Mo the Monk's page

Shamus laughs so hard he falls over, crashes to the ground and guffaws so hard a turnip comes out of his nose.

小家伙，我担心你。你的贪婪将成为你的祸根。

My fellow Gnome made the scarzini sound interesting, I think i'll see what new experiences wait for me over there

I fear you may find them more akin to the golden league. I have observed them, on numerous occasions, shaking down noble and honorable merchants, and consorting with the type of wretches one finds in the worst dross houses of Magnimar.

Might I suggest, as an alternative, the esteemed and honorable Silver Crusade? Although, perhaps sometimes overzealous, they represent their cause with honor and dignity befitting a former Lantern Lodge colleague.

In truth, even Cheliax would be better, for though they serve evil, they do so honorably.

The bottom line: think what you want for your character, and then see if there is a mechanical build that delivers it.

-James

From both a mechanical and backstory perspective, a 1 level dip in oracle intrigues me:

Story impact - Provides opportunity to role play facet of character where the ‘gifts’ given by the source of the Oracular power are divergent from the paladin’s deity (e.g. Nethys intervenes into a young paladin’s life to provide powers, knowing using such powers may tempt the paladin at a later stage to fall)

Character mechanics

• I still see this paladin trying to take advantage of both heavy armor and the AC from CHA, via mithril armor (at a later stage, once I can afford it). By the time I have the fame to purchase a CHA boosting item, I will likely have accrued the gold to purchase a Mithril Tatami-Do suit, allowing me to stack a +5 CHA bonus to AC with +7 heavy armor. I won’t ever be able to get to 30ft movement without magic items, which will be annoying, but I haven’t played a heavy armor class character, and I like the challenge of positioning with this limitation.
  
• At early stages, access to level 1 oracle spells allows me to bridge the non-full BAB via divine favor, and use ProtE to boost AC when fighting non-smited targets (since the bonuses to AC do not stack)
  
• I lose the ability to go down the combat reflexes route, so I will be limited to single target combat
  
• Additionally, backup ranged weapons will suffer from no dexterity; if I get into a bow fight where I cannot close to melee, I’ll probably lose.
  
• Outside of combat, the lore oracle provides interesting knowledge skills that will augment a diplomacy focused social preference.

Unknowns:

• Gaining iterative attacks and power attack increases one level later
  
• Delaying paladin powers by one level

So my concern is that, while I like the conceptual flavor and feel of this hybrid, I am likely missing out on something that someone playing a higher level paladin might be able to identify.

I'm building a paladin for PFS, and have the opportunity to start him at level 3 due to GM credits.

I had read on the forums about the efficacy of dipping 1 level into either Lore or Nature oracle mysteries for 1st level revelations that allowed CHA to be applied to AC and either Reflex saves or CMD.

Are these bonuses enough, in your opinion, to make up for losing full BAB progression (including impact on power attack step ups, iterative attacks, etc.) especially given that PFS characters cap at level 12?

It feels like, when i look at a hypothetical character, that you'd have a much more SAD character, but one slightly less offensively capable than a single-class paladin, although at low levels use of divine favor or other 1st level spells would possibly compensate.

Just looking for people's opinions or experience with paladins who either did or did not take this option.

A *big* part of that time was a truly epic string of bad luck (the party could simply not roll better than 5 or 6 at most on any offensive action) during the first fight.

Highest enemy damaging activity in that fight? burning hands. # of casts of burning hands that successfully went through the SR? 3 out of 6.

I agree, however I really think it depends on group make-up. Depending on the degree of optimization and/or synergy, a group of 4 players can make even playing up seem trivial. However that assumes some system mastery. I have had more close calls with 4 person groups playing at tier where 2 players didn't have a firm grip on their character's ability, then in 5 person groups playing up.

With greater risks come greater rewards. The converse is also true.

I wouldn't trust this guy. He brings 7-Int barbarians to embassy parties.

1. Why are you a Pathfinder?
Sigh. I truly do not know. My master Mo-Shun-Lah assigned me to 'safeguard the interests of our order's name' by bringing me to Absalom and into the glorious service of the Lantern Lodge. However, I feel that in truth i was assigned because I stole a bottle of plum wine from him when I was 14. He has a long memory...

2. Do you have a name and surname that is not ripped straight out of existing Earth mythology or popular culture?
I am Mo-Shok-Nah, of the iron-arrow monastery. I am a decent arrowmaster, but a poor student of meditation. What is this Earth? do you mean for planting? I am a poor farmer, but my cousin is quite good. I can write a letter of introduction should you wish. You should know that he only speaks civilized languages, so you should probably consider how your choice of phrase in Common will translate into Tien.

3. Which nation did you grow up in? How did this nation influence you?
Xa Hoi, of course. My father was a tradesman, and after my complete failure in my studies, I was sold to the monastery while my elder brother was given control of the family business. I still regret my inability to comprehend fractions, as I am now forced to shoot nightmares in sewers to make my living.

4. What do you look like? What are your wearing? How does this vary when you’re stalking through forests, sewers, deserts or in glittering cities?
I wear the robes of my order. I shave my head, to keep my hair from becoming infested in the vermin that infest these foreign cities.

5. What do you love? (Treasure and experience doesn’t count)
I love the refined ceremonies of my father's tea house. Honorable service to my order, the Lantern Lodge, and Abadar, all are important to me.

6. What do you hate? (Unclear and irritating darkness level rules don’t count)
I truly dislike the bards of these lands. Their irritating music does not provide me with any morale boosting fervor. Also, gnomes.

7. Which other Pathfinders (PCs) do you rely on for teamwork, survival and butt-kicking? Do you have a bro? a mentor? a father figure? maybe a rival?
I enjoy working alongside whomever Amara Li believes is suitable to accompany me, even if they are Gwai lo.

8. How does your race influence your views? Are you a stereotype of a certain race? How are you different from most humans/elves/gnomes/orcs/tengu?
My race matters not. Only my culture, and nation's history, influence my actions. I am a breeze in the wind. Although I would have preferred to be merchant... Nevermind, we already talked of that.

9. What are you afraid of? Do you have any phobias or worries?
I worry from time to time that my brother might not be completely suited to the task of running our family's store. However that matters not! I have a duty to attend to. Aside from vampires, who remind me of my elementary school instructor, I fear no evil. However, I do worry that one day I will fail in my mission, and bring dishonor to the Lantern Lodge, and my order.

10. What is your most treasured possession?
My pocket watch. It was a gift from my father, given when I was sold to the Monastery. It has taken its beatings (as have I), but it still continues to function for its master.

The real trick s to survive the first few sessions. This can be deadly in PFS with the randomness of the parties.

A possible fix for this is having one of you being a high AC character at the start (AC 17+ is very good) and the other person using him as a meat shield.

One other thing, If you are a level one, always make sure the table is playing down. They're supposed to but sometimes it doesn't happen. Once you reach higher levels you start having the choice to play up or down. Do NOT play up if the table is not balanced. So sessions, playing up is a sure way for party deaths.

This. all the way. I just lost my first PFS character because the one 'high level' (level 5) begged the level 3 and my level 2 to agree to a level 4-5 subtier ( the one i will now fondly call 'night at the museum'). Being one-shot by a mob without a chance to react kind of kills the magic.

So from now on, only level-appropriate missions!