Some input from the morning crew perhaps -- bumping this to the top for visibility to new time-zones.

I've created a sort of "rough draft" outline of what my Feat selection is going to look like below. I'm not necessarily sure how soon I should take some things and how much later I should take others -- but felt they all fell in place due to level importance. But some input would be appreciated.

Level 1 FEAT Improved Initiative
Level 1 EXPLOIT [WIZARD] Quick Study
Level 2 DISCOVERY [ALCHEMIST] Smoke Bomb
Level 3 FEAT Extra Exploit: School Understanding
Level 4 DISCOVERY [ALCHEMIST] Stink Bomb
Level 4 STAT INCREASE INT +1 or CHA +1
Level 5 BONUS FEAT [WIZARD] Alchemical Affinity
Level 5 EXPLOIT [WIZARD] Dimensional Slide
Level 5 FEAT Extra Exploit: Potent Magic
Level 6 DISCOVERY [ALCHEMIST] Tumor Familiar
Level 7 FEAT Consume Magic Items
Level 8 STAT INCREASE INT +1 or CHA +1
Level 8 DISCOVERY [ALCHEMIST] Infusion
Level 9 FEAT Precise Bombs
Level 9 EXPLOIT [WIZARD] Counterspell
Level 10 BONUS FEAT [WIZARD] Fast Study
Level 10 DISCOVERY [ALCHEMIST] Extend Potion

With School Understanding, I read somewhere about grabbing the Void Elemental School ability Reveal Weakness. Which would ultimately also help my team out for a round at a time -- would the gnome's ability to extend a specialization work here as well?

I have a Charisma of 15 at this point in time. Being a Gnome also helped that out -- and I was previously gonna dip Oracle for the Color Spray shenanigans.

Overall, I think I have alot to work with, great saves, and tons of utility. I'm not generally going to be GREAT at anything -- except maybe getting on the enemies nerves.

Instead of Div Spec Wizard -- I'm instead thinking of going Exploiter Wizard instead.

So it'd look something like Mindchemist Alch / Exploiter Wizard

essentially sacking Arcane Bond and School Spec for the option to have either of the two as an exploit... and better options via Quick Study, Consume Magic Item, and Dimensional Slide.

Thoughts?

The oracle mystery only affects patterns. which is like... 3 spells from the illusion field.

I think I'm more trying to optimize a combination and while it sounds good at this point in time -- perhaps it isn't in my best interest?

I haven't been playing Pathfinder long enough to know what actually works and what doesn't. This just seems to marry so well together that I can't look past it.

But perhaps what you're saying is true... and that I don't need to lose a level of casting for a mediocre boost to a spell that I may or may not fall in love with for bosses in the future.

The Alchemist and Wizard have so many moving parts that maybe its wrong to single out a single "debuff" spell. Would it perhaps be more in my interest to lean towards Blaster evo/admixture wizard / alchemist and picking up the racial trait pyromancer and maxing out damage potential?

Oracle provides the ability to affect higher HDs by way of lowering their HD to a reasonable level. I'm able to boost my spell DCs via Cognatagen on my Alchemist side, also as a Gnome I'm already receiving a +1 to my illusion spells -- I don't know that a single level will set me back so much so that I'm going to be useless.

My alchemist side provides most of my damage dealing in the meanwhile -- between bombs and alchemical items that I can hybridize to keep the bad guys at bay.

I envision my color spray as my "spirit shotgun" ala YuYu Hakusho -- an almost last ditch effort that provides enough time and flare to get away should our group's bruiser prove to have gotten himself too over his head.

Our group currently consists of:

Bruiser/Wall: Dwarf Inquisitor/Fight
Necromancer/Buffer: Gnome JujuOracle/Bard
Ranged Minion Master: half-elf wild rager barbarion/druid
Cavalier bruiser: wild rager barb/cavalier
and then myself.

I think I would stick to full wizard.

What am I really losing dipping for a level of Oracle? getting my spells a level later? when the one major spell I'm focusing on is already gotten. I think its a pretty fair trade off.

So, reflecting back on this build -- already having it in action as:

Level 1 Mindchemist Alchemist / Level 1 Divination Spec Wizard

It's nice to boost the DCs of your spells; primarily Color Spray. I'm leaning toward making this "the spell" I wanna use.

We just recently got our Level 2 upgrade, I was thinking of going:

Level 2 Mindchemist Alchemist / Level 1 Divination Spec Wizard - Level 1 Heavens Oracle

This would allow me to stack on some benefits for my Color Spray, allowing it to be used in way way later levels.

We're currently running the AP: Emerald Spire

My current stat block looks like:

Race: gnome

STR 8
DEX 10
CON 11
WIS 10
INT 18
CHA 15

Character Premise: I plan on going the route of crowd control -- my alchemist loading up his bombs for damage dealing or further crowd control with the likes of Stink Bomb and then using his Wizard side divinations to Go First and color spray to his heart's content. Complete with Rainbow robes...

