Skrayper's page

I was wondering if there was a resource that already had spells separated by bonus type. I.E. All the spells that give a morale bonus in a section, all the ones that give a competence bonus, etc. Did some cursory searches and couldn't find it, so thought I'd ask here.

I was wondering just how many different kinds of bonuses someone can get to strength (or really any stat, but strength is the one I was working on).

I know there's:
Enhancement (magic items, Bull's Strength, Animal Focus, etc)
Morale (Rage)
Alchemical (Mutagen)
Size (Enlarge Person, polymorph spells)
Inherent (Manuals, Orc bloodline)

Are there any other strength bonus types? Like divine, infernal, luck, etc?

I've got levels in a fighter archetype called Lore Warden (the PFSFG version), but I was trying to see if there was a way to get Armor Training and Heavy Armor proficiency to get Poised Bearing and Imposing Bearing eventually. The character is super-focused on light fighting build (Inspired Blade 5 / Virtuous Bravo 6 / Lore Warden 2), but I need Armor Training and Heavy Armor proficiency to get those feats (I'm a crit build that has both Staggering Critical along with Greater Trip + Tripping Strike).

I am having no luck finding any other archetypes outside of the fighter class that grants Armor Training, except for Yojimbo Samurai, and I'm pretty sure the way that class grants it wouldn't work for this.

Are there any archetypes or the like out there that gives it, or is the only real method to retain Lore Warden?

Can someone help me determine the math here?

The Lord's Banner of the Crusades costs 100,000 gp. It's entry (APG):

A noble-looking lord’s banner of crusades emits a hallow effect in a 40-foot radius around it, so long as it is borne by one true to the religion of the person whose crest is on the banner (these sorts of banners usually have a holy symbol or other religious insignia worked into the design). The banner displays the faith’s holy symbol along with the owner’s crest.[/QUEST]

The Darkskull costs 60,000 gp (Core). It's entry:

Quote:

This skull, carved from ebony, is wholly evil. Wherever the skull goes, the area around it is treated as though an unhallow spell had been cast with the skull as the touched point of origin. Each darkskull has a single spell effect tied to it. This spell is from the standard list given in the unhallow spell description, and it cannot be changed.

The only difference from what I can tell, is that the Banner has MORE restrictions (must be mounted on a polearm or pole, planted in the ground, and carried by a member of the faith), and that the Darkskull specifically states that is has it's spell assigned to it at creation.

It's hard to calculate directly because:
A. Hallow's duration is so long that you could consider it a "single use" item and it would still last a year
B. You have two spells involved (the Hallow and whatever effect you tether to it), so does the typical duration of the second spell matter when creating an item?
C. I cannot find anything regarding what happens when you take a spell meant to be stationary and place it into a mobile object

So I have two different items, and the game doesn't give enough info (for me) to determine why the two are so different in costs.

What's to stop a person from casting a Hallow version of the spell onto an object for the same price? (Also, considering the variable cost of materials, it is a bit weird that the Darkskull has only one price regardless of what spell is tethered to it)

I'm trying to make a 3rd level character for a new game. It has a modern-esque setting, so I'm trying gunslinger out.

I love the idea of dual-wielding pistols, but when it comes time to reload I'm finding it hard to come up with decent ways to pull it off.

One of the key components of the story is that the magic is somewhat of a secret; the harder it is to hide something, the more problematic it will be.

So far I'm seeing:
1. Beneficial Bandoleer - this seems to be pretty common, but it says one round of ammunition for a swift action. If I'm dual-wielding, that should be enough for most combats but an issue for long ones.

2. 1 level of witch, take the prehensile hair hex - this one has some potential flavor, and there is at least one Witch archetype that works off of Wisdom, the same score as the grit.

3. 2 levels of alchemist, take the vestigial arm discovery - interesting, but loses two levels and is impossible to hide barring very bulky clothing or magic.

4. Gun Twirling feat - presuming my GM lets it work like that (free action holster, Rapid Reload to free action reload, Quick Draw to free action load) and we're golden. It's four feats though, so I wouldn't be able to do it at character creation, and means that for a good while I'd have some rough minuses to hit; the flipside is that it means I get to stay in the Gunslinger class for a bit.

5. Buy the gun outright with starting cash and take 3 levels of Trench Fighter, or take 1 level of Gunslinger and 2 levels of Trench Fighter, leaving me 1 level of Fighter away from getting Dex to Damage (the main reason I want Gun Training).

**One caveat - we're playing just 2 players, so it's kind of expected that when we get high enough level one of us take Leadership. It'd be nice to manage a decent Charisma, as I'm sure the other player is not going that route.

So far I'm leaning towards Bandoleer or Witch. It'd be nice if the Mysterious Stranger didn't push Gun Training all the way to level 9; it'd take 11 levels to get Gun Training but I could build nearly everything into Charisma and Dexterity and play a Seducer witch alongside Mysterious Stranger (11 levels because your first hex as a Seducer has to be charm).

I'm kind of leaning towards this:

Str: 7
Dex: 20 (18+Human Bonus)
Con: 12
Int: 10
Wis: 10
Cha: 16

Level 1: Mysterious Stranger
Level 2: Trench Fighter
Level 3: Trench Fighter
**Future**
Level 4: Trench Fighter
Level 5: Seducer
Level 6: Seducer

Feats:
1st Level: Possessed Hand/Countenanced Carbuncle
Human Bonus: Hand's Autonomy
Fighter Bonus (1st): Two-Weapon Fighting
Fighter Bonus (2nd): Rapid Reload
3rd Level: Quick Draw
(Not sold on those last two traits - might get Weapon Focus, get closer to Gun Twirling, or another route)

Traits:
Volatile Fuse (reduce misfire by 1, so even with revolvers I can add alchemical rounds and keep it at a 1)
Rebel Leader (Probably overkill, but hey... "I'm a rebel")
Wicked Leader

(Will be picking a drawback to get the third trait)

Not sure if this is the best route though... trying to theory-craft all of this.

I'm looking for ways to make Good Hope better for everyone (not just feats that boost my own bonus from it). Being a morale bonus, it can stack with Bardic Inspiration so it is of particular interest to me.

So far I've found a trait, Rousing Courage:

Rousing Courage

Source Divine Anthology pg. 16
Category Religion
Requirement(s) Andradd
A dwarven warrior’s simple act of courage in Angradd’s name inspired you during one of your first battles. Now, you strive to be equally inspiring to others. Once per day, when you generate an effect that grants a morale bonus, increase that bonus by 1 for all creatures affected.

