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So I am still a PFS noob, and my first character, a ranger, just hit 3rd level. I've been reading about what my character should be "expected" to do by level 4-5, and I wanted some other opinions.
Without my chronicle sheet in front of me, I'm currently sitting on 12 Fame and 8 Prestige (2 for CLW wand, 2 for Composite Longbow).
I'm not sure, but after completing my most recent scenario and upgrading equipment, I have about 800-1,000 GP at most.
Let's say I continue to play Tier 1-2 scenarios until I hit level 4 (which given character variation locally is quite likely). That gets me another 1,500 GP, which let me magic my bow by level 4. That seems about right, since I just did a +1 to my armor 2 scenarios ago.
Nevertheless, at Tier 1-2, scenarios award about 500 GP each. So my total avaiable wealth by lvl 4 includes about 4,650 GP and 18 Presitge (our GM always makes sure we finish our faction missions).
So, sorry for the wall of text, and for any redundancy with other posters, but by level 4 my ranger will have:
A +1 weapon (bow) and +1 armor
A masterwork backup weapon (melee)
Silver and cold iron arrows and melee weapons
Alchemists fire/Acid
I can probably buy a potion of Fly or two if I want to burn Prestige, right? How much are they?
I also need a way to counter deeper darkness - how do I do this "cheaply"?
What about dealing with invisible foes? Do I have the resources to manage this?
Thanks for your help!
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Playing sub-tier 1-2 with a level 3 PC will leave you behind in cash. Sub-tier 3-4 adventures give 1200-1300 gp each, so 3 of them would be 3600 gp, compare to 1500 for playing at 1-2 continuously.
The other thing to bear in mind is that you don't necessarily have to be able to handle every single thing recommended in the threads around here at those exact levels. It's not a bad idea, but you can expect your allies to handle some of these things some of the time. Or you can have alternate methods of dealing with things. For instance, you said you're an archer, so a potion of Fly isn't as important for you as it would be for a melee focused build who doesn't do much damage at range. Also, if there's an aasimar in your group, they can cast Daylight once per day as a racial spell-like ability, so you already have a way to counter darkness.
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I can probably buy a potion of Fly or two if I want to burn Prestige, right? How much are they?
A potion of fly is 750gp (or 2PP). However, it's less of a priority for an archer, since you don't need to chase flying enemies around when they try to get out of range of your sword.
I also need a way to counter deeper darkness - how do I do this "cheaply"?
The guaranteed total answer to deeper darkness is daylight+darkvision. (Depending on your GM's interpretation of daylight's mutual negation clause, you might only need daylight plus another light source, but that can be GM-dependent.) An oil of daylight is 750gp (or 2PP). A potion of darkvision (if you don't have it naturally) is 300gp.
Alternatively, you can let the DD stand and use something like smokesticks to "even the odds".
What about dealing with invisible foes? Do I have the resources to manage this?
Casters of course have multiple options (via spell slots or scrolls). For non-casters, the APG has bags of powder for 1cp (yes, copper piece). You throw one at a square (attack against AC 5) and get a yes/no on whether or not there's an invisible creature in that square. If you have the Dungeoneer's Handbook, there's also some kind of variant smoke bomb that coats an invisible creature with soot which (if memory serves) temporarily negates their invisibility. Fairly cheap, too, if I recall.
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Thanks for the input! I've seen some of these suggested, but I can never seem to track down actual costs.
Part of the problem is that we had some players dowing two games/week at full advancement. They got to level 3 or 4 and then generated new characters to stay on par with the rest of us. I'm thinking that once we have a couple more level 3's we may start playing up, which should help out wealth significantly.
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In many cases you could use a tier-appropriate pregen and assign the credit to a new/lower level PC.
I have been thinking of that, better yet, will make 2 more chars that I will try to maintain within 2 levels of each other so I would have level appropiate character available. I usually dislike playing pregens. I have done it few times, but sometimes I really wonder the choices pregens have. See Harsk at level 12 for example.
Right now I'm trying to level up in order to play hard mode Waking rune at level 10. Character has been already badly screwed by playing down, about 6-7k below expected gold at level 7.2
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Yes, I have PCs of levels 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 1, and 1 so I can generally pick an appropriate one. The only time I can remember having to play a pregen was when one of the slots I was GMing fell through and I got an unexpected chance to play instead.
Also, be aware that the level 12 pregens (in the NPC Codex, I assume?) are not legal for PFS play.
