Samsarans... do they fit into any "optimal" build?

[Blastoguy]

Looking at Samasarans they're imho the worst race in the game, I was wondering if they had a niche that they excel at which I'm missing.

[Cheapy]

Mystic Theurge.
Convincing people that not everything needs to be optimal.

[Squawk Featherbeak]

Having bonuses in both Int and Wis, I say they make excellent Theurges.

[Peter Stewart]

What book are they found in?

[OmegaZ]

The +2 Int bonus is good for: wizards, alchemists, magi, and witches.

The +2 Wis bonus is good for clerics, druids, rangers, monk, and inquisitor.

The -2 Con penalty is a hindrance on any melee classes, which takes out monk and magi (and melee rangers, alchemists, and inquisitors).

That leaves us with samsarans being well suited for wizards, ranged alchemists, witches, clerics, druids, and ranged inquisitors. This is a perfectly fine line up of classes which a samsaran is optimal for. Add in the fact that not everything needs to be 100% optimal and samsarans are a perfectly fine race. If you're going for Mystic Theurge they are fantastic.

[InVinoVeritas]

Also Internal Alchemist/Monks or Magus/Monk.

The big trick (on the stats) is to make sure that you're using Intelligence for more than the extra skill points--a human with +2 Wis gets that already. So they're fine alchemists, magi, and wizards. They also work as cerebral-style rogues. Certain style of oracles (lore, seer, stargazer) and sorcerers (empyreal, sage) would also benefit.

They're great for the knowledge-monkey.

[Squawk Featherbeak]

THE DRAGON STYLE VIVISECTIONIST BEASTMORPH FERAL MUTAGEN ALCHEMIST... I think.

[Balin]

As mentioned, great for INT or WIS based casters. Also great for people who want a long lived character (that's basically immortal) and don't want to play an elf, dwarf, or gnome.

[Mort the Cleverly Named]

Blastoguy wrote:

Looking at Samasarans they're imho the worst race in the game, I was wondering if they had a niche that they excel at which I'm missing.

I agree they are the worst race in the game (unless you include kobolds). Mechanically, they will almost always be a better choice out there for whatever build you are looking to put together.

Thankfully, unlike classes, weak races will always excel at a certain niche. That niche is "being that race." I can scratch off the numbers and call my Ranger a Rogue, but I can't very well be an Elf and go around telling people I am Samsaran.

Well, I guess I COULD. But I'm not sure my starting wealth would be high enough for all the blue body paint, white contact lenses, and ear-reduction surgery.

[Blastoguy]

Whoa! Acting troupe please call off your attack and return to your basements; obviously I plan on roleplaying if I'm trying to figure out how I can not be dead weight as a particular race.

Anyway I think empyreal wildblood sorcerer/cloistered cleric/mystic theurge would do well.

Can't help but think a negative to charisma would have fit the race better... ah well.

[InVinoVeritas]

If you use an Int-based samsaran, then you can get more out of the samsaran's other bonuses and powers by focusing on casters that might need more Will saves, knowledges, and death protection. I'd use a samsaran in a hearbeat for a diviner, conjurer/summoner, or necromancer.