Grumiō Grumiōnis's page

One thing you might do is take one level of Swashbuckler (Inspired Blade). Then you get Weapon Finesse (rapier only) and Weapon Focus (rapier) as free bonus feats. You also have panache based on both charisma and intelligence, and you get more class skills. You can then select the feat Fencing Grace and get DEX to damage.

What are you expecting in terms of damage?

You look pretty solid for now, and once you start using inspiration for Studied Strike, you can be adding several d6s to your damage rolls.

MORE!

"Compare and despair."
- Stuart Smalley

You don't seem to have taken Fencing Grace so how are you getting Dex to Damage?

I do have Fencing Grace. I forgot to list it in the build.

I am playing a 5th level investigator (empiricist), with 1 level of swashbuckler (inspired blade). While I shiner out of combat (crazy high knowledge, plenty of skills), my combat performance is lackluster. Even when I use Studied Combat, my damage is only 1d6+7 with my +1 rapier (+1 weapon enchantment, +4 DEX, +2 S/C). A confirmed critical hit nets only 2d6+12. One option I have now is Cat's Grace for another +2.

Click on the character name above for build details.

Can anyone suggest ways to improve my damage output?

I actually was considering a portable bridge, but the weight dissuaded me.

I just acquired a Handy Haversack. I have about 700 gold to spend on mundane items. Any suggestions? This character is a Investigator (Empiricist) with one level of Swashbuckler (Inspired Blade). I do melee and provide the knowledge and skills for the party.

I already bought:

100' silk rope
Grappling hook
Grappling arrow
Folding ladder
Masterwork thieves' tools

I figure I should probably pick up an adamantine crowbar and a few alchemist's fires.

I'm playing an Investigator (Empiricist archetype next level). I started as a Swashbuckler (Inspired Blade) to get Fencing Grace at first level. This character is a half-orc, because we decided to build a party where all the characters have darkvision, but really a human (extra skill point) of elf (+2 INT, +2 DEX, Breadth of Experience) would have been better for this build.

Cool. That means I have 2/3 for 1 box and 2/6 for the other. But if I don't make both success criteria on my next mission, both are reset.

One of the goals is to accomplish both success criteria on three consecutive missions. Another goal is to accomplish both success criteria on six consecutive missions. Do the first three successes count toward both goals?

Leadership Feat:
Get a big hulking half-orc to wade into melee for you.

My otherr characters always take the hit point. Grumio, however, is a halfling paladin (Core PFS) with INT 8. Grumio takes the skill rank. Two skill ranks per level hurts, but less than one skill point per level.

I usually play classes that get at least four skill ranks, so I have never felt quite so starved for skills as I do now.

It says they take full damage from channel energy, not positive energy. Not all positive energy effects are equivalent to channel energy. Lay on hands is not channel energy. Cure X wounds isn't either. I agree that both can hit them, but they do half damage.

Channel energy can include both positive and negative energy. That is why the Bestiary says "channel energy" rather than "positive energy" in the description of incorporeal. There is no difference between the positive energy from channeling and the positive energy from LoH. Positive energy is positive energy. For that matter, an incorporeal creature harmed by negative energy would take full damage from an antipaladin's LoH equivalent.

Incorporeal undead take full damage from positive energy.
There is an FAQ that says that Lay on Hands uses positive energy.
Therefore an incorporeal undead takes full damage from Lay on Hands.

But that really wasn't my question. My question is whether I can actually hit that incorporeal undead thing with my Lay on Hands ability. I am inclined to think I can. I could cast Cure Light Wounds and touch the thing. I could also use a wand of Cure Light Wounds.

Wow. I figured this would be a simple question. All-in-all, I think the answer is "yes".

I can certainly channel positive energy, but if I am facing only one incorporeal undead, I would prefer to use Lay On Hands.

Clearly that needs to be changed. I don't like that rule, and nothing could possibly be more important than my whims.

This mount is usually a heavy horse (for a Medium paladin) or a pony (for a Small paladin), although more exotic mounts, such as a boar, camel, or dog are also suitable.

(emphasis mine)

Per the CRB, a small paladin typically uses a pony as a mount (divine bond), but other animals may be chosen instead, such as a dog or boar. Can I take a cheetah (Cat, Small) as a mount? According to its description under druid's animal companions, it is a medium creature at 5th level, and it is approximately the same shape as a pony, dog or boar.

Baval, the more I think about it, the more I realize you've got the right of it. You have logically countered every argument I could think of.

The ability to use a Bastard Sword one handed is not the result of a feat, Exotic Weapon Proficiency only allows you to be proficient with a weapon.

