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Yeah, witch works just fine for me. But, thinking about more I don't think Herb Witch would be a good choice. It takes too many early hexes. I would have anything except for the mandatory Cauldron until 4th level. Bonded Witch would be better. It only replaces the familiar (I'm not a fan of pet classes generally) with a bonded item simiolar to a Wizard's.
Gavia grimaces at the sound. She came to appraise to place's contents. Why can't she just do that?
@August: I think you're right about Life Oracle's Life Link. My understanding is an Oradin uses it along with Lay on Hands to heal up from the HP drain each round. However, if you're also the main to only melee front line, it's a problem for you. Oradin is better to support another melee character or two. I don't think you'd get much from Lore unless you're wanting it for Sidestep Secret because you're going to raise CHA. Mental Acuity isn't available until 7th level, and is a slow burn for raising INT. You also don't have many skill points. Gavia has all the knowledges covered anyway. Battle could be really good for you. There are Revelations to improve your initiative and make to tougher to knock you out of a fight. The lower level mystery spells are useful, and you're still a full divine caster. Time also has lots of good stuff to choose from although the lower level mystery spells aren't very good.
Aside from being busy, and then out of town for a week, I've been waiting to see what directions others might be going in. Gavia was originally built around the other characters to cover some gaps, so I wanted to see what the new situation might be like before locking into something specific. The biggest single question for me is whether August would be able to handle healing by taking Oracle as his second class. If he does go with Oracle, Gavia could make some changes that would allow her to help out directly in melee. I could drop Precise Treatment and Healing Hands for a different trait and feat, and spend the extra ability score points to raise DEX and CON to acceptable combat levels, probably best to shave a point INT as well. I'd need to go with something that will work well with DEX to attack and damage. The three best options would be: 1. Daring Champion Cavalier: This works surprisingly well. Very similar to Swashbuckler, but less tanky in exchange for Order (probably Dragon), Challenge, and Tactician. Order of the Dragon stays in line with Gavia more as a combat support character, handing out buffs to others, and a bonus to aid another. Gets Gavia a good FORT save. 2. Swashbuckler: Same as Cavalier, except better personal defenses and more devoted to doing damage than support. Probably better to switch Investigator archetypes to keep studied combat bonus rather than giving them away to others as she does now (won't matter until 4th level anyway). 3. Magus: Would also need to be DEX based. Gets arcane casting, which we otherwise won't have. Probably better to switch Investigator archetypes to keep studied combat bonus rather than giving them away to others as she does now (won't matter until 4th level anyway). Alchemy extracts can only really be used out of combat. If August doesn't go with Oracle and Gavia remains the primary source of healing, it's probably better for Gavia to keep her current build as is and use the extra ability points for more general sturdiness while going with either Wizard, Witch, Sage Sorcerer, or Psychic. 1. Wizard: The strongest casting choice due to the best spell list. Remember that Alchemist has all the basics for healing as extracts. It's easier to use alchemy for healing a bunch if Gavia has another spell list to draw on for other things. 2. Witch: Weaker spell list, but hexes for debuffing. The Herb Witch archetype is a pretty good healer, especially if condition removal is needed. 3. Psychic: The Faith discipline allows a Psychic to convert spells to channels similar to a Cleric. The spell list is narrower, but that can be worked around by focusing more on support and utility spells while diversifying the types of saves offensive spells allow. 4. Sage Sorcerer: Casts off INT rather than CHA. Most similar to Wizard (same spell list) trading spell flexibility for more spells per day. One thing to remember is that taking a full caster as a second class doesn't make Gavia any worse in combat than she already is, which is admittedly pretty bad. Psychic lets her keep armor, while the others just require Mage Armor to make up the difference. She can still poke at things with a spear with her 3/4 BAB, and would have Studied Combat bonuses if she changed archetypes. I think in the case of a full caster gestalt she's better giving those studied combat bonuses to August and Zuriel though. There is one oddball choice. Living Grimoire Inquisitor casts off INT rather than WIS. Casting is prepared and from the Inquisitor spell list. The book is a weapon that can be enchanted like a Warpriest can enchant weapons, and it gets the same damage dice improvements that Warpriest weapons do. No bane or judgements, which means damage won't be great, but in return Gavia would have double casting with all the healing and condition removal spells on both lists. Maybe this works best as an intimidate build? I wouldn't choose Living Grimoire normally, too marginal to bad I think. But this is gestalt so I don't have all my eggs in one basket. Besides this module goes to around level 7 or 8 right? Probably not so much of a stinker archetype at lower levels.
Gavia takes the book because she considers it far too precious to risk anything happening to it should things, like sudden violence, happen to change the situation in the room. She's quite ready to move on otherwise.