Is this a viable road to travel within the spire? Mindchemist and Wizard combo allows me to be a mister know-it-all. And gasing my way through the close confines of a dungeon could be largely beneficial to a group largely made up of "squishies".

Insight into other options of warfare is also welcome.

sage sorc could be a possibility. INT to INT syncs -- I don't know what I'd lose from my Wizard side-- besides perhaps the initiative boost.

It is something to think about tho.

the possibility to argue that I'm enough fey to wear a redcap eventually... and the animal companion... and the "reduce person + flight" level 15 ability for flavor later in my character's life. I guess it was largely thematic..

I'd actually like some CHA -- if I'd stay a gnome. So I could feat up Eldritch Heritage for Sylvan Fey bloodline

No idea, it may have something to do with the GM being New and doesn't have 100% recall on all the classes and their nuances, so he'd like to keep it simple.

What would be a decent recommended stat block? Also, is a gnome good for the combination or should I look at something else?

Unfortunately, they're disallowing hybrid classes for use in gestalt -- unless I go straight hybrid class with no secondary.

Yeah, that would be the one.

I believe the campaign revolves around a multi-level dungeon and hellknights sending the party into it... each level being something completely different or something of the like...

So, I'm planning on running a Gnome Pure Div Specialist Wizard / Mindchemist Alchemist.

Essentially, the tactics I wanna go for is using the Wizard side to buff/debuff and then the alchemist side to buff my DCs of my debuffs and SoS spells as well as use their bombs for my main damage dealers when I begin to run out of useful prepared spells.

What I'm asking for is:

+ A decent stat block; I'm aware that as a gnome I'm going to start with an 18 INT instead of a 20. But I believe that will be okay. But I'm also not "tied" into the spot, so other suggestions would be welcome.

We're going to begin the campaign at level 1.

Could I also get a few suggestions as to feats that I should look into? I'm new to the gestalt game... so I'm not necessarily sure of what syncs well. It'll be nice to have a wizard's spellbook and be able to copy those spells to my alch's formulae book..

Thanks for the replies... I was looking at:

http://www.d20pfsrd.com/equipment---final/weapons/weapon-descriptions/earth -breaker

and

http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/thunder-and-fang-combat

weapon wise.

This generally not a good idea? Or would I need to be more clear on certain details that I may have missed?

or... are these classes just generally unknown for use cause they're used so little?

So I've been contemplating a character to run in a friend's Gestalt campaign.

Thinking of going:

Stonelord Paladin (Dwarf)

Foehammer Fighter (Dwarf)

feat wise -- being rather new I'm looking at the Cleave feats: Cleave, Greater Cleave, and Cleave Through.

adding whatever else may be of benefit.

So, what I'm asking here is: how well do you believe something like this will meld? Are there additional aspects I should be looking at? Something I'm missing that will ultimately render me... lame?

Defiance_v wrote:

Joynt Jezebel wrote:

Well, it is not past argument.

If you do take the feats Augment Summoning and Spell Focus (Conjuration, it seems a pity not to take Superior Summons.

That allows you to make better use of your Summoning SLA. Its a good option, and allows you to do more things, Summoners should not neglect it.

Personally, I believe the better use of my Summoning SLAs would've been spent on Blood-God Summoner to tie in on my Synth, but he was quick to dismiss that.

It'd kinda difficult to use those SLAs when you're always in your "eidolon" which count as being out... and which means you can't really use the daily SLAs...

Synthesists generally don't use their free summons in combat. So spending feats to boost them is sort of pointless. If there were a legal way to trade them out, most people would. As it is, the class is very powerful and I'd suggest just using them to summon creatures that can act as servants when you camp for the night.

-----

Now a master summoner is a different beast altogether. There you want every feat to improve your summons you can get. Expanded, superior, versatile, summon (good/evil/neutral) monster, evolved (multiple times)

Oh yes on multiple evolved summoning.

Haha. I'm rather new to the Pathfinder world as a whole -- so I wasn't too comfortable when looking at the action economy required of a Master Summoner from Point A.

Its definitely something to look forward to in the future, but in the meanwhile Synthesist Summoner is where I'm at.

I wouldn't take the feat. It uses up a feat and several spell slots (okay, summoner spells aren't the best, but still). It also leaves you vulnerable during ambushes. Especially if you're hit with something that impedes spellcasting. (i.e. grapple, stun, etc.)

You would also probably need to spend money on armor that won't help in synthesist mode.

I'd run it all day in dangerous areas (travelling, dungeon, etc). I'd have summon eidolon ready for other cases.

I'd worry about the consequences of being a synthesist as potential king. Especially if you look like Venom. That would hinder some ways of getting the goodwill of the populace. It would work great for ruling by fear.

If your eidolon was more angelic, it might be different.

The venom idea was a brief moment of clarification -- rather I picture my Synthesist as more similar to Sinbad from Magi; an anime/manga that I follow. They "equip" djinns in battle for additional abilities.

https://33.media.tumblr.com/31cf92fa139881611b6a4705065aefc3/tumblr_n37kopM 23p1qhkw3co6_250.gif

To this effect, more or less.

