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So, recently I hit this in a campaign I cast studied meta magic fireball vs a troop to overcome its fire resistance. GM said based off of troop's CR I say based CR off of base creatures that make up the troop. It is not like it is a different creature from the base. (I know gm word is law but I'm trying to get a consensus or see what others have said)

Also for knowledge to identify am I going off base creature or the troop?

Hi, James Jacobs hope you're having a good day. I've got a small question for you maybe it's the inner power gamer in me or maybe it's just how I see things and think that doesn't make a lot of sense. I'm asking with archetypes like Stonelord and or inspired blade that abilities that once used charisma such as lay on hands for the Stonelord or charmed life for a Inspired Blade. Using a different mental stat like wisdom modifier for Stonelord since building it discourages charisma losing spellcasting and Divine Grace, while the other lets you use both int and cha for panache pool so why not use int or cha for Charmed Life to better fit the builds?

I bet there is a balance reason I can't think of but it always felt odd to me that archtypes seem to change the stats used but leaves something like that.

I don't see it as being massively unbalanced. Although I would 100% regard it as a buff to the inspired blade. If I could have 18 cha and 14 int vs 18 int and 14 cha I would much rather use the latter. The extra skill points would be much more useful in general. Even for being the party face 2 extra skill points is arguably stronger than 2 extra cha mod, as it lets you keep your bluff, diplomacy, intimidate, and sense motive maxed out more easily.

I won't lie I do want a buff, and allowing for either or didn't seem that harmful. Also, I only have a 1 level dip into this archetype and 9 levels in the investigator class. It just made sense in my head also if I'm getting panache from both I could use either one for such skills as dodging panache or charmed life (Which I'm not too worried about since I plan to just keep the dip one level).

I was talking with my gm stating how for abilities like charmed life and dodging panache which are the only abilities that use Cha they should be able to use Int too without much problem or would that be a little too much to allow such a switch?
I think it is appropriate for the archetype since it also uses Int for the Panache pool.

I thank you all ahead of time for replying and I can't wait to see what you all think.

I think there is a trait or a feat that allows you to cast one spell even if you're feared. Just make that one spell remove fear.

The big problem I see is that your build does not really have a unique role. You have two characters that can fill the role of skill monkey while still being good at combat. Both of them are single classed so are getting access to higher level abilities. No matter how optimized this character becomes there is still going to be two other people who can do most if not all that you can do.

It also looks like you are trying to split your levels fairly even. This is usually a mistake especially on a spell casting class. A level or two dip may not be that bad but more than that usually ends up with a weaker character.

Yeah, pretty much sums it up.

The idea behind my character (He took the formally mind swapped trait) Was he was a charismatic swashbuckler who was also smart to boot. As he hunts for his memories trying to reclaim what he's lost, his mind was slowly expanding from the creature that left his body. So I did the first 5 in Swashbuckler and then the last 4 levels in empiricist Investigator to show the expanding mind.

It was a 20 point buy actual my character stats without the magic gear is 8, 18, 12, 16, 10, 14.

Yeah maybe I've been focusing on the wrong thing, and it maybe in skills I was feeling a little useless as all my knowledges are covered by both the psychic and inquisitor. Charisma skills are covered by the Oracle, and some of the most recent skills I've tried were stealth which my character was spotted and attacked down, and a trap which I failed to disable then went off on me. The Inquisitor also has some beefy sense motive and perception.

I guess I really don't know what I bring to the group, especially when we have stealth synergy.

Thank you all so much again it means a lot.

Why are you feeling useless? Not dealing enough damage? Not contributing enough out of combat? Going down too quickly so you can't contribute in combat?

PCScipio has some good advice, but if we know what you want to do we can give more.

Could be luck I'll admit that or it could be the dream dimension. My damage feels low often, as I move in attack once even with a 15-20 crit range dealing 18 damage(Missing the 15-20 with 14s a lot lol). Compared to my scythe-wielding slayer who puts out high 20's and the inquisitor who blows up many enemies in a single volley. Most creatures we fight I try to parry I often fail and get hit. Many creatures hit my character putting him down to half health in a hit. Low will save getting feared and running, recently fought a leng ghoul who was a guard I walked up to the guard posts as we were trying to get in while talking to this guard suddenly fireballed that did 43 points of damage, then it walks around hitting my character after I tried to parry for 15 damage character was diseased and paralysed (4 dex damage and 3 con). Was out for the whole combat which was the slayer walks up hits for 29 damage then the inquisitor shoots it 4 times with bane from being an inquisitor then 100 damage killing it in one round. (I think he got a crit but still damn, like what the hell am I doing). Out of combat, I tend to get knowledge checks and seem to be fine most times.

Can you retrain 4 of your Swashbuckler levels to Investigator? That would make you a classic Swashtigator.

Yes, as long as I pay the retraining cost and put the in-game time in. I can also retrain feats too if I remember correctly.

No, I didn't get the mutagen thanks for the heads up. And okay I'll give it a shot.

So currently we are playing Strange Aeons, and we are nearing the end of the third book. It may just be some bad luck but I'm feeling useless to the party often. The party is at level 9 and I decided to try my hand at multiclassing I decided to be a Fume Slyph Inspired Blade Swashbuckler 5 levels 4 levels in Empiricist Investigator. Stats are STR 8 DEX 20 CON 12 INT 18 WIS 10 CHA 16 with Max health of 82. Feats I have Weapon focus finesse Rapiers, fencing grace, cloud gazer for flavor, combat reflexes, extra panache, stealth synergy as the team wanted it, and now weapon versatility.

We have a scythe-wielding slayer, a ranged inquisitor with an animal companion, a time Oracle, and a self-perfection psychic or something.