Heavy_Metal_Viking's page

Well, I have bad news for you. This USED TO BE possible, before the Errata that changed Scarred Witch Doctor away from Constitution-based spellcasting (can you say Bloodrager 1/Scarred Witch Doctor X with optional foray into Eldritch Knight?) . . . And this would be almost out-of-the-box read to enhance with Bloodrage, except that you would still need the Mad Magic feat to let you cast spells while in Bloodrage. Unfortunately, somebody decided that Constitution-based spellcasting was too cool for Scarred Witch Doctor, but they forgot to consider that Half-Orcs can also be Scarred Witch Doctors and can put their +2 to one ability score anywhere, wo when they replaced Constitution-based spellcasting with Intelligence-based spellcasting and Fierce Intelligence, which makes your Intelligence count as 2 higher for class features, they not only killed Gish Orc Scarred Witch Doctors on reasonable point buys, but they also made Scarred Witch Doctor but otherwise completely conventional Half-Orc Scarred Witch Doctors absurdly powerful (without the use of anything having to do with Rage).

Oh man. Super sad to hear this. Constitution-based witch sounds like barrels of fun. But hey! Might still be able to talk my GM into letting me use the pre-errata version. Course it's a human only campaign, so I'd have to convince him to let me ignore the race restriction too. It's all in the name of flavourful character concepts though! So I might still stand a chance.

A Skald might be worth looking into.

Err. Bloodrager? A hybrid of barbarian and sorcerer.

Skald is THE raging spellcaster.

I appreciate all your input, but I am aware of the Bloodrager, Skald and Raging Prophet. I realize I may have been too vague in my opening post: I'm not really looking to play a gish (not that I'd completely discount it. I more-so meant a mage with a rage equivalent: like the barbarian's rage enhances their melee attacks, so too would the "rage mage" be able to enhance her spells for a limited time. I came up with the idea before I started looking at mechanics. It may not be viable or even possible, but I thought I'd ask anyway.

Ooo! Ooo! I have a build for you!

<snipped>

Oh, wow. That's one heck of a build! I apologize if I come across as slow, but what exactly is it? I enjoy the concept of character optimization, but the actual math always leaves me a little confused. I'm getting a gish feeling from the choice of archetype. I'll have to read it again in the morning. Thanks for a help, either way!

The Psychic Abomination discipline has a Dark Half ability that allows them to transform into a rage-like state during which they can gain DR, enhance their spells, and generally be scary :3

This is, in fact, exactly what I had in mind. A full-progression spellcaster, complete with squishy-wizard d6 HD and no armor proficiency, who can enter a limited use state to enhance spell DCs and damage. If I end up using this, I might have to re-flavor it to fit the campaign, but it seems pretty solid regardless.

Eldritch Font isn't really compatible with being the main caster IMO. Losing a prepared spell/level is too much.

I don't think that'll be an issue. The group is mostly roleplayers and storytellers, not optimizers (GM included). They've made it to Lv.4 with a paladin, barbarian, 2 rangers and a cleric. They didn't even ask me to be a caster; when I asked about being a paladin, they said they had no problem with having 2 in the party. Being a caster was my idea.

If third party is allowed, a Wilder with the Raging Surge is exactly what you're looking for. They literally enter rage (and so they make for good gish), and from there they can further empower their spells.

They have full caster progressio on paper, but consider that A) Psionixs spells tend to get less crazy than First Party ones and B)they get very few spells known.

This class looks really cool, but I don't think I'll be using 3rd Party for this. It's my first time playing a non-fighter-type, and my first time with this playgroup, I don't want to overcomplicate things. Still, I'm putting the Wilder in my back pocket for now; if I ever get the chance, I'll definitely try it out.

There's some sorcerer bloodlines which get a bonus caster level either when they're hit (martyr) or kill things (div). Via the blood arcanist archetype they're even compatible with arcanist, though just going sorc is still viable.

If you're not used to playing a caster an arcanist does have a good system for spellcasting, I do recommend it. You prepare spells each day so you can fix poor spell picks easily, then you cast the spells spontaneously so you don't need to know how many fly spells vs. fireballs (e.g.) to have ready.