Rogue / Fighter is really solid. You don't have to care about the Fighter's lack of skills, and you get full BAB, more HP, Stronger Fort save, and lots of feats to play with. Play like a thief who's tougher and more accurate. Rogue / Sorcerer could also work. Just stick to utility and buffing spells rather than ones that offer opposing saves. You lose armor, but Mage Armor is just as good as anything you have now. Also a good Will save. Rogue / Bard wouldn't make you much more fit for combat, but gives you lots of flexibility. You get spells and the performances. Depending on if you choose and archetype and which one, you also get better at Knowledge checks with Bardic Knowledge (but many archetypes trade Bardic Knowledge away). Also a good Will save. I think there's enough overlap in the classes that this isn't really a great option though.
@Zuriel: I think the most concise explanation of gestalt is roughly: Each character has two classes. When the two selected classes conflict, the character has the better of the two class features. (HP dice, strong/weak saves, proficiencies, skills in class, skill points, etc). The character has all the class abilities of both class. If a class places a limitation on a ability, it remains in force (for example a Fighter/Wizard has the fighter's armor proficiencies, but also still the spell failure chances of a wizard). This sounds pretty crazy, but in practice it's not a huge gain. It makes characters more versatile, but the action economy is unchanged. A character might have more options, but can still only do one thing at a time. Also, unless one or both classes give bonus feats, a character still has the same number of feats as always. Generally there are fewer feats available to build each of the character's classes. Also, the game is a 15 point buy. It's hard to get the ability scores needed for a lot of class combinations. For example, Gavia pretty much has to choose wizard. Her physical stats are too low to choose any martial class, or any class wit wisdom or charisma based casting. Arcanist and Psychic are out because she doesn't have a secondary stat high enough for either of them. Not that getting a wizard's casting is a bad deal. She give up wearing armor, but she's still 3/4 BAB so can poke at things with her spear if there's no better option at the time. In terms of using actions, she'll choose an investigator or wizard class action turn to turn. Edit: When using Gavia as an example, I forgot about Witch. She would have two classes she could reasonably pair with Investigator.
Gavia is tired of arguing about the situation. She stays quiet and lets the two of them do what they will. Instead she prepares to run, abandoning Zuriel and August if things go south and it comes to it.
I'm still around as well, but I've been swamped at work and so really behind here on the boards. If you want to recruit and find a couple of good replacements, I'm fine with bowing out of the game. If you want to gestalt I can stay.
Gavia moves over to take a look at the on the table, asking August to wait until she's done. She has no appetite for staying in the room alone with the devil.
Gavia balls her hands into fists so tight all her knuckles are white, terrified of the unknown outcome of what August is about to do. "If we just don't touch anything and leave him alone, there aren't any problems. If you mess with the situation who knows what could happen? Think of him like an ugly lamp. Maybe you don't like it, but there's no actual harm in it." "Nobody is moving in here. We just warn anyone who's coming in to clean this place out that there's no touching in this case."
When August turns his attention to the devil, Gavia related what she knows about the particular type to him. "Could be worse. Of course he needs to stay right where he is."
Gavia looks at August. "Is he alright?" she asks with a nod toward Zuriel. She ignores the Zebub while they sort things out.
Gavia looks at the pitiful thing, trying to figure out what it might be.
Gavia looks back at Zuriel with fear as well. It feels better to have someone else in her corner though. She also looks into the room for good measure. "Don't like that circle on the floor one bit..."
"No, that's not something I can do" replies Gavia.
Gavia follows what has become her usual protocol by now, letting a couple of the others go on into the room before entering it herself.
"I mean laying on the floor bleeding out uncontrollably because you'd been almost split in half down the middle."
"Oh" Gavia replies with obvious disappointment. "Don't the rest of you find this to be very nerve-racking?" Looking at Zuriel specifically she adds "I mean a couple of minutes ago you were essentially dead. Doesn't that bother you a little?"
Gavia stares at the others like they're all psychopaths. They had just been attacked by a real life demon, which almost murdered the elf. Now they're talking about the whole experience so casually that the incident sounds as significant a thing as bumping into someone on the street. When she finds her voice at all, she asks "so now we call it a day right? Take some time to recover and calm down before we get back to cataloging?"
Gavia tries to stab the demon with her spear. The attempt is useless, but at least she doesn't get in anyone's way and muddle things up.
Gavia rattles off the things she knows about Schir demons in a quick, rat-a-tat recital. There's a bit of panic in her voice.
Gavia hasn't liked the drift of things ever since they didn't just close the door and walk away. The thing coming up out of the pit is still a shocker though. She tries to figure out what it is.
