I'm playing PFS via PBP, I'm just about to go to 2nd lvl, meaning no more free rebuilds.
I've been playing a halfling cavalier charge build (thanks Fruian Thistlefoot for the advice). Having now had a bit more in-game experience i am again questioning a charge focused build...
s 14, d 16, c 12, i 10, w 11, ch 14.
I don't like dumping, and i like have Cha high for the social skills.
i have been running with an Emissary, Order of the flame.
feats - mounted combat, ride by attack.
lvl 2 - funny immediate move to set up charge ability
3 - spirited charge
5 wheeling charge
The thing is after 2.5 games i've only got one charge off. So, i'm back again at a more variable build.
Gendarme, order of the cockatrice.
feats - power attack, taunt
2 - dazzling display as a standard action
3 & 5th lvl feats open. could pick up mounted combat, ride-by and spirited charge. or something completely different.
charge build (at lvl 3)- 3d6+9 or 1d10+3 not charging
other build 2d6+12 or 1d10+6
The thing is i'm playing PBP meaning that it'll take a year or two to get up to 5th level. This makes the second build more attractive. It's also worth saying i'm about to play thornkeep, which i imagine isn't easy for charging!
Just to be clear I'm not trying to rules lawyer here, just understand - copied and pasted from ride skill.
Control Mount in Battle: As a move action, you can attempt to control a light horse, pony, heavy horse, or other mount not trained for combat riding while in battle. If you fail the Ride check, you can do nothing else in that round.
You do not need to roll for horses or ponies trained for combat.
So the ambiguity is the bit in bold. I think I'd read it as don't need to roll, is therefore a free action, but looking at it again it means don't need to roll but still uses a move action. Right?
All the guide with knees business is superseded by the control mount in battle bit, right.
I have a thrush familiar in two different PFS games. Int 6 can speak common. I imagined they would prove hugely (potentially game breakingly) useful as a scout. However so far my DMs don't see it that way. I send bird of to scout rolling huge perception and stealth skill rolls. Dm says bird comes back and says there's lots of worms...
Is that what I can reasonably expect? Is that because it would be too annoying game revealing for the thrush to give an accurate report, is it because they're not taking on board the potential of an int 6, or do I have unreasonable expectations?
Like I say pfs so will be changing DMs regularly and no house rules.
can my mount move. I make a free dismount and then a full action charge?
if that's possible, how about. either i or the mount readying an action so that the mount moves to flank my target before i charge in.
Can if i roll above 11 can i make an immediate move every round, or is it just in the first round of combat?
if i'm mounted can my mount make that move?
can i then charge as a full round action?
is it useful? it reads like it could be amazing for setting up charges (playing a halfling cavalier charge build). just about to move out of Lvl 1 in PFS so want to understand before committing to this order.
has anyone answered this question? especially the bit about rushing and then charging as a full action. seems to me that's whats intended but would like to know!
just put my name down on the vigilante confirmation table, not totally sure if there's still space. if not no worries, but am interested in giving the class a shot...
I'm thinking Shy'mon. Again a local lad who's grown up totally intrigued by and delighting in the undead that wander KM.
The twist is that he's a cleric of a god not normally associated with undeath, so there's a bit of guilt/ ambiguity in him, anywhere other than KM and he'd be in real trouble for his dabbling. here it's considered a little strange but allowed to go unchecked for now...
basic crunch:
human. s 8 d 12 c 14 i 10 w 16 ch 16 feats - command undead and versatile channel. deity - open to interesting/flavourful suggestions. traits - deathspeaker and unsure about 2nd.
Hey. I've only been around a couple of months, but am interested in something more tweak able than PFS, and yes less intimidating than an AP. Easy module wise haven't played any of them.
my total point buy would be 5 :-( i'm thinking an occultist (arcanist) or a super buffing bard. simply because with 7,9,9,9,9,14,15 what else could one do?
Any body got any clever ideas/ sense of party composition let me know!
HI chadius et al, I've just signed up. the character i have free is a wolf riding halfling cavalier, i could use my remake to morph him into something more appropriate. would that be better or can he just roll as is?
