|
Somehow, by ways of which even I am unsure, my witch has managed to survive (depending on your definition of the word) to the ripe old level of 9. I didn't make an optimized build with him, and have made my fair share of poor choices throughout the last 40-some-odd scenarios, but he's managed to make it this far thanks to teamwork, luck, and several raise dead spells.
What it's boiling down to at this point, though, is that I've noticed several glaring holes in what he can and can't do in certain situations. His problem areas tend to be in combat situations, as he's a highly intelligent and fairly crafty problem solver (that and his nigh-constant companion can usually talk them out of a certain amount of trouble).
Undead, Constructs, Elementals, and the like tend to be a bit of a problem for him. The only real "offensive" hexes he has are Evil Eye (mind-effecting) and Slumber (only works on things that can be put to sleep).
He doesn't really have the greatest variety of direct damage dealing spells, but since he's just taken Improved Familiar, his spell list gets reset (if I'm not mistaken) to a very basic, minimal list.
What I'd like to know is what spells would be best for him to take (he's very fond of Summon Monster) and what sorts of consumables/other items would be good for him to work toward getting. He's currently down to 6k gold (thanks to dieing several times as well as being the main contributor to party healing via wands and scrolls throughout the levels [seeing as how we've only had a cleric a handful of times], the last two of which others have actually started to help with that) and I'm currently debating between getting his new familiar a Circlet of Persuasion for use with its ability of UMD, or getting a few more scrolls/wands/potions.
I thank you all for your time and any tidbits of advice you may have. I have read through Painlord's threads, which I have found to be rather useful, and if anyone has other links to other useful threads, they'd be much appreciated.
EDIT: Also, he's not too shabby with a bow and arrow when not firing directly into melee (-4 penalty and all). As far as weapons go, though, he's just not cut out to be a brawler. He's a librarian for Nethys' sake...
I've played a couple of witches, and find the types of opponents you describe to be difficult to affect directly. In those situations, I rely on buffing party members that can dig in with them (generally, the tank) via the fortune hex, healing, or (if brave) dimension dooring the tank right up next to the enemies for him to get a full attack. What is your UMD like? At your level, a wand of scorching ray allows you to contribute but is not out of reach cost-wise.
One clarification, too: if your character has played 40-plus scenarios, he's well past retirement level!
I'm with Welby, it's not what you can do alone that matters, it's what you can do with everyone else's help.
I'd stock up on things that will go well with UMD. Scrolls of Bless, Faerie Fire, Entangle are all useful, and cheap.
Plus, if you're a librarian; best make sure you have a library.
|
One thing you might want to look at are pathfinder chronicles. Actual books that give a +2 bonus to their related knowledge check. My librarian never leaves the lodge without them. As for spells....it depends on what you want to do and what your feat selection looks like. It also depends on are you looking for an optimized character, or a character with oft-overlooked spells that have entertaining value or utility roles? Or a blend of the above? Let us know what you are looking for, and we shall pour over the spell list.
|
|
I've played a couple of witches, and find the types of opponents you describe to be difficult to affect directly. In those situations, I rely on buffing party members that can dig in with them (generally, the tank) via the fortune hex, healing, or (if brave) dimension dooring the tank right up next to the enemies for him to get a full attack. What is your UMD like? At your level, a wand of scorching ray allows you to contribute but is not out of reach cost-wise.
One clarification, too: if your character has played 40-plus scenarios, he's well past retirement level!
I am a total derp. I was looking at his bleedin' PA total, he's only been through 24 scenarios. /facedesk
My UMD is only 12 at this level (9 ranks + 3 trained bonus) because his charisma score is 10. The only reason I was looking at getting the circlet and giving it to the familiar is that his ranks would be ever-so-slightly higher than my witch's thanks to the positive charisma.
As for the Imp Familiar, I've yet to see this contested, and have posted it many a time.
So, if I'm reading this correctly, that means I don't have to pay the 4500gp to replace his scorpion because it's an intentional switch? If so, that definitely ups what I can spend on scrolls, wands, etc.