Well, it is not past argument.

If you do take the feats Augment Summoning and Spell Focus (Conjuration, it seems a pity not to take Superior Summons.

That allows you to make better use of your Summoning SLA. Its a good option, and allows you to do more things, Summoners should not neglect it.

Personally, I believe the better use of my Summoning SLAs would've been spent on Blood-God Summoner to tie in on my Synth, but he was quick to dismiss that.

It'd kinda difficult to use those SLAs when you're always in your "eidolon" which count as being out... and which means you can't really use the daily SLAs...

We're currently running the Kingmaker campaign; my Synthesist is the King/Ruler. Its abit outside the normal books of the campaign, our GM has set up scenarios through the series that he liked to run from other campaigns while keeping the general feel of the world in check.

I have a feeling we'll have many spellcasters as the difficulty level goes up -- we did just finished fighting a Lich at the bottom of an ancient city ruin. And were informed that he'd be back later/he wasn't really dead when our rogue went ape-shyte in his Time Stutter (w/ rod of repetition) spell and got a 2x haste sneak attack off.

I mostly ask because I'm planning on taking the Dimensional Dervish route, and becoming a little wrecking ball of doom. Cross between Nightcrawler and Venom anyone?

and if I'm not gonna need the feat for Augment Summoning/Spell Focus (Conjuration) -- those feats are better spent on additional tools elsewhere.

I've done some research into the character creation, but was wondering on the public opinion as to whether its better to straight up "equip" the eidolon all day or summon the eidolon via the Summon Eidolon spell with Augment Summoning feat (+4 STR and +4 Con) and lose out on the ability to have it attack those with Protection vs Evil?

Defiance_v wrote:

I was personally looking at the Halo of Menance [-2 saving throws to those in 30 feet].

Im more inclined to lean more towards Voodoo/Hoodoo Witch Doctor than Diablo 3-esque Witch Doctor

Looks good man!

I also, PM'd you -- if you don't mind. I don't know how those notifications work on here.

Depends on DM.

If I was DMing, you could add any enchantment that another mask has that's in a Paizo book without question. For other enchantments (lets say "mask of flying" or "mask of +4 CON") I would have to see if it's appropriate (personally i would allow the flying but not the +4 con).

I was personally looking at the Halo of Menance [-2 saving throws to those in 30 feet].

Im more inclined to lean more towards Voodoo/Hoodoo Witch Doctor than Diablo 3-esque Witch Doctor

On further inspection, at level 5 I get to add an enchantment to my Fetish Mask via Craft Wondrous Item -- is there anything that I should target? Or is it actually less open than it sounds?

Exactly. You will excel dealing with individual or small # of tough enemies. You will depend on your spells to deal with large quantity of smaller enemies, or swarms.

Looking at the Patrons -- the favorites among what I've read are Time, Shadow, Deception, and Strength. Would it be possible to grab the Dimensional archetype to fully separate an opponent from a group -- say combined with Spirit Hex [Heaven's Leap (Su)] to single out an opponent and just ruin their day?

My bad! So you mean "Playing in a game". It's all good.

I revised my post to include a link to the Guide of Guides. Go read the witch ones, they are helpful in helping you choose the hexes and spells and patrons.

You can't go wrong with the SWD, and they will complain that you always shut down the baddies before you get to them :D

Yeah, my bad as well -- I wasn't entirely clear from the beginning. The class does appear to have its benefits; Prehensile Hair will allow a secondary ability to melee if need be. Perhaps breaking grapples if need be?

I've read a good number of the guides already; most of them point to being an amazing debuffer and controller. Would the Orc feats of Orc ferocity and Ferocious Resolve help or hinder as compared to the Shaman's Apprentice and Sacred Tattoo suggestions?

1) Check Out this thread.

2) What's the difference between "Running a Game" and "GMing a game"? I honestly don't know the difference.

"that I'm going to be running in... as a player -- not GMing."

Someone entirely different is going to be the GM. Sorry, I'm rather new to the whole table top genre -- trying not to take the backseat approach to the game -- rather would like to shine from the get-go.

You're making a character for a game you're running and don't want him to be in the back seat.

I think I have several solutions to this. They are all self evident.

Running, not GMing... sorry that wasn't entirely clear.

So, I'm looking at building an epic Scarred Witch Doctor for a Kingmaker campaign that I'm going to be running in... as a player -- not GMing.

The party is going to be largely built with pro-players -- a crimson assassin and a bloodraging tiefling, transforming dragon monstrosity someone's come up with... along with a couple rangers or something similar.

The campaign isn't going to be by the books, but I'd also like to have a character that isn't going be so backseat that everyone else is going to outshine him. Is it possible for the Scarred Witch Doctor to shine like the first two classes? Or should I look into building something else of merit?

Your insight and input would be appreciated.