The Skeptical Gnome's page

Greetings, illustrious sages of the forums! I come to you for advice on building an illusionist. I've started a new campaign with some buddies, and since we're a little lacking in the subtlety and arcane departments(The other party members are running a barbarian, a fighter, and a paladin, so no stealth for us) I decided to go with a spellcaster, particularly an illusionist, to support. Of course, I know nothing about playing an illusionist. I've run spellcasters before, and I think I've read enough about the different types of figments and the like to say I know their limitations, but I'm still having trouble deciding what class to go with. I'm partial towards wizards, since they're the more classic illusionists and I have more experience woth them, but the Veiled illusionist sorcerer is quite cool, so I don't want to count it out yet. I've also heard good things about illusionist bards, and the Wayang race's Shadow puppeteer racial class appeals to me, so I'm a little torn. So, I come to you guys. Which would you suggest? Also, any advice you can provide on the spells and items to take for whatever class you suggest would be appreciated. Thanks in advice for any advice provided! Also, assume that, unless I take the shadow puppeteer, I'd be running a gnome for my race.

So, I was looking to build a necromancer wizard, and need some advice. To clarify, when I say necromancer, I mean a wizard who controls undead in combat. I want avoid him just being debuff heavy, without any of the raise dead type spells. Some debuff spells are fine, but I want him to use undead often. That said, I'm namely looking for advice on:

-What feats to take (Assuming I'm taking command undead, since it seems like a given)

-Some good familiar choices (Factoring in both functionality and thematic appropriateness)

-General advice on how I should build my spell list (I plan to prioritize the necromancy school, but I'm going to have to use other types of magic)

-Good deific obedience options (I was considering demonic obediences, but they don't really seem built for PCs, so I decided to count them out)

Advice on other aspects of playing a wizard necromancer are also appreciated. Thanks in advance for any advice provided.

So, I noticed that it's been a while since anyone made a discussion about this, and that a few new options have been added, and few removed. What do you guys think is the best familiar that can be gained from taking the Improved familiar feat? To clarify, I mean the best familiar in the most categories. Obviously different familiars are better at different things, like some are more effective at scouting, some in combat, some confer bonuses, etc. What I want is your opinion on which familiar is the most useful in the greatest number of ways. Conversely, I'm also interested in which improved familiar you consider the least useful, and why. Thanks for any input.

So I was planning on running a bard for a new campaign, and while I've not used them before, I decided to try out a deific obedience for the first time, since they seemed pretty interesting. However, I'm not to familiar with the deific obediences, so I'm not sure which would be a good choice for a bard. For reference, I've decided on a halfling bard, who's somewhat specialized for range with a sling-staff (Having a good backup to spells and BPs seemed like a good idea, seeing as how few spell slots bards get). Any help would be appreciated.

So, I plan on playing a cleric in the near future, and I was wondering if anyone knew any good but interesting weapons for a cleric? I know there's the classic mace, but I kind of feel like running with an interesting weapon for this cleric. For reference, I intend to play a necromancer cleric of Kabiri (Demon lord of the undead, specifically ghouls) and my character will be a changeling.

So I was looking at the create undead spell, and was wondering if it was in some way viable. I've had a curiosity with regards to necromancers, though I've never gotten around to playing one (To many Pharasmin party members) so I've seen guides like Brewers and Shaka's before. The general consensus seems to be that create undead is powerful, but to volatile to be considered viable. I was curious if there was a way to change that. I considered the command undead feat as an option, but a will save every day for any type of intelligent undead seems like a bit to much of a risk to me. So, I was wondering if anyone had any good ideas with regards to how to control intelligent undead without the constant danger of breaking free. If this is sadly the most viable option, I was wondering if anyone knew any good ways to effectively incapacitate these undead for long enough to get them back under control. I know there are quick fixes like web spells and the like, but I was wondering if there was a somewhat more reliable option then a spell, like an item that's good for containing them as soon as they break free, a contingency of sorts. Thanks in advance for any advice on the matter.

