Viable Shakalta Builds?


Advice


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While the Shakalta from AA3 are really interesting, I'm not sure I can think of a way to make a Shakalta character capable of keeping up with the average adventuring party.

For those who might not have seen the Alien Archive yet, Shakalta are energy beings formed from the joining of two souls. One way this is mechanically represented is the requirement that Shakalta characters must multiclass, and take an equal number of levels in each of their two classes.

Can anyone think of interesting builds following this restriction?

The only thing that I can think of off the top of my head is Technomancer/Mystic for a sort of Theurge flavor. It's helped out by the fact that Caster Level stacks between classes in Starfinder, but the delayed access to high level spells and abilities might still make for a character that leaves much to be desired.


For viable I would tend to think soldier/some other full BAB.

Not great, but good enough to be effective in combat.


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An Envoy/Soldier is pretty effective at equal levels. Envoy/Solarian is even better, because there is some stat synergy with Charisma. Move - Get Em!/Standard - Stellar Rush sounds like a fun turn.

Operative brings stuff to the table for any other class (I have a 3 Operative/2 Mystic that does just quite well, thanks).

Technomancer/Mechanic would do just fine if it went exo-cortex and relied mostly on buffing guns.

Seems like the race forces you to think outside the box, not about pure class power, but class synergies, feats, skills, and gear.


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In addition to Dracomicron's mentions, which are where I'd start, Soldier + Drone Mech using a combat drone that focuses on heavy explode weapons could work. Mystic + Soldier or Mystic + Solarian could give you a sort of Paladin or Ranger type build, if you planned for it. Operative + Envoy, while having a bunch of stuff that steps on one another's toes, could also be made to work, if you went the sniper operative route and paired it with envoy's unwieldy happy abilities. Same for Technomancer + Operative and the gun magus type abilities under TM.


pithica42 wrote:
In addition to Dracomicron's mentions, which are where I'd start, Soldier + Drone Mech using a combat drone that focuses on heavy explode weapons could work. Mystic + Soldier or Mystic + Solarian could give you a sort of Paladin or Ranger type build, if you planned for it. Operative + Envoy, while having a bunch of stuff that steps on one another's toes, could also be made to work, if you went the sniper operative route and paired it with envoy's unwieldy happy abilities. Same for Technomancer + Operative and the gun magus type abilities under TM.

Explode weapons on a drone are a good idea, though from my experience playing a mechanic, Drones are pretty flimsy. I'd worry that any enemy smart enough to focus it could probably drop it in a turn, since it's health and AC are only going to get comparatively worse as you level up.

I'm not sure about Technomancer/Operative, at least not as a sniper. The Operative's sniper exploits don't come online until 6th level at the earliest (so 11th for a Shakalta), and then you'd need to wait until 16th for Spellshot. It just seems like either pure Operative or pure Technomancer is going to be bring more to the table for a sniper, and give you what you want much sooner.

Envoy/Soldier I think definitely has potential, as Envoy seems to be the most friendly to multiclassing of any of the core classes, and some Soldier fighting styles are pretty frontloaded.


I've honestly been meaning to do a Sharpshooter Soldier/Exo-Mechanic sniper forever, but haven't gotten around to it.

Diasporan Sniper Rifle + Laser Accuracy Gear Boost + Combat Tracking + Weapon Focus (Sniper) [+Miracle Worker at high levels] is going to be some of the highest accuracy out there, which can then be buffed with Overcharge.

It isn't going to be the highest damage build, but it should be reliable


With the Character Operations Manual out, I think that Solarian/Mystic might be a viable choice, thanks to the new epiphanies for the mystic. One of these allows you to get a Solar Weapon... and believe it or not, mystic and solarian levels stack to determine its power.

Radiant Oath

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JiCi wrote:
With the Character Operations Manual out, I think that Solarian/Mystic might be a viable choice, thanks to the new epiphanies for the mystic. One of these allows you to get a Solar Weapon... and believe it or not, mystic and solarian levels stack to determine its power.

I like the idea, but wouldn't it still be kinda MAD?


Archpaladin Zousha wrote:
JiCi wrote:
With the Character Operations Manual out, I think that Solarian/Mystic might be a viable choice, thanks to the new epiphanies for the mystic. One of these allows you to get a Solar Weapon... and believe it or not, mystic and solarian levels stack to determine its power.
I like the idea, but wouldn't it still be kinda MAD?

