Which class for a lvl 1-2 game?


Advice


Which class would you choose for a game that starts at lvl 1 and continues for 3-4 sessions?

Most likely 4 players, won't know what two of the other players choose. The third player is my wife, and I will most likely create her character also.

So looking for either 2 classes that plays well together at lvl 1, or 2 that are a bit front loaded.

Was konsidering far strike monk for myself, or a mouser swashbuckler/Unchained Rouge combo for me and the wife. The gimmicks would be for the mouser to fight in the enemies square, debuffing attacks on other players and giving the Rouge sneak attack.

Which classes have you had fun with at low levels, and which ones would you shy away from?


i wouldnt know as going to level 2 none of the classes actually have anything going for them and none of their combos can get started imho the game doesnt really start till you get to level 5 and have access to more than just one or two class abilities and in games that only go for a few sesions with no chance of picking it up later on our club members tend to prefer higher level haves just so we can do wierd wacky combos we would not beable to do any other time


Don't listen to Lady-J, there's plenty of stuff to do at level 1.

I'd go druid. If you're working with a 20 point buy, I'd do 16str, 14dex, 14con, 10int, 14wis, 10cha as a human.

Grab a scimitar, hide armor and a heavy wooden shield, and get an animal companion.

Run around casting Entangle, or hacking at stuff with your sword and excellent AC.

Pick a Velociraptor, Roc, Allosaurus, Big Cat or Horse for your animal companion, since they're the best, by the numbers. This is your other deathmachine.

Druid isn't the only viable option though.

Swashbuckler specfically has some problems lvl 1-2, unless you figure out how to have 3 feats at level one. (So you can have slashing grace or whatever for dex to damage)


I do agree with you Lady-J, but I'm not the GM for this one. For once ☺️

Going on holiday with some other people that want to play, but the GM wants to keep things simple so lvl 1 it is.

My gutfeeling is avoid magic users except maybe kinethesist, just wanted to check if other people had suggestions.


The point of the druid isn't really the magic, not at low levels like this. It's to be moderately good at bashing face and having a pet that's *really* good at bashing face.

And also a little magic.

What are your stats like?

The synthesist summoner has an ungodly amount of HP at level 1. You could go with that.


20 point buy.


Ierox wrote:

Don't listen to Lady-J, there's plenty of stuff to do at level 1.

I'd go druid. If you're working with a 20 point buy, I'd do 16str, 14dex, 14con, 10int, 14wis, 10cha as a human.

Grab a scimitar, hide armor and a heavy wooden shield, and get an animal companion.

Run around casting Entangle, or hacking at stuff with your sword and excellent AC.

Pick a Velociraptor, Roc, Allosaurus, Big Cat or Horse for your animal companion, since they're the best, by the numbers. This is your other deathmachine.

Druid isn't the only viable option though.

Swashbuckler specfically has some problems lvl 1-2, unless you figure out how to have 3 feats at level one. (So you can have slashing grace or whatever for dex to damage)

its not just the fact that you have little to no class abilities but at level one you are super vulnerable to death as you have so few hit points you also have very little skill points so party skills are lacking


The Summoner is the strongest class in the game at such low levels (this holds true for both chained or unchained). It has an excessive number of daily ability uses, superb versatility, and a lot of power. This can actually be very useful for compensating for a low player count, so being a bit OP may not be a problem. Druid isn't quite as over the top, but its combination of spellcasting power and the animal companion is very solid and it will definitely keep pace with a Summoner.

I'd also mention Barbarian/Alchemist, which is an interesting combo that I personally quite like.

Scarab Sages

CryptBreaker or Chirurgeon/CryptBreaker
Alchemist.

(Races?) Most likely Elf, or Tiefling or ... Ratfolk or Wayang - something with a +2 to Dex and Int. - max the INT to 20 and push the DEX to 16.

