Frank Kyle's page

Might not be the direction you wanted to go, but if you took Perform Comedy for your versatile performance instead of Oratory you'd have sky high intimidate and bluff skills.

The intimidate would make blistering invective a very attractive level 2 spell (the aoe shaken is strong, especially if you later want to land some other spell).

I do not want to rely on Intimidate. Not when I have Dirge of Doom coming. I actually rank Intimidate low as a skill. People respond better to Bluffs and Diplomacy then they do to being Intimidated. I'm fine never having the skill and is why I am taking Percussion as my last Versatile Performance. I doubt I'll even use the skill. But man will I be bluffing about EVERYTHING.

Another great level 2 spell is Cacophonous Call.

Nice spell I like it. I don't know if I would use it more the suggestion but I will highly think about it.

Don't take Heighten. As your only a 3/4 caster. That's trying to do the job of a full caster. You are far behind on spells as it is. You might want to look in to taking Persistent Spell if you want a metamagic feet to help with save DC. The other thing I will recommend you do is start with Lingering Performance. Then take Spell Focus at 3rd level.

First I Plan to have a lesser rod of Extend and Persistent spell as it says in the equipment section.

I recommend going with Oratory, Act, and Percussion. Yes until level 6 you will have a lower bluff. However it will still be much higher then the average character. Due to the fact your focusing on Cha. It is well worth using the skill points some where else.

I just covered this thought. I want to have MAXED bluff and Diplomacy out the gate. I do not want to wait 12 sessions without a bluff. Not to mention Disguise from Act is not a good skill @ 6 when you have access to magics to do it for you. Did you miss the part about Pageant of the Peacock coming online at 5 as well? I need a MAXED bluff skill. Now why I am taking skill points in it as opposed to Versatile performance it is: My trait Charming does not work with Performance. It works with the Skill it is associated with.

I will suggest you think twice about these spells. Moment of Greatness, Tap Inner Beauty, Mirror Image, Tongues, Dispel Magic, Pugwampi's Grace, Aura of the Unremarkable, Summon Monster 4, Control Summoned Creature

Wands of Level 3-4 are typically too expensive to be just buying up. However level 2 wands are not too bad. I could do with a wand of tap inner beauty.

I don't think I will give up Dispel Magic as it is a spell that requires a good CL and a wand does not provide that.

Pugwampi's Grace, Aura of the Unremarkable, Summon Monster 4, Control Summoned Creature are really filler spells I can not for the life of me figure out what would be better in those slots.

I do like that Control summoned Creature is an enchantment spell..and I can hardly see a Summoner making a spellcraft check to beat my Bluff Check to control the creature. Also in PFS I do see lots of summoned things.

I chose summon monster 4 because of the extra spells the summoned creatures can bring. Dropping a hound Archon in to provide Circle of Protection from Evil doesn't seem too terribly bad.

So what spells do YOU recommend? I saw plenty gutting the spell list but no suggestions besides put them on wands $$$$$$$ wasted.

Here is my updated character. Still taking suggestion and advice:

Also I believe I will be going with Eastern Mysteries as my 2nd trait. This locks me into Qadira Faction. Anyone have any insight to the faction? I've been playing PFS for a few months and Have hardly seen anything special about this faction. Is there any certain Adventures I should look for? I also heard a rumor there is a Scenario/adventure that gives a boon of +1 to a stat. I was wondering if anyone could confirm as this would be the time to plan out to look for it.

@ Katisha

Thanks for your Input and Info on what you have used.

Triple Time is the most used of my Masterpieces, the others are often situational. Though I do like The Dance of Kindled Desires & At the Heart of it All as information gathering tools. Symphony I picked up, but have never actually used... (having the spell FoM).

This is good Information. I was planing on using a wand of Longstrider but I honestly think late game I could probably fit it in my build If I move some things around. Defiantly might be worth it as I can see giving everyone better movement to be a very good buff. I planed on taking percussion as my 3rd Versatile performance and I planned to get a few ranks in it.

My selection of performances were ... not well thought out? The first was percussion, then sing I think, and ... strings maybe?

Yeah this is what I am trying to prevent. I do not want skill overlap with versatile performance. I also want every skill point to matter and not be a 1 of kind of thing. Since I have well versed I can make knowledge checks untrained.....But sadly looking over my build I forgot to take 1 skill point in spellcraft. I can not use it untrained but 1 point allows me to use it and then substitute the Bluff Check. Luckily I do not need to take appraise like that and can make them untrained. After thinking things over today I believe I am nailing down the skills section.

