic THW reach inquisitor. They have good fort and will saves. Bonuses to knowledge skills (about monsters), initiative, and intimidate. Medium BAB. Some decent weapons with the right deity. Good self buffs. High str, decent wis, dump cha for points, conversion inquisition, power attack, combat reflexes, improved bull rush, glaive.

Does this seem like the best choice or do you have other ideas for him?

Sovereign Court

If he wants a Jack of All Trades - I'd go either Inquisitor or Bard.

If he just wants an 'always handy to have around in combat only' - there are a lot of options. A ranger is pretty solid. Pali is similar to what he's playing but with amazing saves. (wouldn't help on initiative) A Zen Archer monk might fit the bill if he likes archery. *shrug*

Silver Crusade

Inquisitor seems to fit the bill perfectly. It has bonuses in all the relevant areas he is concerned about, and is still good in a fight.

One of the self buffing bard archetypes, like dervish dancer or archeologist, could work as well. Slayer might work too as they have lots of skill points, though they still have weak will saves.

For initiative, anyone can pick up reactionary and improved initiative for a +6 right off the bat.

And if he still wants a combat monster but better saves, a dwarf with steel soul might work for him.

Silver Crusade

Battle Oracle with Noble scion war and Divine favor at 5th level.


/shrug, take the time a move through the classic four. Having played the fighter type, move to the opposite corner and try the arcane caster. A sorcerer in this case, for the social boost and the blasting simplicity.

I'm recommending that instead of trying to hit that entire wish list in one go, just move over and try a different lopsided class. As a player that favors the fighters/barbarians, I find the jacks of all trades to be dull, but found playing different specialists engaging.


Slayer or Investigator are my recommendations for combat ready and skillful classes.

have the +2 init trait and pick up improved init, or get a init familiar somehow.


He's really not necessarily looking for a Jack of All Trades. But I've been with him at the table for his last few scenarios. They were largely social encounters (or at least we managed to resolve them without combat). He had almost nothing to contribute when it wasn't a fight. Had ranks in perception, acrobatics, climb, swim, and ride (maybe survival, I can't remember). And a penalty to wis or cha rolls to try and aid another. He was getting pretty bored.

He just wants a reasonable chance to have something meaningful to do. I think some ranks in the knowledge skills or the face skills would be ok with him. Just so he's not sitting watching others play for 3 hours. (It really isn't that bad and he does take part, he just was beginning to feel like a waste of space.)


If you really want to go first, a dex based Slayer with the Vanguard archetype is hard to beat. He adds 1/2 his level (minimum 1) to initiative checks. And at level 7, he can always act in the surprise round. This means that even if you were to surprise him, he would still probably get to act before you. You can of course throw on the initiative feats and traits to make yourself even more likely to go first.

The slayer is also surprisingly good in social situations, as you can add the Studied Target bonus to Bluff and Sense Motive. And you get plenty of skill points to keep ranks in these skills as well as other useful skills.


I'm not sure about the timings of the playtest in PFS, but if you want a fighter with a good will save and decent skills, you may try the Vigilante playtest with the Avenger Specialization.


Seconding Zen Archer Monk - has high Will, good Init, good damage, and some skill points. Good perception will help against "getting surprised".

Straight sorcerer may be okay too. Spontaneous casters are a lot less hastle than prepared caster, and you can pick all the blasty spells. It might not be optimal, but it's simple, and you get to roll a bunch of damage dice.

Edit - re-reading Zen archer, I'm realizing they might not necessarily have good Init.


A Paladin could work for him. Paladins are great fighters with fantastic defenses, and if you take Noble Scion (War) you'll have a pretty solid initiative modifier.

Grand Lodge

Hunter is my First recommendation.

Keep the Int at 10-12 and you will have plenty of skills. Your saves are decent and you get Spells and an Animal Companion. So his turns will be longer and he will have lots of options.

His companion can easily provide the beatstick he likes playing and he can pick one based on his style/preference. How he builds his PC counterpart is completely up to him and allows LOTS of options. Ranged, Caster, Feat saddle, melee tag teamer, reach.

My second recommendation is the Summoner.

For the same reasons as above but they are CHA based and can be good for social interactions.

Either way I think he will like both classes based on what you have said without just jumping into a FULL caster like Arcanist. WHich I suggest if he wants to try his hand at a full caster.

Grand Lodge

Depending on how he wants to do things, a melee focused bard can be quite handy. This profile is something that is quite different, but holds up on its own quite well, when using it right. I just need to add diplomacy to the skills known, and should be set myself...

Also, the summoner is a great idea, as it can provide a beat stick mechanic, with face and knowledge skills.

Liberty's Edge RPG Superstar 2015 Top 16, RPG Superstar 2013 Top 16

Archery ranger. Snag a trait for Diplomacy as a class skill, and snag a trait for either initiative or Will saves. Plenty of skills and a handful of utility spells means you will 90% of the time have something to do out of combat, high Dex plus a smart favored terrain choice and a wand of heightened awareness will get you great initiative, and PF archery is by default a super strong combat style even with nothing but Core.

Liberty's Edge

Kill THe Witches, with Supersitious!!!


I agree with a lot of people that Ranger or Hunter would really fit the bill (Doesn't have to be Archery, switch hitter or even TWF works).

I feel like I've been pushing this build a lot, but I'm really excited about it. It's a Dawnflower Dervish Bard. Inspire Courage gets double the benefits if he uses it only on himself, DEX to Attack and Damage with a Scimitar at level 1, keeps relevant in a fight, but you take the Bardic Masterpiece Battle Song of the People's Revolt and give everyone in the party Paired Opportunists. Then you can take Bodyguard and give everyone AoO every time anyone but him gets attacked. Or if you think Bodyguard doesn't qualify as an AoO, you're using a scimitar so you'll still have a 15-20 crit range.

If that's more to think about than he wants, a Swashbuckler can be a good time. Keep the CHA up there, to give some nice non-combat skills.

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