,
a rough cut diamond halfling tribal girl, her only friend, at the moment, is Ralin her pet roc. A follower of the ancient ways of animals and the elements. Somehow she has been drawn to this land of technology and steel. She rails against it's destruction of nature, and is committed to fighting the strange robot abominations where she can.
basic crunch:
halfling hunter w roc. s 14 d 16 c 12 i 13 w 12 ch 10. feat = tribal scars, combat style - great axe. traits robot slayer & ??
my experience:
been playing dnd for 30 years. been into PBP for about a month now, i'm interested in joining an AP as they allow more character development and less rail roading than PFS. can post 1/day - although gmt so won't be posting at the same time as USA folks.
See the problem. Elves fcb is +1 pt. do I 'need' to take this to get enough points to make the whole build worth while? Of course that then pushes augment back...
Do you round the .5s up? That would make it a little better. But not much!
human occultist
4 arcane pool - usable to cast SM1 as a standard action
traits - Reactionary +2 Init & ???
Feats - SF - Conjuration & Augment Summoning.
spells memorised - Grease & something else.
obvious advantage is he's got 8 'spells' per day, giving much more lasting power.
What's lost vs a straight conjurer? the swift teleport ability, a familiar (which is quite a loss) and whatever the 2nd feat would have been.
would it be better to do something else with his feats? feels a bit boring as stands. Coudl get SF Evoc and Spell Specialisation (+2CL feat) giving him a reasonable blast power. Would that be better?
just looking at the school familiar archetype here
the illusion one looks really good - get familiars to maintain concentration illusions.
i know that people say you shouldn't base around illusions in pfs due to table variance. could i play a tatooed sorcerer having the tats for evocation, combined with gnome pyromania for 3d4 but then take the familiar and make it illusion. or is that obviously stupid/out of char/ against the rules?
other option is just to play a straight illusionist, but then i wonder about what people say re; illusions and table variance...
mainly i just found it and thought it was really cool!
so question is pfs viable to be a illusionist?
could i be a pyro gnome evoc tattooed sorc and still take this?
i am resistant to the sorcerer first thing. also i wonder if i don't think far enough ahead - traits for fireball seems like a loong way away. in fairness im just starting PFS and mainly doing PBP so it is a long way away!
I am still thinking about the diplomacy option - i want the thrush, it seems so helpful in terms of taking 2 perception tests, getting it to spy on meetings, other people etc. Now i know PFS can be a bit rail-roady, does that make this sort of thing less useful?
then diplomacy. 2 traits to get int and trained means i have 5 int+4 skill +3 thrush +2 aid other +12/14 is that worth it for the 2 traits it takes? What would i take instead, +2 init and magical lineage, seems a bit ho-hum vs giving him a whole other angle, relatively easily
finally assuming i stick as an elf +2 init or +2 concentration and perception. given that for the first few levels he's a burning hands boy which is more important?
i know people say be a human for the extra hp and feat. feeling a bit not sure about that as i've started the character as an elf, so would be better rp continuity...
considering different arcane builds. I know blasting is considered sub-optimal in the guides treantmonk et al. None the less i find myself considering it.
Would the following work/ be fun to play.
s 7
d 14
c 12
i 18
w 10
c 10
before racials.
Admixture Evoker.
feat - spell specialisation burning hands. using the 'change element' power this can be made cold and w urea alchemical regeant made into cl 4.
My main questions are - should i be human to be able to choose boreal spell and magical lineage to give me a bit of crowd control. this is opposed to the benefits of being an elf.
is it worth taking magical lineage with burning hands? short term advantage of boreal spell and then intensify spell. vs longer term planning of taking it on fireball. Can't i just take additional traits at level 5, or even 7 to pick up wayang spell hunter for fireball then.
2nd question - arcane bond vs familiar.
arcane bond gives me another spell/day to play with.
familiar has utility. i like thrushes for speaking scouts. can take INT for Diplomacy trait to be at + 10 dip. It can also take the Protector archetype which would help my AC for being a bit closer to the fight...
however if i play a human with some diplomacy that leaves me with only +2 Init which doesn't seem at all ideal - am i trying to do too many things? would i better to just drop the diplomacy thing? Of course there is always the scorpion option if i'm worried about my diplomacy.
thanks for the advice - i am a bit resistant to the cookie cutter traits...
i think i'm also a bit short sighted, I do PBP and speccing characters to be effective in lots of levels time seems so far away. hence i like immediate balance and variety. Maybe once i've got a few characters to higher levels i'll see what people mean (and repent my decisions!)
