For quite some time, I have been unsuccessfully trying to recreate a 3.x/PF (but now just sticking with PF) character that resembles Dark Phoenix. I know I'll never come close to eating entire galaxies, but that's not really the point. All I truly desire out of this character is fire attacks/spells, flight, telekinesis, and decent unarmed strike damage. With Ultimate Combat, I feel that this is definitely more viable now. I just need some help optimizing (survivability and usefulness, not necessarily damage with) this build, as I only have it planned out until 10th level and it suffers from MAD.
I took three levels of Monk to get Still Mind so I can then take Monastic Legacy. I also took various legal combos of Monk archetypes since I get other useful and/or thematic things for free a lot sooner that way. From there, I go into Sorcerer levels with the Elemental (Fire) bloodline. I take only as many levels as I need to meet the prerequisites for the Eldritch Knight. Unfortunately, I also have to waste a level on Fighter to gain martial weapon proficiency to become an EK, but I suppose it's not that much of a waste.
I really hate the EK due to it's abundant lack of class abilities, but I feel like it's the best option since I get "full" arcane spellcasting levels as well as full bab to make up for the Sorcerer's awful bab. If you have any other suggestions as to the order of class levels, alternate class levels, thematic spells (besides fire spells, fly, and telekinesis), feats (and what order to learn them), and favored class options, then I am all ears. Thank you in advance, and here is my build so far:
These are the stats I'd start out with, unless I happen to roll 4d6 (drop the lowest) better than this. I'd also add ability points from leveling, magic items, and spells when appropriate.
STR 12
DEX 15 (13+2 from being Human)
CON 10
INT 8
WIS 15
CHA 14
1st: Combat Reflexes (1st-level bonus), Dodge (human bonus), Efreeti Style (monk bonus from Many Styles), Elemental Fist (replaces Stunning Fist from 4 Winds), Fuse Styles (replaces FoB with Many Styles), Unarmed Strike
2nd: Efreeti Stance (monk bonus from Many Styles), Toughness, +1 natural armor (both from Sacred Mountain)
3rd: Fast Movement, Maneuver Training, Monastic Legacy (3rd-level bonus), Still Mind
4th: Bloodline Power (Fire Ray), Cantrips, Eschew Materials
5th: Crane Style (5th-level bonus)
6th: Bloodline Power (Fire Resistance 10), Bloodline Spell (Burning Hands)
7th: Sorcerous Strike (7th-level bonus)
8th: Bloodline Spell (Scorching Ray)
9th: Sorcerous Bloodstrike (9th-level bonus), and I meet the "able to cast 3rd-level arcane spells" prereq for EK
10th: Crane Wing (Fighter combat bonus), and I meet the "proficient with all martial weapons" prereq for EK
11th +: I was thinking of going all the way with EK from this point on, but have no idea what feats to take except for Crane Riposte at 13th level when I meet the bab requirement. Again, I just want to be able to kick some butt with fiery fists, fire spells, telekinesis, and flight. Am I on the right track?
After reading a somewhat related post about the Dragon Style, I'm thinking I should replace Crane Style so I can get Dragon Ferocity since it will also aid in increased elemental damage from Elemental Fist. It causes a bit more of an issue with being MAD, but I think I can manage it if I take six levels of Monk instead of three to get Dragon Ferocity without needing to meet prereqs. That would just be three less EK levels, and delay learning spells. So I would take Efreeti Style for free at 1st Monk level, Dragon Style for free at 2nd Monk level, and Dragon Ferocity for free at 6th Monk level. The rest of the Style feats I can obtain later through normal means. The only other feats I'm concerned with are Monastic Legacy and both of the Strike feats, but I think I can learn them at somewhat appropriate levels. Thoughts?
I have also been informed that I cannot take Many Styles and 4 Winds at the same time. No biggie, as it seems that Dragon Ferocity also gives you the ability to use Elemental Fist with only one energy type (until you do meet the prerequisites).
Or simply take some Polymorph spells with the sorcerer levels.
I always thought of Dark Phoenix as psionic in nature. The Wilder class practically reeks of it, surges of barely controlled power (or not controlled at all in some cases!) Although the Font of Power ability of the Metamind prestige class certainly sums up the whole unlimited power deal.
