So, I've been flipping through the APG and this class really stood out to me. As such, I've been trying to put together a build using the elite array and would appreciate some advice. Basically, he thinks of himself as an avatar or "chosen one" of Iomedae and follows his tenets. I wanted something that could hit somewhat reliably despite the 3/4 BAB progression. Clearly his spells could help out in that regard but I was hoping to try and keep up as best as possible without them.
Here's my first attempt:
LG Human Oracle
Battle Mystery
Tongues Curse (Celestial)
Weapon of choice: Guisarme (I'm a sucker for reach weapons)
STR 17 (15+2)
DEX 12
CON 13
INT 8
WIS 10
CHA 14
Stat increases: STR, CON, CHA, CHA, CHA
Feats:
H - Dazzling Display
1 - Extra Revelation
3 - Intimidating Presence
5 - Power Attack
7 - Combat Reflexes
9 - Extra Revelation
11 - Extra Revelation
13 - Furious Focus
Revelations:
1 - Skill at Arms
1 - Weapon Mastery
3 - Maneuver Mastery
7 - Surprising Charge
9 - Battlefield Clarity
11 - Iron Skin
11 - Combat Healer
I doubt I'd end up playing the character beyond 13-15th level so choices beyond this point are moot.
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With a CHA 14 + 6 enchantment bouns you can cast your highest level spells. Your DC will never get high enough to matter. I wold go with an difrent stat lay out. You need to list what combat manurvers your Maneuver Masterys are for. 13 CHA will alow you to cast up to level 3 spells. That means untill level 8 you don't need a CHA item. After that you will need a CHA item buy that level there easy to come buy.
STR 15+2 = 17 (+1 at levels 4, 8, &12 )
DEX 12
CON 14
INT 8
WIS 10
CHA 13
Feets
H - Power Attack
1 - Exta Revelation ( Skill at Arms )
3 - Furious Focus
5 - Exta Revelatoin ( Maneuver Mastery: Trip )
7 - Charge Through
9 - Exta Revelation ( Suprising Charge )
11- Triping Strike
13- Bull Rush Strike
Revelatoins
1 - Weapon Mastery ( Guisarme )
3 - War Sight
7 - Maneuver Mastery: Over Run
11- Maneuver Mastery: Bull Rush
I do like that stat array better. I guess I was going for the bonus second level spells and DC increase for spells at low levels but the extra hp and fort save is probably worth more. It also gave me another +1 with respect to using intimidate for the original build's dazzling display.
That said, I still may boost CHA at level 8 so I don't *need* the headband right away (I could spend the money on a STR boost item instead).
The only problem with your build is that you cannot take Power Attack at first level since the Oracle doesn't have a +1 BAB at that point. That would push all of the feats back unless we could swap some stuff around like:
Feats:
H - Extra Revelation (Skill at Arms)
1 - Extra Revelation (Maneuver Mastery: Trip)
3 - Power Attack
5 - Furious Focus
etc...
Finally, although War Sight does look really nice on paper, some of the other revelations look better to me including iron skin and battlefield clarity. At higher levels, combat healer is pretty awesome as well since I can cast powerful heals as swift actions as needed. I may give up the later Maneuver Mastery revelations for these instead.
One other problem I just noticed is that you'll never have the prereqs for Tripping strike since it requires 13 INT and Combat Expertise (and at 11th level, you only have +8 BAB)
I think there are ways around that problem (13 int prequisite) with the revelations IIRC.
As far as I can tell, you can get the equivalent of Improved Trip but you do not get the INT 13 or combat expertise prereqs from the revelation. Is there somewhere else I should be looking?
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I think there are ways around that problem (13 int prequisite) with the revelations IIRC.As far as I can tell, you can get the equivalent of Improved Trip but you do not get the INT 13 or combat expertise prereqs from the revelation. Is there somewhere else I should be looking?
Nope, thats what I was thinking of. Makes trippers less MAD which is a wonderful perk of battle oracle. Combat reflexes, enlarge person (battle oracle bonus spell) and the trip revelation for the win (i've playtested this, its disgusting).
Nope, thats what I was thinking of. Makes trippers less MAD which is a wonderful perk of battle oracle. Combat reflexes, enlarge person (battle oracle bonus spell) and the trip revelation for the win (i've playtested this, its disgusting).I think there are ways around that problem (13 int prequisite) with the revelations IIRC.As far as I can tell, you can get the equivalent of Improved Trip but you do not get the INT 13 or combat expertise prereqs from the revelation. Is there somewhere else I should be looking?