Besides haste what other spells seemed to be your more go to spells? The ones you casted the most I should say.

(but something to understand about Katisha, she has no damaging spells. She actually has never done a HP of damage to anything other than herself... so perhaps there may be better attack spells I have overlooked)

I plan the same thing no attacking or taking damaging spells. Sure Discordant Voice hurts but hey....Its coming from my allies while I am just buffing. I plan to skip the cost of a weapon all together.

Also any Items you seemed to use a lot of? Or have gotten a lot of use out of. Anything to improve my characters day to day adventuring career?

@Ughbash

Well Peacock does not really come online til level 5... I was basing this all on bluff.

Oh yes I am aware. I want to use bluff before then. More like right out the gate. Sure it is limited till PotP come online but Having it as a skill My trait Charming works with bluff but not Versatile performance. This is partially the reasoning for the skill ranks in bluff and leaving my versatile performance to pick up Diplomacy and sense motive. I'm actually not interested in Intimidate/handle animal (percussion) Versatile at all but it is the only other Versatile that does not overlap skills.

You could choose Perform Oratory at 2 and perform comedy at 6. Though this would mean delaying your fly/acrobatics til 10.

I think I'm going to go Oratory>Dance>Percussion after a few hours of consideration and a few Wacky Tobacco Cigarettes. Mostly the reason Above my Charming Trait will boost the Bluff my core social skill. But it wont when using versatile performance. Using that progression also gets me the Skills in a very good order to have tons of skills by level 6. Like I said I might switch to slow progression @ 8 to really enjoy this character.

Savant seems nice but I was hoping for something to help with my casting abilities. I believe the skills will be good enough with all the right buffs and items. Thank you for the suggestion and if I change my mind I will let you know when I post up the final Build. =)

@ Ughbash

I had Sing, Dance, Percussion as my original draft. The thing is I want both Diplomacy and Bluff. When I added PotP into my build I had to decide which to take skill points in and which to use versatile performance with.

Instead max out Perform Sing or Comedy or Acting (I would do comedy and then at 6 take Perform Oratory.

The way your telling me here I would not have Diplomacy until Level 6. That is crippling in my honest opinion as Diplomacy is THE best social skill. I down grade intimidate to favor Bluff. If I go my route I'm looking at having Diplomacy, Sense motive, and Bluff as social skills. You way is giving me Bluff and Intimidate....not gaining sense motive and diplomacy till 6.

Also fly kicks in around level 6 and I will be in the air a lot and don't feel like taking Ranks in it...Acrobatics will be nice for avoiding AoO against later Huge reach enemies. So Versatile Dance will be a good investment @ 6.

Consider the trait Prodigy as oneo fyor utwo starting traits.

Prodigy is a feat....I had given thought to it over heighten spell but the problem with Bards is typically the DCs of the spell. Making suggestion a 4th level spell could defiantly make a difference in the Long run.

Skill focus through Focused study could be good I will defiantly contemplate it. If I can figure out what feat would be worth to drop...Perhaps Improved Initiative...but I typically want to be first to get my Performance going quicker and be ready to disrupt the field. It will take some careful consideration.

Any other Bard players out there with some solid advice?

@ Katisha
First I am not going the route of a Courtesan/prostitute with the character's personality or day job. If i'm going to fake it till I make it I am going to aim higher then being a very good prostitute. I was thinking a famous Trader or a Countess of some sort. I am still nailing down exact story and drive....But I was going to avoid sexuality as much as I can because we have to somewhat clean with the children playing as well at the table.

I liked Symphony of the Elysian Heart but sadly those are not performances I will be taking.

I also liked the spells: Pyrotechnics, Blindness/Deafness, and Aura of the Unremarkable. Now I have a few questions. As a Bard how often did you cast Pyrotechnics in PFS? Was blindness/deafness a more worthwhile spell as a 2nd level spell? I kind of want to pick to top contender. I have a will save Blindness effect in Glitterdust so I really don't want to be doubling up ya know?

I didn't see what Versatile performances you took but it seems you took tons of different performances as opposed to 1 verbal, 1 visual, and 1 extra.

