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After playing through several Season 4 & 5 scenarios, I've gotten the impression that there has been quite the power up within PFS (where scenarios seem to have gotten more difficult). This reminds me of the power up experienced within Living Greyhawk where, if you valued your hide, you refused to play in higher level adventures without a Cleric at the table.
And since I don't mind playing a healing focused build (my Living Greyhawk Cleric was, in the words of one DM, a "Healing Machine"), I thought I'd try out a Life Oracle build for PFS. (You can click on this character's name for level 1 stats).
STR: 7
DEX: 14
CON: 14
INT: 14
WIS: 12
CHA+ 17
Traits: Keleshite Princess (Intimidate), Under Siege (Bluff)
01: Oracle 1 [Dual-Cursed; Blackened, Legalistic (doesn't advance)] [Revelation: Channel] Fey Foundling, Selective Channeling
02: Oracle 2 [Mystery Spell: Ill Omen]
03: Oracle 3 [Revelation: Life Link] Extra Channel [Misfortune]
04: Oracle 4 [Mystery Spell: Oracle's Burden], CHA 18
05: Oracle 5 [Revelation: Energy Body] Quick Channel
06: Oracle 6 [Mystery Spell: Bestow Curse]
07: Oracle 7 [Revelation: Combat Healer] Abundant Revelations (Combat Healer)
08: Oracle 8 [Mystery Spell: Restoration], CHA 19
09: Oracle 9 [Feat: Quicken Spell? Extra Revelation? Other?]
10: Oracle 10 [Mystery Spell: Breath of Life]
11: Oracle 11 [Revelation: Life Sense] Divine Interference
12: Oracle 12 [Mystery Spell: Heal], CHA 20
This character's primary goal will be healing first, followed by buffing/debuffing and whatever control spells that are on the Cleric's spell list.
First level options include casting Bless on turn one, followed by either using Intimidate to demoralize, or casting Guidance when needed. And thanks to the trusty Spiked Gauntlet, can threaten and provide flank.
First 2 PP would probably be on a Wand of Cure Light Wounds, followed by getting some wands of Burning Disarm, Burning Hands (for swarms), Ray of Sickening, etc. At higher levels, thinking about getting Lesser Rod of Reach Spell and Lesser Rod of Elemental Spell.
For out of combat, she can act as party face, thanks to getting Bluff and Intimidate as class skills from traits, to go along with Diplomacy and Sense Motive that an Oracle normally gets (not to mention that these traits grant a +1 bonus to all 4 of these social skills!)
If I'm right, I think this character will be welcome at any PFS table (not to mention it seems that Clerics are few and far in between in my area, and I only know of a couple of people playing any type of Oracle).
Some things to note/questions:
1) Spent a long time going back and forth between being Human and Aasimar. The favored class bonus of Aasimar is really nice, but ultimately felt that Human wins out (Aasimar's bonus gets going mid-level, which means that this character will be half way to retirement before that ability kicks in, while I'll enjoy that bonus feat from the get-go).
2) I know STR 7 is pretty damned low, but I figure between Potion Sponges of Touch of the Sea, Climber's Kits, and Masterwork Backpack (and at higher levels, Handy Haversack) should negate that penalty to not make it crippling.
3) Although Blackened and Legalistic are in Blood of Angels/Blood of Fiends, I'm pretty sure they're open to any race (as per some posts made by Mike Brock, but I don't know if that has changed since then).
4) Not sure what feat to get at level 9. Although Quicken Spell isn't useful at that level, it'll start getting useful at 10-11. Alternatively (and I don't know if this is legal) is to select whatever feat at 9, and then at 10 retrain it to Divine Interference (since I'll meet the prerequisites at that level), and then Quicken Spell at 11.
5) Anything else that might be helpful to playing this sort of character?
Definitely don't take Combat Healer. It's unnecessary.
Would you like to min/max? Take half-elf and lean on the third level spell, Paragon Surge – Feat for that being Extra Arcana.