Is there anything else that improves the bonus from Good Hope? I could have sworn there was an item or a feat that boosted morale bonuses that come from you, but for the life of me cannot find it.

Prerequisite(s): Perform (sing) or Perform (oratory) 4 ranks.

Cost: Feat or 2nd-level bard spell known.

Effect: You sing or chant simple phrases or a distinctive series of notes that you associate with a specific trade good or service. While you perform these jingles, allies within 30 feet are affected by this performance’s effects and are treated as being affected by your inspire confidence bardic performance.

Furthermore, if an affected creature purchases the associated good or service, that creature immediately gains a number of temporary hit points equal to half your bard level.

Use: 3 bardic performance rounds, plus 1 round per additional person affected.

Activation: 1 standard action.

If I'm reading this correctly, what it basically does is keep your inspire confidence going at the cost of 3 + 1 extra party member? So instead of an ongoing performance, you just pop it once and they get the tune stuck in their heads?

I'm redoing my cohort as a healer-esque, but really am trying to make it work as a Bard.

I have a few means of getting plenty of HP healing outside of spells (like Healer's Hands + Signature Skill [Heal]), but for the rougher stuff I would like to have Restoration (or something else that removes negative levels).

So far the only way I've found to get it on the Bard spell list is through the prestige class Pathfinder Savant (was really hoping Voice of the Wild would work, but was very surprised to find that Restoration wasn't on the druid list - as you can probably guess, we don't play druids very often).

I suppose a Heartripper blade would work as well, though it definitely gives an "evil" note even if the item doesn't specifically state it is evil. Considering the party is VERY good aligned, this is a less than ideal option.

Is there another way for Bards to get access to Restoration? I'm not opposed to Pathfinder Savant, but something that maintained the "Bard" feel would be nice.

Also, I would have sworn there was an item that increased bardic performance by X levels (instead of static numerical increases, like with the Dervish Sikke); however, I can't seem to find it. Did I just dream that up, or is there such an item?

So my character is currently a...
Arcane Duelist (Bard) 1
Inspired Blade (Swashbuckler) 5
Virtuous Bravo (Paladin) 5
Lore Keeper (Fighter) 1

Feats are:
Weapon Focus
Weapon Finesse
Fencing Grace
Combat Reflexes
Leadership
Angelic Blood
Angelic Wings
Critical Focus
Blind-Fight
Pageant of the Peacock (not a feat but using a feat slot)

I've been contemplating where to go from here. There's a few feat chain-options I like, but some are digging into my already "often used" swift/immediate action. Often I have it ready to double my precision damage, or smite.

I've been toying with the following chains (pretty much all involve retraining my level of bard now that we have a legitimate skill person in the party, rendering my Pageant useless):

Option 1:
Retrain Bard to Fighter - Get Combat Expertise (Lore Seeker), Gain Bonus Feat (Moonlight Stalker), Retrain Pageant of the Peacock feat slot (Blinded Blade Style), 13th Level and on taking Virtuous Bravo levels (my plan is stick with VB on all options), get a Minor Cloak of Displacement - 13th level taking Staggering Critical

Option 2:
Retrain Bard to Fighter - Get Combat Expertise (Lore Seeker), Gain Bonus Feat (Blinded Blade Style), Retrain Pageant (Improved Blind-Fight), Retrain Critical Focus (Blinded Competence)

Option 3:
Bard to Fighter (Combat Expertise), Bonus Feat (Power Attack), Retrain Pageant (Cut from the Air)
**3A Retrain Critical Focus (Smash from the Air)
**3B Retain Critical Focus, take Staggering Critical at Level 13

Option 4:
Bard to Fighter (Combat Expertise), Bonus Feat (Moonlight Stalker), Retrain Pageant (Improved Feint), Retrain Critical Focus (Moonlight Feint)

Option 5:
Bard to Fighter (Combat Expertise), Bonus Feat (Dazzling Display), Retrain Pageant (Violent Display), Retrain Critical Focus (Signature Skill: Intimidate)

(For the purposes of this, the Rapier Training of the Inspired Blade is considered Weapon Training by my GM).

The things I'm trying to debate between:
1. Does getting blinded/fighting invisible creatures come up enough for the blind-fighting build?
2. Do I focus on obvious static benefits (Moonlight Stalker with permanent Blur) or less static?
3. Does option 3 offer the best form of defense, considering my number of AoO (23 Dex)? Should that be my focus as I already deal a decent bit of damage due to the high crit build I already have?
4. Is my already high utilization of swift actions (extra precision damage, smite evil) meaning I should ignore anything else that wants to access those (feinting, intimidate, etc)?
5. Are critical feats worth it, or are the save DCs too low? Or is a single round of staggered still worth it regardless?

We get a few buffs to hit and damage (a banner, a bard song, etc) so my to-hit can be pretty robust. Power attack certainly wouldn't be a bad (though right now my Str is a 12, so I'd have to retrain my last bonus out of Dex and into Str to qualify - or get an Ioun stone of strength because adding it to my Dex/Con belt would be crazy expensive comparatively).

Curious if any folks had experience playing characters with these feats and if they were a lot of fun?

Wondering how this works:

The spell specifically states:

If you don’t have the trapfinding class ability, this spell grants you the trapfinding ability of a rogue of half your character level.

This doesn't seem dependent on the creator of the scroll; the duration (1 min / level) obviously is, as would attempts to dispel the buff, but otherwise would a 10th level barbarian who pulls off the UMD check to use it have the equivalent of a 5th level rogue in trapfinding?

Okay, so "non-magical" is not QUITE accurate in that some of the best versions will utilize magical items.

That being said, I meant a character that doesn't use spells or channeling to do their healing. I only came across this while tinkering with a rogue companion:

Phantom Thief, 10th level:
1. Select Heal as one of their Signature Skills
2. Max out Heal and Knowledge: Plains
3. Feat: Healing Hands (Conduit)
4. Item: Healer's Satchel (Specialized for Long-Term Care)
5. Item: Vest of Surgery

Up to 10 times per day, can heal 6 points of ability damage and 6xlevel in HP (presuming 12th level characters for a 10th level cohort, 72 hp) with a full round action. Can also, for 5 of those, cure a point of ability drain (using the Healer's Satchel).