I'm with Welby, it's not what you can do alone that matters, it's what you can do with everyone else's help.
I'd stock up on things that will go well with UMD. Scrolls of Bless, Faerie Fire, Entangle are all useful, and cheap.
Plus, if you're a librarian; best make sure you have a library.
I have a small library of scrolls, but I've been gold starved from the beginning because of the need for healing items in the party. I've been the only "healer" among a party of Multiclass-nightmare (Bard, Sorc, Fighter, Dragon Disciple), pure Sorc, and Dwarf fighter, of which only contributed a CLW wand a few times throughout the levels. I have opinions about some of their decisions, but I didn't want to be a jerk and say, "You're not helping me to heal you, so no heals for you!" There's also the 3 personal deaths, and chipping in for a couple of other people's raise dead spells they couldn't afford with PA or gold.
In more recent levels, others have started contributing a little and we've gotten some returning and new (to our group) players of higher levels to mix things up and it's become a lot more balanced.
I do plan to get more scrolls now, though, and hadn't actually been thinking of Faerie Fire or Entangle, so much appreciated!
One thing you might want to look at are pathfinder chronicles. Actual books that give a +2 bonus to their related knowledge check. My librarian never leaves the lodge without them. As for spells....it depends on what you want to do and what your feat selection looks like. It also depends on are you looking for an optimized character, or a character with oft-overlooked spells that have entertaining value or utility roles? Or a blend of the above? Let us know what you are looking for, and we shall pour over the spell list.
What are these magical, mystical, books of which you speak? The guy is a total knowledge monkey (having an absolute minimum of +8 to all knowledge skills, up to a +16 in Arcana and History), AND a librarian to boot, so carrying oodles of books is totally okay with me.
His feat selection is, as follows:
1 - Breadth of Experience (He's an Elf)
3 - Skill Focus (Perception)
5 - Extra Hex (Slumber)
7 - Accursed Hex
9 - Improved Familiar
At 11 I intend to take Split Hex, 'cause that's just bloody useful.
His hexes are:
1 - Evil Eye
2 - Ward
4 - Tongues
5 - (feat) Slumber
6 - Prehensile Hair
8 - Flight
Honestly, I'm not looking for an optimized character, so much as one that I enjoy playing. Despite the fact that he's grudgingly been the party healer for many levels, nowadays I'm enjoying him more since I can usually sling some spells and hexes around without having to spend every turn running to heal someone. I prefer utility and oddly useful spells, quirky is fun, but mainly I just want to be an effective member of the party. Damage spells have their place, but I'd be just as happy summoning elementals and other critters to do the damage for me while I fly circles around our foes making their lives miserable while my party members take care of obliterating them.
|
What I'd like to know is what spells would be best for him to take (he's very fond of Summon Monster)
Just my 2 cents into this talk, summon monsters is usually always good. They add damage, hp to tank and if done properly can provide crowd control by tying up the enemies.
They can slow down the game, so have everything prepared when you summon, stats, attack +s... etc.
So if you focus on summon its usually a good ideal. (Even with out feats like improve summons.)
|
|
What I'd like to know is what spells would be best for him to take (he's very fond of Summon Monster)Just my 2 cents into this talk, summon monsters is usually always good. They add damage, hp to tank and if done properly can provide crowd control by tying up the enemies.
They can slow down the game, so have everything prepared when you summon, stats, attack +s... etc.
So if you focus on summon its usually a good ideal. (Even with out feats like improve summons.)
As far as I'm concerned, Summon Monster is the only guaranteed spell at any given level one can expect Khet to have. Well, that and his patron spells, but yanno.
|
|
Hey, all, still kinda hoping for some more input on selection of spells/consumables/other items, here.
So far, I'm looking at picking up a wand of Faerie Fire, some scrolls of remove disease/poison/curse/paralysis/blindness/deafness, lesser restoration, darkvision, invisibility, and a small pile of the different elemental damage flasks (as well as some silver/cold iron arrows and a weapon blanch of adamantium for some others).
Any other suggestions?