Hello All
Gonna be playing an oracle in an upcoming game. Group wise we need a healer and a tank, while the paladin would be an obvious pick, I want to try the oracle out. The poor oracle also needs some redeeming in my group from a very sub par experience with a previous player( casted create water, all the time, both in and out of combat). So I've heard/read that the battle and the heavens oracle are quite potent and fun, so just wondering about anyones experiences with them, and a tip or two on how to optimize them for the role of tank/healer. Thanks
I played a level 1 Battle oracle briefly. It was entertaining enough as a melee character, but the spellcasting part was quite boring; the number of spells I had was extremely limited, so I was pretty much restricted to casting Bless or CLW three or four times a day (which I found fairly uninteresting).
I imagine the Heavens oracle would be about the same, but with more Color Sprays and fewer Blesses.
I know of someone who annoyed his DM endlessly by making a half-orc Battle Oracle that used a flailpole for reaching, tripping goodness. He wasn't the tank, though. He assisted the tank with flanking, tripping, and then toss out some spells as needed. Don't know his specific build, though.
Other than that, the Battle Oracle just seems like everything the 3.5 cleric could be.
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Battle definitely plays the Healer/Tank role better than Heavens (which is better at battlefield control). Based on your earlier postings, I recommend the Battle.
For the standard high-AC staying power style tank, think about whether you plan to multiclass into a full-BAB class. If you don't, Skill at Arms is a good first Revelation. Probably the Lame or Wasting curse will serve you best in the long run. This will get you heavy armor. If you do dip into Fighter or Paladin (don't be a Wasting Paladin) then Battlefield Clarity (more tank) or War Sight (more skirmisher/buffer) are good choices.
Bless and Divine Favor are good early, Prayer and Divine Might are good later. Of course, you choose the Cures for free. By the time you're 7th level, you'll know whether the other PCs drop in combat a lot. If so, take Combat Healer. If YOU drop a lot, take Resiliency. If everyone manages to stay up, you can choose. Take Iron Skin at 11th.
Battle definitely plays the Healer/Tank role better than Heavens (which is better at battlefield control). Based on your earlier postings, I recommend the Battle.
For the standard high-AC staying power style tank, think about whether you plan to multiclass into a full-BAB class. If you don't, Skill at Arms is a good first Revelation. Probably the Lame or Wasting curse will serve you best in the long run. This will get you heavy armor. If you do dip into Fighter or Paladin (don't be a Wasting Paladin) then Battlefield Clarity (more tank) or War Sight (more skirmisher/buffer) are good choices.
Bless and Divine Favor are good early, Prayer and Divine Might are good later. Of course, you choose the Cures for free. By the time you're 7th level, you'll know whether the other PCs drop in combat a lot. If so, take Combat Healer. If YOU drop a lot, take Resiliency. If everyone manages to stay up, you can choose. Take Iron Skin at 11th.
wow thank you very much, that gives me good idea of what the battle oracle is going to play out like. hmm I'm not sure if i want to multiclass, ill have to put some more thought into that. not sure on races right now, I'm thinking halfling or gnome for the cha boost, plus party has a good deal of the other races.
Halfling or gnome would be cool, but not mechanically superior. the -1 to CMB due to size and the smaller movement and lower damage due to size aren't that great. Not that it couldnt be fun, just wouldn't be as effective. One of the best qualities of the battle oracle is the Maneuver mastery. A high strength BA with a heavy flail can be really fun for tripping and disarming.
If you multiclass, taking two levels of Barbarian and going Rage Prophet is a cool way to go as well. Its a great way to tank, put out the damage and heal em up after. If you pick the lame curse, you become immune to Fatigue at a certain point, and you can slip into and out of rage with no penalties way early. Oh, and the extra movement as a barbarian fixes your movement problem too. Not really any downside there, other than losing a few spell casting levels.