You only have one key attribute, ignore spells or revelations with saves on the other half.


Pathfinder Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

Armor Solarian / Operative can work. You would want a Dex or Cha focused Operative specialization. You need to stay away from the Solar Weapon or Solar Flare because their damage is based on your Solarian level and would lag too much.


If anything, this alien race highlights one of the most glaring problems with multiclassing: lack of power scaling.

Many, if not most of the class features rely on class levels, not character levels. If all features relied on character levels, any early-level ability would still scale in power even if you are not leveling in that class.


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JiCi wrote:

If anything, this alien race highlights one of the most glaring problems with multiclassing: lack of power scaling.

Many, if not most of the class features rely on class levels, not character levels. If all features relied on character levels, any early-level ability would still scale in power even if you are not leveling in that class.

Its almost like they are trying to discourage Pathfinder-style "build a twink character out of five different classes" character design. . .


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Metaphysician wrote:
JiCi wrote:

If anything, this alien race highlights one of the most glaring problems with multiclassing: lack of power scaling.

Many, if not most of the class features rely on class levels, not character levels. If all features relied on character levels, any early-level ability would still scale in power even if you are not leveling in that class.

Its almost like they are trying to discourage Pathfinder-style "build a twink character out of five different classes" character design. . .

...and then went too far such that most multiclass combinations are of questionable viability.


BretI wrote:


...and then went too far such that most multiclass combinations are of questionable viability.

You need a class to function right out of the box. That frontloads a lot of classes.

I think that means you HAVE to put in some high level goodies if there's supposed to be anything to look forward to in a class. Dips do perfectly well for someone that shows they've had a wide and varied life/careerr


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BigNorseWolf wrote:
BretI wrote:


...and then went too far such that most multiclass combinations are of questionable viability.

You need a class to function right out of the box. That frontloads a lot of classes.

I think that means you HAVE to put in some high level goodies if there's supposed to be anything to look forward to in a class. Dips do perfectly well for someone that shows they've had a wide and varied life/careerr

There are still a few dips that work reasonable well for Starfinder, the Blitz Soldier, Sharpshooter Soldier, and Armor Solarian on a Dex build are a few examples.

There are a lot less builds that work well if you try to keep even levels in the two classes. Spellcasters don’t have the spell power to deal with the challenges. Martial classes do not get better at full attacks like the Soldier (Soldier’s Onslaught), Solarian (Flashing Strikes and Solarian’s Onslaught), Operative (Triple and Quad Attack), and Vanguard (Flashing Strikes) do. That isn’t even looking at the class specific features that come in at the higher levels.

The Shakalta from AA3 are required to multiclass evenly. In Starfinder, if you want to remain relevant that requirement can be very difficult. Very few things stack between classes and things that used to be based on BAB (such a multiattacks) are now based on level in an individual class.


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Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Pathfinder Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber

I would say that there are, at this point, a decent handful of viable class combinations for shakalta.

Biohacker/envoy combines easily, as envoy has always been multiclassable, and Biohacker is pretty heavily frontloaded.

Biohacker/operative can become a real debuff monster and deal enough damage for to be relevant, though they will never be a primary damage dealer.

Biohacker/soldier can work decently, using injection rifles or injection spears

Envoy/soldier has always worked as a full multiclass, even with CRB options only.

Envoy/solarian can work easily as long as your manifestation is armor or shield.

Mystic/Solarian can avoid save based revelations, keep the combined scaling of the solar weapon and be a decent half-casting martial character.

Operative/soldier is an easy combination with Stunt and Strike having no weapon type requirement.


I was going to build superman out of this race because of the other racial traits. The class combo was going to be soldier mystic. Soldier for brute and brawn. Mystic for his more kryptonian abilities and more buffs.


BretI wrote:


There are still a few dips that work reasonable well for Starfinder, the Blitz Soldier, Sharpshooter Soldier, and Armor Solarian on a Dex build are a few examples.

Tons of DIPS work well...

