New Foci for Oracle


Round 1: Cavalier and Oracle

Scarab Sages

there is mention of new foci for Oracle being released later - is there any idea as yet as to what they may be ?
I assume community can suggest their own for consideration
I personally would like to see a trickery/gambling one similar to the trickery domain ability
and I would like to see a healing type one as I think this class will sorely lack healing ability as a divine caster
once my exams are over I will try to create my own ones based on the above but if Paizo already has ideas in the works that would be good to know as well


Ceefood wrote:

there is mention of new foci for Oracle being released later - is there any idea as yet as to what they may be ?

I assume community can suggest their own for consideration
I personally would like to see a trickery/gambling one similar to the trickery domain ability
and I would like to see a healing type one as I think this class will sorely lack healing ability as a divine caster
once my exams are over I will try to create my own ones based on the above but if Paizo already has ideas in the works that would be good to know as well

I have been sort of assuming that most (if not all) the cleric domains will have a similar foci. So if there isn't a similar foci for any of the domains, that is what I imagine would be a likely candidate for an upcoming foci.


I want to see a really good knowledge focus so that you can make the divination focused oracle.

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vagrant-poet wrote:
I want to see a really good knowledge focus so that you can make the divination focused oracle.

Who could not foresee that coming?


Boo-urns! :p


I agree, a really good "foresight" focus would be awsome.

Would also like to see......
Healing
Love (think Aphrodite type)
Revenge

Dark Archive

From above Love (charm/enchantment), Prophecy and Life (healing) seem likely.

Destiny/Fate (luck + knowledge?), Storms, Sun (light), Nature (animal/plant), Night (darkness/shadows) and Magic also seem like logical choices.

Stuff like Liberation, Travel and Artifice feel a little wonkier.

Stuff that's not tied to any current Pathfinder Domain could be neat, like an Oracle of Dragons or an Oracle of Plague or an Oracle of Suffering (very Zon-Kuthonite) or an Oracle of Hope (based around bardic inspiration abilities) or an Oracle of Loss (spells like ray of enfeeblement and dispel magic that 'take away' from another).


Oracle of Chaos


I'd like it if they wouldn't link them to deities, just domain types.

We never use the standard deities and it's difficult to transfer stuff around at times.


QOShea wrote:
I'd like it if they wouldn't link them to deities, just domain types.

I agree. I don't want them linked to deities

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On a somewhat related note, "battle" should be renamed "blood" for maximum spookiness.

An Oracle of Battle is just a guy who fights because he knows how to fight. An Oracle of Blood is a guy who fights because he is driven to by the insane visions of violently dismembered corpses that haunt his dreams.


QOShea wrote:
I'd like it if they wouldn't link them to deities, just domain types.

Good thing they AREN'T linked to deities then! :-)

Quote:
Stuff like Liberation, Travel and Artifice feel a little wonkier.

Well, those Domains ARE kind of wonky! An Artifice Oracle would be CRAZY... :-)

I see a Sun/Healing/Positive Energy Foci w/ Positive Energy Channel + Divine Flamestrike/ similar Rays or Gaze Attack.

"Divine Alignment" Foci (Law/Chaos/Good/Evil) could have limited Alignment Channel Ability, as well as abilities akin to related Domains.

I'd rather see Animal and Plant be separate Foci (they are separate Domains).
Each having a Druid-like Wildshape (Animal/Plant only) seems an obvious power to have.
Plant could have fast healing in natural sun-light or something.
A Vermin Foci would rock!

I'd rather see a separate "Ooze" Foci than the Stone Foci have Acid abilities/spells (Acid RESIST is fine): Crystal Sight, Earthglide, Steelskin, Clobbering Strike, Mighty Pebble are great and should be expanded further, but I think Ignoring DR of Stone/Metal is better than Acid Touch and Acid Arrow.

For Ooze, besides Acid abilities, paralysis would make sense, maybe a Magic-Jar type ability, but you actually exude an ooze which flows into them, X-Files Black Oil style. Ooze traits (flowing thru cracks, but other aspects as well: like being able to divide yourself/ when you're attacked) would be awesome, and maybe abilities to dominate other oozes...?