After looking it up on the SRD, I'd say Arcanist is an excellent choice. I think Eldritch Font might make a good archetype choice, since the fatigue/exhaustion effect of Eldritch Surge is a pretty good mirror of the Barbarian's Rage. I won't discount the Bloodline archetype just yet though, that Div Arcana is quite tempting...

If anyone knows of any spells, feats, prestige classes or misc. options that they think are must-haves for this build, let me know. Thanks for all the help so far.

A dearth is a shortage. Not what you mean?

Anyway, an Arcanist gets a pool of points for boosting their spells which they can refuel by trading in extra spell slots. Or by killing things with the Twilight Sage archetype.

Oh, that's embarrassing. I meant exactly the opposite of that, yes. Cue Princess Bride references.

Arcanist? That's the wizard/sorcerer hybrid, right? Might be interesting to look into. Thanks.

Anything else I should investigate?

Was invited to join a Pathfinder group, and found them with a dearth of warriors and no mages. Since warrior-types are my default, I decided to step outside my comfort zone (mostly).

I had my concept before I even thought about mechanics: Rage Mage. By this, I don't mean like a Rage Prophet (Barbarian with limited spells for buffs and stuff), I was more thinking of an actual raging full-caster: a mage who can enter a rage/trance/whatever to enhance the potency of their magic, but at a cost.

In short, I'm looking for any feats, archetypes, prestige classes, etc. that can be applied to a spellcaster to give them a magic equivalent of Barbarian Rage. Obviously, I can re-flavor what's there, so it really just has to be some limited resource that makes my spells stronger, preferably with some drawback.

When I asked my GM what books we can use, he simply said "all of them".

Thanks in advance.

My group will be starting a new Pathfinder campaign next week.
I have GM'd for the group in 3 previous short campaigns. This will (hopefully) be our longest yet, and I'm hoping to make it particularly memorable.

Basically, all 3 of our previous campaigns began in an inn, but I want to mix it up a bit.
I have considered starting them in a prison (the group responded worryingly well to this suggestion), but I just want to get some other ideas: what is a good, original way to begin a campaign?

Thanks in advance.

Building a high DEX character who uses a whip to trip and disarm foes.
I have heard it said that some combat maneuvers replace attacks. Can I take this to mean:
Can I apply weapon finesse to my trip and disarm maneuvers with a whip?
When an opponent provokes an attack of opportunity, can I trip or disarm them in place of a normal AoO.

Any help is appreciated. Thanks in advance.

I found an idea for a bard that specialized in a whip/net to control the battlefield via tripping, entangling and OAs. (To fill the gap left by the bard's sub-optimal spellcasting)

As I tried to put a character together, I found their is a serious gap between feats required and the feats a bard has available. Is this build feasible, because I really, really like the idea.

From what I can gather, the build needs the following feats:
Exotic Weapon (Net) / Net Adept
Weapon Focus (Whip) / Whip Mastery / Dazzling Display
Combat Expertise / Improved Trip / Greater Improved Trip

On top of that, I might need 2WFighting and Net and Trident, would Quickdraw do the job instead?
Should I drop the net and focus on the whip? Or get Net Maneuvering and forget the whip?
Should I use Weapon Finesse with the whip?

With this many feats, the fighter is the obvious choice, but I'm not looking for that: Is this possible with a bard?

What is the best way to build a mounted archer?

One of my players wants to create this; he has considered a ranger/cavalier multiclass. Ranger's don't get an animal companion until Lv.4, (we're starting a Lv.1), while a cavalier dip would mean his mount would lag behind as he advanced in ranger.

I think there's a feat that lets a cavalier stack his multiclass levels, but they need to have 6 levels in cavalier. Likewise, rangers mounts suffer -3 levels.

Is this as good as it gets, or is there a better way?

Thanks guys, I was thinking about it completely the wrong way. When it's actually laid out in front of me, it does make a lot more sense.

Okay, I am completely new to Pathfinder, and still trying to get to grips with the rules, so please be patient if I'm saying something stupid.

So here goes nothing; why do Small creatures get a bonus to attack rolls and larger ones take a penalty? How does being smaller than your opponent help you hit him harder? And what about the CMD penalty? Surely being small should make it easier for you to weave through a grab?

I appreciate any answers, thanks.