Any other non-spellcaster methods of healing (basically utilizing the heal skill or alternates, like a profession skill) out there?

So as you saw, I've worked on both a healer cohort and a buffing cohort (which was, previously, a crafting cohort). One of players came back, covering both healing and buffing between his main and his cohort. So I was debating between retraining my Leadership feat, or trying something new with the cohort.

I decided to try out a Counterspelling build.

The guide I found basically covered two potential builds:
Arcanist (School Savant)
Exploiter Wizard

Right now, I have the character as an Exploiter Wizard. I took that because of the fact that, as a cohort (as opposed to being a full player character), they're two levels behind. This means in an 11th level party, I could either make a 9th level Wizard or 9th level Arcanist.

I prefer the Arcanist under normal circumstances, but in this regard I felt it better to go Wizard and only be behind 1 spell level instead of 1.5 (presently would be 2) from the party.

Secondary role is arcane buffs, as we don't have someone doing that (though the number of buffs that are arcane ONLY is pretty limited - mostly just looking at Haste and a tiny selection of others).

To ensure this character could use Dispel Magic (figuring that was way more likely to work than, say, prepping enough spells of various schools and having the Improved Counterspell feat), I went this route:

(Traits obtained through the Additional Traits feat)
CL Checks for Dispel Magic:
+1 from Forest Blessing
+1 from Varisian Tattoo
+1 from Outlander: Loreseeker
+2 from Spell Duel Prodigy
+2 from Spell Specialization
+2 from Numerology Cylinder
+2 from Potent Magic (if spending Arcane Point)

Exploits:
Familiar
Counterspell
Potent Magic

Other feats:
Scribe Scroll
Spell Focus (Abjuration)
Improved Familiar (Faerie Dragon)
Dispel Synergy

Loreseeker includes the spells Dispel Magic, Greater Dispel Magic, and Baleful Polymorph

There's a part of me still very tempted to go Arcanist anyway (though possibly not school savant) and just try to focus more on the Dispel Magic method and not use the Counterspell exploit.

Also have an Echoing Rod (Lesser) to get more mileage with my Dispel Magic slots, as a Ring of Wizardry for 3rd level is pretty pricey.

Thoughts? Has anyone ever pulled off a true counterspell build?

Bouncing around and noting the lack of new 1E posts, I thought it must be because everyone was in the 2E forums... but instead those forums are practically empty.
:/

We're trying to add some ability to heal status effects and in-combat healing to the group - we can do a decent, though not a ton of, out of combat healing but nothing that works well in the middle of a fight.

We're playing a few different games, and we already have a Hospitaler in one and a Life Oracle in another, and I was trying to look at something a bit different. I know Life Oracle is the most powerful, but I figure a few other options might work well.

I'm looking at the following, but don't mind advice on going a completely different route:

1. Merciful Healer - can cover the status effects and healing. Loses a domain and is locked in on the one they get, but being able to remove up to 4 statuses (3 presently, cohort is going to be 9th as we're 11th) without using spells, is pretty good.

2. Angelfire Apostle - don't have to prep certain spells, and in two levels one of those includes Breath of Life. Not a huge fan of losing one spell slot per level though, especially considering how hard it is to get really high casting stats on cohorts.

3. Witchdoctor (Shaman) - Figure if I go Life Spirit, I get quite a few channels plus the Shaman spell list. No built in way to remove negative effects though; have to rely on having the right spell for that.

4. Sacred Servant (Paladin) - Boosting channel energy by as much as +2d6 with their divine focus. Getting a domain is also nice.

5. Arcane Healer (Bard) - works thematically with the group (but I can make any of them ultimately do so). Also can buff.

So I talked about this before, an idea for playing an Arcane Trickster.

My current build is this:

Tattooed Sorcerer 4 / Unchained Rogue 1 / Arcane Trickster 10
Race: Gathlain (Tree-Born)
Feats:
1. Skill Focus Disguise
2. Eldritch Heritage (Shapechanger)
3. Improved Eldritch Heritage (Shapechanger - Mutable Flesh)
4. Leadership (Hospitaler Paladin w/ healing focus, but also the Kool-Aid man feat)
Feats 5-7 I'm still debating on.

Bonus Feat: Mage's Tattoo (Evocation)
Bloodline: Orc

Primary Spell for Mutable Flesh - Fey Form III. Sprite lets me get the following:
+8 size to dexterity_bonus
-4 size to strength_bonus
+12 size to stealth_bonus
+6 size to fly_bonus
+4 to fly_bonus
+4 size to Armor
+4 size to attack_bonus
Fly Speed 60'

Stealth currently with gear is 44.

Starting gear:
Ring of Inner Fortitude, Major (we encounter a lot of ability damage/drain stuff)
Ring of Evasion
Silken Ceremonial Armor +1, Shadow (probably overkill, but eh)
Otherworldly Kimono
Belt of Physical Might Dex/Con +4
Shifter's Headband +4 CHA (to switch to Quickling if necessary)
Lenses of Darkness combined with Eyes of the Eagle
Numerology Cylinder
Rod of Metamagic Empower, Lesser

With the remaining feats, I've been debating between:
1. Pure fireball build. Take Widen Spell, then Magic Tricks Cluster Bomb and Concentrated Fire
2. Fireball burst plus Quicken - I only have the 1 7th level spell and 4 level 7 slots. Take Quicken to make good use of those, plus either Cluster Bomb and another feat, or Widen Spell and Concentrated Fire.
3. Backstabby - take Weapon Focus and Slashing Grace (for a fairly powerful weapon in the party), 1 feat remaining. Probably Heighten Spell.
4. Now you see me, now you don't - Cohort takes Magic Trick - Daylight for hours of daylight, and I take Skill Focus Stealth and Hellcat Stealth. 1 feat for metamagic.

Cluster bomb removes the need for heighten spell at least.

Looking at those 4 I'm debating on, what looks most appealing? I do have a spell or two for dealing with golems (roaming pit and black tentacles), so I don't NEED to be all stabby.

Thoughts?

Could a spite with the Hellcat Stealth feat use its own light to stealth?

Sprite ability:

Luminous (Su)

A sprite naturally sheds light equal to that provided by a torch. A sprite can control the color and intensity of the light as a swift action, reducing it to the dimness of a candle or even extinguishing its luminosity entirely if it wishes.