Bastard Swords uniquely have their own ability which allows them to be wielded in two hands as a martial weapon, or one hand as an exotic weapon.

That is incorrect. If you do not have EWP - Bastard Sword, you cannot use it one-handed, even with the penalty for not being proficient.

In any case, I think either interpretation can be justified under RAW. If you were the GM, I would not argue. If I were the GM, I would rule th in favor of the lance wielder.

I would not apply the logic to a bastard sword. If you have the appropriate feat, you treat the bastard sword as a one-handed weapon. Then the FAQ applies that says you use 1x STR bonus. If you are using a lance one-handed while mounted, you are not treating the lance as a one-handed weapon, so that FAQ does not apply.

Baval, I see your point. I absolutely agree that a one-handed weapon wielded in two hands gets 1.5x STR damage. That is not a special ability; anyone can wield a longsword two-handed. If you could wield a light weapon two-handed and get 1.5x STR, that would be a special ability.

A large character can wield a medium lance one-handed, and would not get 1.5x STR modifier.

If I understand the mechanics of the thing correctly, a mounted combatant uses something to brace the lance, effectively a "second hand" on the weapon. At least that is how I always thought it worked. That is why I think 1.5x STR applies in the specific case of the lance.

Of all two-handed weapons, only the lance can be wielded in one hand by a mounted combatant (without a special feat). If it were possible to wield any two-handed weapon in one hand, simply by virtue of being mounted, then I would not argue for 1.5x STR on the lance, or on any other two-handed weapon.

You are using a special ability, that of the lance.

The easiest way to find the answer to this is to look at the simple Longsword. It, like most other one handed weapons (note the Rapier specifically calls out that it cannot be) can be wielded in two hands to apply the 1.5 Str bonus and the stronger power attack ratio. Doing so does not make it a 2 handed weapon, but a 1 handed weapon wielded in 2 hands.

Its not about the size of the weapon, its about the strength youre putting behind it by using two hands, hence Strength bonus, not a bonus to the weapons base damage.

So a lance in one hand does 1x str.

Baval, I disagree with your analysis here. As I understand the phrase, a special ability (similar to a feat) is an ability you possess, not a property of the weapon.

But this is why I started the thread. Players of reason and good will disagree on this point.

I already thought of that reasoning, but read the FAQs very carefully.

If you're wielding it in one hand (even if it is normally a two-handed weapon), treat it as a one-handed weapon for the purpose of how much Strength to apply, the Power Attack damage bonus, and so on.

I did read the FAQs carefully. They contradict each other.

Power Attack: If I am using a two-handed weapon with one hand (such as a lance while mounted), do still I get the +50% damage for using a two-handed weapon?

Yes.

Weapons, Two-Handed in One Hand: When a feat or other special ability says to treat a weapon that is normally wielded in two hands as a one handed weapon, does it get treated as one or two handed weapon for the purposes of how to apply the Strength modifier or the Power Attack feat?
If you're wielding it in one hand (even if it is normally a two-handed weapon), treat it as a one-handed weapon for the purpose of how much Strength to apply, the Power Attack damage bonus, and so on.

When I am using a lance while mounted, I am not using a feat or special ability, which is why I think the 1.5 STR bonus applies.

My favorite post on the subject:

Paladins are Lawful Good.

Period.

A Paladin is the ultimate heroic ideal that gains their power not just from a God, a mistake that many people make, but from a pure and unwavering dedication to altruism.

The reason you can't have a LE, LN, CG, CN, NG, TN, NE or even CE Paladin is because its impossible to do what they do if you are even the tiniest bit selfish or if you were willing to waiver even a tiny bit in your dedication to the cause.

Anyone can be a Holy Warrior.

Those are Clerics, Warpriests, etc.

Paladins are special.

In the Lore a Paladin doesn't just choose, "I'm gonna be a Paladin!"

They are called. Then they have one chance to answer that call.

A NG may be dedicated to Good but by the "Neutral" part will not adhere to a code if that code interferes with them.

A CG may be dedicated to Good but would never submit to a code.

A TN lacks any drive to tap that which makes a Paladin a Paladin.

A LN is able to abide a code, but is selfish, they don't have what it takes to give up everything and truly be altruistic.

A LE is in the same boat as the LN, but only even more so. As they are not only selfish but they actively seek to better themselves at the cost of others.

A CN lacks the focus needed to be a Paladin.

A CE will not abide a code and is wholly selfish with no care for others. A monster. With that monstrosity comes its own power.

A paladin is not simply a lawful good fighter, with a bit of cleric.