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I'm not sure, but after completing my most recent scenario and upgrading equipment, I have about 800-1,000 GP at most.A +1 weapon (bow) and +1 armor
A masterwork backup weapon (melee)
Silver and cold iron arrows and melee weapons
Alchemists fire/Acid
All these are really good ideas. As a suggestion, you could combine a few. So, for example, you could have a backup melee weapon which is a Masterword Cold Iron Longsword for 330gp (you only double the non-masterwork portion).
Then, if you don't already have one, go ahead and get a Silver Light Mace for 25gp (you could add 300gp for masterwork).
As for arrows, never buy "regular" arrows again. Use cold iron arrows as your default, silver or blunt arrows as needed. It only costs 2gp to get 20 cold iron arrows (as opposed to 1gp for 20 regular), so it is well worth it to ignore the "normal" arrows.
Don't forget a couple of vials of Holy Water. It works against undead, and also works against evil outsiders.
Though many characters will look towards getting a Handy Haversack as a given... you'll want to look at getting an Efficient Quiver for 1800gp. Will let you have 60 arrows at the ready, plus storage for other things like bows and javelins.
For invisible foes, you could always carry (and hand to the wizard or druid) a scroll of Glitterdust or even Faerie Fire. I probably wouldn't go so far as to buy wands of this, but they are both very effective (the former costing 150gp, the latter 25gp - but druids are relatively rare comparatively).
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Thanks for the ideas! Silbeg, I was going to do someting like this, but your post clinches it. I've got a Mwk Cold Iron Greataxe and a Silver Light Mace.
As far as arrows go, I agree there too. What about silver arrows? I've heard of silver weapon blanch - not sure of the cost. Also, how much is it for 20 silver arrows? My best guess there is 41 GP.
As for playing up/down I have a few questions there. I currently have four PFS characters (3 level 1's) that represent the full spectrum of classes I'm interested in playing right now. (Yes, I'm boring). Two fo the three, and soon maybe the third will be involved in PbP games.
You can't use the same character in two scenarios at once, so am I stuck creating a new level one that I'm not excited about if I don't want to play down with my level 3?
All of the advice from Silbeg is solid, I’ve actually done it all for my Ranger with the exception of the Efficient Quiver, but that’s just because I haven’t plunked the money down for it yet.
As for your Mwk cold iron Greataxe, just keep in mind if you want to get it enchanted, since it is cold iron, it costs an additional 2,000 GP on top of the normal book price. The first +1 gets the additional +2,000 GP, but after that the pricing is normal.
I’m in the same boat right now. I have a cold iron Bastard Sword, but haven’t enchanted it yet.
Blunt arrows was mentioned above, but I agree.
Derek, just keep in mind you still take the -4 to hit when trying to shoot them for non-lethal damage.
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Oh, another thought about blanches... make sure that you have it noted on your chronicles how many you have left... since these are using an alchemical item, some GMs will want to know where you got 'em that way.
Also, when you have the cash, get yourself a Ghost Salt blanch, and use it on 10 of your cold iron arrows (I believe this costs 300gp, and is in the Field Guide (and thus part of the Core Assumption, so you should have it). Make sure these are noted on your chronicle, but this will be invaluable for when you face incorporeal undead!
FYI - these ideas are ones that I have learned while playing my Gunslinger... same basic concepts, right?
Also, an idea for your cold iron Greataxe (or bastard sword)... oil of Magic weapon (or even oil of Greater Magic Weapon?). That way, you can have your weapon "enchanted" for the short term, while not having to pay the "Cold Iron Tax".
I think, generally speaking, you won't need both cold iron and magic, so this will probably typically be a moot point. :P
The cost on the Ghost Salt weapon blanch is actually 200 GP. And I agree, definitely worthwhile. I have 20 arrows (for my Ranger) that have been ghost salted.
Silbeg, or anyone for that matter, do you recommend getting a standard (steel) weapon and enchanting that instead of the cold iron? And just bring out the cold iron weapon when going against the specific creatures weak to it (i.e. Fey, Devils, etc.)?
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The cost on the Ghost Salt weapon blanch is actually 200 GP. And I agree, definitely worthwhile. I have 20 arrows (for my Ranger) that have been ghost salted.
Silbeg, or anyone for that matter, do you recommend getting a standard (steel) weapon and enchanting that instead of the cold iron? And just bring out the cold iron weapon when going against the specific creatures weak to it (i.e. Fey, Devils, etc.)?
