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Specifically, can an Order of the Beast cavalier transform his mount into a roc companion, since it is a medium or large animal?

I have seen another thread largely agree that A. you cannot use templates in polymorph and B. you can only transform into animals that have rules written for them (i.e you cant just be a "Huge wolf" with the right Beast Shape because that doesn't technically exist); moreover, if something doesn't exist in the game world, you could never find a piece of that animal for use in Beast Shape (not an issue for druids and cavaliers, though).

Thoughts? Have there been any official rulings?

Hi,

I plan on making a cavalier that, with the Order of the Beast, transforms his tiger mount into a Giant Falcon (a large animal, which should work with the level 8 ability). I was wondering if the grab and pounce abilities afforded a level 7+ tiger companion carry between polymorph forms.

Thanks for the help.

Hi,

My last character in a campaign died, so I need to roll up a new level 7 character. The campaign takes place largely outside, so I figured now was the time to build the cavalier/mammoth rider I've always wanted to play.

The current (very tentative) plan is to start with 7 levels of Beast Rider Cavalier, Order of the Beast, starting with a tiger. That companion gains grab (on all natural attacks, right? I don't think the entry specifies). At 8th level, the Order of the Beast ability lets me shape my tiger into a Giant Falcon, retaining (as I understand it) the grab ability on all attacks, or at least the bite (since it maintains a bite attack through the transformation).

I mostly need help optimizing the grapple aspect of the tiger/bird. The end goal is to be able to reliably grab things, fly up, and drop them, but I can't do that if my mount also gains the grappled condition.

The grab ability lets me take a -20 to my CMB (!!!) to not get the grappled condition, but obviously that isn't reasonable. I've never built a grappling-based character; are there any feats that'll help me dodge that? Are there any other classes/archetypes (including ones for animal companions) that aid in grappling?

Thanks in advance.

Hey, everyone. I've been gone for at least a year, but I'm trying to get back into hearthstone. I finally have a chance at playing my ideal evil character, so I'd love some general character building advice.

Goals: Be survivable/competent in Memer, be able to cast animate dead (or its wordspell equivalent, undeath), and EVENTUALLY (this does not need to come online early or anything, ofc) be able to change into a dragon a couple times per day.

Honestly, the ONLY spell I care about is animate. If there's some way to just get it or undeath and maintain an increasing caster level for it, I'll forgo all other spells. Just need that one ability. For melter, I'd prefer natural weapons (2 levels in ranger, maybe?), but that's not required.

I don't need specific stats, but I really want a character that can change into a dragon (so, dragon disciple unless you have a better idea) while being able to cast animate dead. I don't really care about any other spells but that and maybe command undead.

Preferably arcane, but if you can find the perfect solution with divine magic, then so be it.

Necromancers, arcane magic users, and dragon disciples are my three favorite concepts to play, and I'd LOVE a way to mix them.

The goal is to not be useless in melded while having animate come online at a reasonable level. Actual shapeshifting can come later so long as I have claws/bite to mess around with.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

So, it's the next person in my group's turn to DM, and he's using pathfinder (it's the only system we know), to run a somewhat realistic post-apocalyptic campaign...

With very
Very
Very
Very strict rules on the kinds of characters you can make. These rules are:

1. You can only be a human. This one isn't a problem.

2. Start with light armor and nothing else; equipment will be sparse throughout entire game. This makes gun and bows users, monks (because I'll never ever in a million years get an amulet of mighty fists), and many other classes useless or pointless to use.

3. Magic is reflavored as alchemy-like stuff. Very magical effects thrown out because they could never be made with potions. This screws up arcane casters badly

4. No gods, so no divine magic (though I could probably get Druid and ranger "magic" passed, subject to problem number 3).

That's all of it, and none of it is gonna change. The people I play with are my friends, and I have no other group, so simply sitting this one out is not something I'd like to do. Besides, if I can find a character idea that's worth playing from level 1, I'm sure this campaign will be a lot of fun.