Snowblind wrote:

FAQ no. 1

FAQ no. 2

Don't ask me how to reconcile those, because I really don't know.

Simply, "treat as a one-handed weapon" or such change the weapon type to one-handed, so the weapon then follows one-handed weapon rules. "Wield in one-hand" just alters how the weapon is physically carried by the character, nothing else.

Think of light, one-handed, and two-handed as light, medium, and heavy weapons. Light can only wielded in one-hand, medium can be wielded in one or two, and heavy only two-handed. The first wording tells you to change weapon type for all purposes, for example heavy to medium. The second wording just lets you hold a heavy weapon in one hand.

So I am not changing the weapon type, and I get 1.5x STR. Thank you.

FAQ no. 1

FAQ no. 2

Don't ask me how to reconcile those, because I really don't know.

Those two FAQs are why I started this thread.

While mounted, you can wield a lance with one hand.

It does not say that I treat the lance as a one-handed weapon, just that I can wield it in one hand. Also, being mounted is not a feat or special ability. But maybe I'm just playing with semantics.

I am a halfling paladin, and my divine bond is a cheetah (size medium).

I would like to purchase mithral chain shirt barding. Per the rules, mithral armor adds 1000 gp to the cost of light armor, and barding for a medium mount costs twice as much as armor for a medium biped.

In which order do I apply these modifiers?
A: 2 * (1000 + 150) = 2300
B: 2 * 159 + 1000 = 1300

I typically fight using a lance, while mounted.
I have seen in these boards reasoned arguments that I should add my STR modifier to damage because I am using the weapon one-handed. I have also seen reasoned arguments that I should add 1.5x STR modifier to damage because the lance is still a two-handed weapon. The FAQ that says the lance gets the -1/+3 damage progression seems to favor the latter argument.

What say you?

Read Magic lets you use scrolls without a UMD check.
Detect Magic is necessary to identify magic items with Spellcraft. Even if someone else in the party has Detect Magic, take it.
Stabilize can be very useful, largely because its range is close, not touch.

Thanks, everyone. I feel better about the whole thing now.

What about exploring the tomb is evil? There are abominations to put to rest, and nothing says your paladin has to take anything from the tomb without permission.

True. There were both aberrations and undead. But it just doesn't seem right to disturb the final resting place of the late heroes.

I guess it's a waste to leave all those useful items buried in the ground when there is a dragon that needs slaying.

I mean, ugh! The whole thing is one giant tomb robbery! How is it not evil to do this?

I suppose there is the "greater good" argument. We did this to gain useful things to save a town from a dragon. The GM didn't make me fall, so I guess I'm OK.

Mind you, I spent most of the adventure saving the necromancer's life when he gleefully opened and looted sarcophagi.

I wanted to go all Dark Knight on him - "I won't kill you, but I don't have to save you." But i am a paladin. I am Superman, not Batman. I did have to save him.

I just noticed that the text of a module says that the PCs find a masterwork temple sword. Naturally this item does not appear on he chronicle sheet. Why would it? It is always available in the regular campaign, since it is not even magic.

Would it be acceptable for the GM to add this item to the chronicle sheet? A core monk would want this toy.

Actually CampinCarl there is an FAQ that clarifies that the lance specifically counts as being wielded two handed, even when being used 1 handed while mounted. So he would get to use power attacks as though two handed and get 1.5 strength damage.

@Claxon, can you link to that FAQ? All I can find is that the -1/+3 power attack progression applies to the lance while mounted (HERE), but this FAQ seems to imply that I do not get the 1.5 STR bonus. It does not make sense to me that the +50% applies to Power Attack, and not to STR, but that does seem to be what those two FAQs imply.

I suppose this comes to house rules vs. what I would consider fairness. The GM is allowed to make house rules, although I believe that house rules require unanimous consent of the players.

BUT to say that being the recipient of a Reincarnate spell is a chaotic act is just plain wrong. And to force a paladin to be reincarnated as a creature physically incapable of being lawful is bad form.

With this spell, you bring back a dead creature in another body, provided that its death occurred no more than 1 week before the casting of the spell and the subject's soul is free and willing to return. If the subject's soul is not willing to return, the spell does not work; therefore, a subject that wants to return receives no saving throw.

I would say that the paladin, seeing that his new body will cause him to fall, refuses to be reincarnated and the spell fails. Try again tomorrow.

Code of Conduct: A paladin must be of lawful good alignment and loses all class features except proficiencies if she ever willingly commits an evil act.

