I try to always have a backup character ready in case my current PC dies and is unrecoverable (or I don't want to recover him).
Currently playing an undead heavy (with some outsiders) campaign. Specifically it is a modified Carrion Crown. I think we are around 1/2-2/3 way through the 2nd book. It has been modified with some 3.5 beasties and is proably a little tougher that it was written to be origianally.
{{ NO SPOILERS PLEASE }}
Should my current character die (always a possibility). I think we need some serious divine power but i'm tired of clerics. I think I want to try an oracle. I would like some help determining a decent oracle build to go up against mostly undead and necromancer type stuff.
Party currently also has:
Dwarf paladin undead scourge, melee
Dwarf rogue/soul knife, melee but uses a dwarven thrower alot
Human gunslinger, double pistols
Human xbow specialist (odd choice, but seems to be doing ok)
Me - Halfling wizard diviner (with alot of necromancy spells)
We use 20 point buy.
Creating at level 6.
Race is open.
Standard PC WBL.
Any Paizo products, but not 3rd party. (He has placed this in Ebberon, so I might be able to talk him into some of the 3.5 Ebberon material if really seems necessary.)
Caster, not weapon build
I will have to be at least neutral but usually prefer good.
We have a undead scourge paladin in the group so no animating for me.
Need to do a better job than the paladin at preventing or removing the conditions that the undead have been giving us (ability drains, negative levels, disease, poison, etc...) in addition to healing.
It doesn't have to be awesome, but I insist on some offensive and skill potential. I get bored with just a heal or buff bot build.
I've never build or even given a detailed study of the oracle (which is probably why I want one now). So what do you folks recommend?
Life oracle, their all about healing which means dead undead.
Be warned you may be stuck as a healbot.
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Oracle of Life seems like the best choice. (ETA: Ninja'd by Theos!) I have a third level one HERE (she's in a party with a lot of melee support, and some of her skills are fluff, so you've got room for further optimization) and an inactive first level one HERE. The latter has some skills I don't see represented in your group--Survival can be useful, even if you don't get the ranger bonuses. They can get channeling, too, plus lesser restoration is one of their bonus spells.
I think if I choose at least 1 offensive and 1 defensive/utility spell of each level. I'll be ok.
I will make sure I use the spells sometimes so if I'm out of spells for cures they may have to plan on buying some potions or wands. I am more likely to save for the conditions as wands/scrolls for those seem to be much less common.
Life Oracle works really well, choose feats etc. to be a front line fighter, your revelations will take care of the healing.
Energy Body combined with the grace spell is a nice front line combo, when activated for in a pinch healing of others.
Swift to cast Grace to ignore AoO, walk through an ally's square to heal d6 plus level, then still have a standard for some smackage!
Also you will be the talkie of the party, with your 4+ skills and mega charisma.
Don't want to be a front line fighter.
We have enough that are already good/better at that.
The healing does give a pretty decent attack spell for use against undead, but I think they are all touch attack and I'd rather stay farther away than that.
I thought the bones mystery is mostly if you are going to be creating the undead not fighting them. Maybe I have to go read that again.
Was considering gnome for the +2 to cha.
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Honestly in the adventure path you're playing, almost any oracle would be good. Remember they get all cure or inflict spells added to their spells known for free. So you're pretty set for basic positive energy use. It really just depends on what kind of oracle you want to play.
The Life Mystery will certainly make you a positive energy powerhouse and give you the condition removal you asked for, but don't rule out the others. The elemental ones are great for blasting (especially Fire). Their are plenty of choices for combat oriented ones including Metal and Battle Mysteries. A player of mine is playing an Ancestors Oracle with a katana who is empowered by the warrior spirits of his bloodline (thing that scene in Mulan with Mushu and all the spirits and you've got an idea). In carrion crown, you could get alot of mileage out of the Heavens Mystery which is a personal favorite. I've always loved how its name makes you think its Angelic based, right up until you read it's powers. Specifically Dweller in Darkness and Interstellar Void. If that doesn't make you scream a little then you are made of tougher stuff than I. Of course then their is the Dark Tapesty mystery which is completely made of mind-bending horrors.
What all this amounts too is that you have some damn good choices and even with the stipulations you've asked for (condition removal which can be taken care of with a few key spells, specifically the Restoration spells and the Remove "X" line) you'll still be able to have your pick of tactics. Some item creation can also help your lack of choice by powering through with the spells you do have. A wand of lesser restoration can go a looong way.