There are a lot less builds that work well if you try to keep even levels in the two classes. Spellcasters don’t have the spell power to deal with the challenges. Martial classes do not get better at full attacks like the Soldier (Soldier’s Onslaught), Solarian (Flashing Strikes and Solarian’s Onslaught), Operative (Triple and Quad Attack), and Vanguard (Flashing Strikes) do. That isn’t even looking at the class specific features that come in at the higher levels.

Quote:
The Shakalta from AA3 are required to multiclass evenly.

Eyup. I was just trying to explain why I thought it was unavoidable. You can either break this one weird race or have something like pathfinder where classes didn't get any cool abilities for 12 levels..


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You could probably also make a soldier/vanguard work. The baseline ability level is a full progression martial character, so the optimization floor is high. Level scaled abilities like mitigate would be weak (entropy strike would also not be worth using), and as a pure damage dealer you would fall behind as soldiers pick up a 3rd attack, but some of the feat boosts would synergies with the vanguard ability to make combat maneuvers against EAC, by that point.


BigNorseWolf wrote:
BretI wrote:


There are still a few dips that work reasonable well for Starfinder, the Blitz Soldier, Sharpshooter Soldier, and Armor Solarian on a Dex build are a few examples.

Tons of DIPS work well...

There are a lot less builds that work well if you try to keep even levels in the two classes. Spellcasters don’t have the spell power to deal with the challenges. Martial classes do not get better at full attacks like the Soldier (Soldier’s Onslaught), Solarian (Flashing Strikes and Solarian’s Onslaught), Operative (Triple and Quad Attack), and Vanguard (Flashing Strikes) do. That isn’t even looking at the class specific features that come in at the higher levels.

Quote:
The Shakalta from AA3 are required to multiclass evenly.
Eyup. I was just trying to explain why I thought it was unavoidable. You can either break this one weird race or have something like pathfinder where classes didn't get any cool abilities for 12 levels..

Maybe to add in: dipping for 1 or 2 levels in a secondary or tertiary class is a viable option for any other race. However, for shakaltas, it is not, as they cannot afford to dip... unless they can, both for 2 classes. Maybe they can be Mystic 9/Solarian 9/Operative 1/Envoy 1.


I don't think you can do even that.
The shakalta must alternate between the two classes whenever they gain a new level, is the language.
With the back and forth switch being mandatory, you can only ever have two classes. No more, no less.

I'd stay away from spellcasting classes, but it's certainly an intriguing concept for unusual martials.


My Operative 3/Mystic 3 actually does really well. She's Explorer/Star Shaman and focuses on skills and spells that help the party with non-combat challenges, though she does fine in combat, too, as her Mystic Wisdom aids her Trick Attack.

The thing about Shakalta casters is that their spells should further their primary schtick instead of being the schtick. For example, the Technomancer/Exo-Cortex Mechanic I mentioned would get spells like Supercharge Weapon, then Overcharge on the Mechanic Trick side and Empower Weapon on the Technomancer Magic Hack side, all to buff a longarm or (preferably) heavy weapon. In this case, The Gun is the trait you're building around, just grab stuff from each side that benefits The Gun.

I could also see this going for Instinctive Biohacker/Geneturge Mystic with the eye enhancement. Throw down Fog Clouds and then use your concealment mitigation or Seeking Shot to deliver injections to enemies you can barely see.

Lots of clever things you can do with low level spells, if you combine them with the right alternate classes.


Nyerkh wrote:

I don't think you can do even that.

The shakalta must alternate between the two classes whenever they gain a new level, is the language.
With the back and forth switch being mandatory, you can only ever have two classes. No more, no less.

I'd stay away from spellcasting classes, but it's certainly an intriguing concept for unusual martials.

I believe you are wrong. If you take a dip on one class, on your next level you must take a dip on your other class. I think that would still satisfy the requirements, but that is 2 dips which may not payoff well.

Tho a dip in soldier and a dip mystic with sol weapon and then solarian envoy may by good. Blitz soldier for some speed, mystic for some low level buffs/heals.


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The actual text...

Quote:
A shakalta must multiclass into two classes, one for each soul. The shakalta must alternate between the two classes whenever they gain a new level. A shakalta can never have more than one level of difference between these two classes. A shakalta who uses a mnemonic editor must still follow these restrictions.

It's two classes, period. One for each soul. They must alternate between these two classes. They can't pick a 3rd or a 4th. They can't dip.


Sorry, I did not remember it being so limiting. Wow.

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