I just have no idea where to start. I'd appreciate any ideas that any of you have, thanks.

So, the story behind this guy is that he's the son of the highest drow matriarch of the under dark below this unnamed human nation. He was sent to infiltrate the government magically disguised as a human so that the drow could get a political foothold in the world above theirs.

Well, now he's in his second term of president of this nation, and he's slowly readying the country for the drow invasion.

Stat wise, I want him to of course be a drow, but not a drow noble. The reason for this is because I like to use my BBEGs as PCs of mine later. He must take the racial feats to be able to eventually use deeper darkness at will, and he needs the greater shadow eye piercing for the see in darkness ability.

Weapon wise, I want him to use something 1. Elegant and 2. easily concealable. For these reasons, I've thought maybe dual wielding kukris, a sword (which he could "hide" as it sort of being ceremonial), or unarmed strikes (maybe with the nightmare fist tree if at all possible.

Class wise, I have no idea what would work. I'm most partial to the nightmare fist idea just because it meshes well with the deeper darkness (and because it's SO COOL), but he will probably be quite feat starved. The dual kukris could probably be pulled off quite easily with a ranger, but I'm not sure how to exactly flavor that correctly with his backstory. With a sword of some sort, maybe just a fighter? Lots of feats for a bunch of stuff like the necessary racial feats.

It's been quite a while since I've poured through the rule books, so I also don't know of much new stuff. If you know of anything that would add to this, I'd love it.

All advice is welcome. Thank you!

So...

I have a group of 5 people, including the GM. 1 of them is new to RPing games in general. 2 are new to Pathfinder but have played DnD. One is kind of familiar with pathfinder, and then there's me, who's well versed in the PF rules.

What Paizo (or maybe non paizo) adventure path would you recommend for such a group?

Thanks,
MotDT

So, he wants a super stealthy goblin guy who lives in these ruins (I don't really know the details) in the middle of some ancient forest. The idea is that he'll ambush the party multiple times, this weakening them, and then finally picking them off one by one with a great stealth bonus.

I don't need the help to actually stay him out, but what I do need is this:

1. What are some magic items that improve stealth? Especially ones that won't conflict with a belt of dexterity and a cloak of resistance.

2. What are some class concepts you could do with really high stealth? Any prestige classes that would be cool?

My friend said surprise him, so as long as it would make sense that this guy would live alone, simply hanging around these ruins, hunting for food and whatnot, living as a recluse, then it works.

So after careful deliberation (I am extremely indecisive when it comes to making characters) I will play in an upcoming campaign as a sylvan sorcerer who transmutes his pet into various creatures to fight in melee for him.

I am looking for a few tips here and there, as explained further in this list:

1. I've been out of the loop for the better part of the year. Are there any new companions that would be better than an allosaurus (which, to my knowledge, is better than a tiger)?

2. Are there any new polymorph spells that might be useful?

3. Are there any new feats that might be useful for this build? I recently came across Spell Sponge, which looks AWESOME.

4. Lastly, how does one go about building a companion into a melee monster? What equipment and feats will I want to eventually get?

Thanks in advance :)

Title says it all.

Some examples of the stuff I'm looking for are things like demonic implants or the four step ritual to become a true demon.

Bonus points if it has anything to do with qlippoth.

Thanks in advance.

EDIT: Sorry about posting 7 threads... I do everything on this board from my iPod, and safari is weird...

A preservationist alchemist with planar preservationist or an oracle of nature?

I'm making a back up character for the campaign I'm in, and I want a character focused on summoning who can summon from both the SM and SNA lists, which leaves these two options unless there's something new.

In your opinions, which is better? It doesn't have to necessarily be better at summoning, just better, in your opinion, overall. Which is more versatile? Which is better in combat? Etc.

Thanks in advance.

So I know there was a thread a couple years back about the topic, but I wanted to know if anything has changed.