I don't know if this bothers others as much as me, but why does the "Wave" foci not have ANY abilities involving actual WAVES? They're practically all COLD/ICE abilities, bar the Swim Speed/Water Breathing. How is this appropriate for an Oracle of the Waves who haunts swamps and tropical seas? Don't some abilities to Conjure/Control Water into Waves striking/knocking back the enemy, flooding terrain and possibly drowning poor Swimmers (+Conjuring Water to fill enemies' lungs?) seem much more appropriate to a "Wave" Oracle?
I understand that for B/W compatability, Water/Ice is combined for Domains, but B/W Compatability ISN'T AN ISSUE for Oracles, so why not have separate/distinct Foci for each aspect (Ice could walk ON water because it freezes beneath them, Wave could swim beneath and manipulate waves/currents)? I really think that will effect a much better flavor distinction, and each will be much better at flavor-appropriate abilities then can be achieved by shoe-horning both aspects into one Foci can achieve.


I'd like to see a nutrition focus "cleaning the colons of Golarion, one ration at a time" jk...but this focus might be pretty useful if it was centered on buffing the party's saves v. disease and poisons as well as an ability to make potions

I think it'd be interesting from a gaming standpoint to have alignment restricted foci

Silver Crusade

Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

I'd like to see an Oracle of Artifice. Imagine Lame Daedalus, given visions by Hephaestus, to build a pair of crazy wax wings.


MerrikCale wrote:
Oracle of Chaos

You rang?


KaeYoss wrote:
MerrikCale wrote:
Oracle of Chaos
You rang?

just sayin' you would make an excellent foci


MerrikCale wrote:
KaeYoss wrote:
MerrikCale wrote:
Oracle of Chaos
You rang?
just sayin' you would make an excellent foci

You did call me by name, though.


DM_aka_Dudemeister wrote:
I'd like to see an Oracle of Artifice. Imagine Lame Daedalus, given visions by Hephaestus, to build a pair of crazy wax wings.

That wouldn't work, though. If you fly too high, it gets too warm and they melt. You should think things through before posting!

Liberty's Edge

KaeYoss wrote:
DM_aka_Dudemeister wrote:
I'd like to see an Oracle of Artifice. Imagine Lame Daedalus, given visions by Hephaestus, to build a pair of crazy wax wings.

That wouldn't work, though. If you fly too high, it gets too warm and they melt. You should think things through before posting!

Not at all! He just slaps a sticker on them that says, "Warning: wax attachment subject to melting at high altitudes. Manufacturer not responsible for use outside printed guidelines. Flying too close to sun renders this warranty null and void" and he's done! I mean, everyone reads the instructions, right?


Quandary wrote:
QOShea wrote:
I'd like it if they wouldn't link them to deities, just domain types.
Good thing they AREN'T linked to deities then! :-)
Oracle PDF wrote:


Battle
Deities: Cayden Cailean, Gorum, Iomedae, Rovagug

It appears they are, to some extent. I agree I would rather see them linked to domains or portfolios, rather than specific deities. That would be much more setting neutral.


KaeYoss wrote:
MerrikCale wrote:
KaeYoss wrote:
MerrikCale wrote:
Oracle of Chaos
You rang?
just sayin' you would make an excellent foci
You did call me by name, though.

True enough. You an oracle?


mdt wrote:
Quandary wrote:
QOShea wrote:
I'd like it if they wouldn't link them to deities, just domain types.
Good thing they AREN'T linked to deities then! :-)
Oracle PDF wrote:


Battle
Deities: Cayden Cailean, Gorum, Iomedae, Rovagug
It appears they are, to some extent. I agree I would rather see them linked to domains or portfolios, rather than specific deities. That would be much more setting neutral.

I thought the same thing. Why that lien if they are


MerrikCale wrote:
mdt wrote:
Quandary wrote:
QOShea wrote:
I'd like it if they wouldn't link them to deities, just domain types.
Good thing they AREN'T linked to deities then! :-)
Oracle PDF wrote:


Battle
Deities: Cayden Cailean, Gorum, Iomedae, Rovagug
It appears they are, to some extent. I agree I would rather see them linked to domains or portfolios, rather than specific deities. That would be much more setting neutral.
I thought the same thing. Why that lien if they are

Well, they also said that Oracles tend to worship gods that have their focus in their portfolios. I'm pretty sure they don't have to worship one of them.


Davi The Eccentric wrote:


Well, they also said that Oracles tend to worship gods that have their focus in their portfolios. I'm pretty sure they don't have to worship one of them.

Then I'd rather not have the gods listed at all, I'd rather have domains listed instead, or have it specifically pointed out that they usually worship gods with the focus in their portfolio.


The Oracle is a Divine caster, like a Druid, but not like a Cleric.

You will still need a Cleric in your Party unless the Oracle player wants to waste all is known spell slots on Cure spells which would leave him with very little else to do in the spell casting department.

I love your idea about a Trickery Focus.

vagrant-poet, I also love the idea of a Divination Focus.