For enchanted light and one-handed weapons, I prefer bronze over steel:
* Same cost, damage, hardness and hit points.
* No "fragile" quality when enchanted or made masterwork.
* Rust proof.
Reading it over, it does sound like bronze is better than steel (for light or one-handed weapons) once it's been enchanted.
But are there any creatures that have DR/bronze? I have never heard of any. The benefit of cold iron is it can bypass the DR as well.
And I guess my question still stands, whether it be bronze or steel, is it better to get one of those and have them enchanted or spend the extra for the cold iron, knowing you could need it for bypassing DR against DR/cold iron creatures.
Actually, I went down the TWF route for my Ranger. His primary weapon is a cold iron Bastard sword and his light (off-hand) weapon is a Wakizashi, which is made of steel.
I am pretty proficient with a bow too, however. I have both Point Blank Shot and Precise Shot. And I have all the weapon blanches (except cold iron, which I bought outright).
I guess my question is I was thinking of purchasing a steel Bastard Sword to enchant it since it's cheaper than cold iron, and keep my cold iron as a back up.
Or do you think it would be better to just pay the extra 2,000 GP and get my cold iron enchanted instead?
Ahh, I misunderstood.
Well, the metagamey answer is that Season 5 takes place in the Worldwound which is subject to a demon infestation. Quite a few demons have DR/Cold Iron (and/or Good.) (Although there have been hints that lower level scenarios will not be there but doing things to support the higher level characters who will be facing the demons.)
I know a lot of people just enchant a normal steel weapon, and then get a couple +1 weapons in different materials at high level to help bypass DRs. Normally the extra 2,000 gold can be spent on something better at the levels when you're getting your first weapon enchanted. Enchanting your offhand, for example.
I would generally suggest going with normal steel or a cheaper special material (not sure what bronze costs off the top of my head, but if it's cheap, well, rust monsters do exist.) Especially for a dual wielding switch hitter: That's three weapons you have to think about magic-ing. Even with thinking about season 5, I'd say you're likely going to get more mileage out of +1 for main hand and off hand than a +1 cold iron main hand.
Yes, that’s what I had come to the decision as well, in going with two +1 magical weapons instead of one cold iron +1.
I will still keep the cold iron, but will probably go with bronze Bastard sword and Wakizashi, both at +1.
And what I was thinking for higher levels is going adamantium for what I use most of the time and have cold iron and bronze as a back-up. I also have a silver mace, as well. Although I most likely will not enchant that.
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Yes, for sure, I would agree with what has been stated here... just leave the Cold Iron weapon as masterwork, and use it when needed. Keep some oils of Magic Weapon and/or Bless Weapon around, and use when needed.
That's what I have done with my characters (well, at least my melee characters).
My rogue now has 2 +1 Gladii, and a MW cold iron gladius.
FYI - when going a TWF route, I think it is FAR more efficient to use a pair of the same weapons (and if possible, light ones at that). Allows you to double-dip on your feats, because the weapon focus that works on the weapon in your right hand also works on the one in your left!
I have two Oil of Magic Weapons already, do you think I still need Oils of Bless Weapon as well?
I actually prefer the larger damage with the Bastard Sword than going with another D6. I understand your reasoning, but I am more of a balanced sword and bow Ranger than totally focused melee with my TWF. I will be taking Double Slice and eventually Two-Weapon Rend, but I also have Point Blank Shot and Precise Shot. So therefore, I prefer the extra damage of the Bastard Sword than over another light weapon.
Besides, I've also used the Exotic Weapon Proficiency for my Bastard Sword, so it would be a waste of a feat to switch to a light weapon for my primary.
Yes, that is true.
Although the question now would be is should I give my weapon an enhancement bonus of +3 or also give it an ability (or abilities) of some sort. I probably won't get much past a +3 with my weapon, a +4 if I'm lucky.
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And that, my friend, is where a Bladebound Magus shines. Around 5th level, he (she?) gets the ability to make their weapon +2 with one or two special abilities, or +3 with one, or +4 (adamantine, IIRC, yummy).
Of course, this comes with drawbacks, like no real two-weapon fighting, lousy AC and HP, and a weapon that talks back at you.
That certainly sounds like a nice ability, I have thought about playing a Magus for a future character.
Unfortunately my Ranger does not have that ability, however, so I am still wondering if I would be better off with higher enhancement bonuses than ability bonuses.