Can a magus use his arcane pool to enchant his fist (or an Amulet of Mighty Fists. Whatever works)?

I'm working on an unarmed hex crafter build using the feat that lets you deliver hexes with a swift action and an unarmed strike + spellstrike, so I'd like to know.

Thanks!

The eidolon reach evolution doesn't mention that the reach evolution can't be stacked with itself on one kind of natural attack...

Can I just spend tons of points on getting an enormous reach with a bite attack or something?

What kind of builds or concepts might a synth dip be useful for?

This is sort of just a brainstorming thread to see if any interesting ideas pop up. What are some good uses for an eidolon suit that may be worth dipping for? Any evolutions that maybe normally aren't great, but they could be nice for specific builds?

...how best to make a character-familiar battle team. By this I mean that I want the character to be mixing it up in melee alongside his familiar.

Before now, I've been struggling to find the best way to do this (scarred witch doctor isn't melee oriented, eldritch knight won't have enough health for the familiar, etc), but now I see that a bloodrager w/ eldritch heritage arcane could get this. D12 hit dice along with potentially high CON and maybe a bear's endurance here and there should make a durable tag team.

Questions:
- Best familiar for him? I'm thinking one with regeneration, but which one?
- Best bloodline? And can I use the arcane bloodrager bloodline if I'm taking eldritch heritage arcane? I guess this is part rules question.
- Any other advice/questions/comments?

Thanks in advance. He isn't for any campaign or anything, just a fun concept that I've been struggling to optimize.

Yeah. Can they?

So, using racial heritage, I'm building a human Dreamweaver witch, but I don't know anything about witch building.

What are some useful, sleep/dream themed spells?
What familiars are best for a witch?
Recommended ways to optimize slumber hex (affect stuff immune to mind affecting effects)?
Other general witch advice?
Ways to increase the dream flavor of the character?

All advice is appreciated. Thanks!

For any who do not know, Edward is the protagonist of AC4: Black Flag.

So, I'm wondering how, if it's even possible, to make such a versatile character. First of all, lets just assume rolled stats that are above average.

He...

1. Dual wields swords (any kind will do, as he uses quite the variety. I'm leaning towards rapier for crits and flavor)
2. Uses a pistol regularly (so he needs DEX to damage to make this viable. More on that later)
3. Is stealthy (so it'd be nice to get Stealth as a class skill)
4. Is very skillful (he needs a fair INT to get stealth, climb, acrobatics, and maybe intimidate)
5. Is human (self explanatory. I hope)

So, to address these problems, this what I have:

1. Two-weapon fighting, etc (also can help with pistols. I thought I'd get this from a few ranger levels, probably free booter for obvious reasons)
2. I'm thinking, to get all the feats he'll need, that fighter is good for the majority of his levels, and trench fighter will get him DEX to damage with his pistols.
3. Top priority skill, and ranger will get this as a class skill
4. 14 or so INT plus human bonus skill ranks and maybe the favored class bonus?
5. Once again, self explanatory. I hope.

And lastly, my problems with each one (if any):

1. Will there be too large of penalties from dual wielding rapiers or something?
2. No real problem
3. No real problem
4. Any suggestions to get skill ranks? Will this suffice?
5. No real problem. I hope.

So, any suggestions? I'd love help for fixing any problems you see and achieving maximum flavor.

So, in a campaign I'm running, there's a growing group of anarchists, and the PCs are soon going to discover they're actually a cult of... Who, exactly?

What deity would fit best here? I'm picturing a CN deity of anarchy, but I don't know if such a thing exists. Does it, and who is it?

They don't have to be a full-fledged deity, just a divine source, as there will be clerics leading the group of anarchists.

Any advice on who would fit best?

So, I'm currently running a stealth based campaign, and a friend of mine is interested in joining. While we were chatting about what he might want to play, he sarcastically said he wanted to play a Druid with an elephant companion who constantly sneaks the elephant in with him.

