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Hey there!
After a couple of months of judging PFS games, January will be the first time I get to play some myself, yay!
Now what to play? I have four things I want this character concept to incorporate:
- It has to be a (male) Gnome.
- It has to be able to take Improved Familiar later on.
- It has to somehow fit the fey/pixie style I like so much about Gnomes.
- It has to not be useless. :) I don't want to be the reason somebody dies and loses their character.
I imagine my Gnome more like this fine fella rather than this handsome, young lad.
I see three options for classes with familiars:
- Wizard
- Witch
- Sorcerer (Arcane)
I'd prefer the Sorc, since it fits the Gnome and the Pixie-style best, but unless I'm missing something, it breaks the fourth requirement: it's utterly useless. I mean, come on... Metamagic!? :(
The next best fit might be the Witch. With an Improved Familiar later on, the high importance placed on the Witch's familiar is kinda nice fluff-wise. But not only is it Int-based and thus makes my ability bonuses ridiculously bad, it's also a Witch. Once again, maybe I'm misreading something, but the once-per-target thing Witches have going on with their hexes makes their class abilities a lot worse than any other caster's (well, apart from the Arcane Sorc maybe).
That leaves the Wizard, which is barely pixie-ish, really. I mean, does this guy sit down every morning to read a book or five? :/
It also suffers from the ability-troubles the Gnome Witch would have but at least there's some cool school powers there...
So my questions:
a) Did I miss any other classes/archetypes that have access to Improved Familiar?
b) Did I misread/fail to understand any of the three options outlined above? Do Sorc(Arcane)/Witch not suck as much as I think they do? Can you think of a way to get Monsieur here to be a Wizard?
Thank you greatly for your time! :D
Curious about the familiar
If you went Oracle, charisma would be your prime casting stat, and a Nature oracle could get a wolf as a bonded mount (druid's companion equivalent). This may or may not fit your style (depending if you have a particular familiar in mind already).
And the once-per-target on a witch isn't bad, because some hexes like evil eye do not have that restriction.
Yeah, and the DC's for hexes bet better as you go along, so you will likely not even need to use them more than once per day on a target. Plus, their are many utility hexes such as flight or prehensile hair that will just make your day better over all. Or you could go an entirely different route: white haired witch. They trade in hexes for a natural attack that uses Int for damage (1.5 Int if you only have one natural attack), and it can start a grapple as a free action on a successful hit (which also uses Intelligence instead of strength for your CMB) without becoming grappled yourself. You can also do things like trip as a free action at later levels, and it gains 5 feet of reach every 4 levels (30 feet at level 20). Plus....it is just awesome to beat people down with your hair no matter what. "Beard Powers....ACITVATE!"
I am not sure about your opinion on metamagics, but I'll admit that they take a lot of experience to use reliably and effectively outside of a few basic ones.
About the sorcerer, you could just become a tattooed sorcerer. They not only get familiars, but they can hide the little critters by turning them into a tattoo. You trade a few things out, but the bonus feats you gain can also be useful. You could also go magus and just take the familiar arcana.
For the improved familiar, how about this: Lyrakien It is a Chaotic Good outsider that looks like a fairy, it has one of the best speeds of any familiar, good charisma and able to use wands, it has cure light wounds as a SLA once per day, it can use commune once per week as an SLA, and any barbarians in the party will love it since it can cure fatigue or exhaustion once per day. Plus, she is surrounded by sparkles and rainbows! You will be the envy of every schoolgirl with a trapper-keeper
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Thanks a lot for the many responses!
I indeed have a particular familiar in mind: Faerie Dragon.
I know it's not normally allowed in PFS but I happen to have a chronicle that allows it. ;) I'm not level 7 yet but once I am, I want to take it for sheer flavorness.
With the low DCs on all its abilities (and stuff like sleep, which isn't going to target much at level 7...) I don't think it's going to be useful, but boy, is it cute!
I'm also aware of the many cool options for Sorcerers, and the many cool options to have various types of familiars/companions/eidolons/etc., but the point here is that I want to use the boon I have. Since the character is a "GM credit baby", I get to decide how to build him just right for that familiar. :)
Thinking of it, I should build more survivability into that character, he's got to live to level 7 to actually use the boon!
My trouble with metamagic is that, ever since 3.0, I've completely failed to see why I should pay the horrendous price of at least one, but possibly several feats so that I can then cast a spell at 1-4(!!) levels higher for some tiny, little benefit. Sure, there might be that one spell that, at level 5 or higher, really benefits from a double duration. But it's so immensely circumstantial wheras the price you pay for it is everything but!