Also don't Circlet of Persuasion and Headband of Cha (+6) share the same slot? only headband slot I need is Headband of CHA.

Tho I was tossing the idea of Hat of disguise Verses Jingasa of the Fortunate Soldier. If I took the spell Alter self I probably wouldn't need the Hat....but the Hat would be nice for Faking it till I make it.

Well it is time to start up my 2nd ever PFS character. My first one was a real success after getting input from the community to help me hammer down the fuzzy parts builds. Starting Level 2.

I am once again calling on the community to help me hammer out the finer details of my Pathfinder Society character. Here is my character:

The Skills are going to be the Difficult Pick. I typically play classes that do not get so many skills. Add in Versatile Performances it starts to get more complicated. Well I saw something Pretty in a post a while back that makes it even more difficult.
Pageant of the Peacock
I have not really looked into the other Masterpieces so I'm open to other suggestions and if one catches my Eye, I might work it in. But For sure I want PotP in my build. I was thinking 5th level.
Now why do I want PotP. Well the Character's Ideal popped into my head. The old saying: Fake it Until you Make it. That is EXACTLY what Pageant of the Peacock does. I fake knowing Stuff. all Knowledge, Linguistic, Spell Craft checks, Profession, Appraise, Craft, and INT checks will be a Bluff check. I will be Maxing Bluff for sure. But that is alot of skills I can now skip and suffer a few of the lower levels in ignorance.
Skill wise this means I need: Bluff, Perception, and UMD MAXED out. I need my first 2 Performances..at least to qualify for PotP. this leaves me 2 more skills a level. What to take? I like the Idea of escape artist for mid to late levels against Black tentacles...Stealth would be good because I don't want to give my party away when being stealthy. Would a point in climb and swim be good at level 1 to help me survive in case I need to do any of those things.
I do not care about Intimidate and will use versatile Performance for it. Typically it is the worst of the social skills. Good if I was doing some sort of Dazzling Display but I have Dirge of Doom at level 8. It has no save and doesn't eat my feats. I also might switch to slow progression at level 8 if I really like this character.
I am starting this Character at Level 2 so Skill suggestion for all 11 levels would be appreciated. But this is What I think might work. I start Picking up Linguistics to help me save on $$ buying magical ways to understand a language. I will still have them for emergencies but Hopefully my reliance for them goes down. I Know I can use a Bluff check to decipher but to actually speak the language I need the skill points.

I will take advice on Spells. I have some staples that I will be in my build. And some spells I will be skipping in favor of a different spell with the same bonus type. Since I am taking Greater spell Focus Enchantment I typically want 1 enchantment spell of each level. Any more will be overkill I believe. Though I may grab an extra one if it will really be of good use.
My staples: Good Hope, Suggestion, Glitter Dust, Confusion, Dominate Person
Spells I'm skipping: Heroism (Good hope is better with a minor rod of Extend spell.) Sleep (I will use daze early levels but Sleep is just too easy mode for the first 3 levels. Even I want a challenge)

Gear wise I have a few items I will be seeking out. If you know of some Really good Bard items let me know. Also I am skipping a Weapon.....you heard me right...this means I will have a decent amount of wealth to spend on expendables and core gear. I do not plan to roll attacks but plan to perform, and disrupt the enemies over dealing direct damage. I want to be every sense of the Word a Support style character.

@ Laif

I checked into that Archetype and the list of mounts do not include the Giant Gecko. Tho if I wanted to be slow moving Tank I would take that giant snapping turtle for its high AC. Just sit there and stand still everything that came into reach.

No I really Like the Ranger tho I did think about dipping a Level of Fighter as boon companion will make it so my mount wont loose that 1 level and will continue to scale with my level.

The abilities of your animal companion or familiar are calculated as though your class were 4 levels higher, to a maximum effective druid level equal to your character level.

12 levels of Ranger is not an Obligation. I could easily take 1 level of fighter or any other class I think would be a Huge Boon. Though I thought about going straight 12....@ 12 take a 2nd Animal companion...A flyer for scouting open areas. At level 12 I get an ability that basically takes away the -3 the ranger companion comes with. I could then retrain Boon companion to my new one and have a level 5 Arial Scout animal that I can Improved Empathic Link on and know whats out and about in the Area. That Idea is not set in stone as I'm not 100% sure what I would do at Level 12.

