Slayer / Investigator: Would it work?


Advice


I have a Level 1.2 Brawler that I am looking to respec into a Slayer 1/Investigator 1. Still being very new to PFS (it's been over a year since I last played the brawler), I'm not sure what works and what doesn't work outside of homebrew games where we're mostly screwing around with ideas. Would it be feasible to play such a character?

Considering going with Human for race, if that matters.

Liberty's Edge

A slayer/investigator hybrid is kind of an odd choice. They both have study actions that would have to be activated separately, so they don't really have action economy working for them. The usual full BAB/investigator hybrid is inspired blade swashbuckler 1/investigator x for early dex to damage, with studied target and mutagens helping out later on.

The Exchange

It depends on what you want to do with your character.

Are you a slayer with a keen eye, insightful mind, and minor knowledge of magical liquids? Then you could be a slayer with extracts and the inspiration ability. Play an Investigator 1/Slayer X (one level investigator, rest slayer).

There's plenty of archetypical combinations that would work. It's absolutely possible to put those two classes together in ways that make your character come to life. But if you want to just stack studied combat and studied target, it doesn't really work. The progression is better single-classed.

Sovereign Court

It would also depend on what everyone else is bringing to the session. I would highly recommend that you look at the Empiricist archetype if your group tends to not have that many "Face" type characters for the Investigator side. Stack it with the Brawler so it gives you some flexibility. If you are going for more of a support type, Cavalier (Standard bearer) or maybe Gunslinger might be an option.


I didn't think of a Brawler/Investigator. That just sounds rude!
To be honest, I don't really know what I'm looking for outside of Melee. I'm headed out to GenCon in the morning and I'm scrambling to have a character made that I won't regret and won't get bored of.

Dark Archive

I have a slayer 2/ investigator 1/ occultist 3. Take ten on knowledge rolls for 23 +1d6? Yes, please. The plan is to finish out with all occultist levels.

I am totes digging the combos.

Sczarni

Echos Myron wrote:
I have a Level 1.2 Brawler that I am looking to respec into a Slayer 1/Investigator 1.

Just making sure: your character had 2xp, and then played a 3xp module? So you now have 5xp total?

Because if you instead played when you had 4xp, you're outside of the window for the "free rebuild".


One thing to note with Slayer is that their main combat ability has a rather slow progression, and requires a move action until 7 (and even then needs a swift). So it's not often an ideal multiclass choice. Swashbuckler, Fighter, Unchained Rogue or even Barbarian are much more multiclass friendly, and the list goes on.


Nefreet wrote:
Echos Myron wrote:
I have a Level 1.2 Brawler that I am looking to respec into a Slayer 1/Investigator 1.

Just making sure: your character had 2xp, and then played a 3xp module? So you now have 5xp total?

Because if you instead played when you had 4xp, you're outside of the window for the "free rebuild".

I'm so new to PFS that I'm not sure what any of that means. I was under the impression that each session awards 1 xp, and that it took 3 xp to level? I am still level 1, with 2 sessions (6-15 Overflow Archives pt 3 and 6-16 Scions of the Sky Key) under my belt. I'm probably wrong. I plan on changing the character to another class, and upon reaching character level 2, taking a level in something different.

BadBird wrote:
One thing to note with Slayer is that their main combat ability has a rather slow progression, and requires a move action until 7 (and even then needs a swift). So it's not often an ideal multiclass choice. Swashbuckler, Fighter, Unchained Rogue or even Barbarian are much more multiclass friendly, and the list goes on.

I'm just now picking up on that. May look into Swashbuckler+something else.


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A lot depends on exactly how multiclass you're wanting to go, and what kind of character you want. Just one level of Urban Bloodrager/Barbarian or Savage Technologist plus some Extra Rage plus a Furious weapon grants some nice combat benefits for any melee, including dex-based. Three levels of Weapon Master provides two bonus feats and opens up Weapon Training (eventually grabbing you +3 attack and damage with Gloves of Dueling). Unchained Rogue 3 opens up a ton of options for a dex-to-damage character, including using an Elven Curved Blade with two-handed Power Attack. Sacred Fist 4/ Swashbuckler with Crusader's Flurry and the right traits can flurry rapier or scimitar with swift-action +3 Divine Favor. There are an absolute ton of cool multiclass melee options... I'd definitely include characters that Wild Shape into medium Air Elementals and wield dex-to-damage swords, but I'd be worried some PFS GM would have a fit about an Air Elemental holding a weapon.

EDIT: oh, and Dervish Dance scimitar Sohei 1/ Paladin with Unsanctioned Knowledge is an absolute classic. A light armor, dex-based Paladin who uses flurry of blows with a scimitar and casts Mirror Image is just a complete middle finger to Paladin stereotypes.

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