And the Sorcerer (Arcane Bloodline) really requires you to use metamagic feats...
Thanks for the hint with the Tattooed Sorcerer, looking into that now!
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A lot of the metamagic feats are useless, but not all. Actually, sorcerers (Arcane ones in particular!) are probably the most able to take advantage of them, since you can apply any metamagic to any spell on the fly.
Some good metamagics:
Silent/Still - very handy for casting on the sly. Since sorcerers get eschew materials for free, you can literally cast, say, Charm Person on someone while staring them straight in the eye, and have them be none the wiser.
Merciful - Free bloodline DC boosts, anyone?
Toppling - I've seen some incredibly good builds at 1st level with Magical Lineage (Magic Missile) and this. It loses effectiveness against monsters, but tripping 5 NPCs at once at higher levels when they're in combat with your BSFs is pretty neat.
Piercing - moreso for later levels (probably not necessary for PFS), but still - Spell resistance? What spell resistance?
Quicken Spell - another one you won't pick up for a long while... but one you will pick up.
Reach Spell - because who wants to get close to enemies to cast touch spells? (And don't forget to Shocking Grasp someone from 800 feet away once you get a few levels.)
Dazing Spell - if you've read any of the guides on here, you should know about the brokenness of Dazing Fireballs by now.
Oh, and when it comes to survivability, just put a few points in Con (14 should make for a pretty healthy character) and don't get in direct combat; you'll be fine. (I also highly recommend keeping some emergency scrolls handy.)
gnome illusionist sorcerer
trait 1: magical lineage - ghost sound
trait 2:wayang spellhunter - major image
level 1 feat: spell focus - illusion
level 3 feat: threatening illusion metamagic
level 5 feat: effortless trickery
level 7 feat: improved familiar
level 9 feat: shadow gambit
level 11 feat: reach spell metamagic
with magical lineage trait you can cast ghost sound to flank for your allies and still have it be a 0 level at will spell.
at 6th level you can cast major image as a threatening illusion without raising its level, and maintain it as long as you want with effortless trickery. if you buy a phantasmal gem to maintain it for you during combat, you can cast other spells like telekinetic charge, to put allies into a flank and gives them a free attack along with it. (rogues love being put into a flank with the major image :)
shadow gambit allows you to destroy your own ongoing illusions to do real actual damage, choosing one of 7 types when you actually destroy it, so it can be whatever type you need at the moment.
reach spell is just because it is super useful
illusions are your primary spells but that doesn't stop you from casting fireball when you need to either. it is a very fun build especially if you have a good imagination for coming up with your illusions.
oh, also by level 10 buy a lesser rod of persistent spell, and that major image that follows you around all the time could be DC 24 will save people have to make twice to disbelieve it.
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gnome illusionist sorcerer
trait 1: magical lineage - ghost sound
trait 2:wayang spellhunter - major image
level 1 feat: spell focus - illusion
level 3 feat: threatening illusion metamagic
level 5 feat: effortless trickery
level 7 feat: improved familiar
level 9 feat: shadow gambit
level 11 feat: reach spell metamagicwith magical lineage trait you can cast ghost sound to flank for your allies and still have it be a 0 level at will spell.
at 6th level you can cast major image as a threatening illusion without raising its level, and maintain it as long as you want with effortless trickery. if you buy a phantasmal gem to maintain it for you during combat, you can cast other spells like telekinetic charge, to put allies into a flank and gives them a free attack along with it. (rogues love being put into a flank with the major image :)
shadow gambit allows you to destroy your own ongoing illusions to do real actual damage, choosing one of 7 types when you actually destroy it, so it can be whatever type you need at the moment.
reach spell is just because it is super useful
illusions are your primary spells but that doesn't stop you from casting fireball when you need to either. it is a very fun build especially if you have a good imagination for coming up with your illusions.
Illusions that are actually useful in combat!? Impossible! :D
But how does your Sorcerer Build get a Familiar in the first place? Or is that an Arcane Bloodline build?
I doubt that Reach Spell Metamagic will be any use at all in PFS play. The maps are so tiny, basically everything is in close range all the time...
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So, I've read into that build a little and it sounds like even more fun than it did at first glance!
Some questions:
a) Does the Bloodline Arcana work with magical lineage/wayang spellhunter?
b) Can I move ghost sound after I cast it or does the point of origin stay in place?
c) Are there other ways to keep the save DCs of Ghost Sound and Major Image high? It'd be a shame if, at higher levels, Ghost Sound gets saved all the time...
