Hey everybody,
We're about to start a Pathfinder campaign (DM's homebrew story...not an adventure path, as far as I know). The other four classes are looking like:
Fighter (don't know specifics)
Ranger (melee...maybe trapfinding)
Sorcerer (Sage archetype)
Witch (Elemental patron)
I have been planning to play a bow using inquisitor of Desna from the beginning of discussions about our class composition, but I'm worrying now that it won't be a good fit. Primarily, I'm concerned that we're not going to have enough access to divine spells, both in terms of breadth and spell level progression. Do you feel an inquisitor can be the sole divine caster in this party, or should I consider a different class?
I realize the witch could have access to some of the important divine spells (i.e. Restoration) by selecting the Healing patron, but I really don't see her going this route. It sounds like she's most interested in playing a blaster with the occasional healing spell prepared. Our sorcerer is crazy about item creation, so we will have wands at some point, but that doesn't grant us access to a lot of "necessary" divine magic.
Cleric would seem to be the perfect solution (nice to have wisdom and charisma in this party composition too), but I'm a bit cleric'd out and I'd really like to avoid playing one if possible. I would be willing to switch to oracle or druid, but I worry the former will run into the same breadth issues the inquisitor does while the latter will never have access to Restoration.
What do you guys think?
If what you meant to ask was, can an inquisitor be a healbot, then the answer is no.
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Since the campaign is not a pre-written adventure path that has to assume a balanced party, I concur with Jadeite. Pleay what you like.
The strength of a GM who's designing her own campaign is that she can tailor the challenges to the party in a way that no adventure writer / developer can. A party of all sorcerers and wizards? Not a problem for the GM who can (a) design adventures that don't require positive energy chanelling or PCs with massive hit points, (b) invite the entire party to the Arcanist-only tea ceremonies, (c) leave spellbooks and wands as treasure in place of swords and candles of evocation.
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If what you meant to ask was, can an inquisitor be a healbot, then the answer is no.
I disagree here. In kingmaker, our healer is an Inquisitor, and she does a fine job of it. Recently just picked up a wand of CLW, though didn't really need to, but its extra healing when needed.
Plus the witch has the ability to take some cure spells or use cure wands too, and the ranger does too unless he goes the trapping route and drops his spells.
Thanks for the responses, all.
I think that between the witch and myself, we should have healing covered until several of us can start toting wands, so I'm not worried about being a healbot, so to speak.
Recently, I've begun to worry about nasty effects at higher levels and being unable to remove them, but the witch does get Remove Curse and Break Enchantment, and my inquisitor can grab Restoration at level 10 (though it will cost a valuable spells-known slot). We might be okay in that department.
I would select the infiltrator archetype with my inquisitor, so I would have a passable bluff/diplomacy. I don't like what you lose with that build, but it fits the character perfectly (she's a Desnan dissident undercover in Nidal).
I appreciate your thoughts!
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Recently, I've begun to worry about nasty effects at higher levels and being unable to remove them, but the witch does get Remove Curse and Break Enchantment, and my inquisitor can grab Restoration at level 10 (though it will cost a valuable spells-known slot). We might be okay in that department.
Never underestimate the power of scrolls. Just because you don't have it as a spell known, doesn't mean you can't use it as a scroll. If you can't see yourself wanting/needing to cast a spell every day, consider picking it up as a scroll instead. As long as its on the class' spell list you can cast it from a scroll. If you can't cast spells of its level yet, you'll need to make a caster level check, but unless you're using a really high level spell or roll really badly, it usually works out. Having a bunch of utility spell scrolls can really help out those casters with limited spells known.
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Your Witch can take up a LOT of slack if they take the healing hex and maybe Brew Potion/Cauldron.
My party had a bard much later in the game but he was a Librarian build and not optimized for healing.
Yet...they survived.
Any healer, even an Alchemist can cover the role. When itemized healing kicks in, your healing casters can better spend their time focusing on direct damage, control, and intel spells.
Scrolls, Wands, and Potions are far better at healing anyway.
Never underestimate the power of scrolls. Just because you don't have it as a spell known, doesn't mean you can't use it as a scroll. If you can't see yourself wanting/needing to cast a spell every day, consider picking it up as a scroll instead. As long as its on the class' spell list you can cast it from a scroll. If you can't cast spells of its level yet, you'll need to make a caster level check, but unless you're using a really high level spell or roll really badly, it usually works out. Having a bunch of utility spell scrolls can really help out those casters with limited spells known.Recently, I've begun to worry about nasty effects at higher levels and being unable to remove them, but the witch does get Remove Curse and Break Enchantment, and my inquisitor can grab Restoration at level 10 (though it will cost a valuable spells-known slot). We might be okay in that department.
An excellent point. I've been playing with the same DM for years and I've seen him shower us with money in one campaign and then have us find almost nothing in another, so I am not yet sure how freely the coin will flow. Even if this game starts looking like the latter, I think we can spare some gold for a few scrolls.
Based on the people's advice, I feel a lot more comfortable going inquisitor. Thanks much to everybody contributing their thoughts.
Yeah I would say Inquisitor is totally viable as an option for what you need....
Personally, though, if it was me I would for sure go with an Oracle, they are my new favourite class, nicely different from a Cleric but with the same spell list (plus I just reeeeally prefer spontaneous casters) and with the Charisma primary stat you can use the Dangerously Curious trait and have a great Use Magic Device score so that you can cover the spells you don't know.
Also, +1 to the poster above me, Wand will be a way better idea than potions/scrolls for something like that.
EDIT: Bit of a Duh moment for me, the Use Magic Device skill of course doesn't have any bearing on the divine spells issue since they are all on your class list for using spell trigger items etc... The Oracle does have a more complete divine spell list than the inquisitor though.
A GM should accomodate the party to a degree. I personally dont ever feel that a person should HAVE to be designated as the "healbot" unless they want too. IMHO if a party is lacking a dedicated healer, then more potions/wands of cure light wounds should drop to supplement the lack of healing from strong casters such as clerics, druids, or oracles.
With a party line-up of bad asses like that, add to the fury by being an Inquisitor and remove the need of a healer after you wipe the floor with the enemy every encounter.
Especially since it is a homebrew, stick to your guns and play what you want since your DM should be catering to what you all desire.
In the group I'm DMing through Legacy of Fire, they have 6 PCs. Inq. is the primary healer.
Now starting off the guys had an Oracle, but he bit it at level 2. The guy playing the Oracle brought in a Barbarian with monster HP and little AC.
The group is now 5/6. Other minor healers in the party are a Cav5/Bard1 and a Ranger who has yet to get 2nd level spells.
The result: The Barbarian is eating through tons of hp and has not been full hp in a while, but he's got a lot more than everyone else, so... The Party is surviving and has a few levels to go before they can cash out for wands. Therefore, the party will have to recognize their weakness is in their ability to heal and not press themselves too far, too fast. They will have to deal with the consequences of having a dungeon that "re-stocks" because of the all the rest they will need. If they don't rest enough, they will fail. That being said, the party can dish some damage when they get rolling.
So, it's not a typical party in the mold that every party needs a primary healer. And there are six PCs total to care for. But if the party recognizes their weakness and strengths and adjusts their play accordingly, they will still be able to succeed.
I see two potential healers. Add the inquisitor and you have three. That's more than enough.