Hey everybody! This is my first time posting here, but I've been playing Pathfinder since it came out, more or less. I recently got my hands on the Advanced Player's Guide, and immediately fell in love with... well... just about everything in there, but one of the things that stuck out, for me, was the new Serpentine Bloodline.
The bloodline really appeals to me for fluff reasons; gives me neat ideas for a sneaky, deceptive, enchantment-focused sorcerer at low levels, and at high levels its hilariously perfect for the kind of cartoonish, cackling villain whose go-to plan is turning into a giant snake and trying to eat everybody.
Anywho, I'm putting together a Serpentine Sorcerer, and I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for getting the most mileage out of the bloodline. In particular I'd like to find a way to get some use out of Serpent's Fangs, if at all possible, since I think it's a cool power (surprise your enemies! shock your friends!) and the poison save DC seems to get pretty beefy compared to the poisons commonly available for purchase. I know it's probably not a terribly practical power for a character with low hp and bab, though, and I'd really be grateful for any advice at all, except possibly "pick a different bloodline".
When I looked at it, the first thing that occurred to me was that a very thematic-appropriate spell for that bloodline would be true strike. Probably not terribly optimized, but imagining the sorcerer rearing their head back and baring their fangs (i.e. casting the spell) just seemed kind of cool.
That was one of my first thoughts, actually. I'm fairly certain that, from an optimization standpoint, a sorcerer choosing true strike as one of his few spells, and then using it in *melee*, no less, is suicidally dumb. That said, I might do it anyway, since it *would* be pretty cool to see, and it'd probably attract some pretty priceless looks the first time he does it.
"It's your initiative, Sorcerer; what're ya gonna do?"
"I'ma run up and bite him!"
"..."
There is a new weapon enhancement called "Channel" which let's you, wait for it.. channel your 1st level sorcerer power through the weapon.
I've already made a sorcerer with a whip because of this.
"It's your initiative, Sorcerer; what're ya gonna do?"
"I'ma let my whip bite him!"
"..."
Where is this enhancement located?
When I looked at it, the first thing that occurred to me was that a very thematic-appropriate spell for that bloodline would be true strike. Probably not terribly optimized, but imagining the sorcerer rearing their head back and baring their fangs (i.e. casting the spell) just seemed kind of cool.
Not terribly optimised? I beg to differ. I'd pick true strike over magic missile for sheer versatility any day. At level one, you've got just about guranteed disarms with a reach weapon. At higher levels, you can ensure that your ranged attacks hit. Or combine it with hydraulic push for a bull rush that your fighter will envy. Strategic options abound with this spell!
Where is this enhancement located?There is a new weapon enhancement called "Channel" which let's you, wait for it.. channel your 1st level sorcerer power through the weapon.
I've already made a sorcerer with a whip because of this.
"It's your initiative, Sorcerer; what're ya gonna do?"
"I'ma let my whip bite him!"
"..."
It's in the APG, if memory serves.
Not terribly optimised? I beg to differ. I'd pick true strike over magic missile for sheer versatility any day. At level one, you've got just about guranteed disarms with a reach weapon. At higher levels, you can ensure that your ranged attacks hit. Or combine it with hydraulic push for a bull rush that your fighter will envy. Strategic options abound with this spell!
That... is an excellent point. I didn't think combat maneuvers worked that way; True strike specifically affects an "attack roll", and I guess I figured a combat maneuver was... I dunno... something else.
If you got yourself a Conductive Whip you could start causing some serious mayhem with True Strike disarms and trips, plus the ability to poison people from 15 feet away. My only concern is that the Conductive weapon quality specifically talks about channeling the energy of an ability through the weapon (the example they give is Lay On Hands), while the Serpents Fang power gives the ability to grow fangs that you can then use to bite someone, rather than letting you just directly zap somebody.
The serpentine bloodline is very fitting for an evil arcane caster villain. It brings to my mind Thoth-Amon, Talsa Doom, Voldermont and Orochimaru. The snake-based sorcerer is so classic its a wonder nobody came up with the idea sooner (but kudos to whomever thought about including it to APG).
I know this post doesn't help late mortin, wish you fun with the PC.
The serpentine bloodline is very fitting for an evil arcane caster villain. It brings to my mind Thoth-Amon, Talsa Doom, Voldermont and Orochimaru. The snake-based sorcerer is so classic its a wonder nobody came up with the idea sooner (but kudos to whomever thought about including it to APG).
I know this post doesn't help late mortin, wish you fun with the PC.
Thanks John John, I'm sure I will, once I figure out exactly what I want to do with him. Though, as strange as it may sound, the character concept I've got probably owes more to Jane Austin than it does to the Conan franchise.