@ Kydeem

Somewhere around there yes.

Thank you everyone for the helpful Guides and input. I believe I have nailed down a final build. But The build is up for discussion if it doesn't work the way I am envisioning it to. Players with more experience can tell if a build will work and survive.

The Halfling Beast Master Ranger Charger (To be named soon.)

Stick Foot

Seems like a very balanced Build to me that can put out some decent numbers. If I go into Level 12 then I will want to retrain Boon companion for something because of the Archetype Gives it to you at level 12.

Let me Know what you guys think. Will it work and will it be Very solid with its performance of being a Hammer.

@ Quandary:

I will be Using the Lance...can be held in 1 hand while mounted and get the x3 on spirited charge. As far as carrying multiple weapons I most likely will.

As far as Regional affinity I don't know how well that will work in Pathfinder society Play. I would assume it's legal to use but you can only benefit from the feat if your in that region. I also don't think the Scenarios are all in the same region. So those feats are supremo effects but the likelihood of them being online and useful is lower. I wish PFS ruled regional feats work anywhere as I would want that Indomitable Mount definitely as I don't want my Gecko falling victim to those nasty casters. Which now thinking along these lines I would say Big Game hunter is out for the Risky striker at level 11. Need more damage on those x3 spirited charges.

I'm Sold on Mounted Skirmisher over the Trick rider. I like the full attack potential it offers.

As I am choosing the Charger over ranged option. If I was going ranged I wouldn't need Stick Foot and could get buy as a paladin mounted archer or a samurai with a riding dog or some normal default mount. The Beast master ranger is the only class that provides a Full Base attack Bonus and a animal companion list that allows the full druid companion list. I could easily switch out stick foot for a dire bat but I really love the Throwback to Original Stick Foot.

@ Tomos

I like instant enemy and that does ease my mind on favored enemy choices. I believe I will still take Undead as every scenario and module I've run has had an undead creature in it somewhere as well as humans.

Thanks Everyone for your Input thus Far in helping me Build a stronger Halfling Beastmaster Mounted Charger

After reading some posts I have gotten a few Ideas and pointers as well as a few adjustments of my own. I am still in the process of reading over the mounted combat rules this week and will have them memorized in the next 2 weeks before my next session. I will also be printing out key points and DCs involved as suggested so the DM if not fully familiar with mounted combat. I feel it is going to be nice as Mounted Martial characters are not a normal [U]where I play[/U]. Every "melee" character seems to be either a Paladin, a Battle Cleric type, or Battle oracle.

After reading the Post I feel I will clarify this:

I want him to be a Charger type. I Don't want to get off my mount unless I'm sleeping so That is why I am going Halfling. I really Loved seeing Stick Foot in Rise of the Runelords and wanted to make the Rider better and Make a character modeled after him. So I am going to keep the name...Not to mention my Halfling will be the Original Named character.

I typically use the terms "Tank" and "Front liner" loosely. Sorry for not making it more clear as I don't Believe in either of those things to be a Role in the party. I look at party make up in the 3 roles of: Hammer, Anvil, and Arm. I typically follow the forge of Combat guide as it has served my House Group well. Not many players know those 3 terms so I revert back to terms people are familiar with like tank and front liner. But I digress.

What I want this guy to do is the Role of the Hammer. I want him to put punishing blows on enemies. I want to hit them so hard they want to try and chase me down out of vengeance for how hard I rocked their HP pool. Since Pathfinder does not Have a Aggro chart or mechanics most DMs play low intelligent creatures target priority as such: "who hit this thing the hardest to draw its fury." So I want to be the guy who charges in...Does good solid damage that makes them say I want to eat you little Halfling. So I want him to be a charger who never has to dismount. Now when Intelligent creatures show up I want to Have the movement to keep up with them and chase them down...the Stick Foot will help accomplish that with lots of flavor. (This is where the Optimizer in me is giving optimization for flavor...trying to tone down on optimizing completely to get into more role playing. If optimizing I would take a Flying mount and have flight as early as casters.) If the Intelligent enemies ignore me I can still chase them down and deal enough damage to them to punish them for ignoring me and my awesome mount. That's what any hammer does because of the lack of aggro. The mount just helps the melee characters weakness of Movement speed and Mobility.