Not mentioned is the Oracle of Bones, who can grab Command Undead and boast quite a fearsome channel DC.
Bones only allows you to command undead and heal undead. I think that is would put me in too much conflict with our undead scourge paladin.
If Bones is out Ancestors or Life are both solid choices for an Undead heavy campaign. Ancestors lends itself to more of a frontline role with some pretty great buffs from both its spells and the mystery itself. Battle can (depending on your choice of mysteries) also be a happy medium between the roles.
Life seems to be almost the only one that lets you channel positive energy and that is just too good for me to pass up in this AP. So what I'm thinking so far is:
Gnome, chaotic good, Oracle, life mystery, curse haunted
S: 10, D: 12, Co: 16, I: 10, W: 8, Ch: 19 counting racial and level points
Revelations: 1) channel energy, 3) energy body, 7) enhanced cures, 11) combat healer, 15) ?life link?
Feats: alignment channel, improved channel, selective channel - 7) turn undead 9) construct channel
Spells: at level 6
0 create water, detect magic, detect poison, light, mending, mending, read magic, ghost sound, mage hand
1 detect undead, detect evil, divine favor, protection from evil, shield of faith, cure light wounds
2 lesser restoration, levitate, minor image, pilfering hand, spiritual weapon, cure moderate wounds
3 neutralize poision, borrow fortune, cure serious wounds
Traits: don't know yet
Skills: don't know yet
Magic Items: don't know yet
Hows that look?
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You are definitely pigeon-holing yourself into the healer role. If you're okay with that then it looks fine. That said, I'm not certain that you'll need selective channel. Under normal circumstances perhaps, but won't you usually be fighting undead? There's no worry then of healing the wrong person with your burst.
I didn't think about that, yeah I think I'll ditch selective channel at least for now and switch it for reach spell.
Well I was thinking the healing spells are pretty good attacks vs. undead. Plus I've got the spiritual weapon. I didn't find an offensive spell for 1st level that I like. There are some good ones at 3rd, but borrow fortune seemed like a good save my ash spell.
I have a dual cursed gnome oracle of dark tapestry in the CC AP
swapped out all his gnomish stuff for the way cooler racial alternatives
he really sux against undead, but is proving very useful in the mod
he stands at the front with an enormous AC and annoys the monsters!!
This obviously doesnt help the OP!! I am thinking of getting a few spells that do a bit of damage to help out.
bab plus wisdom for attack. As long as your bab is decent it shouldn't be too rough.
I was thinking about doing an ancestor oracle using spirit of the warrior to fuel spiritual weapon and spiritual ally. More of a for fun thing than damage, but even with a decent wisdom you shouldn't be too bad off depending on what you're trying to get out of it.
hmm...
I guess I just assumed it switched to whatever your caster stat is like so many of the other attack spells do.
Carpola ! ! !
Maybe spear of purity or sound burst
I will have to be at least neutral but usually prefer good.
We have a undead scourge paladin in the group so no animating for me.I've never build or even given a detailed study of the oracle (which is probably why I want one now). So what do you folks recommend?
Play a Lawful Good Juju Oracle with the spirit vessels revelation.
Spirit Vessels (Su): You can channel wendo spirits into lifeless bodies, reanimating them to aid you. Necromancy spells that create undead lose the evil descriptor when you cast them. Mindless undead created by your magic are of neutral alignment, while thinking undead possess your alignment. When using the animate dead spell, you can control 6 HD worth of undead creatures per caster level rather than 4 HD. In addition, any zombies or juju zombies you create using animate dead, create undead, or similar spells possess maximum hit points.
Your Paladin cannot complain because you create neutral and mindless undead and your spells all lose the Evil descriptor. Undead are the absolute best weapons to use against undead. They are immune to the worst attacks of undead, and often resistant to attack methods of evil outsiders.
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An Oracle of Life in this setting will be incredibly useful.
A human might be a better choice than a gnome. The extra spells known are a huge advantage for a spontaneous caster. I would suggest dropping down the Con and increasing the Str. Also pick up heavy armor feat since you will want good defenses.
For traits go for Sacred Conduit to increase the DC of the save vs. of your channeled energy. Dangerously curious is also great as it gives you UMD as a class skill with a +1 bonus.
For skills you are going to want Knowledge Religion, Spell Craft, Use Magic Device (See above), probably also want Diplomacy and Heal.