So stats would be something like:

Strength 10
Dexterity 16
Constitution 10
Intelligence 28
Wisdom 10
Charisma 7

This get's you:

- The ability to use Healing Wands (and some limited self healing)

- Trapfinding,

- Alchemical items crafted at 1/3 cost,

- AOO damage from both your bombs and from Splash Weapons (that you an make). (Splash damage would be 6 HP).

- Great ranged Combat ability.

and lots of fun stuff.


Grakul wrote:
Which classes have you had fun with at low levels, and which ones would you shy away from?

My reccomendation would be a Human 1st level Witch / 1st level Fighter. Its a little mad, but you will have a Familiar, Hexes you can use as often as you want and plenty of combat ability. Something like this:

Human 1st level Fighter / 1st level Witch

STR - 14
DEX - 12
CON - 14
INT - 16
WIS - 14
CHA - 8

Traits:
Defender of the Society
Indomitable Faith

Feats:
1st - Hex: Slumber
1st - Accursed Hex or Ability Focus: Slumber
1st - Improved Initiative or Extra Hex: Healing
2nd - Weapon Focus: Greatsword or Bardiche

Familiar: Greensting Scorpion (Protector archetype)

Youll basically have an AC of 23, act first most rounds, have a ranged Save or suck you can use pretty much at will, have good saves, decent skills and utility and, of course, a nice two-handed weapon to beat face with. It lends itself to.some really cool concepts too.

For a second character Id say a standard Summoner... Eidolon, Summon Monster SLA's, a reach weapon, spells and the Charisma to make up for the 1st guy's lack of social skills.

Do that and you probably wont even need the other guys.


When I play I usually favor spell casters of some sort mainly because in the long run they end up more powerful. Martial classes are actually pretty strong at low level, but spell casters soon end up being more powerful. If it were me I would use this as an opportunity to play something different. A barbarian or a ranger will probably do well. The barbarian will have lots of HP and do good damage. The ranger will have decent skills and versatility. If there is going to be a lot of a particular creature than the rangers favored enemy will really shine. The extra feat from being human will be extremely helpful.


Depends a bit on theme of the game. Pack lord Druid or beast master ranger (or hunter equivalent) would be like playing 3 full powered level 2 chars at level 2.

I would probably play a Melee class. Casters usually struggle early on. Make sure you can deal multiple types of damage (slashing/piercing/bludgeoning) as undead are a standard low level opponent and DR/ will kill you.

A caster focused on toppling magic missile would be good in this game (assuming human-ish opponents). I'm not sure on kineticist. They don't have low level utility and will just be casting 1d6 energy blasts repeatedly (compare to an archer shooting 1d8 arrows).


Warpriest at low levels starts pretty strong. The Hunter is better then Druid. Better armor and weapon choices and an animal companion to boot. A spell I'd pick immediately is Lead Blade. Increases the weapon damage of melee by one step. Longsword now kicks out a great sword damage. The Occultist spells are limited but their class abilities are pretty awesome that is one I'd go for.
Straight fighter, or Paladin are strong front liners. A Monk is a favorite and have done wonders with them.


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Roll up two characters for yourself. That way when everyone else shows up with a Summoner you can pull out something different.

Or complete the set.


At low level play, anything that breaks action economy will rule the roost. This is why everyone is recommending Summoners, Druids and the like. More actions in combat mean more chances to win, since most stuff will die with one hit. Pet based classes are kings at this level.


You could try the always cheesy unlimited healing duo.

1 level of Unbreakable Fighter with the Fast Healer feat.
1 level of Life Oracle with Life Link

the other starts as whatever they want, but also picks up the Oracle by level 2.

Target each other and enjoy


Human Unchained Barbarian with Tribal Scars and Power Attack.

Easily 20-22 HP and Great Damage.