Hellcat Stealth:

Hellcat Stealth

You are difficult to see in the light.

Prerequisites: Skill Focus (Stealth), Stealth 6 ranks.

Benefit: You may make Stealth checks in normal or bright light even when observed, but at a -10 penalty.

Normal: You cannot make Stealth checks while observed.

So I know the basics if you are trying to be of small stature:

1. Pick a small race

Then there's the semi-obvious

2. Permanency Reduce Person

That said, the race I was really hoping to be, Kitsune, is medium, but the goal is to be as tiny as possible.

Presuming that I have not heard back if a "Polymorph Any Object" during character creation is ruled out or not (starting at 14th level) and absolutely NOT wanting to Power Game it, what are the best ways of getting as small as possible presuming both PoA being allowed and not allowed?

I was wondering, if you use Permanency Reduce Person, and a Greater Hat of Disguise (Alter Self), does the Alter Self *set* you as a Small size (presuming you pick that), or do you get "Small" and then the Reduce Person kicks in and you are "Tiny"?

So basically trying to make something akin to a fairy. The tinier the better.

I don't suppose you actually need Arcane Trickster, just some sneak attack damage, but the question is...

If I'm using Phoenix Bloodline and I hit one of my allies with a scorching ray (the first ray), if I'm invisible and they have no means to detect invisibility, will I get sneak attack on it and would that add to the healing?

So my character, who started as a Bard, is going very much the "holy warrior" route. I love the imagery of having wings, and was trying to think of good ways to get them.

They are Aasimar, so I have a couple of options (all operate under the presumption of not retraining any feats - there are 1-2 I'm not opposed to retraining but would like to keep if possible):
1. Take Angel Blooded, then Angel Wings. 2 feats, have the wings in 4 levels (already level 9)
2. Take Skill Focus, Eldritch Heritage, Improved Eldritch Heritage. 3 feats, have wings in 6 levels. (I would probably opt for the Phoenix Blooded Wings)
3. Take 7 levels of Mutation Warrior
4. Find the artifact Winged Cape (lol)

Are these pretty much it? I suppose something like Miracle or Wish could grant wings, which would obviously be GM fiat.

My character is a bit hodge podge but I like them so not wanting to redo levels so much (Arcane Duelist 1 / Inspired Blade 5 / Virtuous Bravo of Desna 3)
Feats (with one spent for Pageant of the Peacock):
Free - Weapon Focus: Rapier
Free - Weapon Finesse: Rapier
1st - Fencing Grace
3rd - Combat Reflexes
5th - Leadership (Crafting and support cohort)
Swash 4th Bonus - Weapon Specialization
7th - Lingering Performance
9th - Sacrificed (Pageant of the Peacock)

I really like to have a visual style to the character that fits the mental image, like spending the money to have their Celestial Armor glamored to appear like full plate.

Also, is there a faction that fits this kind of mindset, or just a faction of a church? I know you can create factions, but using the point rules to get benefits seemed like fun and I wouldn't feel comfortable inventing a bunch on my own or asking my GM to do it.

Last question: Banner of the Ancient Kings - it's technically "slotless" but the descriptor says it has to be carried at least 8 feet on a pole. This seems like it makes the banner rather useless for melee bards unless they're wielding longspears. Am I reading it correctly? I know of the warpaint and the Dervish Sikke to boost my Inspire Courage, are those about it then?

I have always loved the idea of the arcane trickster. The idea of disarming traps from a distance, incorporating magic with your trickery is always appealing.

I also love the idea of the Magus, specifically the ability to power your spells through your weapon; however, the wizard gets more spell availability, including a very lovely spell - Sense Vitals.

So is this a viable concept (from both a versatility and combat standpoint, presuming the character is the party rogue):

Magus 2
Wizard 3
UC Rogue 1 (plus Accomplished Sneak Attacker)
Continuing into Arcane Trickster, boosting spell casting for Wizard

(The current campaign is presently at 13th, so at the moment it would be Wizard 3 / Magus 2 / UC Rogue 1 / Arcane Trickster 6)

BAB would be pretty abysmal for a 13th level character (+5) so that alone may destroy the combat effectiveness of the character. Even if you don't include iterative attacks, that's a lot of bonus to offset.

So I guess the question is...
Is a 2 level dip into Magus worth Spell Combat, Spellstrike and Light Armor? Does Spellstrike do enough to make it work, or is it just holding the character back?

Question:
Artifact weapons obviously cannot be improved/changed through things like "Craft Magic Arms and Armor"; however, does this extend to temporary buffs?

For example, if you had a Axe of the Dwarvish Lords, could you use Align Weapon or Weapon of Awe in conjunction with it? What about the runes used by a Forgemaster Cleric?

Okay, so I understand Precise Strike to work with bucklers:

Precise Strike (Ex): At 3rd level, while she has at least 1 panache point, a swashbuckler gains the ability to strike precisely with a light or one-handed piercing melee weapon (though not natural weapon attacks), adding her swashbuckler level to the damage dealt. To use this deed, a swashbuckler cannot attack with a weapon in her other hand or use a shield other than a buckler.

And with weapon finesse (with a penalty, if it isn't masterwork):

Weapon Finesse (Combat)

You are trained in using your agility in melee combat, as opposed to brute strength.

Benefit: With a light weapon, elven curve blade, rapier, whip, or spiked chain made for a creature of your size category, you may use your Dexterity modifier instead of your Strength modifier on attack rolls. If you carry a shield, its armor check penalty applies to your attack rolls.

So why, oh why, does Unhindering Shield read like this?

Unhindering Shield (Shield Mastery)

You are accustomed to fighting with your shield.

Prerequisite(s): Shield Focus, base attack bonus +6 or fighter level 4th, proficiency with bucklers.

Benefit(s): You still gain a buckler’s bonus to AC even if you use your shield hand for some other purpose. When you wield a buckler, your shield hand is considered free for the purposes of casting spells, wielding weapons, and using any other abilities that require you to have a free hand or interact with your shield, such as the swashbuckler’s precise strike deed or the Weapon Finesse feat.

Did those creating this feat forget that it works already with bucklers? Literally nothing I've found implies that bucklers impact Swashbuckler abilities.

So I originally built a warpriest that uses a heavy shield in his main hand (because we found this really amazing +5 shield), and he had a more basic +1 type weapon in his off-hand while I saved up the gold. Now, however, I've managed to come across a very nice weapon that I would really like to wield in my main hand.