none the less thanks for the advice - i really appreciate the community here, really helpful.
some advice please - building a bard character with an emphasis on buffing, but also wanting to be able to pull his weight.
pitborn tiefling lvl 2 (last remake)
s 16
d 14
c 14
i 10
w 8
ch 16
feat - flagbearer (going with the buffing idea)
traits - chain fighter (+2 to trips)
maestro of the society (+3 rnds bardic performace)
would i be better off just getting reactionary?
duettist - lose bardic knowledge gain a familiar. is this worth it?
im thinking a protector - combat reflexes and bodyguard at the cost of alertness.
thrush +3 diplomacy is sub-optimal i know but i like the talking and it feels a lot more flavourful and logical than a scorpion that helps with the performing arts!
some advice please - building a bard character with an emphasis on buffing, but also wanting to be able to pull his weight.
pitborn tiefling lvl 2 (last remake)
s 16
d 14
c 14
i 10
w 8
ch 16
feat - flagbearer (going with the buffing idea)
traits - chain fighter (+2 to trips)
maestro of the society (+3 rnds bardic performace)
would i be better off just getting reactionary?
duettist - lose bardic knowledge gain a familiar. is this worth it?
im thinking a protector - combat reflexes and bodyguard at the cost of alertness.
thrush +3 diplomacy is sub-optimal i know but i like the talking and it feels a lot more flavourful and logical than a scorpion that helps with the performing arts!
so i played a tiefling before august '14. he was within my first three games.
can i use my first three remakes to make a different tiefling who is PFS legal.
how would anyone know from just looking at my chronicle sheets, as all they have is a character name.
sorry if people have asked this question before, couldn't see anything in the threads...
hey folks - i'm interested in playing a series of scenarios, getting a bit of continuity char development wise. I'm also interested in playing more 'in' the developing story line, so far i've mainly done evergreen scenarios so have little sense of the wider world.
char wise, i've got my last remake going up to level 2, so am flexible. I'm wondering about either doing a magus/rogue or rogue/magus spire defender.
or a human brawler/hunter.
the main thing i want is variety of in-game options whilst also being effective.
boo, i was just getting to a non-tablet to go on your back-up list, DM Beckett, and the space has filled. i'm still pretty new to PbP, and i'm interested in playing a linked set of modules. 2nd game would be great!
Hi folks, almost done with this half Orc oracle. Got a couple of questions.
1. With an intimidate of 10, is it worth learning cause fear? Save dc would be 13...
2. Trait advice appreciated....
build:
s 18 d14 c12 I 10 w8 ch 14
Feat - tribal scars (intimidate bonus ) mainly for the HP bonus!
Traits - fates favoured.
Intimidate - 4 skill, 2 race, 2 cha, 2 tribal scars. Has access to enhanced diplomacy for another +2.
Will have high saves thanks to sacred tattoos f 4 r 4 w 3
War sighted oracle of battle. For the martial flexibility
options - swap the tribal scars bonus to extra move and pick up the dominator trait.
Keep both and push up to intimidate 12 /14 w enhanced diplomacy!
Get the tusked trait. D4 bite. How useful are 2nd attacks at -5?
Not into reactionary, for a change.
Spells - divine favour for fates favoured synergy.
Should I get cause fear, which would fit but is that too similar to just making an intimidate check?
Other options would be shield of faith or prot evil...
blakemane - 8 ins't quite a dump, i think of 7 as dumping...
tattooed can keep familiar as tat and still get bonuses. so if there is a prob can just do that.
kalindlara - lots of people say silent image is good on wands... don't people have to use an action to disbelieve. so it's done its job even if the save dc sucks?
yeah, UMD is important, more important than spell craft or one of the social skills?
i play PBP and it takes soo long for a game to finish that i'm not really into builds that you have to wait for to work out. Although the fox would rock! kinda like in labyrinth (showing my age!)
traits - extremely fashionable (diplomacy)
milita training (ride as class +2)
Racials-
- linguist (buffing bluff and dip)
-pyro (dpr bonus)
spells
colour spray (dc 15)
burning hands dc 15 3d4+3 damage at 1st level!
skills - FCB used
dip, bluff
ride, per
spell craft,
buy a silent image wand after 1st adventure.
get a riding dog asap!
for some reason i imagine gnomes with outrageous french accents. i can imagine him complaining about his parents trying to make him a soldier, moi, a soldier, pleease. How can you imagine such a thing!
gameplay wise you've got a high damage attack (burning hands), battlefield utility (colour spray) and imagination the limit (silent image) with his main things. Mobility with the dog. can happily do party face
Does this seem viable? how useful is silent image in PFS. Any better bloodlines? i like draconic for spells, perception as a class skill and the fire damage boost.
