PFS Suggestions for a Nagaji Character

Hi all,

As the subject suggests, I'm looking to build a new character (or GM credit it partially) that is a Nagaji but I'm stuck for ideas.

Generally, I try to make each of my characters different but I can't think where to start with a Nagaji.

Any ideas?

Anything Strength or Charisma-related would do the trick. I'm currently playing with a negative energy Channel Smiting Nagaji, as they have the perfect stats for a smashy Cleric. Paladins are always an option, some kind of Strength-based Sorcerer, Bloodrager, and so on.

Or you could look at racial archetypes. Naga Aspirant Druid is pretty cool, and from Blood of the Beast there's the First Mother's Fang Cavalier that rides a snake.

What about a Bloodrager with the Naga bloodline? Quite thematic, and the stats work well for it.

What about a Bloodrager with the Naga bloodline? Quite thematic, and the stats work well for it.

Nagaji Eldritch Scion Magus with the naga bloodline is something I was recently considering. The ES magus arguably needs the cha more than a bloodrager :)

Nagaji Ninja rolls off the tongue well. The only Nagaji character I have is 2 levels UnBarb/7 naga Aspirant Druid with the cave domain. He is fun to play and chews through most opponents in a round.

Since you want something different, it would help if you describe what you already have and what sort of characters you tend to like playing.

The Steel Refrain wrote:

What about a Bloodrager with the Naga bloodline? Quite thematic, and the stats work well for it.

Nagaji Eldritch Scion Magus with the naga bloodline is something I was recently considering. The ES magus arguably needs the cha more than a bloodrager :)

Very interesting idea! I hadn't really given the Eldritch Scion archetype much consideration before, but it seems fun.

There is one aspect that gives me pause though -- seems like you'd have to churn your limited number of 'Eldritch Pool' points pretty hard to keep up your combat effectiveness (especially before 8th, when you can finally spell combat without it). Having to dedicate a swift action to that every couple of rounds also seems potentially painful, though I guess Magus' don't really need swift actions for many other things.

In debating the merits, I'd have to consider that a Bloodrager is activating their bloodrage as a free action, with a greater number of rounds available. Also, even if you wanted to boost your rounds as a Eldritch Scion, you can only boost the pool by 2 points (i.e. 4 rounds of 'mystic focus') with Extra Arcane Pool, whereas a Bloodrager can get 6 extra round via Extra Rage (if they felt thney needed it).

I guess it probably comes down to the Bloodrager being generally a better martial combatant, but less spell-oriented than the Magus archetype. Depends on what you're looking for...

Scaled Fist Unchained Monk works great mechanically and thematically. Naga Aspiriant Druid is also a great racial archetype and Nagaji is the only way to legally play one.

A bard named Scales?

Of course, it's hard for us to give you different ideas, when we don't know what you already have. My vote would be for Skald. No one ever thinks of the Skald.

Nagaji has great stats for
Bard, scaled fist monk, paladin, oracle, medium, ninja, cavalier (and a cool archtype for it too), bloodrager, mesmerist.
also works decent for Str classes with no mental needs like fighter, rogue, slayer if you want a bit of CHA for feats or skills.

Getting a str boost and cha boost is perfect for any melee cha class. Then getting +1 natural armor and a +2 to mind effecting is great to help your AC and help out a potentially weak save.

Nagaji has great stats for

Bard, scaled fist monk, paladin, oracle, medium, ninja, cavalier (and a cool archtype for it too), bloodrager, mesmerist.
also works decent for Str classes with no mental needs like fighter, rogue, slayer if you want a bit of CHA for feats or skills.

See, it's sad and hilarious, but no one thinks of Skalds. And I'm not really sure why.

I had a lot of fun with my Nagaji Monk, and that was before Scaled Fist came out. He was Qinggong Monk until Unchained, then rebuilt as an Unchained Monk. I went Snake Style because Nagaji, but for Scaled Fist you'd probably go Dragon Style.