The weapon is a sawtoothed sabre, and as such is treated as light because I took Exotic Weapon Prof in it. Here's my current feats:

Toughness
Improved Shield Bash
Two-Weapon Fighting
Shield Slam
Shield Master
Exotic Weapon Prof: Sawtooth Sabre
Weapon Focus: Shield
Weapon Focus: Sawtooth Sabre
Double Slice
Two-Weapon Rend
Combat Reflexes

I am usually the tank (high AC, dwarf, etc) but I think I could sacrifice the 13 hp from Toughness for a retrain. I also don't get much utilization out of Combat Reflexes - I mostly took it thanks to a higher-than-I-anticipated Dex (to meet the feat reqs). I've got a 22 STR and 18 DEX.

From what I can tell, there's not a lot of options to get them switched over without taking a -4 to hit.

So far I've found:
1. Take Additional Traits - Shield-Trained
2. Take Martial Focus (Shield Group) then take Advanced Weapon Training: Effortless Dual-Wielding
3. Get an Effortless Lace, freeing up the Exotic Feat to retrain as one of the two options above. (If only effortless lace worked for bludgeoning weapons)

Third party is not allowed, so no Lighten Weapon feat.
I have zero interest in dual wielding shields. I really want to get the most out of this sword (trust me when I say that it is substantially more lethal than the shield).

I was wondering if anyone wanted to share stories about any character choices that focused on "fun" or "story" rather than being something that lent to being more powerful?

Like sacrificing two feats and taking Aasimar to have angel wings, simply because you loved the idea of having wings. Or taking the mount as a Paladin simply because you envisioned your Paladin have a strong bond to their animal friend. Maybe a particular magic school simply because "It sounds cool" :)

Disregard

I could really use some help from the optimization gurus out there.

I'm currently playing a character in a campaign that's hit level 9. When the group was originally formed, it was more a collection of silly/fun characters that were all not optimized at all - we were just playing around and not going nuts or anything.

Nearly all of those players are gone, and the ones in there now are better at optimizing. It's still fun, don't get me wrong - it is just that my character is the only original one still around and I'd like it if they don't get left in the dust.

Here's what I already have:
Inspired Blade 7 / Negotiator 2 (I originally thought I'd be going Negotiator almost entirely)

Stats:
Str 12
Dex 22
Con 10
Int 16
Wis 8
Cha 20

Saves:
Fort 11 / Ref 23 / Will 13
AC: 27
HP: 66
Initiative: +9
Attacks: +23/+18, 1d6+13

Traits:
Well-Provisioned Adventurer (because I was the "tank" to start and felt I needed better gear to survive that role)
Trap Finder (we don't have a rogue or investigator)
Alabaster Odalisque
Attached (Drawback)

Feats:
Weapon Focus and Weapon Finesse: Rapier, Improved Critical (Class features)
Weapon Versatility
Fencing Grace (learned as a rogue trick - see Negotiator)
Combat Reflexes
Craft Wondrous Item
Master Craftsman
**Unselected 9th level feat - leaning towards Countenanced Carbuncle possibly**

Special abilities:
Pageant of the Peacock - sacrificed feat for this (special note - in our campaign it is allowed, but your maximum is still limited by the initial skill - so if I have a +8 to Knowledge: Arcana and a +24 to Bluff, I cap out at 28 - it just means I'm way more likely to hit my max and my minimum is a 25)
Triple Time - sacrificed first level Bard spell

Gear:
Cracked Dusty Rose Prism, Cracked Mulberry Pentacle, Cracked Incandescent Blue Sphere, Cracked Dark Blue Rhomboid
Specially made corset - grants Divine Grace on wearer, as per the Paladin spell
Headband of Charisma +2
Circlet of Persuasion
Gloves of Dueling
Cape of Daring Deeds
Amazing Tools of Manufacture
Belt of Dexterity +4
+1 Mithril Shirt
+1 Buckler
+1 Ring of Protection
+1 Amulet of Natural Armor
+3 Keen Speed Rapier (special item acquired under unique circumstances - does way more than just the combat aspects)

Skills (most used ones):
+14 Acrobatics
+25 Bluff
+27 Diplomacy
+23 Disable Device
+23 Intimidate
+9 to all Knowledge Skills (except +10 to Local)
+10 Perception (other folks have been searching for trap for me)
+13 Spellcraft

Current Party:
Oracle built entirely around healing and buffing
Wizard with special companion (focuses on fireball with elemental damage change)
Archery-based fighter
Synthesist (new character after previous one died)
My character

What I was thinking of doing:
We are currently in a deep dungeon - been there since level 7. Once we get back to town, unless we get a ton more money between the now and the dungeon exit, I can either add +4 Con to my belt (with about 7-8k left over), or get Celestial Armor and boost my AC.

Retrain my two crafting feats (possibly after adding Con to the belt, and maybe making small things for the other party members) and take Dazzling Display and Shatter Defenses. That would allow me to start building to Deadly Stroke.
At some point also thinking of taking Advanced Weapon Training: Focused Weapon. (Would only bump it from a d6 to a d8 at the moment, but more valuable later on)

We have a wizard which means I am no longer the only knowledge person in the party, but that player isn't there every session. So preferably being able to keep the Pageant of the Peacock, plus the players love the way we RP it (I have my character spout out a bunch of nonsense - hence the "bluff" check - and then accidentally stumble across the piece of information we actually got).

Am I looking down the right path, and is Deadly Stroke worth it?

Currently considering this progression, feat wise:
Retrain crafting feats: Dazzling Display, Shatter Defenses
9th level: Countenanced Carbuncle
Swash 8th level bonus feat: Weapon Specialization: Rapier
11th level: Greater Weapon Focus
13th level: Critical Focus or Relentless Butcher (Achievement)
Swash 12th level bonus feat: Deadly Stroke

Was also considering getting Critical Focus, then Bleeding Critical and/or Impaling Critical.

Has my commitment to Swashbuckler screwed me over, or do these look viable? Is there some other path I should be exploring, do you think?

I get that a high level caster can keep this thing going for a good bit, but is there anything stopping this from being made?

