PFS Paladin / Cleric Survivability build

[Cleric 101]

Our PFS group has no healer. Not that they really need a healer, a cleric in the group would make a nice addition (as they always do).

The group usually consists of a ninja (melee), barbarian (melee) or monk (melee), witch, rogue (melee) and either another witch or bard. Then, add in either my ranger (melee) or lowbie sorcerer to round out the group.

Again, the group is diverse enough to get things accomplished, but more often than not, the encounters can get quite ugly. Now don't get me wrong, I really love coming out on top of an uphill situation. However, I still want to add in a pinch of cleric seasoning to this group of pathfinders.

So I ask you to review my multifaceted concept "stay alive first-then help everyone else-while taking an occasional attack-but not be useless at season 4 role playing/faction questing" cleric.

Conceptual Twelve Level Build:

• * Denotes Key Feature of Multiclassing Paladin
  
• Race: Aasmar
  
• Initial Class: Paladin
  
• Statistics: STR 14, DEX 10, CON 14, INT 12, WIS 14(16), CHA 13(15)
  
• Level 1 - Paladin: Heavy Armor Prof & Martial Weapons* toughness
  Level 2 - Paladin: Diving Grace*; LOH* (more for early levels)
  Level 3 - Cleric of Sarenrae: Domains: Healing & Fire (debated sun over fire) (Favored Class: Skill Points for all Cleric Levels) Selective Channel
  Level 4 - Cleric; +1 Cha
  Level 5 - Cleric; Combat Casting
  Level 6 - Paladin: Aura of Courage*; Diving Health*
  Level 7-12 - Cleric; Levels 8 & 12 +1 Wis OR Str...haven't decided; open to feat ideas for 7, 9, 11
  

I also thought of going range paladin and switching up the strength for dex, but in the end decided to go with a melee build...cuz its more my play style.

Any thoughts or suggestions? I thought this up kind of quickly, so I'm open to hear any constructive ideas.

[CRobledo]

If you really wanted to pump up survivability, you have a lot of dice-based heals that you may want to look in to getting Fey Foundling. Maybe switch to human (keep the +2 in CHA) for the bonus L1 feat, and you get an extra skill point to boot.

I've seen people getting quite a mileage out of Fey Foundling.

Also, this build seems well suited for a Hospitaler Paladin. Thought about those?

[Fromper]

I was going to suggest Hospitaler Paladin also. If the goal is to be a survivable healer, you could go that way and not even need to multi-class as a cleric, unless you really want the spellcasting. But your casting as a cleric will be pretty bad for having taken 3 levels of paladin along the way in your initial build.

So I'd suggest either straight cleric or straight paladin, no multi-class. With paladin, you'll definitely want the Hospitaler archetype since you're going healing focused.

[Cleric 101]

Fey Foundling: Very nice feat. I had no idea it existed. It's a lot like the 3.5 favorite, Augment Healing. Man I miss that feat. I should really get more acquainted with the inner sea feats.

I do intend to go Hospitaler for paladin - although with only 3 paladin levels, it will merely be flavor, as Hospitalers don't get anything unique until level 4.

Lastly, my very first thought was indeed to go Human, matter of fact my scratch paper still has it all worked out as such. But in the end, I decided to go with the darkvision and resistances versus feat/skills...but I very well may go back to human, adjusting my wisdom to 14 with 16 cha as you suggested. Then add the level 8/12 points to wisdom.

Thanks very much for the ideas!

[Victor Zajic]

I don't see what the third level of paladin is getting you that's worth losing another caster level. Divine grace is one of the best abiltiies on the game. Divine Health and Aura of Courage, not so much. And odd levels don't advance your lay on hands, if I recall correctly.

Fire Domain + Low Dex score = not that useful. If you can't get mileage out of Produce Flames and the Domain firebolts, one fireball a day at 9 or 10, at -2 or -3 caster level ain't so hot. And you won't have the Burning Hands at tier 1-2, when you really want it for rat and spider swarms.

Domains are some of the best abilities clerics get. So pick something that gets you good abilities you can use right away at level 3.

Melee Paladin should still have a 12 dex to max out AC potential from platemail.

This build would work a lot better if you could take the trait that gives you +2 caster level not to exceed your hitdice. But that's banned from PFS play, because Straight Casters that want to MC need to be punished.

Have you considered Half-Elf? Being able to have 2 favored classes is nothing to sneeze at, and skill focus as a bonus feat, along with +2 Perception and saves vs enchantment, along with immunity to magic sleep is actually pretty good. Stat bump Cha to 16, and realize that by the time you'll need a wisdom above 14, you'll easily be able to afford magic items that will raise it.

[P33J]

I would switch your STR to DEX, get rid of Heavy Armor, go Archer style you want to be behind the front line, so you can rush up in a pinch lay-on hands when your channels run out and then drop back while shooting to cover your retreat.

Here's what I would suggest for your build.

Level 1
Human Divine Hunter
12, 14, 10, 10, 16, 15 (+2) (you won't need the HP since you've got layon hands and you're not in the front line.

Level 1 Feats
You get precise Shot (give up your HAP), so take Point-Blank and Rapid Shot or, Weapon Focus (Long Bow) and Deadly Aim (since you're going to stay within 30 feet of the front line, Point-Blank is worth it)
Level 2 No Change
Level 3 Cleric
Sarenrae is great, now your fire domain comes in handy because you've got a +4 to hit with it. Don't do selective Channel, be channeling from the back, Take point-blank if you haven't yet. (You've got full BAB progression due to Weapon Focus +1)
Level 4 no change
Make your non buffs, ranged touch damage or debuffs for maximum effect
Level 5
No need for combat casting. You're not casting in combat, you're casting from next to the wizard. Take Rapid Shot if you don't have it yet.
Level 6 Paladin
No Change
Level 7 Paladin
Now you've got 3 Shots per round. Take another archery feat or take persuasive so you never fail a diplomacy check again, even against Rovagug.
Level 8 Paladin
This should go in Dex as should your 12 you're a divine sniper. Your now adding a +1 enchantment to your weapon for 5 rounds, what should you use, that's up to you and whatever you're shooting at
Level 9-12 Cleric have fun, remember ranged touch, selective channel if you want now (since a lot of your foes will be flying by now)

[Mysterious Stranger]

Depending on the level a hospitaler paladin can heal as well as a cleric. After 4th level they get both lay on hand and can channel energy without using his lay on hands. Admittedly you channel energy is 3 levels lower. This gives you a ton of healing without having to tap your spells.

Assuming a 16 Charisma at 4th level you get 5 2d6 lay on hands and 6 1d6 channel energy. That means you will heal all party members for 21 hp and have on the average another 35 hp to spread around. By 8th you have 7 4d6 lay on hands and 6 3d6 channel energy. That works out to be about 63 hp for everyone plus an additional 98 to be spread around. At 12th level you are at 9 6d6 lay on hands and 6 5d6 channel energy. So at 12th level you will heal everyone in the party for about 105 hp and have an extra 189 hp to spread around.

If are more concerned with healing the party an Oath of Charity increases the HP healed with your lay on hands by 50% when used on someone else. It does cut in half your healing from lay on hands on yourself. You can also pick up Greater Mercy for an extra 1d6 of healing when the person being healed does not need any of your mercies.

[RumpinRufus]

The Love subdomain is great for survivability (gives you an immediate action to foil an attack.)

[Cleric 101]

I'm sold on straight Hospitaler. TBH, I had completely forgotten that Magical Knack was not allowed.

[Fromper]

I had forgotten about Greater Mercy. Great feat for almost any paladin, but especially if you're going for a healing focus.