Additionally, a paladin's code requires that she respect legitimate authority, act with honor (not lying, not cheating, not using poison, and so forth), help those in need (provided they do not use the help for evil or chaotic ends), and punish those who harm or threaten innocents.

(emphasis mine)

The paladin is not bound to follow authority blindly. The paladin does not define justice as "a state in which all laws ave been enforced"*.

I think that for most characters, actions define alignment. The player chooses the character's alignment based on what the character is likely to do. With the paladin, It is different. The paladin is sworn to behave in a certain way - alignment defines action.

I have seen a paladin refuse to attack an disarmed opponent, even though said opponent was clearly evil. His foe had been the victim of a Grease spell, and the paladin allowed him to retrieve his dropped weapon without taking an attack of opportunity. As he said, "Being a paladin is not a part-time job. Attacking an unarmed foe is dishonorable, and not appropriate for a paladin."

*R. Daneel Olivaw's definition of justice in The Caves of Steel by Isaac Asimov

Paladins are Lawful Good.

Period.

A Paladin is the ultimate heroic ideal that gains their power not just from a God, a mistake that many people make, but from a pure and unwaivering dedication to altruism.

The reason you can't have a LE, LN, CG, CN, NG, TN, NE or even CE Paladin is because its impossible to do what they do if you are even the tiniest bit selfish or if you were willing to waiver even a tiny bit in your dedication to the cause.

Anyone can be a Holy Warrior.

Those are Clerics, Warpriests, etc.

Paladins are special.

In the Lore a Paladin doesn't just choose, "I'm gonna be a Paladin!"

They are called. Then they have one chance to answer that call.

A NG may be dedicated to Good but by the "Neutral" part will not adhere to a code if that code interferes with them.

A CG may be dedicated to Good but would never submit to a code.

A TN lacks any drive to tap that which makes a Paladin a Paladin.

A LN is able to abide a code, but is selfish, they don't have what it takes to give up everything and truly be altruistic.

A LE is in the same boat as the LN, but only even more so. As they are not only selfish but they actively seek to better themselves at the cost of others.

A CN lacks the focus needed to be a Paladin.

A CE will not abide a code and is wholly selfish with no care for others. A monster. With that monstrosity comes its own power.

Huzzah! Thank you! VERITATEM DICES! You speak the truth!

You might consider spending 375 gold on a wand of Read Magic. The spell is on your spell list, so you can use the wand without a UMD check, and it will make it much, much easier for you to use scrolls. Without Read Magic, you need to make a difficult Spellcraft or UMD check just to decipher the scroll.

Read Magic is a first level spell for you (paladins do not have cantrips) so even when you can cast spells you probably won't want to expend a spell slot for it.

If I find a wand of a spell not in the CRB, but the spell is on the paladin spell list (Paladin's Sacrifice, for example), can I use the wand without UMD?

I find it...distasteful...to have a fellow Pathfinder using the abominations, even though we are trying to accomplish the same goal. But I limit my hostility to hitting him a bit harder than necessary with a wand of Cure Light Wounds.

Paladin Code of Abadar

I was about to suggest using a halfling sling staff instead of a sling, but Warslinger seems to apply only to the sling. It seems odd to me that a trait specific to the halfling should exclude a halfling weapon.

If I understand correctly, I can choose a dog as a mount (I am a halfling), but not a riding dog. They are two different entries in the Bestiary, and only the former is listed among the available animal companions for a druid. Naturally I would prefer a riding dog, because it is ccombat trained, while a dog is not.

The descriptions for the druid's animal companion specify that a horse or a pony is combat trained, but that language is absent for the dog.

Someone please tell me that I am wrong, and I can get a riding dog.

Otherwise I will just get a dog and use the bonus tricks toward achieving the combat trained status for the critter.

EDIT Or I can try to use Handle Animal to achieve Combat Trained status.

Faithful Steed and I have resorted to block and tackle. I have neither the gold nor the prestige to purchase a potion of Fly.

Agreed! And call it a Hoopac.

?

Ask your GM if you can let Rapid Reload apply to your slingstaff like it does to Crossbows or Guns.

We're playing PFS Core.

I am a first level halfling paladin, and I was obliged to leave my pony behind at one point. Since I was no longer mounted, I also left my lance. As it happened, I had purchased a slingstaff, which meant that I had both a melee weapon and a ranged weapon in one! As a ranged weapon, it has the same damage as a longbow, plus STR modifier, and better range than a sling.

I do not yet have iterative attacks, so the one-shot-per-round limitation does not bother me now.

Besides, the thing is basically a lacrosse stick! I don't play lacrosse, but still...