Wineskin of Endless Tears:
Hire 15th level druid to cast Tears to Wine (for crafting purposes): 150 gp
Base cost to craft use-activated item: 30,000 (1st level spell x 15th level caster x 2000)
Boost to hours per day: 60,000 (x2 multiplier)
Slotless item: 120,000
Reduced by charges per day: 24,000 (1 charge/swig per day)

Cost to craft: 12,000 gp (+150 gp for the spell and +50 for the masterwork wineskin)

Result: Each day, take a swig from your wineskin. Get +10 to all Int and Wis based skill checks for 15 hours.

Or does this technically fall into the "replicates another item" because items already exist that give bonuses to skill checks?

I'm having no luck finding the cost of hiring a cooperative caster. Would need to have Craft Magic Arms and Armor and Cooperative Crafter... Don't need them to cover any of the spells and whatnot.

Are there rules for this that I'm missing?

I know that this isn't the stackable kind of Ioun Stone, but I was actually wondering if one could use several to keep getting skills? They're not technically "stacking" a bonus - first one only gives the +2 to Int, but you could have one for each Knowledge skill, for example. Is that possible?

It's an expensive endeavor, but if you keep running into skills you wish you had maxed out but not enough skill points it might be viable (especially if you have a crafter handy)

Try as I might, every time I try to find more on Pathfinder Factions like those found in the Pathfinder Chronicles Factions Guide, instead I end up with the Pathfinder Society Factions.

Was this done away with, or did they rename them? Or is that guide all there is regarding those kinds of factions?

I only just discovered this feat. On description, it's a perfect Swashbuckler feat - basically making you Zorro.

Benefit: Each creature you hit using a called shot (Pathfinder RPG Ultimate Combat 193), the targeted strike swashbuckler deed, or the targeting gunslinger deed must succeed at a Will save or be shaken for 1d3 rounds (DC = 10 + half your character level + your Charisma modifier). You must be using this style and attacking with a weapon for which you have Weapon Focus to gain this benefit. This is a fear effect that doesn’t stack with itself or with other fear effects. If a creature is already shaken and you make it shaken using this feat, the duration of the shaken condition is merely extended.

If this attack deals damage, you can also have the injury leave a distinctive mark, such as a letter, shape, or other simple symbol. This mark heals naturally and disappears once the target has healed the damage dealt by your attack. As a free action after the attack, you can spend 1 grit point or 1 panache point to make the mark heal as a permanent scar unless the target succeeds at a Fortitude save (DC = 10 + half your character level + your Charisma modifier). You gain a +2 bonus on Perception checks to see through the disguises of creatures that bear your mark.

But the prerequisite means that practically no Swashbuckler will ever take it, unless my understanding of semicolons and commas differs from others.

Prerequisite(s): Precise Shot; Weapon Focus; base attack bonus +7; Intimidate 7 ranks; Improved Called Shot, targeted strike swashbuckler deed, or targeting gunslinger deed.

Requiring Precise Shot, which in turns requires Point-Blank Shot, is just a weird feat tax. Maybe because it was originally designed for the Gunslinger, but never really meant for it's hybrid class (though it came out in Pathfinder Player Companion: People of the Wastes (PFRPG) - Nov 2017, and Swashbuckler came about in 2014 with the Advanced Class Guide).

Am I missing something, or does it look like adding the targeted strike deed was just haphazardly tossed onto it?

Or would this make for a decent use of leadership?

Level 11 Inspired Blade can spend two panache points to autocrit (first grants Int bonus to attack)

Friendly fighter is flanking with a scythe. Toss a burst effect on it for good measure.

Pop a crit and hand it off, get that x4 with a fighter stacking huge modifiers.

Thoughts?

Challenge:

Using fireball, and only fireball, make it useful in as many scenarios as possible. Your choice on level, but reaching as much utility as low as possible earns bonus points (in this game that I made up and the points don't matter)

Example (consider it my entry if you like):

Crossblooded Sorcerer

Bloodlines:
Phoenix Sorcerer Bloodline (Fireball heals!)
Elemental Sorcerer (Fireball freezes??)

Traits:
Wayang Spellhunter
Mystic Lineage

Feats:
Empowered Spell (so much damage or healing!)
Merciful Spell (for knocking out punks with Fireball)
Selective Spell (don't wanna burn our friends!)
Elemental Spell (Acidic Frozen FIREBALL!)

Items:
Lesser Maximize Rod (ALL THE FIREBALL!)

Fireball can heal, freeze, burn, do acid damage, just knock people out, and selectively not hit your buddies (or enemies if healing).

I'm looking to make a backup character in one of the campaigns I'm in, which currently sits at 11th level. I've been debating which class would work best to be the closest to a voodoo priestess, flavor over being the most badass (but still wanting to be effective and useful).

Two classes are obvious:
Shaman
Their hex fits nicely, but for Shaman deciding which spirit to use is a bit problematic. Speaker of the Past and Spirit Warden are potentially good ones to fit the theme.

Witch
Another obvious one, some archetypes seem to fit a bit. Dark Sister perhaps?

Other potential classes with some creativity:
Druid - Reincarnated Druid makes for some interesting backstory potential
Wizard - Spirit Binder or Spirit Whisperer
Sorcerer - Ghoul Bloodline, Tattooed Sorcerer
Cleric - Undead Lord?

Diving into really exotic ways of meeting the feel of the concept:
Bloodrager
Warpriest
Arcanist
Alchemist

Some of the occult classes would probably work, but I know absolutely nothing about them.

So, things I absolutely have to have:
Feats -
Brew Potion (through Alchemy or through magic)

Spells -
Divination (Augury, etc)
Necromancy (Though the campaign is not evil and undead are viewed as such, so probably not going to be using any undead there)

Relevant stats -
Main - Wisdom
High - Con, Dex
Medium - Int, Cha
Dump - Str

I'm sure there's better out there, but any thoughts on the process?

I have a Bard(Negotiator) 2 / Swashbuckler (Inspired Blade) 5
In order to be able to take Craft Wondrous Item, I went with Master Craftsman and ranks in Craft: Alchemy

I've been looking over Alchemy rules and it's mostly straight forward (craft DC, then spend 1/3rd the cost to craft instead of buy). A couple of questions though:

1. I can still only make one item a day, correct?

2. I admit to being confused by the crafting rules in the Alchemy Manual. I'm probably reading over the rules too haphazardly, but it's losing me a bit.