So I laughed and said it was ridiculous. Ha ha ha.

But I thought.

And I thought.

And I thought.

Is there anyway to actually do this? What's the stealthiest you can make an elephant? I don't care what class(es) or what items, but is there a way to make a ninjaphant?

The title says it all, let's list them, as I'm curious what's possible.

So far I know of...

1. Bewildering Koan feat
2. Intimidating people
3. Aid another

What else?

So, the Bewildering Koan feat... I want to make a character around it.

Here's the feat, if you don't know it: http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/general-feats/bewildering-koan-general

So, the bluff rank, of course, is easy, but the Ki Pool is a bit harder to manage. To my knowledge, there's the monk (duh), ninja, and that tengu oracle archetype (I think).

Now, I really don't want to build or ever play a ninja. Rogue an ninja are just too weak for me to enjoy (not what this thread is about though, so shhh). I'm willing to play a monk, but is it even possible to play a monk well now that crane wing has been errata'd into crane crash?

So, I'm looking at a human (or maybe scion of humanity aasimar, if for some reason that's optimal) for racial heritage gnome and tengu. Gnome for the pre req, and tengu for the oracle archetype (once again, if a monk would be better, then by all means give monk advice).

The idea is a guy who uses violence only when needed. He'd probably be the party face too. Just, in general, a nice guy who fights because he needs to to complete [insert campaign conflict here].

So, how can this be done?

Hey, all.

My friend made a thread recently about his build, but he's new to both pencil and paper RPGs and forums alike, so his thread fell flat.

Being a great friend, after hearing his disappointment at the ordeal, want to get him some help here that he can look at to guide his hand at making his character.

What he wants is a human, vivesectionist, saboteur (gnome racial archetype) alchemist. That of course requires racial heritage as a feat at first level.

The campaign the character is for is largely based on the espionage centered politics of the 14 and 15 hundreds in Europe, embellished of course, so there's a lot of stealth and assassinations. The PCs are both politicians and assassins.

So, that's why he wants sneak attack and the chameleon mutagen, and he just likes the alchemist class too.

I guess what he really needed help with was feat and discovery choice.

Other info that may or may not be relevant:

-Starting at level 1
- Rolling 4d6 drop lowest (have not rolled yet, but I don't forsee that mattering much in regards to feats and discoveries)
- He wants to use a katana for the deadly weapon ability. He wants to two hand it, so he doesn't need EWP

All advice is welcome appreciated by both him and I, thank you.

Does the rending claws feat qualify you for the rending fury feat tree?

I'm thinking RAW it doesn't, but what about RAI? Would anyone rule it as yes, it does qualify?

So, as we all know, the mystic theurge sucks at most things other than buffing, summoning, and undead making. However, the idea of a mystic theurge is a beautiful one.

Unfortunately, I've never home brewed anything.

Can anyone help me answer these general questions?

Which is most balanced....

...half-BAB, 3/4 BAB, or (I doubt it) full BAB?

...two 4 (paladin like) level spell lists, two 6 (bard like) level, or two full 9 level spells lists (once again, doubt it)?

...INT, WIS, or CHA as the casting stat?

...how many skill ranks per level?

...which saves should be good?

...other general advice/comments/questions?

So, I was initially thinking two 6 level lists with 1/2 BAB. 2+INT skill ranks per level if the casting stat is INT or 4+INT if it's something else. I'm thinking will saves would be the good ones.

Thanks in advance!

Does it? It's a devil. Don't all devils have it?

This is sort of a sister thread to my other one I started a couple hours ago.

What are the ways to see in magical darkness (deeper darkness to be exact). This is for a drow, if that matters.

The lower level the better, and if it doesn't require an item, that's even better. I just hate making a character/NPC whose main tactics are based around having the right item.

So, let's list the ways! Hopefully, this thread can double as one that will help future players find a way to do this too.