I just made a Nagaji Bloodrager, and so far it's working out. Though I did ultimately decide against the Naga Bloodline. It's just not quite as nice as some of the others.

Of course, it's hard for us to give you different ideas, when we don't know what you already have. My vote would be for Skald. No one ever thinks of the Skald.

I've been thinking of building a Skald as I've been running through the Skull and Shackles module. Basically I was going to make a Skald that was a member of the crew who would perform by shouting the crews deeds of the module (and credit them to himself).

As there are Nagas in Skull and Shackles, i'm definitely tempted to combine this and make a Nagaji Skald.

Thanks!

Chess Pwn wrote:

Nagaji has great stats for

Bard, scaled fist monk, paladin, oracle, medium, ninja, cavalier (and a cool archtype for it too), bloodrager, mesmerist.
also works decent for Str classes with no mental needs like fighter, rogue, slayer if you want a bit of CHA for feats or skills.

See, it's sad and hilarious, but no one thinks of Skalds. And I'm not really sure why.

No, it's cause it's never good to be a skald :P

Skald has worked well for me in multiple different builds.

My Nagaji character is a Bloodrager/Skald mix where it is mostly Bloodrager and I put the Spell Warrior archetype on the Skald. She uses her song when a creature has regeneration or needs something special to hit it such as ghosttouch. With this archetype, there is no interference with normal abilities, the song is on the weapons.

Another archetype that can help get people to accept the song is Urban Skald. That one allows you to choose a mix of Str/Con/Dex to provide with your song, giving more flexibility.

That said, the straight Skald works just fine as long as you aren't in a group of all casters with no summons. There is usually at least one other character that will take the song, it makes up for your 3/4 BAB, and you have good Fort and Will saves making you better able to handle the front line than a Bard. The 5th level Spell Kenning ability is fantastic! You now can call in that one spell that you need for a strange encounter, whether it be cure disease, Daylight, Remove blindness or whatever.

I like the Skald.

I think a skald that didn't buff anyone else in the party with his song would still be doing alright. It'd still be a 3/4 BAB 6th level caster, with the ability to wear shields and heavy armor for early level survivability. And the ability to take Skald's Vigor for some of the best fast healing in the game.

And if your song happens to work for someone else in the party, well then that's just a bonus.

I think a skald that didn't buff anyone else in the party with his song would still be doing alright. It'd still be a 3/4 BAB 6th level caster, with the ability to wear shields and heavy armor for early level survivability. And the ability to take Skald's Vigor for some of the best fast healing in the game.

And if your song happens to work for someone else in the party, well then that's just a bonus.

See, I feel almost the same way. I agree with everything but feeling it's worth doing with a standard action. If there was a selfish version. Preferably like the archaeologist bard or Busker bard, that have selfish buffs as a swift action would be best. Having one like the dervish and the dawnflower dervish where it's a move action would maybe be enough.

My vote is for Nagaji Unchained Summoner. Nagaji have strong ties to Naga, which are aberrations. Horror Adventures allows for aberration as a subtype, and they can even have a serpentine base form. The relationship can go in many directions: Summoner caring for a young Naga, the Summoner acting as a servant to an evil (but dependant) master, or even having the Summoner treating the Eidolon as an object of worship and zealously preaching about it.

The high Cha and Str encourage melee shenanigans. Longspears are great weapons, especially if the Summoner and Eidolon can form a spear line together. There is potential for teamwork feat shenanigans, as well. The low Int can be partially patched by taking the Planar Savant trait to use Cha for Knowledge (planes) checks.

I have a nagaji battle oracle. Not the most creative, but the stats fit the class well.

That str/cha bonus would obviously make a good paladin, too. Or ninja as someone else above mentioned. I hadn't consider that one before, but it could be interesting. You just don't see many ninjas these days.