Things like this:
Recipe (20 magnesium + 30 myrrh + 5 saltpeter)/congelation;
Do I just spend the gold, or should I be acquiring and tracking all of these ingredients?

3. Are poisons worth it (i.e. if I retrained 1 level of Bard to Investigator (Toxin Codexer)), or are we already past the point that the save DCs are generally not worth it?

4. Aside from the obvious ones (like anti-venom, anti-plague, etc), are there more "go to" alchemical items I should just be crafting while on the road? (I have the portable alchemy lab)

5. Why does the PFSRD list some obviously crafted items with no Craft DC (like Insomnia Powder)?

Do any GMs have a rule of thumb regarding how much of an impact these feats have regarding character wealth by level and/or scaling?

Case in point:
Two feats feel like they'd have the most impact:
Craft Magic Arms and Armor
Craft Wondrous Items

Depending on the party makeup, the first one may play little to no part, but the second one is always in play.

Some feats are for charged or single use items:
Brew Potion
Scribe Scroll
Craft Wand

Then there are the less commonly used feats (either due to limited number of available slots, or the number of classes that will be using them that much):
Forge Ring
Craft Rod
Craft Staff

(Not going to go too deep into the other crafting feats)

So, the questions are:

1. Do you reduce the treasure by X% to keep the PCs from getting too powerful?
2. Do you increase the power of the monsters by X% or X CR?
3. Do you let the players just use the feats, accepting that the used feats slots and downtime are the price already paid for the ability?
4. A different solution

I know what the book says, but was curious how many go by that mechanic or something else?

Do any GMs have a rule of thumb regarding how much of an impact these feats have regarding character wealth by level and/or scaling?

Case in point:
Two feats feel like they'd have the most impact:
Craft Magic Arms and Armor
Craft Wondrous Items

Depending on the party makeup, the first one may play little to no part, but the second one is always in play.

Some feats are for charged or single use items:
Brew Potion
Scribe Scroll
Craft Wand

Then there are the less commonly used feats (either due to limited number of available slots, or the number of classes that will be using them that much):
Forge Ring
Craft Rod
Craft Staff

(Not going to go too deep into the other crafting feats)

So, the questions are:

1. Do you reduce the treasure by X% to keep the PCs from getting too powerful?
2. Do you increase the power of the monsters by X% or X CR?
3. Do you let the players just use the feats, accepting that the used feats slots and downtime are the price already paid for the ability?
4. A different solution

I know what the book says, but was curious how many go by that mechanic or something else?

I was wondering if anyone had some interesting player to player synergies they've used or wanted to try out.

This is in relation to a discussion when a player mentioned he would enjoy trying out a fighter (or Warpriest, depending) using Butterfly's Sting, a scythe (2-handed, 2d4, x4 on crit)in conjunction with someone using something like a rapier or other 18-20 crit weapon.

Butterfly’s Sting (Critical)

You can forgo a critical hit in order to pass it on to an ally.

Prerequisite: Combat Expertise, worship of the associated deity.

Benefit: When you confirm a critical hit against a creature, you can choose to forgo the effect of the critical hit and grant a critical hit to the next ally who hits the creature with a melee attack before the start of your next turn. Your attack only deals normal damage, and the next ally automatically confirms the hit as a critical.

I pointed out that an Inspired Blade get Improved Crit as early as 5th, but at 11th gets this:

Inspired Strike (Ex): At 11th level, an inspired blade can spend 1 panache point when making an attack with a rapier to gain an insight bonus on that attack roll equal to her Intelligence modifier (minimum +1). When an inspired blade hits with an attack augmented by inspired strike, she can spend 1 additional panache point to make the hit a critical threat, though if she does so, she does not regain panache if she confirms that critical threat. The cost of this deed cannot be reduced by abilities such as Signature Deed.

Throw in Corrosive burst and if you're working with a Warpriest, a feat-less attack at 12th is automatically getting (1d10+Str*1.5)*4 - or with just a 22 strength, 4d10+36 - not including any feats, weapon enchantments, etc. Throw in burst and you have an additional 3d10 elemental damage. All for the cost of 2 panache points.

I was just wondering if anyone else had thought of interesting combos to work in with your teammates.

Question:
Does the +1 to weapon damage rolls apply to the extra dice a weapon gets?

I.E. If prayer is up, does a +1 Holy Longsword vs an evil creature have these damage dice:
1d8 +1(magic bonus) +1(prayer bonus) +2d6
OR
1d8 +1(magic bonus) +1(prayer bonus) +2d6 +2(prayer bonus)

I'm asking because we've been putting the Prayer bonus we get at times in the "Temp Dmg" field on the bottom of our character sheets in Roll20, but that applies to all damage dice included in the weapon block, not just the primary weapon die.

First off, many thanks for everyone who's helped me on here with various character build questions. Most appreciated :)

So, I have a Warpriest that just hit 11th. Originally I was going to have him swinging an earthbreaker around (I know, not the most optimizing build, I just loved the concept) but a bit on we came across a very powerful shield and he was the only one who could use it.

So I've been working with that, took Weapon Focus: Dwarven waraxe so I could use that along with the shield. Now that I've hit 11th, I wanted to retrain my feats (it'll take a bit of down time as I'm retraining at least 4) to get Shield Master. Problem is, I don't know precisely what to use in my other hand.

I'm thinking Kukri, as it's light, but it seems that it would be better in my off hand. Am I doing that right? (Also, I'll need to retrain one more feat to get Weapon focus in both Shields and Kukri or whatever my other weapon is).

As a level 11 Warpriest with 20 str, BAB 8, Weapon Focus (both weapons), and a +5 shield, and with a +1 kukri in my off hand (more interested in adding Keen and a burst to that one), would my attacks be this?
Shield in main hand:
Shield: +19/+14, 1d10+10
Kukri: +13, 1d10+6

Kukri in main hand:
Kukri: +11/+9, 1d10+6
Shield: +19, 1d10+10

Also, does adding shield spikes let you add some effects (like Holy) to the shield?

It seems the best route is to make the shield the main hand, kukri off hand . Less penalties than having something else but an extra attack. Am I reading into it right?

(Figure I'll take Improved Critical: Shield soon)

I will be dropping power attack and furious focus for this. Keeping power attack means waiting a bit for weapon focus on the kukri.

I appreciate any and all help offered, btw. Just wanted to say that upfront.

