I’m currently playing a Sword Saint Samurai in our bi-weekly Jade Regent campaign, and while I greatly enjoy his character, I find him to be dreadfully dull in combat.
I usually play primarily casters or half casters, and the few times I have played a martial it has been paladins. I also frequently play a more supportive role or an actual healer.
Originally, this was why I decided to try something new, but I have to admit that it’s just not doing anything for me.
In combat I usually try to set up an Iaijutsu strike if I can (level 10 should make that easier), or otherwise I whack away at the enemies, possibly moving to flank with our death-machine Catfolk Rogue.
I also use intimidation whenever we're facing multiple weaker foes.
Brief Backstory:
My Character was to be the head of a minor noble house in Minkai, but his Aunt conspired to have him removed from power, as she is Loyal to the Five Storms, whereas he is not.
Consequently, he led a small, probably not very significant, rebellion in his fief, utilizing the heavily forested area for guerrilla tactics.
Unfortunately, this couldn’t last forever, and he was eventually betrayed, his makeshift base attacked and his men, wife and children killed. He was carried away by a small group of loyal followers (his cohort included), and they planned on fleeing to Kalsgaard to replenish their forces with the refugees there.
On the way, their caravan was attacked, and only a few survived, only to be found soon after by the other PCs (yes he’s a replacement for one of my other characters).
He’s a very devout follower of Shizuru, and with him he brought a Sorcerer, her Cleric of Shizuru father, his cohort (also a samurai), and a grunt soldier who has since developed a relationship with the cohort.
Build:
LG Human Sword Saint Samurai
Deity: Shizuru
Stats (pb20)
STR: 20 (14 +2 Human, +2 Advancement, +2 Enhance)
DEX: 12
CON: 16
INT: 12
WIS: 9
CHA: 12
Gear of note:
- +1 Keen Katana
- Masterwork Wakizashi
- Longbow (Str rating 3)
- +1 Champion O-Yoroi
- Cloak of resistance +2
- Ring of protection +1
- Boots of the Winterlands
- Amulet of natural armour +1
Skills of note:
- Intimidate +17
Feats:
1st: Power Attack, Bonus: Intimidating Prowess
3nd: Furious Focus
5th: Squire (Now Leadership)
6th: Weapon Focus, Katana
7th: Dazzling Display
-----
Feats I was planning on taking:
Shatter Defenses, Greater Weapon Focus, Deadly stroke, Critical Focus, Staggering Critical.
Traits:
- Amatatsu Loyalist (Homebrew Campaign Trait) +1 Will Save
- Instigator of Rebellion: +1 Diplomacy and Intimidate
- Ambush Training: +1 Initiative, +1 dmg in surprise rounds.
- Drawback: Sentimental
I’m open to ideas, whether dipping, multiclassing, prestige-classing or simply discovering new aspects of martial combat.
Edit: Our Party consists of my samurai, the Catfolk Rogue, a human ranger switchhitter, a human barbarian also melee, and our Bomb-focused ratfolk Alchemist.
I'd like to know if Spell Perfection stacks with Spell Specialization.
Spell Perfection states: In addition, if you have other feats which allow you to apply a set numerical bonus to any aspect of this spell (such as Spell Focus, Spell Penetration, Weapon Focus [ray], and so on), double the bonus granted by that feat when applied to this spell.
And Spell Specialization says: Select one spell of a school for which you have taken the Spell Focus feat. Treat your caster level as being two higher for all level-variable effects of the spell.
I asked my GM about this, but he was unsure and asked me to ask here.
Last session, my darling Silvanshee familiar got fried by dragonfire, and died.
That kinda sucked seeing as I play a witch, but luckily we revived it with a True Resurrection scroll, and everything was fine.
The event got me thinking however.
I kinda want to improve my familiar's survivability a little more, and I was wondering if there was any neat ways to do this?
Info:
13th level NG Half-Orc Witch with the Hedge Witch Archetype.
Earlier today I was working on my backup Oracle of the Seer archetype, and decided to ask my GM if I could make some Traits on my own.
He sent me here to see what you guys thought of the traits i've made.
--------
The first one is Seer's Cynicism:
Seer's Cynicism
Visions of possible tradegy has plagued you since childhood and as a result you've grown cynical.
You gain a +2 Trait bonus on saves against Fear effects.
--------
2nd:
--------
Visions
Pre-Req: Oracle of the Seer Archetype
Since childhood you've had visions of the near, possible future.
Effect:
Your GM may, As he sees fit, give you minor visions pertaining to the future. These visions can be anything from mundane things, "You gain a vision of yourself enjoying the soup you're about to eat" To potentially helpful, but often cryptic visions about the dangers you might face.
Wether these visions actually grant you a boon outside of the additional knowledge is up to your GM.
--------
Now I'd like to know what you guys think of these Traits :)
My GM sent me here to ask you guys some advice, so that’s what I’m going to do :)
My NG Hedge Witch has decided that she wants to start a place of learning to teach the art of Healing and Herbalism to other likeminded individuals. I do however, not like the idea of a Coven seeing as they tend to include Hags.
My character is, as I’ve said, a Neutral Good Hedge Witch. She used to travel around, living off her herbalism skills until she got dragged into our current adventure.
She is usually pretty peaceful, preferring to shut down enemies through her Slumber hex or other means of crowd control rather than outright killing them, though she has killed a foe or three.
She is also a skilled healer, having picked the healing domain and she has recently reached level 10.
As it is, a hag would not in any way be something she wanted to join forces with, especially not when it comes to a place of learning.
I’m hoping you could give me some advice on how to handle this, to have my character create a school/coven, both from a creative standpoint, and a mechanic one.
Ideas for flavor, and how to actually go about doing it, and what mechanics you would use as substitutes for the existing coven mechanics, without a hag and with a focus on healing and restorative magic.
Purely creative input is also appreciated.
I am of course willing to provide more info as needed :)
TL:DR: Making a NG healing version of witch coven. Help on flavor and mechanics appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