Here is what I've come up with after considering the options offered. Anything else added would be nice. If you see something blank or with 2 options I don't mind a comment or opinion on it. I do want some levels optimization...just not changing the Race and Stick Foot.

The Halfling Charger:

Giant Gecko A.K.A Stick Foot (A tribute to the original)
[U]I still Need a good amount of Help on this!!![/U]

@ Dhjika

Expert climber- Its is basically spider Climb. The Gecko can climb at his regular movement speed. This is why the Gecko because it is actually the Better of the 2 at climbing after 4th Level adjustment.

Boon companion is right because this ranger Archetype gets a druid companion at Level 1. Can have multiples but they are off set by -3 Level to your level. So basically Until Level 4 I can not ride the Gecko but I can use him in combat as just a regular style Animal companion and mount up at Level 4. So I do qualify for the feat @ 1st Level.

I didn't Know about the training Harness. I will tank Cha then and get a bit more in the stat department Something Like this:
Str: 16, Dex: 14, Con: 15, Int: 7, Wis: 12, Cha: 9
(Bump Con @ 4 and Wis @8 for 3rd level spell slot?)

Mounted combat is there because of my fear of my mount being targeted by melee attacks while he is moving. I fear for the pet Dying because he too will be in melee range.

Thanks for the Pointers on Favored Enemy I hadn't a Real clue what order to pick them in. I will go Human first.

Magical Knack- This will help my Ranger effective caster level by adding more time to the buffs. Since a Ranger is -3 his effective level it will bring me to -1 my level. Will really help with the Buffs time I'm laying down. I have never heard of Chillblight emissary what does it do and what is it published in? I will probably just boost his will save by +1.

@ David Bowles

Thanks for the info on Initiative but I believe most the guys who run it just run mounts and familiars on the Players Turn for ease of play. Either way I should be fine just waiting on the other.

So what your saying is if I put Mithral Chain on my gecko he wouldn't need the armor proficiency and would not be penalized in any way?

So I Finally decided what I need to play for PFS. Most the people I group with play casters or simi-casters that no one can really take a front line stance. I asked the main GMs and they all say it seems to be a common thing where I play that no one really plays a solid martial type.

Now I am Familiar with Playing casters but I hardly ever play around with a martial type. But I figure I will give it a go. The type of Character I wanted to Make was a Giant Gecko Riding Halfling. But I need Help Nailing down the right Feats and Such. I will give you all what I got and let you guys make a few suggestion on how I can make him a wrecking Lance who gets to climb walls for safety.

The Character

I have 0 experience with a mount and Mounted combat. I want him to be able to survive and carry me through the entire campaign. As far as I know he doesn't get to attack on the Spirited charge. Am I wrong? Here is what I got so far.

The mount:

Please any advice on this character would be appreciated as I'm new to mounted combat completely and Simi-new to PFS play. (though I have years of Pathfinder experience all on Full casters.) Just please offer why you are suggesting what you are so I can deliberate and understand the reasons for the change.

Yeah was looking at boon companion @3 so come level 4 my mount become medium and I can then mount up and ride him. Also the ability increase for the mount at 4.

Im guessing take mounted combat style?

Well yeah I wanted a small rider and a medium mount. I actually want it to be with me about everywhere.
I need to do good damage. I know small reduces damage but as long as im keeping competitive numbers I will be happy.
So Beast rider ranger looks good I would get some favored enemies.
Not sure if I should cross class or not and where to start stat wise. I do like Halfling tho as it offers good role play. Even feats and combat style is new to me. I like power attack, boon companion, spirited charge, ride by attack, and mounted combat. How should I lay out the feats with combat style focus. I will start at level 2 and I have the set aside exp to go from 4-5 instantly with a boon against confusion saves +1. Any help would be nice.

Im coming up on my 2nd level and need to nail down a character for PFS. I typically play casters and wanting something different. The typical group where I play typically lacks the heavy armored Beat stick and meat shield. As this is something I've never really dedicated played I don't have a lot of info on how to build..

I have 2 options a charger mounted type or a 2 handed user.

Now I have always like a giant gecko or a flying type creature and a small rider. Is there a good class/archetype that I can get that? I don't want to buy a low level mount that will die to a single AoE.

The 2 handed type would probably be a samurai or paladin.

Could really help with the mounted type. I want to be able to survive and dish good numbers with an iconic mount.