I was looking at the create spawn ability of vampires, and found it rather ambiguous. So, I came to ask you guys about it. First if all, what exactly can be turned into spawn? Does it need to be sentient, or could an animal, like a tiger be turned into a spawn? Can you turn something as absurdly overpowered as a dragon into a spawn? Could a extraplanar being be turned into a spawn? Secondly, is there a set limit to how many spawn one can create? If so, what determines this limit? Finally, what would happen if a vampire wizard tried to turn his familiar into his spawn? Would it remain his familiar? Or would it just become the vampire's spawn and the vampire'd need to to get a new familiar?

So! My party's starting up a new campaign and I'm planning on playing a wizard. I decided on a drow, and I want to be the demon guy. Screw all that Drizzt renegade crap, I want to play a sadistic, evil Drow who conspires with demons and torments his fellow party members for his personal amusement. Figured it'd balance out the cleric of Sarenrae and the paladin of Iomedae in the party. I figured I've got this whole summoning and enslaving demons/daemons/devils/(Maybe demodands? I'm on the fence about it) thing down pat, and I have a good idea of how to passively make money without going out of my way to do so (I'm going to sell a Cacodaemons soul crystals on the Abaddon market, because there's a market for that sort of thing apparently). The last check on my D list is probably the toughest to fulfill. Basically, I want my Drow to become more (I shall henceforth refer to the evil extraplanar beings as the Ds) like the Ds himself. I know there are some prestige classes like demoniac and (Soul eater I think? The daemon one) but I mean actually become similar to one of the Ds, like spell-like abilities and all that. I seem to recall some sort of contract you can make with devils or demons to gain some of their abilities, like summoning other Ds lower on the hierarchy, resistances, spell like abilities, etc. but I can't for the life of me recall it's name. If anyone knows what this is called, some info would be much appreciated. Some tips on other means of gaining stuff like this would also be great, (Outside of wishes obviously) as would tips on summoning Ds (Particularly demondands, since there's little info on then) as I'm still somewhat nervous about doing so. For reference, I'm namely intending on using planar binding.

So, long story short, myself and my party just reached level 3 (Killed a mad lich and his undead kobold army, stereotypical stuff). I am playing a summoner, and I am trying to decide on some good possible feats for now and for the future. It's going to be a veeery long campaign, like level 20 long, so I put a lot of thought into my eidolons build. Since our only front-line fighter is an oread monk, I'm making my eidolon completely combat heavy. However, as is evidenced by the fact that I'm playing a summoner, I have no clue what good feats for a melee class are. He took a feat that gives him an additional EV point (My Dm's a cool guy and agreed that it didn't have to be me taking it) and I took the best all rounder: Improved initiative, but beyond that I'm not really sure what sort of feat I should nab. I'm considering toughness, because hit points are an obvious plus, lunge, because reach is king, and power attack, because, well, it seemed good, however, I'm not sure if these're solid choices or not. Thank you for any assistance in advance. Oh yeah, I'm playing a gnome, with the necromancy type alternate racial spell like abilities. I like gnomes, and the summoner racial boost seemed solid for a combat eidolon.

So, I'm beginning a new campaign, and decided to do a summoner for the first time in my experience as a pathfinder player, since it's very similar to my usual arcane casters, with a few little twists. I'm fairly well prepared for the campaign, with all my spells and my eidolons evolution points selected up to level 10 (I over prepare a bit) however, I am unsure as to what sorts of feats and equipment I should acquire for my eidolon. I have no experience as a melee class in the past, barring a disastrous campaign as a paladin, and even less experience with a warrior with natural weapons. Thus, I turn to you pathfinders of the internet for assistance. Thank you in advance for any assistance provided on this matter. For reference, my eidolon is a biped whom I plan on transforming in a massive, tank of a beast. I'm taking large, slam, reach, improved natural armor, improved attack, etc. as soon as I can manage to. I am also putting a few evolution points into grab and sticky to improve his grappling capabilities.

