advice on best use of boon

[Belsiard the Wanderer]

So I recently got a boon that gives me +2 to an ability score on a new character

If you dont have it prob shouldnt look:

My first character became a venture captain in eyes of the ten

Thoughts on what characters would benefit most from the extra bonus. i tend not to be an optimizer at all

Thinking of a Ber Shamen Druid, human throw the +2's into Wis and STR

Anyhow thoughts?

[Xot]

I would probably put it on the same stat as a racial bonus, and choose a class that can make use of it. Would that allow you to start with a 22?

[Belsiard the Wanderer]

that is a good question i had thought that was not allowed

[Belafon]

Yes, you can put it on any stat. That particular boon is untyped, and therefore stacks with everything else.

There are two common answers to this question (and the answer I give).

1) Create a character that is very Multiple Attribute Dependent (MAD). Something like a TWF fighter who needs high strength, dex, and con. The Champion of Irori prestige class may be the most MAD class in existence and a couple of people locally have used the boon for that.

2) Create a character who is extremely Single Attribute Dependent (SAD) and put the boon in that stat. A wizard with 22 int has a ton of spells and very high DCs.

And the answer I give:
Why does the new character have the boon? What role-playing reason is there?

Spoiler:

What is her relation to the character who got the boon (and then gave it to her)? Did you win the boon with a cleric who then noticed an up-and-coming inquisitor of her deity who was sufficiently fervent but lacked some deeper insights or common sense? Then boost Wisdom. A vain noble who decides to sponsor a bard to better spread the word of her accomplishments? Choose Charisma. A sorcerer who was defended from harm by the melee character she adventured with and out of gratitude wants to make sure all casters have such protection? Constitution for a meatshield barbarian.

Choose the boosted stat based on the backstory.

So the Bear Shaman Druid is absolutely a fine choice. Strength and wisdom are probably your best choices for a wildshaper who still casts often. If this thread grows, eventually someone will tell you "you should make this character" and propose the character HE wants to play. Play the character YOU want to play.

[GM Lamplighter]

Don't think you can start with a stat higher than 20...

Guide 4.3 wrote:

Please remember that no score can be reduced below 7 or raised above 18. Racial modifiers are applied after the points are spent, so it is possible to begin play with a low ability score of 5 and a high ability score of 20, depending on your race choice.

While it doesn't mention boons, "can't be raised above 18" is pretty clear.

[nosig]

Scott Young wrote:

Don't think you can start with a stat higher than 20...

Guide 4.3 wrote:

Please remember that no score can be reduced below 7 or raised above 18. Racial modifiers are applied after the points are spent, so it is possible to begin play with a low ability score of 5 and a high ability score of 20, depending on your race choice.

While it doesn't mention boons, "can't be raised above 18" is pretty clear.

and if the Boon is applied after Racial Modifiers (after the race is picked), then it wouldn't apply then either.

1) assign stats - (numbers 7 to 18)
2) assign race - can modifiy those stats
3+) assign boons - can modify the stats again

or do you feel it is....

1) assign stats & boons
2) assign race

[Kyle Baird]

Scott Young wrote:

Don't think you can start with a stat higher than 20...

Guide 4.3 wrote:

Please remember that no score can be reduced below 7 or raised above 18. Racial modifiers are applied after the points are spent, so it is possible to begin play with a low ability score of 5 and a high ability score of 20, depending on your race choice.

While it doesn't mention boons, "can't be raised above 18" is pretty clear.

Unless you're a goblin!

In my not-ever-so-humble opinion, since it's a boon, it's applied to a character that's legally built. So build your character, choose an ability array, apply racial modifiers, pick class, traits, feats, skills, etc, apply boon, purchase original 150 gp worth of equipment.

[John Compton]

Belafon wrote:

Yes, you can put it on any stat. That particular boon is untyped, and therefore stacks with everything else.

There are two common answers to this question (and the answer I give).

1) Create a character that is very Multiple Attribute Dependent (MAD). Something like a TWF fighter who needs high strength, dex, and con. The Champion of Irori prestige class may be the most MAD class in existence and a couple of people locally have used the boon for that.

2) Create a character who is extremely Single Attribute Dependent (SAD) and put the boon in that stat. A wizard with 22 int has a ton of spells and very high DCs.

And the answer I give:
Why does the new character have the boon? What role-playing reason is there?
** spoiler omitted **
Choose the boosted stat based on the backstory.

So the Bear Shaman Druid is absolutely a fine choice. Strength and wisdom are probably your best choices for a wildshaper who still casts often. If this thread grows, eventually someone will tell you "you should make this character" and propose the character HE wants to play. Play the character YOU want to play.

Excellent advice.

I like to mention a third option: Use it to build a character whose racial penalty or lack of bonus would normally make the combination "unplayable," such as a dwarf sorcerer, a wayang cleric, a nagaji wizard, or an elf barbarian.

[Yiroep]

Champion of Irori:

Just a note since COI was mentioned. Oracle with Champion of Irori is awesome! Oracle of Lore or Nature means you can use Charisma for AC, and Oracle of Lore is extremely flavorful for Irori! Add that Noble Scion feat for Charisma to Init and you got some Charisma synergy going! Woo woo!

.....Oracles are so awesome.

If you put it on an Aasimar, +2 to 3 stats or +4 to 1 and +2 to another! (or dual-talent human, for that matter)

[SCPRedMage]

Scott Young wrote:

Don't think you can start with a stat higher than 20...

Guide 4.3 wrote:

Please remember that no score can be reduced below 7 or raised above 18. Racial modifiers are applied after the points are spent, so it is possible to begin play with a low ability score of 5 and a high ability score of 20, depending on your race choice.

While it doesn't mention boons, "can't be raised above 18" is pretty clear.

Yeah, you're wrong (not trying to be rude when I say that...)

The full context of that quote:

Guide to Pathfinder Society Organized Play, page 7 wrote:

Step 1: Ability Scores

Pathfinder Society uses the “purchase” system for generating ability scores, as explained on pages 15–16 of the Core Rulebook. Pathfinder Society uses the “High Fantasy” choice of 20 points, allowing you to build a solid PC at 1st level. Please remember that no score can be reduced below 7 or raised above 18. Racial modifiers are applied after the points are spent, so it is possible to begin play with a low ability score of 5 and a high ability score of 20, depending on your race choice.

Bolded to show where your quote started.

The "no score can be reduced below 7 or raised above 18" bit is clearly referring to the point buy system, as it is preceded by the "use high fantasy point buy" rule, and is followed by the "but racial modifiers are applied after point buy" bit. In other words, the rule you are citing simply reaffirms the limits of the point buy system itself. Once you've spent all of your ability score points, modifiers can raise or lower it beyond those limits, as indicated by the very next sentence.

So you can buy and ability score up to 18, apply a racial modifier to raise that to 20, the boon in question to raise that to 22.

[Belsiard the Wanderer]

ty all! Good advice