I am smart like a box of rocks. I save good folks from bad folks, and bad monsters, and bad dead things that are not dead.

I am currently playing a Nagaji Bloodrager (draconic bloodline) who is going to go dragon disciple once he is high enough level. So far he is working out great, and is surprisingly fun to play for a pretty straight forward (hit it til it dies) type of character.

I just made a Nagaji Bloodrager, and so far it's working out. Though I did ultimately decide against the Naga Bloodline. It's just not quite as nice as some of the others.

Understandable. While I like the flavour, I'm not convinced it is as strong as some of the other bloodlines. Might work best if Crossblooded to cherry pick the best parts from it and another bloodline (though that comes with its own downsides).

I hadn't checked out the naga bloodline before, but it seems pretty ok. The bite is a lot better than the claws from other bloodlines, because you don't need free hands to use it, so it's useable in every full attack. The poison bite is actually pretty good, because the DC will be pumped from your constitution increase from the rage.

If anything I'd say it's front-loaded, giving the excellent bite right away, but giving a situational at best 4th level power.

I hadn't checked out the naga bloodline before, but it seems pretty ok. The bite is a lot better than the claws from other bloodlines, because you don't need free hands to use it, so it's useable in every full attack. The poison bite is actually pretty good, because the DC will be pumped from your constitution increase from the rage.

If anything I'd say it's front-loaded, giving the excellent bite right away, but giving a situational at best 4th level power.

Yeah, the bite is great, though it's too bad the poison comes online so late.

The reason why I like the idea of Crossblooded with Naga is that you can grab the fantastic bite at 1st, then pick something different (read: better) at 4th and probably 8th levels. Something like Aberrant works well, for example, or perhaps Abyssal or Arcane, or maybe even Destined.

Also, the usual downside to Crossblooded (penalty to Will saves) is offset at least a little by the Nagaji trait giving a +2 against mind-affecting effects. I'd still probably want to pick up Iron Will somewhere along the way, but I note that both Arcane and Aberrant provide it as a bloodline bonus feat.

What about a Bloodrager with the Naga bloodline? Quite thematic, and the stats work well for it.

By Naga bloodline, so you mean Serpentine (from APG)? (I couldn't find a Naga bloodline on the d20pfsrd.com site.)

I'm planning to try a serpentine sorcerer nagaji in PFS sometime soonish. The bloodline arcana promises to help make low-level mind-affecting and language-dependent spells more generally useful.

The Steel Refrain wrote:

What about a Bloodrager with the Naga bloodline? Quite thematic, and the stats work well for it.

By Naga bloodline, so you mean Serpentine (from APG)? (I couldn't find a Naga bloodline on the d20pfsrd.com site.)

I'm planning to try a serpentine sorcerer nagaji in PFS sometime soonish. The bloodline arcana promises to help make low-level mind-affecting and language-dependent spells more generally useful.

The Naga Bloodline appears in Blood of the Beast, and is on Archives of Nethys.

I'm plotting a Mesmerist/Bard idea with a Nagaji

I second naga aspirant. The racial stats aren't exactly optimal for a druid, but getting sorcerer spells added to your spell list and being able to shape change into a naga are unique and powerful abilities.

The bite from the Naga Bloodline is great, but the other abilities aren't fantastic when compared to other Bloodrager Bloodlines. A swim speed at 4th doesn't stack up vs. enlarge person automatically every time you rage, or vs. blur every time you rage, etc. Though I think it was mentioned that this is for Skull & Shackles? In which case, having a swim speed isn't the worst thing. The 8th level Naga ability is a little better, granting more natural armor, though again, when you compare it to something like Arcane and free haste or displacement it's still not quite there.I ended up going Crossblooded Abyssal/Arcane so at 8th level I'll be large with displacement or haste overtime I rage.