I'm about to start a new campaign and decided to play a half elf summoner for the second time in my pathfinder experience. I have my build fairly well laid out, a massive, muscled, scaly tank of a beast that could punch out an ogre or small giant after a few levels, with enough reach that his arms should look like a pair of slinkies. The only complication however are his feats. I frankly have no clue what feats this fella should take. I know first level he's getting combat reflexes (Best use of reach) But beyond that I have no clue. I am considering toughness second level but I'm not sure otherwise. I've never played a melee class, let alone one that fights with no armour and natural weapons, so I'm lacking in experience here. Thank you in advance for any help offered.

Ever since I began playing pathfinder and learned you could make contracts with extra planar beings, I've had a dream. Now, my group has at last down a free campaign where I have chosen a drow noble summoner, with the blessing of my group( I home brewed a bit and took off the dex adjustment, poison use, elven immunities and given him normal spell resistance.) and I have the means to attain my plan. This plan is to bring a cacodaemon, imp, and quasit together as pseudo animal companions who will serve me until I die for over a month or release them from my service. The only obstacles in my planning is details. I have a plan to bring them in as servants. The problem however is I do not know what quantities I should provide them. How many souls would it take to make the quasit accept my contract with no risk of him attempting to make off with mine if I die? How many human torturing sessions for the cacodaemon? How many doves for the imp? Do I need anything besides just the magic circle to contain them? Do I need cold iron? Holy water? I just don't know. So, I turn to the pathfinders of the Internet for assistance. If you guys have any info on details such as these, please let me know, it will be much appreciated.

I'm totally hooked on a summoner, mainly because 1) I like the thought of an eidolon, and I think it and the monster summons more then make up for the few spells the summoner has access to. And 2) I could see a lot of uses behind getting lesser planar binding so early. But it's not as well fluffed a class as say a wizard or a sorcerer so I'm not 100% on some information. First off, I want to know if a summoner can be a diabolist, or if that's specialized towards sorcerers and wizards. The first 5 levels or so of it would provide a tonne of useful stuff for planar binding, and I think a imp companion would be very useful till I can get my eidolon up to scratch. Second, and I know this sounds stupid, but is there any way for a summoner to go about acquiring a familiar? I have this thought of having a imp, a quasit, and a cacodaemon as permanent companions, squabbling and fighting over who's underworld gets my souls when I die.

So, I am at level six at last, and I want a hellish companion. However I can't for the life of me decide whether I want a demon, devil, or daemon(I.e. Quasit, imp, cacodaemon) Any advice? Which ones better? They all seem to have pros and cons but I just can't decide.

In a campaign I am participating in, I wish to play a drow noble, I do not however want to be to powerful(as the normal drow noble unavoidably is) so I have dampened it down somewhat. The modifications I made include: Drow immunities removed, dex. modifier removed, poison immunity removed. Would these modifications make the drow noble a viable race? If not, give me a few things I can do to make it fairer(dark-vision, spell-like abilities, and spell resistance are a must).

Hoping some people know some good ways to get spell like abilities(besides race). At-will would be nice, but 1-day is fine, any way to acquire them is fine, be it potions, items, or feats. Thanks for any information.

Hope some people know some ways to get spell like abilities(besides race). At-will would be nice, but 1-day is fine, any way to acquire them is fine, be it potions, items, or feats. Thanks for any information.

So, I have begun playing as a summoner, it's my first time playing the class, and while the spell casting aspect is easy enough, my knowledge of eidolons is minimal. I want it to be a a big, furry tank, no swords or the like, but I don't know how to bring that about, any suggestions for how to spend my evolution pool at 1st level, and what feat to give him? I think I'm going to use one if my points on improved natural armor, and the feat on toughness, but again, I'm inexperienced at making eidolons so I'm not sure.

While I have extensive knowledge of the basics of dealing with them and the spells required(planar binding, circle against evil, dimensional anchor, etc.) I would like any information I can acquire, so, I turn to you, pathfinders, for additional information, if you would be so kind as to provide tips regarding trading, dealing, and controlling evil outsider of any type, kytons, demons, rakshasa, anything, I would be much obliged. Especially specific types of these evil races that are easier to deal with, like the ceustodaemon with the -2 to its will save, I would be very grateful.