I assume there will be a Focus/Mystery for each of the Core Domains, more or less...
(Ice and Water could go their own way, but Air/Weather may combine as Wind)

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stuart haffenden wrote:

The Oracle is a Divine caster, like a Druid, but not like a Cleric.

You will still need a Cleric in your Party unless the Oracle player wants to waste all is known spell slots on Cure spells which would leave him with very little else to do in the spell casting department.

They wouldn't need to have that many known spells be cures to be effective, since they can swap some out. They can always have one of their highest slots with a cure spell, and start swapping out lower level ones as they want to as they increase in spellcasting level.


KaeYoss wrote:
MerrikCale wrote:
KaeYoss wrote:
MerrikCale wrote:
Oracle of Chaos
You rang?
just sayin' you would make an excellent foci
You did call me by name, though.

Don't do it. be like saying beetlejuice 3 times all hell brakes loose


JoelF847 wrote:
stuart haffenden wrote:


You will still need a Cleric in your Party unless the Oracle player wants to waste all is known spell slots on Cure spells which would leave him with very little else to do in the spell casting department.
They wouldn't need to have that many known spells be cures to be effective, since they can swap some out. They can always have one of their highest slots with a cure spell, and start swapping out lower level ones as they want to as they increase in spellcasting level.

Exactly. Most Oracles still won't match Clerics for Healing output with Channel Energy (especially Healing Domain Clerics), but they'll do better than Druids IMHO. And we haven't seen a Sun/Healing Focus Oracle yet (Sun ~ Positive Energy), which may very well be on par with, or superior to, a Healing Domain Cleric for healing/undead killing purposes.


I'm to impatient to wait for the new foci, and started working on some setting specific mysteries for our game.

Spiritualism (a Spirit shaman type, Ghost touch abilities, etc...)

Radiant (focused on light based effects Scintillating pattern, Color spray, etc....)

And the one that side tracked me this morning....Oracle of DOOM ;)

Doomwatcher (Su): You observed some horrifying or awesome supernatural event as a child. As a result, your eye's now glow with unnatural color. Once per day, you can employ a gaze attack that fills those that see it with powerful emotions. Your gaze is effective out to 30 feet, and anyone subjected to it can resist the effect with a succesful Will save (DC 10+1/2 character level + Cha mod).
On a failed save, a victim is effected as though by the characters choice of the following spell effects.
Confusion, Crushing Despair, Fear, Heroism, Hideous Laughter, or Rage.
The effect has a caster level equal to the characters level.
The character can switch the effects of his gaze once per round as a free action, and can use the ability for a total number of rounds equal to his character level with each activation.

Instrument of Doom (Su): You can imbue an agent with another's doom as a melee touch attack. For a number of round's equal to your charisma bonus, all attacks they make against the intended target are treat as a Smite attack . They add your charisma bonus (if any) to their attack rolls, and add their level to all damage rolls made against the target. Regardless of the target, the smite attacks automatically bypass any Damage reduction the creature might possess.
In addition, your agent gains a deflection bonus equal to your charisma bonus (if any) to their AC against attacks made by the target of the smite.


mdt wrote:
Davi The Eccentric wrote:


Well, they also said that Oracles tend to worship gods that have their focus in their portfolios. I'm pretty sure they don't have to worship one of them.
Then I'd rather not have the gods listed at all, I'd rather have domains listed instead, or have it specifically pointed out that they usually worship gods with the focus in their portfolio.

I agree with this. Why even mention the gods?

Sovereign Court

Pathfinder Maps, Rulebook, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

Oracle of Fate - luck, etc.

Oracle of Knowledge

Oracle of Magic - get detect magic, identify, and other spells in that vein. all it's revelations have something to do with making the oracles magic stronger. Metamagic feats that don't cost levels etc.

The Exchange

I definitely think the oracle should have more options for foci. Something comparable to the Wizard's choices for school or the Sorcerer's options for Bloodlines. Between 8 and 10 seems about right, but I'm ever a proponent for more!


nighttree wrote:
...Doomwatcher (Su): You observed some horrifying or awesome supernatural event as a child. As a result, your eye's now glow with unnatural color. Once per day...

I don't think these are really in the spirit of what Oracle Foci's are about. Foci supposedly correspond 1:1 to DIVINE DOMAINS that somehow have "chosen" the character in question (from birth), not anything to do with "witnessing far out events". The fluff you're doing sounds more appropriate to Sorceror Bloodlines than Oracle Foci - Bloodlines imply Arcane Energy implicating itself in the character's being... Foci imply the character's SOUL is in fact implicated with the stuff of Dieties.