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Halfling and gnome will reduce your damage output and CMB/CMD, but if you're more interested in just staying power, then they're fine. Otherwise, you might also consider the human, half-elf, or half-orc, and apply the +2 to CHA anyway. Humans do well taking Extra Revelation for a feat, half-elves are the best multiclassers, and half-orcs get you falchions (excellent for Weapon Mastery) and Ferocity (with your Cures, you won't need Resiliency).
Charisma isn't necessarily the most important piece for a Battle Oracle. You'll want it for the spellcasting, but if you focus on the buffs, you won't need the save bonuses. That way, you can focus more of your abilities in the physical stats.
I have a half elf clouded vision oracle of heaven and she is awesome
excellent skill range
the dazzling display makes color spray potent for many levels
i have the 2nd level spell that allows you a swift action spell, not provoke...so she maneuvers around very well to cast color spray or bash
with her half-elf heirloom lucerne hammer (i like rolling d12's)
i took spark shower thing which isnt great, but ok against swarms
the deep cold thing is awesome as it affects fortitude so is excellent against evasive rogues and weakly wizards
gonna take the bridge thing next as it looks an excellent utility in the level 4-6 party she is in
she has things like bless, divine favour, shield faith etc so makes a decent 2nd line fighter, is a good healer and makes a good faceman
spent all my feats on 'extras'
oracle is my fav class at the moment....but i adored Favoured Soul in 3.5
in a few levels will take greater magic weapon and the hour per level armour spell, so i can spend cash on other stuff
tempted to power into UMD to really increase her magical powers
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If you multiclass, taking two levels of Barbarian and going Rage Prophet is a cool way to go as well. Its a great way to tank, put out the damage and heal em up after. If you pick the lame curse, you become immune to Fatigue at a certain point, and you can slip into and out of rage with no penalties way early. Oh, and the extra movement as a barbarian fixes your movement problem too. Not really any downside there, other than losing a few spell casting levels.
Ooh, yeah, take a look at Rage Prophet. A Lame Half-Orc Battle Oracle/Barbarian wielding a falchion with the Weapon Mastery revelation is strong all by itself. Don't take Skill at Arms in this case; Battlefield Clarity and Maneuver Mastery are good!
Our Legacy of Fire group is now hitting level 10 and the Gnome Oracle of Heavens with spell focus & greater spell focus in Illusion is deadly with a combination of Color Spray and the various Pattern spells after she picked up Awesome Display. The armor and flight also free he up a bit for mobility and defense.
Not so great on undead, constructs, vermin types... but then she just buffs and summons monsters in those fights.
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So, I'm thinking that if you're looking for an Oracle Tank with a Gnome or Halfling, here's what I would do:
Gnome Battle Oracle
Ability Scores: Str>Con>Cha>Dex>Wis>Int
You want to be strong and have lots of HP, but your Dex is less important than Heavy Armor. That's why I prefer the Gnome to the Halfling. Make sure you have the Charisma to cast your spells eventually, but don't look for lots of save effects--focus on buffs.
If you think you'll be fighting lots of Humanoids, keep the basic Gnome abilities. Otherwise, swap out Hatred and Defensive Training for Eternal Hope. Alternately, check with your DM about crafting rules. If you like them, then Master Tinker will let you be proficient with any weapon you personally make--and you're all about weapons.
Curse: Lame slows you, but you'll eventually be immune to Fatigued and Exhausted conditions. Wasting gives you bad Charisma skill checks, but eventually makes you immune to Sickened and Nauseated conditions. Either curse will help your staying power.
First revelation: Skill at Arms. First feat: Extra Revelation: Battlefield Clarity or Maneuver Mastery (Disarm or Dirty Trick).
Spells: Bless, Divine Favor, Cure Light Wounds.
I've been very pleased with the performance of my Oracle of Battle. He mutted out into Barbarian, and wades into combat with a bardiche. The Surprising Charge revelation has let him repeatedly put himself where foes wouldn't want him, maximizing the polearm's Attack of Opportunity goodness.