Toying with the idea for a Naga aspirant for PFS. Looks cool, and lots of options.
Idea is to make a grappling duo. Never looked close at the constrictor snake (low damage - meh), but it get's grab at 1st lvl - that's a +4 to grab! And then at 4th lvl - +8 to STR and constrict.
For my Nagaji (after adjustment):
STR 16, DEX 14 CON 14 INT 10 WIS 15 CHA 9
Feats:
1. Spit venom
3. Power attack
5. Natural spell
7. Final embrace
9. Powerful shape
11. ?
Spells:
1 – magic missile
2 - divine favor
3 – scorching ray
4 - mirror image
5 - fireball
6 - displacement
7 - greater invisibility
8 - divine power
9 - see invisibility
10 - shield
11 - ?
Feats for snake: Combat reflexes, Power attack, Toughness, Dodge
But I am also considering throwing a lvl of monk in.
Why? WIS to AC (esp., during wildshape), getting improved grappple and flurry of blows, very nice. For armor - I can use a wand of mage armor.
Only change, probably throw out PA for boon companion
For traits:
Serpentine Squeeze
Reactionary
Comments, ideas?
Or stats:
STR 17, DEX 14 CON 14 INT 8 WIS 15 CHA 9
and bump STR at 4, WIS at 8?
No comments?
C'mon someone must have a suggestion to im[prove the build, or?
Spit venom should go. I realize you're going for a theme, but I think the (over) focus on grappling is more than enough there. But having a 10 foot increment FRA attack that then grants a save... I can't help but compare it to glitterdust or even a simple blindness/deafness. Druid's don't get either, yes. So leave that kinda thing to an arcane caster. Which also spawns the comment: That achetype gets some nice spells.
For the monk levels, one in Maneuver Master would be great. Perhaps double archetype in Monk of the Four Winds as well. The latter is nothing amazing, but still better than taking stunning fist. The former will allow you to make two grapple attempts as a FRA. Which is damned nice considering grappling is a standard action. If you hit both you can pin in one round, which will also deal your constricting damage twice. And as you stated, Improved Grapple.
I'd say get rid of Power Attack as well. It won't increase your constrict damage, and there's no way to use it while grappling even for a normal build. Besides, your BAB will be low enough as is & damage isn't your specialty either. As for what feats should replace them, dunno offhand! Tired of thinkin' now! Luck
Thank you, that helped, so Maneuver Master then. With that Boon Companion for PA. Anything else for Spit Venom, which might be better?
Reading through i saw a lot of comments that with maneuver master you cannot grapple and pin in one round, is this true? Because then Maneuver master is not so appealing.
RPG Superstar 2014 Top 16
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Toying with the idea for a Naga aspirant for PFS. Looks cool, and lots of options.
Idea is to make a grappling duo. Never looked close at the constrictor snake (low damage - meh), but it get's grab at 1st lvl - that's a +4 to grab! And then at 4th lvl - +8 to STR and constrict.For my Nagaji (after adjustment):
STR 16, DEX 14 CON 14 INT 10 WIS 15 CHA 9
Feats:
1. Spit venom
3. Power attack
5. Natural spell
7. Final embrace
9. Powerful shape
11. ?Spells:
1 – magic missile
2 - divine favor
3 – scorching ray
4 - mirror image
5 - fireball
6 - displacement
7 - greater invisibility
8 - divine power
9 - see invisibility
10 - shield
11 - ?Feats for snake: Combat reflexes, Power attack, Toughness, Dodge
But I am also considering throwing a lvl of monk in.
Why? WIS to AC (esp., during wildshape), getting improved grappple and flurry of blows, very nice. For armor - I can use a wand of mage armor.
Only change, probably throw out PA for boon companionFor traits:
Serpentine Squeeze
ReactionaryComments, ideas?
Wow it's crazy how similar our builds are. I currently have a Nagaji Monk 1 in PFS, and as soon as I get him to level 2 I'll be starting on Naga Aspirant. I am also going for grappling all the way.
My suggestions:
-Spit Venom isn't worth the feat that early on.
-The monk level is key, and definitely worth the investment. Wis to AC is pretty huge.
-I would grab True Strike instead of Magic Missile for your level 1 spell. A Druid will have enough other interesting spells like entangle and such to keep you busy such that you're not going to get much use out of magic missile, and you can use True Strike to hit with your grapple attempts (cast true strike and get into a decent position, then next round move up and grapple with a +20 to your CMB)
-Your other spell choices seem pretty good to me.
-Boon companion isn't really worth it for just one level... if you were multiclassing for more levels then it would be worth the investment, but for the most part having the companion be one level back from you isn't a killer.
-I would probably give the snake Improved Grapple instead of Power Attack, just to get that additional +4 to grapple attempts. You probably won't use him to attack as much as to aid your grapples or to keep an enemy in place while you move up to grapple, anyway.
Edit: I looked at my actual build and I would suggest trading Spit Venom out for Belier's Bite, which gives you 1d4 bleed damage on your unarmed strikes. Very useful at low levels, and later on it's just sort of icing on the cake.
I thoughht about Improved grapple for the snake, the problem is, you need an INT of 3. So maybe extra lot headband, pop a Headband of vast intellect on it then go for improved unarmed strike and then improved grapple. And unfortunately you need an INT 3 to us ioun stones.
The idea with true strike is great though! Thank you!
Only question remaining is does maneuver master get two grapple atempts or not with flurry of maneuvers?
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RPG Superstar 2014 Top 16
|
I thoughht about Improved grapple for the snake, the problem is, you need an INT of 3. So maybe extra lot headband, pop a Headband of vast intellect on it then go for improved unarmed strike and then improved grapple. And unfortunately you need an INT 3 to us ioun stones.
The idea with true strike is great though! Thank you!
Only question remaining is does maneuver master get two grapple atempts or not with flurry of maneuvers?
I see no reason why a Maneuver Master wouldn't get two grapple attempts with flurry of maneuvers. You're spending a full attack action to get an extra combat maneuver, and normally you would be spending a standard action to get one, so why wouldn't you get two? Combat maneuvers are still considered attacks, so you're adding a maneuver to your normal attack routine (which is to grapple).
I'm reading this much later while planning my own naga aspirant. How did your characters with out?