I have discussed in other threads essentially 'splitting' certain domains (i.e. Water Domain -> True Water and Ice/Cold Foci) but each of those still has a clear relationship to the Domain in question. There is already a Sun Domain which will likely cover "Light" effects (and possibly Positive Energy channeling, based on Golarion's Sun/(+)Energy association) but I think Foci need to be based on specific Domains, or else they lose their distinction with Sorceror Bloodlines.

I did a google search and found a Wiki with ALL 3.5 Domains listed: here's one with "Doom" (Curse Domain)
(some of those are made-up and not published 3.5 material, but it's pretty easy to tell)


MerrikCale wrote:
KaeYoss wrote:
MerrikCale wrote:
KaeYoss wrote:
MerrikCale wrote:
Oracle of Chaos
You rang?
just sayin' you would make an excellent foci
You did call me by name, though.
True enough. You an oracle?

I might be.


seekerofshadowlight wrote:
KaeYoss wrote:
MerrikCale wrote:
KaeYoss wrote:
MerrikCale wrote:
Oracle of Chaos
You rang?
just sayin' you would make an excellent foci
You did call me by name, though.
Don't do it. be like saying beetlejuice 3 times all hell brakes loose

Either that or Hastur.

stuart haffenden wrote:

The Oracle is a Divine caster, like a Druid, but not like a Cleric.

You will still need a Cleric in your Party unless the Oracle player wants to waste all is known spell slots on Cure spells which would leave him with very little else to do in the spell casting department.

I just created an oracle to see the class on paper, and I had space for a lot of nice stuff and could still have a lot of potential for other magic. And there's non-healing revelations, too.

And I think that once the Focus of Life (i.e. Healing Domain) is available, clerics will have to vacate the throne.

Scarab Sages

Tim Statler wrote:
Oracle of Magic - get detect magic, identify, and other spells in that vein. all it's revelations have something to do with making the oracles magic stronger. Metamagic feats that don't cost levels etc.

On the same note, I want to see an oracle of antimagic, with counterspelling, dispelling, and possible a localized antimagic field. Think Darling from The Black Company.


w0nkothesane wrote:
I definitely think the oracle should have more options for foci. Something comparable to the Wizard's choices for school or the Sorcerer's options for Bloodlines. Between 8 and 10 seems about right, but I'm ever a proponent for more!

I imagine it is a subject ripe for expansion much like sorcerer bloodlines

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MerrikCale wrote:
mdt wrote:
Davi The Eccentric wrote:


Well, they also said that Oracles tend to worship gods that have their focus in their portfolios. I'm pretty sure they don't have to worship one of them.
Then I'd rather not have the gods listed at all, I'd rather have domains listed instead, or have it specifically pointed out that they usually worship gods with the focus in their portfolio.
I agree with this. Why even mention the gods?

I was wondering the same thing.

The list of gods adds nothing to either the mechanics or the fluff. It seems somewhat extraneous.


I'd second the suggestion for a Darkness focus.

Something about communing with the dark void to find glimpses of the future or what not seems more evocative to me then wind or waves.


