Preface:
As we near our kick off of the new Skulls and Shackles AP, I find myself pondering more and more my little (probably a gnome) Life Oracle, and beseech ye all forum go'ers for advice and input.
I've been advised that this particular DM- a change from the one who just ran out RotL game- will require some sort of permament healer even if just to have lots of it to go around after battle. I've therefore endeavored to write up a spellcasty focused Life Oracle.
The Life Oracle gets the majority of the useful healy type spells for free, added to their spells known as they level up. This offers me the chance to take other types of spells in addition to them. I would assume a buff and control selection would be the most beneficial- using scrolls ro wands for the few "healy" type spells that rarely come up. (fixing blindness and removing curses and such- things important, but not so common as to waste spell slots).
At the moment he'sa Gnome Life Oracle 1. I have no intention of multiclassing or PrC'ing him out.
His first Mystery selection is for Channeling.
I.
At the moment his feats are:
1) Selective channeling
2 and following: ?
Any advice on what to take as a casty healery type as far as feats go?
I've it in mind to watch and wait to see how much healing is actually needed- and going down that Eldritch Heritage->improved familiar chain to get myself a Lay on Hands capable familiar later on down the road, but only if it becomes necessary due to the combination of our playstyle and the DM. Otherwise, I'm rather clueless on just exactly what to take.
Extra spells? metamagics? Opinions would be greatly appreciated.
II.
For spells I'm looking at things that'll last throughout the career of this little critter.
So far am looking at
Bless
Protection from Evil.
Both scale well with level and are fairly useful as life goes along.. and I don't really see anything else off hand that one might continue to use throughout a career of spell casting.
However, I'm completely unopposed to finding better ideas. :)
Your thoughts and input are greatly appreciated.
-S
Extra Channel is also a nice feat, since you get less Channels per day than a Cleric of equal level.
At the present, my traits and skills are geared more towards being a pirate. I think my level 1 sailor skill is something like 9 due to traits, ability mod and the skill point or something.
(various racial trait swap outs as well as a campaign trait and whatnot).
I like the stealth idea but can't fit it in at 1st level.. may do do at 2nd though.
Thanks for the build idea :)
-S
Extra Channel is also a nice feat, since you get less Channels per day than a Cleric of equal level.
I'm going to wait and see how that pans out. While I don't get as many initially, a spellcasty focused Oracle should get enough charisma bumps to more than make up for it.
That, like the familiar, is something I'll be watching to see if more is needed rather than taking for and/or planning for it right off the bat.
-S
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Here is a link to the Life Oracle a friend of mine is playing in my Rise of the Runelord game. He has taken crossbow feats to make his character more combat viable.
Awesome, bigkilla, thank you. I hadn't thought of doing that at all.
=S
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Extra Channel is also a nice feat, since you get less Channels per day than a Cleric of equal level.I'm going to wait and see how that pans out. While I don't get as many initially, a spellcasty focused Oracle should get enough charisma bumps to more than make up for it.
I'd also recommend extra channel. Every time you channel you heal the party and reduce the need to spend your spell slots on healing. If you are planning to be the party's primary healer, I'm not sure why you didn't just roll a cleric?
Extra Channel is also a nice feat, since you get less Channels per day than a Cleric of equal level.
Actually this is not true because your CHA will be significantly higher than a cleric. I have found that they get about the same and probably more channels. A cleric is going to be boosting WIS, where an oracle boosts CHA.
If you are not set on playing a gnome I would suggest a half elf. They get extra spells as a favored class option which for a Oracle is a big advantage. They also get Skill Focus free so you can get into Eldritch Heritage line quicker. Aquatic as will eventually get the amphibious quality so can breathe water.
For Feats Reach spell and Eldritch Heritage are a good start. Reach spell will allow you to heal at range so do not need the familiar.
Haunted is a good curse since it gives you extra spells that are not one the Oracle spell list.
I'd also recommend extra channel. Every time you channel you heal the party and reduce the need to spend your spell slots on healing. If you are planning to be the party's primary healer, I'm not sure why you didn't just roll a cleric?Extra Channel is also a nice feat, since you get less Channels per day than a Cleric of equal level.I'm going to wait and see how that pans out. While I don't get as many initially, a spellcasty focused Oracle should get enough charisma bumps to more than make up for it.
Well, I compared the two before going the oracle route.. and for the most part, they are funtionally equivalent. Sure, there's no getting around the versatility of being able to swap out your spell list everyday but I rather enjoy the idea and mechanics behind the oracle in general and the mysteries for Life in particular.
*also* we currently have a cleric who is a part time healer and I want mine to be a good bit different than his- both Rp wise and mechanically.
There is absolutely nothing "wrong" with doing it as a cleric.. I mainly just want to give the oracle a go. I've largely fell in love with alot of the APG stuff- having played an archtyped bard and (after his demise) a witch, and want to see how the oracle plays as well.
Two paths to the same road.. am just taking the other way :)
-S
A caster Oracle is going to have 5-8 channels a day (18-24 CHA) while a cleric is going to have 3-5 (10-14 CHA), maybe 6 if he's built to be a party face.
single solitary little bump.