Do you have any tweaking advice given the two builds suggested above? I kind of like the idea of using intimidate in combat since the character will have STR and CHA as its two highest stats.
Would you recommend the reach weapon or just use something like the spiked chain or a flail and rely on enlarge person to give you the needed reach?
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Definitely go with the reach weapon, haven't got time for a long post but 14 dexterity+ is good if you can get it (for AC as well as AOO's), and if your using a tripping reach weapon your going to want Combat Reflexes. The goal is for nothing to be able to easily approach you without being tripped or stabbed first, depending on circumstances.
If your going to have 8 int you may as well have 7 IMO, which can afford you 14 Dex. I wouldn't put cha above 14- rely on your strength via intimidating prowess feat so your builds less MAD. Battle oracle's really don't need to worry about DC's much.
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If you want to intimidate in battle, I would suggest either the feat Cornugon Smash(from Cheliax book) or the Blade of Mercy trait(LoF AP I think) and the Enforcer feat(APG).
Dazzling display is nice since its an area of effect, but its also costs a standard action. Both of the above abilities allow an intimidate check as a free action on the person struck.
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Tem you are corect I did make a mastake in taking Triping Strike. It should be Improved Initive or Toughneses. The purpous in taking power attack is not to use it at level 1. But so you can take Furious Focus at level 3. Using initimidate in combat is not that usefull compared to casting or damaging a enemy. It's all about ecomics of actions in combat. There is a saying in the military there are two types of people on the battle field ( The Quick and the Dead Drill Srgent!!!). Now for puting one point in to CHA thats your choice but I wold not. Becous at level 12 when you wold have a odd number agan. So if your play dose not go above level 15. You will have a odd number on your STR stat. Level 8 standard gold is 33K GP. A +2 Cha item is only 4K GP and a +2 Belt of physical might (STR+CON) is 10k GP. This still leaves 19K GP for any thing else you want to get. Reaching trip weapon is one of the best weapon for a Battle Oracle.
Alexander to go from a 12 to a 14 is 3 points. going from a 8 to a 7 you gain 2. what other stat are you going to make one point lower to get the other point to make your DEX a 14? You could drop your CHA down to a 12 thats not a bad idea you just have to rember at high level play you wold be required to ( find or buy or kill somthing realy nastey ) to get a +1 CHA tome. To cast your level 9 spells.
The purpous in taking power attack is not to use it at level 1. But so you can take Furious Focus at level 3.
Well, that would be nice, but unfortunately not allowed since you don't have the prereqs for power attack at level 1. The earliest you can get furious focus would be level 5.
Using initimidate in combat is not that usefull compared to casting or damaging a enemy.
I guess my line of thinking was that demoralizing all foes within 30' was equivalent in power to a low level spell. Of course, it costs me two feats to get there. With each revelation being worth more than a feat (in general), it feels like I've got some to spare. I'll have to think on this more.
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Well, I think I've settled on:
STR 17 (15+2)
DEX 14
CON 12
INT 7
WIS 10
CHA 14
I know it isn't the elite array as I specified, but it's very close. I can now also make all of my stat increases in STR and will never need more than a +4 CHA item since I'll never see 9th level spells anyway.
Feats:
H - Extra Revelation (Weapon Mastery - Guisarme)
1 - Dazzling Display
3 - Intimidating Presence
5 - Combat Reflexes
7 - Power Attack
9 - Furious Focus
11 - Extra Revelation (Battlefield Focus)
13 - Extra Revelation (Combat Healer)
15 - ?
Revelations:
1 - Skill at Arms
3 - Maneuver Mastery (Trip)
7 - Surprising Charge
11 - Iron Skin
15 - War Sight
The 15th level abilities probably won't matter so I'll worry about that if/when I get there. I do like the dazzling display ability and it's a close call between taking intimidating presence or skill focus (intimidate). The former gives +3 off the bat then goes to +4 at 4th, +5 at 12th and is also modified by STR boost items. The latter gives +3 off the bat as well, but then is static until 10th level when it switches to +6. Assuming I have at least a +4 STR item by 10th level, intimidating presence is very slightly better.
I decided that power attack and furious focus weren't as important at lower levels since my net benefit is only a +1 to attack until 6th level then +2 until 11th (and even then, only the first attack). I think having things like combat reflexes will be more valuable early on.
Now I just have to decide on spells...