I am looking over Mesmerist for Crimson Throne and I wondering if should go as Human or as Gnome. I tend to play as Human because of the extra feat at first level and extra skill point. Gnome think would be near since I saw the Faerie Dragon magic Alt race trait gives nice selection of alt SLA then standard Gnome Magic.
I have a hard time not choosing human and only choose other races if it fits thematically for my concept.
Mechanically, that feat and extra skill point are almost always better than the SLA of a gnome. But if you have a concept where the gnome magic would be more useful or thematic, you should definitely go with that.
Gnome trying to make it debuffing enemies with my two main schools of Magic illision and enchantment caster then wade into combat.
I don't really know anything about the mesmerist but for what it's worth, I'm playing a gnome shadow (well, umbral) sorceress in Runelords. The extra +1 DC to illusion spells is very handy. At its worst, it's a free feat (spell focus or greater spell focus). At its best, it's an addional bonus on top of greater spell focus. So yeah, if you're gonna pick up spell focus illusion anyway, gnome is at least as good as human.
Gnomes also have other useful abilities. Being small grants you +1 AC and attack, which is great for any character. +2 Con is also great, especially for low fort classes.
+4 stealth and +2 perception are pretty good as well.
If you use language depending spells, the alternate racial trait "Gift of Tongues" helps you to learn more languages faster.
Alternatively, Eternal Hope can really save you in a pinch.
If you're going to wade into combat then you may well be tempted by Divine Fighting Technique: Desna's Shooting Star. With -2 str and no dex bonus gnomes aren't especially talented at the wading in part normally.
I'd go with Gnome. Always fun to try something different.
Gnome. More interesting as a race. They are fun to RP and they fit mesmerist quite well
Name: Merrick Alignment: NG Init: +2
Race: Gnome
Level: 1
Class: Mesmerist
Hieght: 3'4
Wieght: 39lbs
Sex: Male
Size: Small
Str: 11 +0
Dex: 14 +2
Con: 16 +3
Int: 13 +1
Wis: 14 +2
Cha: 16 +3
AC: 17
FF: 15
TC: 13
Save
Fort: +3
Ref: +4
Will: +4
CMB: +0
CMD: 11
Weapons
Swordcane : +1 20 /x2 P 1d4
Dagger: +1 19-20 /x2 P/S 1d3
Club: +1 20/ x2 B 1d4
Lt Crossbow: +1 19-20 /x2 P 1d6 10 bolts 80ft
Skills
Bluff +8
Diplomacy +4
Know
Planes +5
Percp +8
Sense +6
Slight +4
Spell +7
Stealth +8
UMD +7
AC Gear
Chainshirt
Gear:
Mesmerist Kit
Spells
0 Level
Daze DC14
Read Magic
Detect Magic
Light
1 Level
Color Spray DC 15
Jittersbug DC 15
SLA Faerie Dragon Magic
Grease x1 a day DC14
Ghost Sound 1x a day DC 14
Silent Image 1x a day DC 15
Feat
Spell Focus: Enchantment
Traits
Framed +2 to Spellcraft
Lesser Noble + 100 extra gold to starting gold
Mesmerist Trick
Mesmeric Mirror
+2 resitance to Illision Spells and SLA
Hypnotic Stare
Painful Stare
Consumate Liar