After a bit of a "snafu" (see my thread in the PFS board) I'm looking for advice on building my fighters main weapon.
Some base line info. This is for a PFS fighter that just popped 9th. He has 103 hit points with a brand on the inside of his bicep(Sihedeon Brand - endurance) that gives him 2x/level temporary hit points 1x/day. So vicious could be a potential option. He uses a bastard sword (one handed - took the exotic feat) with a shield. So your basic sword and board sort of fighter. I have the Improved Critical feat. Other than that just the basic feats for that weapon: Weapon Focus, Greater WF, Weapon Specialization, Vital Strike, & Power Attack.
Right now it is an adamantine +1.
So what would be the next best all-a-round enchantment option?
Maybe some additional advice on selecting additional "situational" bastard swords. I figure a ghost touch enchanted sword would be necessary... or would that best be put on my main?
Thanks in advance.
How much fame do you have?
I now have 34 fame. I forget that fame is required when purchasing equipment...
Me, I'm not a fan of Ghost Touch weapons. Too situational, especially since it's mostly a fairly rare situaion. If I truly have money to burn, I might carry a backup ghost touch, but otherwise, I prefer abilities that I can use in every battle, or nearly every battle.
I'm also not a fan of Vicious. Sure, it does more damage to the enemies than to you, but it still puts the onus on the party's healer to provide extra healing to you. Hasted, you might be doing 3d6 damage to yourself every round with no save against it. If a good tough boss fight lasts 4 rounds, you could end up doing 12d6 damage, averaging 42 HP, to yourself - and most of that might be from you hitting his minions. Even if you bring your own healing potions, in the long run the expense of it is prohibitive.
Elemental damage seems like a good idea, but as you get higher level, you find more and more creatures immune to it, or resistant to it. Still, if you know you're going on an arctic adventure, bring a fire weapon to take advantage of the vulnerability to fire that many arctic monsters have. But if I don't know in advance, I usually avoid the elements.
In fact, nearly all the +1 enhancements are very situational.
Guardian is my favorite. Sure, I am not always fighting things that require saving throws, but when I am, I really hate to be taken out of the fight with a Fear spell, or Hideous Laughter, or Hold Person, so while it's situational, it can also make a huge difference on the fights where it really matters.
Keen is usually a good choice. Double your critical threat range, with your BAB you will confirm most crits, especially if they're on your first attack, so making twice as many crits against almost everything you fight seems like a solid choice.
Then again, if you make it a +2 weapon, you hit more often (especially your second iterative attack) and you'll always do a little more damage, too. So upgrading the enhancement affects every attack you ever make with this weapon. It's the only non-situational upgrade you can make. Also, +3 weapons overcome some kinds of DR, but if you can't upgrade to a +3 weapon right now, you can at least get the +2 today and the rest later.
Where do you find the brands that are on your character? I can not find it for the life of me.
I've never had a bad time with speed or impact on my weapon.
You can't go wrong getting cold iron and silversheen swords either.
DM_Blank, very good points. I see your point on the vicious and 100% agree.
Brad Water, hummm… that is from a Pathfinder Society Scenario. Maybe I should not have posted that? Used that spoiler thing.
This becomes extremely easy. Play one more scenario and at the end (GM and You willing) you will have 36 fame. 36 fame allows you items up to 23,000 gp.
Enchant your +1 Adamantine bastard sword with Holy. Done.
Total cost: 21,035gp.
There is no better choice of enchantment. A vast amount of creatures/enemies in PFS are evil. Also, Season 5 which starts in August is all about the worldwound and most of the scenarios will be chock full of evil outsiders with DR/Good.
So the question is: Do you have 16,000gp?