Gwen - i was thinking to get taunt - uses bluff and ignores size mods.
yeah wondering about charge viablity w PFS, the desire to be flexible and not need much coordination team work built up. especially as i play PBP so there's not much chat.
useful what you say about feather step.
11 int refers to only needing to make the UMD check for scrolls/wands - not the simulate ability score as well which is 26 for lvl1 spells.
in other news - how about a dip into oracle? nature mystery can get a 6int AC, seems people think having high int is a real plus. is that worth it? would work well with wanting to have a bit of CHA for party face and would lend a lot of utilityesque spell casting.
also would give access to divine favour which with fates favoured and charging gives +2/4 for 1 min - not bad for a lvl1 spell!
Am trying out a pure charge cav at the moment - like the idea of a swaggering halfling DPS merchant and the personality around it.
@ drogos with the cocatrice order dazzling is a standard not a full action. maybe that makes it a bit better? anyways dropped for now.
@gwen. UMD needs you to have the spell casting stat other wise you need to UMD that so rather than 21 for a lvl 1 scroll you need 26 to simulate the INT and then a 21 to activate the scroll/wand...
Taunt feat allows you to use Bluff and no -ve size mods. making it a viable build.
Hear what you say about feather steps. Also got divine power on my wand list. with fates favoured thats +2/+4 (charging) which seems exciting.
Anyways we'll see how i go, but although up for the experiment am feeling like the reliance on charging may not be my thing. like you say charge lines and all that.
Ok, going to have a go at the charger build. See how it feels.
But otherwise thinking about this desire for flexibility I am drawn to hunter, with a 1 lvl dip in brawler for the combat flexibility. Got a feeling that may suit my play style more.
Hey, thanks for the reply. I was just reading one of your posts the other day!
thanks for the pointers. Useful stuff.
I forgot to mention that i hate dropping stats. also i want to play a rounded char that has more than one option in combat.
Thats why im interested in the taunt/ dazzling display thing. I can imagine that it sets up a funny tension - charge or try a multi target debuff. both best to do in round 1.
I also find myself wondering about power attack vs the charge line, again allows for more flexibility - 1 charge then swap to greatsword and let the wolf join in. I kinda imagine him being a stand in the front hold the line kinda guy which again moves me away from charging every round.
Finally, how does one make use of the spare move action generated by using the mounts move - any nifty tricks?
looking for some PFS build advice. I play PBP so i'm more interested in a cool concept which is fun to play now than something optimised for long term play.
Basic info - emissary order of cocatrice
s 14 (10)
d 16 (5)
c 12 (2)
i 11 (1)
w 10
ch 14 (2)
HP 11, f 3, r 3 w 0 (unsure about halfling luck)
feats - taunt. i'm into the free dazzling display!
mounted combat - from emissary
skills ride, UMD, buff, dip, handle animals.
main questions racials
do i go for the 30' move (which is good in medium armour thanks to emissary)
or outrider and shiftless +2 to ride, handle animals and bluff
Given i'm small, can i live on my wolf. in which case presumably the bonuses to 3 core skills is worth it??
is fey magic worth it? could get entangle, stablize, light and something else for underground. main thing is it doens't really fit the image.
weapons
Lance for charging. then long sword and heavy shield. what with +3 dex, +1 size, +6 breastplate that gives me ac 22! is that worth the drop in damage output? d6+2 vs d10+3 from say a greatsword.
traits
thinking about helpful (+4 aid another)
extremely fashionable (+1 dip and bluff)
second chance (re-roll failed save)
fates favoured (adaptable luck synergy)
good old reactionary
dangerously curious (make use of that floating 11 int)
mount
what to do with the wolf? power attack or combat reflexes and then body guard? noticing a high ac theme here...