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So if you don't like metamagic don't use it. Or just buy a few rods for occasional use. You don't need to be an arcane sorcerer. Lots of other bloodlines to explore.
Well, part of the point of this whole thread was to find out whether any of my basic assumptions (hexes suck, metamagic is not worth the effort, etc.) were wrong. And I've gotten some great input on that.
The other half of the input was people pointing out ways to build a character with improved familiar which I've missed so far. Also very nice. :)
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RPG Superstar 2014 Top 32
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I'd like to vouch for the Toppling Magic Missile combo. It's on my sorcerer build, and I feel that it works very well.
Personally, I am very fond of the sorcerer. It allows me to be a blaster AND to be a party face. CHA as a primary casting stat is a great excuse to have a high one, and I managed to get my diplomacy up to +15 by level 3. Pretty ridiculous.
(One trait makes it a class skill and gives me a +1 in it, I have 3 ranks, +4 charisma, a thrush familiar for +3 diplomacy, +3 for the class skill bonus and +1 for an Ioun stone.)
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So, here's the Gnome I came up with, built entirely from GM Credit (thus max gold and PP).
Male Gnome Sorcerer 3
CN Small Humanoid (gnome)
Init +2; Senses darkvision; Perception +1
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Defense
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AC 14, touch 13, flat-footed 12 (+1 armor, +2 Dex, +1 size)
hp 20 (3d6+6)
Fort +4, Ref +4, Will +5; +2 vs. illusions
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Offense
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Speed 20 ft.
Melee Unarmed strike -1 (1d2-3/x2)
Spell-Like Abilities Dancing Lights (1/day), Ghost Sound (1/day), Light (At will), Prestidigitation (1/day), Speak with Animals (1/day)
Sorcerer Spells Known (CL 3):
1 (6/day) Reduce Person (DC 15), Identify, Magic Missile, Vanish
0 (at will) Disrupt Undead, Ray of Frost, Read Magic, Ghost Sound (DC 15), Detect Magic
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Statistics
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Str 5, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 14, Wis 12, Cha 18
Base Atk +1; CMB -3; CMD 9
Feats Eschew Materials, Taunt, Toppling Spell
Traits Magical Lineage (Magic Missile), Wayang Spell Hunter (Major Image)
Skills Acrobatics +2 (-2 jump), Appraise +6, Bluff +11, Craft (tattoo) +10, Diplomacy +5, Fly +8, Knowledge (arcana) +6, Knowledge (local) +6, Knowledge (nature) +7, Spellcraft +7, Stealth +6, Survival +1 (+3 to avoid becoming lost), Use Magic Device +10
Languages Common, Draconic, Gnome, Sylvan, Varisian
SQ +4 bonus on initiative checks, arcane bonds (arcane familiar, scorpion, greensting), bloodlines (arcane), deliver touch spells through familiar, empathic link with familiar, illusion resistance, metamagic adept (1/day), share spells with familiar
Combat Gear Potion of cure light wounds, Scroll of Burning Hands, Scroll of Charm Person, Scroll of Color Spray, Scroll of Comprehend Languages, Scroll of Disguise Self, Scroll of Obscuring Mist, Wand of cure light wounds, Wand of Silent Image, Alchemist's fire (2); Other Gear Bracers of armor +1, Cloak of resistance +1, Wayfinder (empty), Artisan's tools, masterworkCraft (tattoo), Backpack, masterwork (2 @ 2.125 lbs), Bandolier (4 @ 2 lbs), Belt pouch (1 @ 0 lbs), Dice, Musical instrument (Flute), Scroll case (2 @ 0 lbs), Scroll case (3 @ 0 lbs), Waterproof bag (2 @ 1 lbs), Waterskin, Wrist sheath, spring loaded (1 @ 0 lbs), Wrist sheath, spring loaded (1 @ 0 lbs), 65 GP, 3 SP
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Special Abilities
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+4 bonus on initiative checks You gain the Alertness feat while your familiar is within arm's reach.
Arcane When a spell level is increased by a metamagic feat, it gains +1 DC.
Artisan's Shop (empty) +1 to Craft for Day Job rolls and 5% discount on items of same type.
Dancing Lights (1/day) (Sp) With Charisma 11+, cast Dancing Lights once per day.
Darkvision (60 feet) (Darkvision) You can see in the dark (black and white vision only).
Deliver Touch Spells Through Familiar (Su) Your familiar can deliver touch spells for you.
Empathic Link with Familiar (Su) You have an empathic link with your Arcane Familiar.
