Battle Oracle - Melee

[Graccus]

I'm planning on starting an oracle with the battle mystery. I want to be able to hit things in melee, heal my friends, all while surviving. I would not be the tank, but I might end up as the primary healer. Am I stuck with a shield, or can I survive with a greatsword?

Human oracle, level 1
Battle Mystery
Curse - probably vision
Revelation
1 Skill At Arms
1 Weapon Mastery

Feats
1 Power Attack
1 Extra Revelation

Spells known:
Bless, Shield of Faith, Cure Light Wounds

Obviously if I'm going to get killed constantly using a 2 hander, and I have to use a shield, then I wouldn't need shield of faith. I'd really like to use a greatsword, especially when I get improved crit for free later on from weapon mastery.

I thought about grabbing a level of barbarian at first, so I would be able to be alright in melee at first. With the Lame curse, and becoming immune to fatigue later on, I figured I could pop in and out of rage. Someone mentioned that he thought I would still be able to fatigue myself, but that I would be immune to other effects that would fatigue me.

Then I considered Rage Prophet, but with the loss of so many levels of casting, 3 in the PrC itself, and the two levels of barb, I didn't want to be a subpar caster, and subpar melee. So, I figure straight oracle is the way to go.

So, the question is: Can an oracle survive in melee, and be worth while?

[ntin]

Graccus wrote:

I'm planning on starting an oracle with the battle mystery. I want to be able to hit things in melee, heal my friends, all while surviving. I would not be the tank, but I might end up as the primary healer. Am I stuck with a shield, or can I survive with a greatsword?

Human oracle, level 1
Battle Mystery
Curse - probably vision
Revelation
1 Skill At Arms
1 Weapon Mastery

Feats
1 Power Attack
1 Extra Revelation

Spells known:
Bless, Shield of Faith, Cure Light Wounds

Obviously if I'm going to get killed constantly using a 2 hander, and I have to use a shield, then I wouldn't need shield of faith. I'd really like to use a greatsword, especially when I get improved crit for free later on from weapon mastery.

I thought about grabbing a level of barbarian at first, so I would be able to be alright in melee at first. With the Lame curse, and becoming immune to fatigue later on, I figured I could pop in and out of rage. Someone mentioned that he thought I would still be able to fatigue myself, but that I would be immune to other effects that would fatigue me.

Then I considered Rage Prophet, but with the loss of so many levels of casting, 3 in the PrC itself, and the two levels of barb, I didn't want to be a subpar caster, and subpar melee. So, I figure straight oracle is the way to go.

So, the question is: Can an oracle survive in melee, and be worth while?

My oracle has ended up being the tank and main healer for the party but I am using a buckler and rapier rather than a two handed weapon. Clerics can survive in melee really no reason why an oracle cannot also considering you are able to get into heavy armor. I would go with a bastard sword or a long sword over the greatsword gives more utility in you can wield it with one or two hands, using a shield when needed.

Rage Prophet is more of an enchantment to the barbarian skills than the oracle. If you are looked at for a large amount of healing it may not be the best but if you are the support healer it is a nice combination filling in the same kind of roll a bard or druid would be for healing.

[Ice Titan]

The problem is that the Oracle isn't very good at actually meleeing. They only get so many spells known and so many feats to get, and buffing themselves up takes a while... So sticking enemies with penalties helps, and will in the end do more damage than just straight buff hogging and stabbing. I personally preferred to stick to combat maneuvers. Maneuver mastery for tripping worked well-- being able to not only trip with my level as my BAB but also getting improved and greater trip for free worked very well.

I feel that extra revelation for weapon mastery is kind of subpar, though. Like being a ranger and taking a feat you already qualify for... Weapon mastery itself is kind of subpar until you can get improved critical and greater weapon focus out of it. That's just my opinion.

[Carpy DM]

Just FYI, 1st level oracles don't qualify for Power attack.

[Choant]

I made one that fulfilled both roles, I thought he was awesome! Enlarge with a greatsword and reach and it was nice, for the BBEG's I would switch to sword and board for more survivability.

[Graccus]

True, I wouldn't qualify for power attack anyway. So, I'd need a new feat.

Tripping can be very useful, but not everything can be tripped, especially later on. Using a reach weapon and tripping though, would keep me in melee range for healing, but out of reach of most of the bad stuff. Also, with being one step out of melee, it would make it easy to heal or cast other needed spells without worrying.

I think Weapon Mastery is awesome. Most people blow a feat simply to get weapon focus, why not get the revelation for weapon focus and two other feats later on? Especially considering that you would have a +0 BAB to start, the extra +1 to hit would be useful at first level.

[Ardenup]

Take power attack later- extra revelation can be taken at 1. The 'stoneskin' revelation is awesome for the first 10 levels. 1/day unfortunately
but great for those times when you MUST tank- nearly all revelations are better than most normal feats. Weapon Mastery is good, so's getting extra saves vs conditions.

Will Post a Build later.

[hogarth]

Ardenup wrote:

Take power attack later- extra revelation can be taken at 1. The 'stoneskin' revelation is awesome for the first 10 levels. 1/day unfortunately

but great for those times when you MUST tank- nearly all revelations are better than most normal feats. Weapon Mastery is good, so's getting extra saves vs conditions.

Will Post a Build later.

Iron Skin can only be taken at level 11+.

[Ardenup]

Crap. Was away from books when posted that.
Still there are enough good ones to take an extra at first level.