|
One of my favorite changes to Pathfinder from 3.x was the at-will powers that spellcasters get. Between cantrips, bloodlines, and new domain powers, every caster always had something magical they could do in combat, without having to resort to carrying a crossbow around, which besides being usually ineffective, just felt wrong. Granted in the shift from Beta many of those at-will powers became #/day, but it was still usually enough to get through many more encounters and helped eliminate the 15 minute adventuring day.
Then we got the Oracle. It's an amazing class, and most of the players I know that used to enjoy playing a healing cleric have moved to an Oracle of Life. The problem is that Oracles don't get domains and have no offensive cantrips. There are very few Oracle Mysteries that have offensive revelations, and you don't have access to any revelations outside your chosen mystery (unlike Clerics who can pick multiple Domains). The lower level cleric/oracle spell lists are also completely devoid of offensive spells. What it means is that most Oracles I've seen still have to resort to traditional weapons - usually lugging around a crossbow.
Was this an oversight in class testing? Or am I missing something? How else can Oracles be effective in combat without investing huge amounts into Str or Dex and archery feats?
|
Oracles, like sorcerers, are spontaneous, affinity defined classes. They will always play best to their strengths.
Another bonus is there is no alignment requirement for these oracles, meaning a NG Oracle can still know and liberally use the Inflict spells.
Also if you are looking at life oracle, you cannot underestimate energy body, and channel smite (Feat) for your Channel to tack on some more damage.
|
|
What's wrong with a 3/4 BAB, medium armor class carrying weapons?
There's nothing wrong with it, but there are certainly players who just want to play a healing spellcaster. You can do it with the Cleric, you can do it with a Witch, but I'm having a hard time figuring out how to help my players do it with an Oracle.
|
|
...And carrying a crossbow and wearing a breastplate interferes with their healing ability? You lost me.
One of my favorite changes to Pathfinder from 3.x was the at-will powers that spellcasters get. Between cantrips, bloodlines, and new domain powers, every caster always had something magical they could do in combat, without having to resort to carrying a crossbow around, which besides being usually ineffective, just felt wrong.
In order to actually be effective at using a crossbow it requires a significant investment in Dex (adding to MAD problems), plus several feats (point-blank shot + Precise Shot). Also, breastplates are heavy (not talking about armor type, but weight) and require more points into Str just to keep from being encumbered (adding to MAD problems). My point is that when one of my players wants to play a spellcasting class, they want to focus on spellcasting and be an effective spellcaster, not have to dip into fighter feats and weapons just so they have something to do during every combat besides waiting around for someone to need healing.
Currently, this is how an encounter usually goes for the Oracle:
Round 1) cast bless or prayer
Round 2) shoot crossbow, miss.
Round 3) shoot crossbow, miss.
Round 4) shoot crossbow, miss.
etc.
If you want to be a combat-focused divine caster, play an Oracle with the Battle Mystery. You get more weapon/armor proficiencies, bonuses to combat maneuvers, combat feats, etc. as your revelations. Then take spells like Bless, Divine Favor, Shield of Faith, Bull's Strength, Shield Other, Deadly Juggernaut, Prayer, Blessing of Fervor, etc. If you're having trouble hitting things or taking too much of a beating, or if you just can't reach an enemy in a certain round, buff yourself or your party up.
RPG Superstar 2015 Top 32, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
|
Choosing something to be exceptional at (such as healing) usually requires that you be less effective at other things (like attacking). Or, you could split the difference and be decent at both. I'm not seeing the issue.
Be a human, take Point Blank Shot and Precise Shot at first level. Put some points into DEX and CHA, maybe 12 STR for carrying capacity, and a little CON. Everything else goes into being a "healing spellcaster".
Boom, done.
By using any number of the nice buff spells they get to simulate having higher Strength, and then going to town.
|
|
That's the thing, it's not about making a combat focused Oracle, it's about the rest of the Oracles Revelations not having many options for the Oracle to use during combat. Specifically an Oracle of Life, as they're very common additions to any party.
Energy Body is cool but will only harm undead. Same goes for Channeling.
|
|
Choosing something to be exceptional at (such as healing) usually requires that you be less effective at other things (like attacking). Or, you could split the difference and be decent at both. I'm not seeing the issue.
Be a human, take Point Blank Shot and Precise Shot at first level. Put some points into DEX and CHA, maybe 12 STR for carrying capacity, and a little CON. Everything else goes into being a "healing spellcaster".
Boom, done.
They don't pick a spellcasting class because they want to shoot crossbows all day, they want to cast spells. Like I said, Pathfinder fixed this for Clerics, Wizards, and Sorcerers. And not every player wants to play a human - they might want to play an elf or halfling for RP reasons.
Erm, they could heal then? Since that's what they're meant to do.
One of your complaints was the lack of offensive spells, which forced them to pump up strength etc. I mentioned an option to get around both of those problems.
Well, if you want a purely casting-focused Oracle, you can still take all the spells I mentioned above (as Oracles get either the Cure or Inflict spells for free, so they don't need to spend any of their known spell slots on them) and spend combat buffing and curing; they get enough spells per day that they can cast multiple spells per encounter and still have enough left for the rest of the day. If they want to provide some melee or ranged support, they can sacrifice their CHA slightly (start with, say, a 16 which is plenty if you're mostly going to be focused on buffs which don't require save) and putting extra points into STR or DEX to get one up to 15 or 16. Then they can be flanking buddies for the other melee classes and still have a pretty good chance to hit, especially if they do spend the first round or two casting party buffs.
|
|
Erm, they could heal then? Since that's what they're meant to do.
Haha, of course that's what she does whenever it's needed, but there's not always someone to heal every round. Plus pretty much everyone on the boards has agreed that healing in combat is less effective than just taking down the enemy faster.
|
|
Well, if you want a purely casting-focused Oracle, you can still take all the spells I mentioned above (as Oracles get either the Cure or Inflict spells for free, so they don't need to spend any of their known spell slots on them) and spend combat buffing and curing; they get enough spells per day that they can cast multiple spells per encounter and still have enough left for the rest of the day.
Thanks, I think honestly that's the best answer I've gotten so far. It's not perfect, but at least it's in the right direction. The only issue with this is that the Oracle's spell list is quite limited and if they didn't already pick these particular spells...