Eschew Materials Cast spells without materials, if component cost is 1 gp or less.
Ghost Sound (1/day) (Sp) With Charisma 11+, cast Ghost Sound once per day.
Illusion Resistance +2 racial bonus to saves against illusions.
Magical Lineage (Magic Missile) A chosen spell counts as 1 level lower when metamagic feats are applied to it.
Metamagic Adept (1/day) (Ex) Apply a metamagic feat 1/day without increasing the casting time.
Prestidigitation (1/day) (Sp) With Charisma 11+, cast Prestidigitation once per day.
Share Spells with Familiar Can cast spells with a target of "You" on the familiar with a range of touch.
Speak with Animals (1/day) (Sp) With Charisma 11+, cast Speak with Animals once per day.
Taunt You can demoralize opponents using Bluff rather than Intimidate (see the Intimidate skill description for details) and take no skill check penalty for being smaller than your target.
Toppling Spell Spell with the force descriptor knocks targets prone.
Wayang Spell Hunter (Major Image) Reduce spell level increase from metamagic for chosen spell by 1.
Wayfinder (empty) A small magical device patterned off ancient relics of the Azlanti, a wayfinder is typically made from silver and bears gold accents. With a command word, you can use a wayfinder to shine (as the light spell). The wayfinder also acts as a nonmagical (magnetic) compass, granting you a +2 circumstance bonus on Survival checks to avoid becoming lost. All wayfinders include a small indentation designed to hold a single ioun stone. An ioun stone slotted in this manner grants you its normal benefits (as if it were orbiting your head), but frequently reveals entirely new powers due to the magic of the wayfinder itself (see Seeker of Secrets page 51).
Note: This item costs only 250gp for members of the Pathfinder Society
Construction
Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, light; Cost 250 gp
Hero Lab® and the Hero Lab logo are Registered Trademarks of LWD Technology, Inc. Free download at http://www.wolflair.com
Pathfinder® and associated marks and logos are trademarks of Paizo Publishing, LLC®, and are used under license.
Future plans:
I'll be maxing Bluff (for Taunt) and UMD (for the Faerie Dragon) and will spread out remaining Skill points over Knowledge, Spellcraft and Linguistics.
Feats:
1 - Toppling
3 - Taunt
5 - Improved Familiar
7 - Spell Focus (Illusion)[Bonus Feat], Threatening Illusion Metamagic
9 - Effortless Trickery
What do y'all think? :)
Illusions that are actually useful in combat!? Impossible! :D
But how does your Sorcerer Build get a Familiar in the first place? Or is that an Arcane Bloodline build?
I doubt that Reach Spell Metamagic will be any use at all in PFS play. The maps are so tiny, basically everything is in close range all the time...
it can be used with any sorcerer bloodline, unfortunately no bloodline makes illusions better, although there are some that are good with shadow spells.
reach metamagic + telekinetic charge. that's all i'm gonna say.
Sorcerer is the best choice given your racial bonuses.
Witches are redonkulous, you can't go wrong with that class. Take a hard look at the Gnome Fell Magic alternate (for +1 save DC on necro) if you do this.
One thing you missed is Magus. They can spend an arcana slot for Familiar, and then spend a feat slot for Improved Familiar. You can also go Hexcrafter Magus to give yourself the Witch flavor.
So then you get a goat familiar, you Share Spells on Enlarge Person for the goat, and you ride it into battle like a Fairy Paladin.
the intent was to use the boon that grants a faerie dragon familiar, so he isn't going to the goat route.
Heres your bookish fey wizard from the same artist as your brownie pic.
I think this one looks even more tricksie
http://carolina-eade.deviantart.com/gallery/#/d5mfn0q
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@asthyril: Well, I love all the input here, it's giving me tons of ideas for fun (future) gnome character concepts!
@beej67: Magus I've ruled out because I didn't want to play a melee character this time. But thanks for pointing out the options. The Fairy Paladin concept hasn't occurred to me yet!
@Bigwalker: Well, you're definitely right. I hadn't picked her as an option for my charakter because she's female and I prefer to play male characters, but the concept is certainly valid. Generally, I find it easier thinking up female gnome characters. Male gnomes tend to not fit so well in my mind. But yeah, now that I've given it some thought, I can actually picture a male version of that one, a bookish, tricksy gnome...
Completely different question: is there a build that allows me to ride a giant spider? Disregarding familiars or even Sorcerer, any way at all to get this? http://carolina-eade.deviantart.com/gallery/#/d4ufv07