So I have a 2 Negotiator Bard / 2 Inspired Blade Swashbuckler. We just got 2 levels (we had gone a long time without leveling, plus defeated a REALLY huge villain).

My fort and will saves are not great (Wis 8 and Con 10).
Bluff is my biggest skill (Pageant of the Peacock is legal in our game), plus big on the Diplomacy and Intimidate fronts. HPs are behind the rest of the group by a decent bit (average rolls vs good ones, plus no con bonus and no toughness feat).

Originally I was thinking go 2 levels of Swashbuckler - get all the deeds at 3rd, then take Weapon Specialization for my Swash 4th bonus feat. That said, I don't know what to do with my 5th level feat. I've considered boosting a save (Great Fortitude/Iron Will), AC (Dodge), HP (Toughness), +1 Will and Fortitude (through Additional Traits). Already have an equipment, a campaign, and a regional trait.

I know I can boost saves over time with better gear (already have a Cloak of Resistance +1). I did obtain a very powerful weapon through a pact, so I'm not concerned about upgrading that anytime soon.

My CHA is 19, so I can boost a save pre-roll by 4 3x per day with the Swashbuckler ability.

Please keep in mind, I'm not asking for someone to tell me what to do, but rather what am I missing? People who have crunched the numbers more than me, that kind of thing. Or someone might have a cool idea that might fit :)

I did debate taking one level of Carnivalist, then ask my DM if I could retrain my trapfinding trait for the Younger Sibling trait (I have a fellow player playing as my older sibling). Then of course comes the question, which familiar - boosting bluff, will/fortitude, or something else - and obviously, which familiar would make the best pet in an RP context :) ).

Race: Aasimar (Azata Blooded)
Stats: Str 12 / Dex 18 / Con 10 / Int 16 / Wis 8 / Cha 19
Feats: (Not including class provided feats) - Skill Focus: Bluff, Fencing Grace (purchased with rogue talent) - 3rd level feat spent on masterpiece
Masterpieces: Pageant of the Peacock, Triple Time
Traits: Well-Provisioned Adventurer (thought I'd need better gear to survive the original party configuration), Trapfinder, Alabaster Odalisque (DM allowing the trait despite not being part of the original region)
Drawback taken for third trait
Current saves: Fort +2 / Reflex +12 / Will +4
AC: 22 (+1 mithral chain shirt, +1 buckler)
HP: 42

5th level feat not taken yet.
If I go 2 more levels of Swash instead of 1, then Weapon Specialization at 4th Swashbuckler

I know there's some classes that treat their level as their BAB for the purposes of meeting the requirements of a feat (i.e. a Warpriest at level 9 can take Disarming Strike so long as they have the Combat Expertise and Improved Disarm feats, instead of having to wait to level 12 to reach the +9 BAB). Is there a feat or such that mimics this, granting a character their total HD for BAB for the purpose of criteria?

I can see that Permanency has had some updates, but the list of spells that are Self Only still seems a bit light.

I admit, one that I would want would be Innocence. It's not game breaking, but just the idea of a character always exuding a supernatural level of Innocence sounds awesome to me.

As we were discussing crafting Adamantine as a player, I noted a combo where a single person has a relatively decent shot at making the armor in a "not terrible" amount of time.

Dwarven Mage (All skills below are presumed to be attached to armorsmith)
Level 15
Trait: Eldritch Smith (Dwarf) - reduce the cost by 5%
Trait: Artisan (+2 craft checks)
Racial Trait: Craftsman (+2 craft)
Racial Trait: Industrious Urbanite (double progress towards crafting)
Feat: Signature Skill: Crafting
5 Ranks - Double your check result before multiplying by DC
15 ranks - All progress is attributed daily instead of weekly (essentially 7x progress)
Skill Focus: Crafting (+6)
Prodigy (+4)
Masterwork Tools (+2)
Presuming 18 INT to start, at least 2 boosts to INT, and a +6 INT headband - 26 INT (+8 to check)
Class skill (+3)

Bonus to Craft Check: +42
Average craft check roll: 52
Apply Signature feat (5 rank mark): 104
Multiply by DC (presume 29 - normally 19, but we're increasing the DC to make it faster) - 3016 sp per week
Apply Industrious Urbanite - 6032 per week
Apply Signature feat (15 rank mark): 6032 per day
Cost of item: 105,000 sp
Time to create: 17.4 days (so essentially 18 days)

If they have an apprentice that grants cooperative crafting (perhaps through Leadership feat), then we're looking 9 days to craft a suit of mithral full plate. If they are a dwarven mage with Caster's Luck, then 8 days.

Compared to this thread:
Mithral Plate thread

Where a whole army of crafters at 20th level takes 5 months to craft a suit of armor. All while saving a few hundred gold on each suit to make that much more profit off of it. Might be a reasonable solution for GMs who don't want a prominent blacksmith being treated like a useless commodity because of Fabricate (or simply make Fabricate more restricted or not exist in the game).

I've played very powerful characters and weak ones. Casters, healers, fighters - paladins and hunters, warpriests, etc.

I have to say though, one of my current ones is turning out to be incredibly fun without hardly any combat power to them.

Presently they're a Bard(Negotiator) 2 / Swashbuckler (Inspired Blade) 1.

Feats and traits are dedicated to being charismatic as heck.

Str 12 / Dex 14 / Con 10 / Int 16 / Wis 8 / Cha 18

Feats are:
Skill Focus: Intimidate
Skill Focus: Bluff
Persuasive
From the Inspired Blade, I have Weapon Finesse and Weapon Focus with a rapier

Traits are:
Well-Provisioned Adventurer
Trap Finder
Extremely Fashionable
(Drawback: Attached - to their masterwork instrument)

Racial traits:
Silver Tongued
Focused Study

Rogue talent (from Negotiator):
Canny Observer (though I may change this one, as it is not yet set in stone - we haven't had a session since we leveled to 3rd)

Because I've been trying to be able to try most anything, I have a single rank in most skills except Perception, Linguistics, Intimidate, Disable Device, Stealth, and Perform: Dance (they have three different Perform skills).

I love that this character can practically talk their way out of most situations. Knowledgeable, sure - a high int means nearly every knowledge skill has a rank anyway - but really at their best charming the pants off of people.
(As the trap finder in the party, I did take Timely Inspiration as one of my first level spells).

What characters do you remember fondly, that might not have been able to kill dragons with their pinkies, but instead were just flat out fun?