But the flavor of the Naga bloodline for a Nagaji is great. The mind-affecting bonus from Nagaji does help offset the Crossblooded penalty. Just keep in mind that Crossblooded is effectively a -4 to WILL saves, as you lose the +2 while raging and you take a -2 penalty all the time. So you're not completely fixing that by being a Nagaji. Don't dump WIS.

You could do a Crossblooded natural attacking build with Abyssal and Naga and go claws at 1st, then use your 4th level ability to take the Nagaji bite, then use your 8th level ability to take the Abyssal enlarge person. 12th level take the increased stat boost for rage from Abyssal.

Crossblooded is only a -2 to will saves.

Crossblooded is only a -2 to will saves.

But it's relatively worse than that because the regular bloodrager gets a +2 to saves.

Crossblooded is only a -2 to will saves.

You also lose the +2 to Will saves that you normally get when you rage. So it's effectively a -4.

A crossblooded rager takes a –2 penalty to all Will saving throws at all times, and does not gain the +2 morale bonus on Will saving throws while bloodraging—though he does gain a +1 morale bonus Will saving throws when he gains the greater bloodrage class feature, which increases to a +2 morale bonus on saving throws upon gaining the mighty bloodrage class feature.

So a Crossblooded Rager will have a Will save 4 lower than a regular Bloodrager while raging. It will only be 2 lower when not raging.

Cory Stafford 29 wrote:

Crossblooded is only a -2 to will saves.

But it's relatively worse than that because the regular bloodrager gets a +2 to saves.

Bloodragers only get good fort saves, not good wil saves.

Melkiador wrote:

Cory Stafford 29 wrote:

Crossblooded is only a -2 to will saves.

But it's relatively worse than that because the regular bloodrager gets a +2 to saves.

Bloodragers only get good fort saves, not good wil saves.

Are you messing with me? Bloodragers normally get a +2 to will when raging. Crossblooded don't get that +2. Past very early levels, you will be raging for every combat.

No. You made it sound like they got a +2 to will saves all the time at 1st level like it was one of their good saves, not just while raging. You weren't clear on that.

Just keep in mind that Crossblooded is effectively a -4 to WILL saves, as you lose the +2 while raging and you take a -2 penalty all the time. So you're not completely fixing that by being a Nagaji. Don't dump WIS.

Ferious Thune had spelled it out in his post already.

The bite from the Naga Bloodline is great, but the other abilities aren't fantastic when compared to other Bloodrager Bloodlines. A swim speed at 4th doesn't stack up vs. enlarge person automatically every time you rage, or vs. blur every time you rage, etc. Though I think it was mentioned that this is for Skull & Shackles? In which case, having a swim speed isn't the worst thing. The 8th level Naga ability is a little better, granting more natural armor, though again, when you compare it to something like Arcane and free haste or displacement it's still not quite there.I ended up going Crossblooded Abyssal/Arcane so at 8th level I'll be large with displacement or haste overtime I rage.

But the flavor of the Naga bloodline for a Nagaji is great. The mind-affecting bonus from Nagaji does help offset the Crossblooded penalty. Just keep in mind that Crossblooded is effectively a -4 to WILL saves, as you lose the +2 while raging and you take a -2 penalty all the time. So you're not completely fixing that by being a Nagaji. Don't dump WIS.

You could do a Crossblooded natural attacking build with Abyssal and Naga and go claws at 1st, then use your 4th level ability to take the Nagaji bite, then use your 8th level ability to take the Abyssal enlarge person. 12th level take the increased stat boost for rage from Abyssal.

I like the sounds of that Naga/Abyssal build. I haven't considered if it is super optimal or anything, but it sounds pretty strong and really fun overall.

I agree with you about the Will save part, of course. I think Iron Will is near mandatory is you're going Crossblooded.

Naga Aspirant Druid. One of the most flexible characters I've ever played.

The Naga Bloodline appears in Blood of the Beast, and is on Archives of Nethys.

Ah, thanks! So, similar schtick, but for the bloodrager.