For the Pair...Human Bard with Trapfinder trait... Flagbearer and combat reflexes feats to handle traps, face skills, and boosting the Barbarian's attack by +2 and Damage by +1. Use a longspear to get AoO and use standard actions to Perform or cast. Don't worry about flanking as it is dangerous and this tag team doesn't really need it.


For a level 1 - 2 game?

Probably a human barbarian or fighter. Hits hard enough and accurately enough to one-round most opponents.

Power Attack and Furious Focus on both. Weapon Focus on the fighter.

At level 1, a summoner's eidolon only has 6 hp and a modest AC.


Vermin Hunter seems really fun at level 1, +2 natural armor or fast healing are really good, especially if you kill your pet. Go lizardfolk for 2 natural armor, swim speed and 3 natural weapons. You have a lot of options and can switch between weapon and shield, reach, or natural attacks. Also second level you can go oracle for life link and unlimited out of combat healing.

Also at level 1 master summoner has literally no drawbacks compared to the standard summoner, it really seems like the best level 1 class.


Barbs are king of combat early levels. I have a lv1 bloodrager that has 19 hp pre-rage (using tribal scars) with +9 to hit while power attacking for 1d12+15 damage. Saves are 6/3/4 pre rage.
Those numbers put him on par with lv2 or lv3 characters.


Chess Pwn wrote:

Barbs are king of combat early levels. I have a lv1 bloodrager that has 19 hp pre-rage (using tribal scars) with +9 to hit while power attacking for 1d12+15 damage. Saves are 6/3/4 pre rage.

Those numbers put him on par with lv2 or lv3 characters.

Totally agree with this, nothing even comes close to a barbarian levels 1-5 and they scale well for the rest of the levels as well. They are especially great in lower levels when you go with the two handed power attack route because with your rage bonuses nothing can put out as much damage as a barbarian


Regardless of companion creatures, standard action summoning itself is quite strong at low levels. The monster tactician inquisitor is probably the most powerful of the options for this, but all of them are strong.

Summons take hits for you and impede enemies from reaching you, while dealing very good damage at low levels.


Chess Pwn wrote:

Barbs are king of combat early levels. I have a lv1 bloodrager that has 19 hp pre-rage (using tribal scars) with +9 to hit while power attacking for 1d12+15 damage. Saves are 6/3/4 pre rage.

Those numbers put him on par with lv2 or lv3 characters.

Yup I agree that is why I mentioned Tribal scars and power attack Unchained Barb. Straight forward, easy, and dominates.

Bloodrager as well, being part Barbarian and having Full BaB, d10 HD, Rage, Fast movement, and a rage power or Familiar (your choice).

Either class does the same thing...Big HP pool and Smashes things into the Dead condition.


Level 1 is the best time to use cleave, a http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/cavalier/archetypes/paizo-cava lier-archetypes/gendarme/ human cavalier can get power attack, cleave and cleaving finish all at level one, at the level you can kill enemies in one hit. Extra actions seem a lot better than more damage when it just takes one hit to kill almost everything you'll be up against. Earthbreaker is the best weapon because crits don't matter and it has the most damage with reach. If you really want damage a mounted character with spirited charge will get you 30 damage a turn at level 1.

Melee builds seem like they have a lot of options, but are there any good ranged builds? Composite longbows are so expensive that I can only think of an eldritch archer magus (free longbow with arcane bond) being any good.
human 20 pt buy: 16 str 12 con 16+2 dex 12 int 10 wis 7 cha


For a ranged build at level 1-2, I'd recommend the Kineticist. They have 30 ft. range for 1d6+1+Con modifier vs. AC, or 1d6+1/2 Con modifier vs. touch AC. It's on par with a composite shortbow, costs nothing and never requires ammunition. Plus you're pumping a stat that really returns well on being maximised.


For a bit of flavour, a human Dex-based Corsair. Pump the AC (can easily get AC20 at level 1), Fighter HPs and BAB, and you get Cleave as a free 2nd level feat for an extra attack (situational of course).


earthbreakers don't have reach

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