I always thought of Dark Phoenix as psionic in nature. The Wilder class practically reeks of it, surges of barely controlled power (or not controlled at all in some cases!) Although the Font of Power ability of the Metamind prestige class certainly sums up the whole unlimited power deal.
Except that I'm only sticking to the four main Pathfinder books for this build. I tried doing 3.5 Psionics, but no matter what concept I came up with, I was never satisfied with it.
@sieylianna & SunsetPychosis: Mutagens/cognatogens and polymorph don't really fit to me, though, since she is possessed by a cosmic entity (at first, anyway). I feel that the Rage + Elemental Body spells seem more appropriate here. I do appreciate the suggestions, though. If you guys think of anything else, particularly with the construction of my build, please let me know. =)
I don't know why this was moved to Conversions just because it's about Dark Phoenix. I'm not trying to convert PF into X-Men or vice versa. I'm not even trying to exactly recreate Dark Phoenix. I could have very well said "help me with my elemental fist monk build" and it would've stayed in Advice. *irritated*
personally I'd go with high spell casting and any "melee" ability is simply a function of spells cast. Off the top of my head Magus seems to be what you're going for. Maybe (and I stress maybe) a level of monk for flavor and unarmed strike. Also maybe start take Eltrich Knight when you are able. That'll boost most of the i mportant stuff that you want.
Other than that a straight fire sorcerer with the right combo of spells would fit perfectly.
My 2C
you can decide between powers and good melee, you really can't have both.
I already know that if you try to have both magic and melee, that one or the other, if not both, will suffer. I didn't say I wanted to be awesome at unarmed combat and spellcasting. I just want some specific spells (like fly and telekinesis), which is more than feasible with what I have planned. Most of the fire spells will be redundant considering how much fire damage I'll end up doing with only unarmed strikes, plus other abilities in conjunction with it, but that's what happens anyway if you focus on one element.
I actually changed the build myself, since no one has bothered to comment on what I already have. I'm going Monk 6/Sorcerer 6/Fighter 1/Eldritch Knight 7. This gives me decent saves, a medium bab progression, all of the styles feats that I wanted (plus the two sorcerous strike feats), access to all of the spells that I wanted (up to 6th-level spells), and some other surprise bonuses from the feats I hadn't realized regarding unarmed strikes. I just haven't thought about how good my AC will be yet.
If I had a jerky DM that would send me into battle with fire resistant creatures all the time or single me out with a BBEG, I might think twice about it. Luckily, I don't have to worry about that.
@White Tiger: No alternate races allowed, though I do like that idea.
@Tiny Coffee Golem: You aren't considering the main point of the build, though, which is elemental unarmed fighting. I want to work around being a Monk of Many Styles with the Efreeti and Dragon Style feat chains. Everything else (Sorcerer, Fighter, EK) is to help out with the specific spells I want while maintaining a decent bab progression. Nevertheless, I do appreciate you taking the time to suggest ideas.
I know this is completely unrealistic within Pathfinder, but my inspiration is this. That's closer to what I'm trying to accomplish.
@White Tiger: No alternate races allowed, though I do like that idea.
@Tiny Coffee Golem: You aren't considering the main point of the build, though, which is elemental unarmed fighting. I want to work around being a Monk of Many Styles with the Efreeti and Dragon Style feat chains. Everything else (Sorcerer, Fighter, EK) is to help out with the specific spells I want while maintaining a decent bab progression. Nevertheless, I do appreciate you taking the time to suggest ideas.
Gotcha. I thought you were trying to mimic dark pheonix.
So, just go straight monk with the elemental fist and quigonjin stuff for that fire roasted flavor.
She's an Oracle of Flame for me... with perhaps some archetype to give her some power of Life Mystery.
Peri-Born Aasimar, Oracle of Flame, Haunted curse, Planar Oracle archetype, Eldritch Heritage (Celestial).
Wow... Thread resurrection. =)
That's a cool idea, but it still doesn't achieve what I was originally going for. Since then, though, I also homebrewed a sorcerer Phoenix bloodline that works quite well with the right spell selection. Too bad I never get a chance to use my homebrewed stuff.
Why a monk?
Why a monk?
That's what I was thinking.