So, I'm going to be running a campaign soon where long story short the government has been run by the drow secretly for years without the people knowing. The PCs are senators in this "democracy," and they will figure it out then either join the drow (unlikely, though they'll have the option) or try and stop them.

Either way, I need help statting out a level 15 drow... Something.

I'm thinking fighter, so I can get all the feats I need along with the racial SLA feats I need. I want him to be agile and unarmed, and he needs to have the drow feats to get him deeper darkness at will.

He can't be wearing too heavy of armor or he won't be good at stealth like I need him to be.

The idea is for him to darken a room with deeper darkness and then make use of concealment to fight the PCs using his fists. He'll probably have a ring of spider climbing too so the PCs can't pinpoint him as easy.

So, what could I do better with this guy? Any PrCs that might help (a 1-level dip in shadowdancer comes to find for HiPS)?

Should I make him DEX-based or STR based? DEX seems better because he's a drow. We use a 20 pt buy, if you have any ideas on stat arrays. He needs to have AT LEAST a 10 CHA and at LEAST a 10 INT because nobody would keep rellecting an idiot. An idiot can't pretend to be human (the country the campaign is set in is pretty much all human) for decades.

All advice is welcome. Thanks in advance!

It's a cool concept, but yeah. I was under the impression that space wasn't that populated.

So, a lot of the idea is in the title. How can a paladin get a lion mount?

Ways I know of:

- Leadership (lion won't scale, so I don't want this)

- Eldritch Heritage: Sylvan (controversial, yes, but my DM allows it. The problem is it comes out at -5 CL. With boob companion, will the lion be survivable?)

- Nature Soul ----> Animal Ally (can't choose a lion though. Is there a way to get this feat to increase the levels of a lion from some other source?)

Lions are the most majestic animal, so a golden lion with a lordly paladin just seems so cool. Unfortunately, I don't know how to get the lion.

Any advice is appreciated, thanks!

Ok, as I know the whole "wielding two, two handed weapons" thing with vestigial is controversial, but unless an FAQ was made banning it explicitly, this thread is going to assume, at least on my part, that it is legal RAW.

Now, when pondering a two, two handed weapon build, I thought of something: does wielding two, two handed, double weapons give you the normal "off hand" attack ALONG WITH two more attacks for using double weapons?

Example of what I mean: so, a human alchemist with four arms (two natural, two from discoveries) wields two dire flails. His BAB is +10, so he gets two normal attacks. Then, because of two weapon fighting, he gets a third, off hand attack too. All of these have the normal penalties of course. What I'm asking about is if then, because dire flails (or whatever double weapon the guy could be using) are double weapons, would he get two more "off hand" attacks, one from each dire flail?

Two more things:

1. Yes, I know this is unreasonable and OP, but that isn't what I'm asking about.

2. I'm just looking for if this is RAW or not. Whether or not my DM would allow it will be his judgment. If I get a lot of mixed answers, and there's no relevant FAQ or errata, I'll assume it's doable and let my DM decide.

Thanks in advance.

What class would be best?

Would a cleric dip for growth domain be worth it?

Other than the whip mastery line and combat maneuver feats, what feats are needed?

Other advice? Success stories?

Is it worth a one level cleric dip for the growth sub domain for a character that specializes in whips?

If I use a whip to disarm or trip, will weapon focus work on that attack roll?

After being enlarged from medium size to large size, what is the new reach with a whip?

So, I was looking to make an alchemist when I found the preservationist. Then I found out that vivesectionist stacks with it. I really like the idea of a preservationist summoning some help then using them as flanking buddies to get sneak attack, but there's a problem: with all the summoning feats I need, is there enough for the character to be decent in melee?

Essential feats (i think?):
- Planar Preservationist
- Spell Focus Summoning to get
- Augment Summons
- Superior Summons
- Whatever feats I need for melee, which I'm not sure about

What else is needed, and what do I need for melee? I'm not set on any style (two weapon, two handed, etc), so which is the least feat intensive AND gains ok benefit from sneak attack?

