Advice with a bloodrager build

[peterva]

Hi all,

For a Mummy's Mask campaign in progress, I want to make a new character. I usually have casters for characters, but this time I want to go more in the direction of melee. I want to go for a bloodrager this time, something I've never done before; this is a fun prospect, but it's also kind of unknown territory for me.

My idea is a bloodrager who is not necessarily bulky, but rather focuses on hitting hard and not getting hit himself. I checked out some of the bloodlines, Shadow seems fun, but I'm pretty sure all of you might have plenty of suggestions :)

The campaign is PB20, 3 traits (one of which has to be a campaign trait). I can make a level 2 right now, but some suggestions for the next few levels are welcome. Only Paizo content is allowed, so no 3pp. I am not set on a race or something like that yet, but I'd like to keep the cheese-level to a minimum if possible.

Thanks in advance!

[Louise Bishop]

If you want to not get hit as much I recommend the Arcane Bloodline. The Level 8 Bloodline power gives you Displacement while raging. 50% chance to just say no to damage.

Archetype: Primalist

Race: Half-Orc (Darkvision for Dark Dungeons)
Alternative Racial: Sacred Tattoo

Point Buy 20:
Str:19, Dex: 12, Con: 15, Int: 7, Wis: 10, Cha: 12 (+1 to Con @ 4 and rest +1 STR)

Traits:
Fate's Favored
Dangerously Curious
Community Minded

Bloodline:
Arcane

Feats:
1 HD: Power Attack
3 HD: Raging Vitality
5 HD: Arcane Strike
6 HD (Bloodline): Iron Will
7 HD: Toughness
9 HD: Improved Critical- Scimitar
9 HD (Bloodline): Improved Initiative
11 HD: Bloodied Arcane Strike
12 HD (Bloodline): Combat Reflexes
13 HD: Raging Brutality

Bloodline Powers:
1: Familiar (Familiar Folio Choice)Protector Archetype Hedgehog (+2 Will saves)
4: Use the 4th level power, but retrain at Level 8 for Lesser Beast Totem and Beast Totem
8: Keep this Power for Displacement or Haste while raging
12: Rage Powers: Come and Get Me & Greater Beast Totem

Use a Shield for the first few Levels to keep AC up then once you get a miss chance toss it aside.

I use a Scimitar in 2 hands BTW. so if I am grappled I can go to 1 hand and keep swinging. Feel free to use what you like. But the damage difference between Scimitar and Falchion is average 1.5 damage. The difference when in a Grapple is Doing damage versus doing no damage and having to try and switch weapons.

[BadBird]

I second Arcane. It's awesome stuff.

The Blood Conduit Archetype is a very cool option, since they get to do a Magus-like cast-a-spell-while-striking thing. A Blood Conduit specializing in Rime metamagic Frostbite and using a combination of unarmed strikes and weapon strikes is rather dangerous. If you wanted a less cliche and more interesting combat style, you could potentially even do a Bloodrager who uses Two-Weapon Fighting with a sword and Frostbite unarmed strikes.

[Louise Bishop]

BadBird wrote:

I second Arcane. It's awesome stuff.

The Blood Conduit Archetype is a very cool option, since they get to do a Magus-like cast-a-spell-while-striking thing. A Blood Conduit specializing in Rime metamagic Frostbite and using a combination of unarmed strikes and weapon strikes is rather dangerous. If you wanted a less cliche and more interesting combat style, you could potentially even do a Bloodrager who uses Two-Weapon Fighting with a sword and Frostbite unarmed strikes.

I just use a +1 Furious Spellstoring weapon and +1 Spell storing armor if they make it through the layered defenses. I use a Lesser rod of Rime with Frostbite and Frigid Touch.

[PhD. Okkam]

BadBird wrote:

I second Arcane. It's awesome stuff.

The Blood Conduit Archetype is a very cool option, since they get to do a Magus-like cast-a-spell-while-striking thing. A Blood Conduit specializing in Rime metamagic Frostbite and using a combination of unarmed strikes and weapon strikes is rather dangerous. If you wanted a less cliche and more interesting combat style, you could potentially even do a Bloodrager who uses Two-Weapon Fighting with a sword and Frostbite unarmed strikes.

Blood Conduit Archetype and one dip Scaled Fist Unmonk

[BadBird]

Louise Bishop wrote:

BadBird wrote:

I second Arcane. It's awesome stuff.

The Blood Conduit Archetype is a very cool option, since they get to do a Magus-like cast-a-spell-while-striking thing. A Blood Conduit specializing in Rime metamagic Frostbite and using a combination of unarmed strikes and weapon strikes is rather dangerous. If you wanted a less cliche and more interesting combat style, you could potentially even do a Bloodrager who uses Two-Weapon Fighting with a sword and Frostbite unarmed strikes.

I just use a +1 Furious Spellstoring weapon and +1 Spell storing armor if they make it through the layered defenses. I use a Lesser rod of Rime with Frostbite and Frigid Touch.

That works great for a limited approach, but spending on a spellstoring weapon and armor for 1 or conditionally 2 spells per battle isn't the same being able to go in melee-dropping spells at will without weakening armor and weapon. Having Frigid Touch, Frostbite, and whatever else on-hand multiple times per battle is a whole other game, even if it becomes really tempting to spend on a whole sack of Runestones of Power. Blood Conduit kind of Magus-izes the Bloodrager, but without worrying about one-handed combat or concentration checks or whatever other silly stuff.

Edit: Yeah, very interesting Scaled Fist combo options.