Here is a focus we made for our group. Enjoy.
----------------------------------------------
Oracle Focus: Dreaming
Deities: Desna, Lamashtu, Sivanah
Class Skills: An oracle with a dreaming focus adds Bluff, Knowledge (Arcana), Perception, and Use Magic Device to her list of class skills.
Bonus Spells: Sleep (3rd), Daze Monster (5th), Deeper Slumber (7th), Phantasmal Killer (9th), Symbol of Sleep (11th), Symbol of Fear (13th), Insanity (15th), Symbol of Insanity (17th), Weird (19th).
Revelations: An oracle with the sleep focus can choose from any of the following revelations.
Armor of Dreams (Su): You can conjure armor made of dreams that grants you a +2 deflection bonus. At 7th level, and every four levels thereafter, this bonus increases by +2. At 13th level, this armor grants a 25% chance to ignore critical hits. You can use this armor for a number of minutes per day equal to your oracle level. This duration does not need to be consecutive, but it must be spent in 1 minute increments.
Nightmarish Wounds (Su): Whenever a creature takes damage from one of your mind affecting spells (such as Cause Fear), it begins to experience phantasms of pain, taking 1 point of subdual damage each round. At 5th level, and every five levels thereafter, this damage increases by 1. At 7th level, the damage changes from subdual damage to lethal damage. This damage can be stopped by a DC 15 Heal check or any effect that heals damage.
Nightmare’s Touch (Su): You can cause terrible wounds to appear on a creature with a melee touch attack. This attack deals 1d6 points of illusion [phantasm] damage +1 point for every two oracle levels you possess. You can use this ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + your Charisma modifier.
Dream Resistance (Su): You gain a +2 insight bonus on saves against sleep effects, mind-affecting effects, and stunning. At 7th level, this bonus also applies on saves against death effects, diseases, and poisons. At 11th level, this bonus increases to +4.
Dreamscape (Su): As a standard action, you can cast Hallucinatory Terrain, as per the spell, at you oracle level. You may use this ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + Charisma modifier. At 11th level, you may cast Mind Fog 1 time per day. At 5th level, and every 4 levels thereafter you may cast Mind Fog an additional time per day. You must be at least 7th level before selecting this revelation.
Resist Sleep (Su): You are treated as an elf when you are targeted by sleep spells or effects. At 7th level, you receive +2 resistance on enchantment (compulsion) spells. This bonus increases by +2 at 11th and 15th level.
Gaze of Dreams (Su): You can see through mist, fog, and clouds without penalty as long as the light is sufficient to allow you to see normally. At 7th level, you can gaze through any source of fog or mist within 10 feet per oracle level, as if using clairvoyance. You can use this ability for a number of rounds per day equal to your oracle level, but these rounds do not need to be consecutive. This does remove the restrictions detailed in the oracle's curse of clouded vision.
Night Terrors (Su): As a ranged touch attack, you can unleash a ray that causes a target to gain one negative level. This negative level lasts for a number of minutes equal to your Charisma modifier. Whenever this ability gives a target a negative level, you heal a number of hit points equal to your oracle level. You can use this ability once per day, plus one additional time at 11th level and every four levels thereafter. You must be at least 7th level before selecting this revelation.
Dream Walk (Su): As a standard action, you can become incorporeal and invisible. While in this form, you can move in any direction and through any object (except for those made of force). You can take no action other than to move while in this form. You remain in this form for a number of rounds equal to your oracle level, but you can end this effect prematurely with a standard action. You must be at least 11th level before selecting this revelation.
Mantle of True Rest (Su): You can create a hazy, lightly glowing mantle on any single living creature that causes it to heal exceptionally fast overnight. They gain 1 point of healing per oracle level per hour of sleep. At 5th level, if the creature under the effects of an affliction they gain an immediate new save at a +2 bonus to end the affliction (if one one save is needed, otherwise this will count as a save if successful). The new check and bonus applies to each affliction they are suffering. At 7th level, they gain 1 point per hour of temporary stat damage healed. You can use this ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + your Charisma modifier.
Dream's Insight (Su): You can cast Augury, as per the spell, a number of times per day equal to your oracle level. At 7th level, the oracle gains Divination one time per day. The oracle may use Divination an addition time per day at 10th level, and every 3 levels thereafter.
Final Revelation: Upon reaching 20th level, you can bridge the veil between waking and dreams and nightmares. Once per round, you can cast Touch of Fatigue or Guidance as a free action. You can cast Hallucinatory Terrain at will. Once per day, when you cast any of the bonus spells (listed above) they also suffer the effects of a Mind Fog spell in addition to the normal spell effects.


Foci I hope to see:

Dreaming, Stars, Fate, Sun, Luck, Foresight


Well Im hoping they wont do on aligments leave that to clerics and their domains. Well Im hoping they can get a traditional oracle in there one devoted to prophecy. Also an oracle devoted to Athleticism would be good. An oracle devoted to life,

The Exchange

When I think Oracle I think prophecy/fortune telling. That got me hoping that future foci involve said fortune telling methods.

Zodiac, Stars, Tarot (or similar), Dreams. Was psyched (HA!) to see that some of these have been mentioned by others.


I'd like to see an Oracle of Nature. It might be redundant with the druid, but I think I'd rather have the oracle of nature than the druid myself. I dunno maybe there is room for both.


Regrading the whole line about which gods are associated with a particular Foci, is it really that bothersome? it's not like several paragraphs worth of extra, possibly non-relevant information. Instead, it server to enlighten potential players of an oracle as to which deity fits each Foci.

Perhaps you really want to be worshiper of Iomedae, and you also want to have special powers linked to said deity, but you don't want to play a cleric or paladin. You flip open you APG, head over to Oracle and see that Iomedae is listed as being a deity Oracles of Battle follow.

How exactly is this a bad thing?


Monkeygod wrote:
How exactly is this a bad thing?

Frankly, its a waste of space. As an Oracle you are specifically not tied to a deity so why waste the space on this info

Any word on new foci? are we definately getting new foci tomorrow?

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