Any help would be appreciated. I would like to stay straight alchemist mainly. Two non alchemist levels, tops, if need be, so I still get SNA and SM 9 at Alchemist 18.

Anything paizo is allowed.

So, I have a really bad idea that I'd like help making less extremely terrible.

A spellcaster who polymorphs their familiar (through the use of share spells) and has them battle in combat with them would be awesome. Yes, I know it's extremely suboptimal, but I don't care.

So far I've found the auger kyton and arbitar inevitable that have regeneration. I'm thinking one of those is best for a battle familiar...?

Any advice? My main problem is just making the familiar able to actually survive.

Hey all, the title says the main point.

I'm making the character at level 7. I'm think mobile fighter 5/RMA 2 would be best because of the bonus feats.

I have 3 questions:

1. What race would be best?
2. How should I prioritize my ability scores?
3. Is that the best level progression?

All advice is welcome, thank you.

Other relevant stuff:
- No 3rd party, but all paizo is ok
- 20 pt buy
- Not for a game, just making a character for fun. It can't be reliant on house rules.

Thanks!

I was looking at the elemental knight racial archetype for sulis and thought "wow, this is terrible, but it's so cool."

The race has a penalty to INT which is essential, and it focuses on elemental assault which, as far as I can tell, is almost useless.

Is there anyway to make this work?

I'm aware I could do a human with racial heritage, but what fun is that?

So, my synthesist summoner died recently due to being shot full of holes by the extremely common gunslingers in my friends campaign that I'm a player in. So, I need help making a monk that has a super high touch AC.

Now, there are two main things I need to accomplish:
1. Really high touch AC/defensive abilities coupled with good enough offense
2. I can't LOOK like a threat until I'm in combat.

My summoner was targeted first (and rightfully so, I'm not complaining) because he was a monster. A person in clothes with no weapons won't be shot first by an ambush.

I don't NEED a monk, but I just figured it'd be best. Anything that fits the above to requirements would be fine. I'm unfamiliar with how to make a monk, really, so any and all advice is welcome.

And... Go!

For a paladin's mount (I have GM permission, that's not what the thread is about), what is the most regal, splendid, yet not innately evil or monstrous looking mount?

I'm thinking lion so far, but what do other's think? I don't have access to bestiary 4, so if someone could tell me and/or link to some companions from that book, that'd be awesome.

Thanks.

Some backstory first: a current character in a campaign of mine is a synthesist summoner. Unlike a lot of people, I had a good reason for being that powerful class. He is trying to make a false religion, and the eidolon is supposedly the aspect of his god giving power to his prophet, the character.

Now, for every character, I like to have a back up that sort of has a relation to the old one. I need help making a character like that.

The idea is this: the back up character is a person who really bought into the false religion. When he hears that the prophet was murdered, he will feel duty bound to get revenge.

So, he will be extremely arrogant, feeling that he was sent by a divine power to seek vengeance for the deseased "prophet." I want him to be extremely fearsome. Not brutish, but intimidating looking (I'm not particularly looking for an intimidate build though, it's more just flavor). On the flip side, he should have high charisma so he can lead people in the quest for vengeance and continue to propagate the religion. As opposed to my synthesist who focuses more on diplomacy, I want this character to have high intimidate.

I have been looking at evil, mysterious characters from various fantasies, and I've drawn some inspiration from the Witch-King of Angmar, particularly the flail and sword dual wield. So, first specific question:

Is there a way to dual wield those effectively?

Secondly, what class would fit best? I want casting ability AND some melee capability. The casting doesn't have to be divine, as the god isn't real. However, it can be divine, as I've gotten permission for a cleric or inquisitor to worship a concept (vengeance).

So, what class is best? I'd also like be romantic ability, but that's really secondary.

Sorry for the wall of text, and thanks in advance!