Gavia is fairly well convinced there's something pretty bad going on in the room. she's in no hurry to enter it so she lets anyone who does want to go ahead before peeking in herself. She can't make heads or tails of the writing so she waits to see if she's needed for anything. Hopefully there's nothing to catalogue in there so they can just move right along.
Gavia stares at things.
Me too!
Gavia is glad she stepped back, and decides the Zuriel definitely has the crappiest job among them. She waits a little extra time to make sure the effect has truly ended, or that a second such rune or other trap isn't inside, before she gets closer for a look.
Gavia takes a healthy few steps away from Zuriel and the door.
"Oh! Look at this!" Gavia points at the glyph on the door handle so the others can see it.
Gavia follows after the others with her eyes peeled in just case anything gets missed by the others. It seems not.
Hm, 'it had to do with the the stars…'.
Gavia, who has set a side some pages in her journal for inventory, pauses in writing down the birds and silverware to add "We're just appraisers sent by the town to record the contents and their value so this estate can be liquidated. We're not thieves or anything like that."
After the birds are taken care of, Gavia looks around to see if there's anything of value to be found.
No worries, just get better.
When the birds have been given a saucer of water, Gavia looks them over carefully. She tries to identify them, reasoning that some food for them must be on hand somewhere. It's just a matter of knowing what kind of food they should be searching for.
Gavia is concerned about the birds having gone for some considerable time without being attended to. "The birds need some water. If anyone finds any small plates or bowls bring them to me."
Gavia finds herself blocked when she tries to cross the threshold. With a clatter her spear bars her way. Then she remembers she has been carrying the thing vertically and it's taller than the doorway. She backs up, lowers it to a diagonal and tries again, successfully entering the second time.
Gavia arrives at dawn and is waiting out in front of the house when the others arrive. She gets up from where she's been sitting, and dons a bandolier packed with numerous small vials and a backpack. She also picks up a long spear, which she finds unwieldy considering how clumsily she handles it. "So, how are we going to do this?"
"When and where do you want to meet tomorrow morning? I'll be going home now. Have a pleasant meal."
Gavia intends to return home for the night. But, before she leaves, she gives the scale a good eyeballing.
Gavia is surprised, and a little annoyed, that her comment to simply do things like regular, normal people has met with all the 'afraid of the dark' comments. "I am not afraid of the dark" she clarifies since it seems to be necessary. "I was merely asking if we would be continuing after dark so I would know what to bring with me. You'll notice I didn't come here with anything out of the ordinary." It is certainly true that Gavia has nothing except her clothing, no weapons, no satchel or pack, with her. "I'm certainly not going straight there tonight if that's what you were thinking for some reason. I haven't slept since last night like most everyone everywhere, and I would rather be rested than sleep deprived." "Further, it makes no sense at all to fumble about in the dark of night while assessing the house's valuables to sell by lantern or magic. During the day the house will be lit by, you know, daylight available through windows. We will have superior working conditions without the need for any special equipment. It's just common sense."
"I just don't see any reason for doing such a thing." Gavia replies tersely.
Gavia files out with her new co-workers? Business parters? She decides she needs to ask about something weighing on her mind. "We won't be in the house after dark, right?"
Oops, I can't get the skill unlock feat until 5th level. I'll go ahead and take Extra Talent: Infusion instead.
A question about FCB and half elves. They can choose the half elf, human, or elf version. Once they choose one, do they have to stick with that one always or can they change to another later on? Here's Gavia's level up to 3:
+1 BAB
Investigator: Keen Recollection, Trap Sense +1, A Quiet Word +1/Day Talent: Effortless Aid Feat: Heal Skill Unlock New Formula: Tears to Wine Skills: +1 Acrobatics, Climb, Diplomacy, Heal, K Dungeoneering, K Local, K Nature, K Planes, K Religion, Perception, Stealth Background: +1 Craft Alchemy, K Geography
I've posted in gameplay. :)
Gavia pastes on a feeble smile when Lady Origena speaks her name. She again asks herself why she let Lady Origena talk her into this chore as she stands with awkward rigidity. Her hands are clasped behind her back so she can nervously twist her fingers around each other without anyone noticing. Gavia replies to the elf Zuriel by saying "I'm happy to help however I can." Any implied enthusiasm in her statement rings hollow.
This is the reason you all will be such good sock puppets for Gavia. With a little coaching from her beforehand, you can use your CHA bonus and her skill points for diplomacy checks. Eventually you can use her inspiration as well. Those of you who can't afford to put skill points into Diplomacy every level can piggyback off her and use them for other things you need more readily. Gavia gets 13 skill points per level so she can always increase Diplomacy.
Don't worry August! You're still hot and Gavia can fix you! Zuriel, do you offer a weekly or monthly rate?
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