Get Eldritch Heritage and the familiar. Use it to deliver touch spells for you…like heals. At 9th (you're Sorc level -2) get the 7th level improved familiar that can use wands for even more fun. If you do go this route, figure out which one you want then pick your alignment based off that. Many of them have alignment restrictions.
Lastly, figure out what you’ll be doing if you’re not healing otherwise you’ll end up standing around a lot. Life link will help there as can shield other.
*edit*
Also, if you don't want Paragon Surge, consider Aasimar and use their favored class bonus to bump your Oracle level. Can be useful for Channels, Energy Body, etc....as you mentioned!
I think the strongest healer character is a Human Paladin[hospitaler] that starts out with Fey Founding. It’s not the strongest healer, but all things considered where in PFS offense wins fights it’s the strongest. I’ve played both. My Life Oracle is 7. My Paladin[hospitaler] is 8 or 9…and very hard to kill. They are both fun to play.
That said - play what you like!
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Would you like to min/max? Take half-elf and lean on the third level spell, Paragon Surge – Feat for that being Extra Arcana.
I don't see how I could get Extra Arcana, unless you meant Extra Revelation?
I considered Half-Elf as well, for the familiar and Paragon Surge (for the dial-a-revelation via Extra Revelation). But the same reason as the Aasimar - the bonus feat at 1st is huge, so I can get Fey Foundling and Selective Channeling both at first level.
Although, thinking about it now, if I can hold off for the first 2 levels without Selective Channeling, Half-Elf may be doable. Oh, decisions, decisions!
Lastly, figure out what you’ll be doing if you’re not healing otherwise you’ll end up standing around a lot.
Oh, I agree. Which is why I'll demoralize using Intimidate or cast Guidance at low levels. Then, pick up some useful Wands (Burning Hands, Burning Disarm, Ray of Sickening). Later on, I'll get some useful control and blasty spells like Scorching Ray. Plus, with Lesser Rods of Elemental Spell to convert Fire damage to something else should I face resistance/immunity.
I think the strongest healer character is a Human Paladin[hospitaler] that starts out with Fey Founding. It’s not the strongest healer, but all things considered where in PFS offense wins fights it’s the strongest. I’ve played both. My Life Oracle is 7. My Paladin[hospitaler] is 8 or 9…and very hard to kill. They are both fun to play.
That said - play what you like!
I'm currently set upon playing a Life Oracle at the moment (mainly because I already have a 1st level Paladin created but not yet played). As I said, I don't mind playing a healing-focused build. I've played them in the past. And there's no greater feeling than having so much healing available that you single-handedly kept the party alive because the GM sent wave after wave after wave of enemies at you. (same Cleric in Living Greyhawk; going through Red Hand of Doom. All spells spent, plus expending all of the charges from a Wand of Cure Light Wounds, and all the charges from a partially-charged Wand of Cure Light Wounds.)
Only thing I don't like is having to constantly playing such a character, but then I don't like to do that with any character. But with so many different characters I have in PFS, I think I have that covered!
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You'll save more lives with Misfortune at 1st level than you will Selective Channel. Misfortune is fabulous even if all you ever use it on is rerolling enemy critical threats.
Interesting observation. I may need to rethink changing out Selective Channeling for Extra Revelation (Misfortune). (Assuming I don't end up going Half-Elf)
Bless works just as well in a wand. I'd save your spells known for more interesting things (Cause Fear/Command, Shield of Faith, Ant Haul, etc.) Your spell slot count is going to be dismal for the first 3 levels, so make 'em good and make 'em count.
I agree. But I might keep that spell in until after I can get that Wand of Bless, then retrain it out before I hit level 2.
Life Link demands hitpoints hitpoints hitpoints. Plan on a Belt of CON and even the Toughness feat if you can fit it in.
Again, I agree. :D
I'm planning on getting a Belt of CON ASAP. First stat boosting item I'll probably get. Followed by Phlactery of Positive Channeling, and then at higher level, a Rod of Splendor for +4 Charisma. :D
You are going to have a terrible time with encumbrance. You'll be eternally encumbered with a mithril buckler (2.5 lb), mithril chain shirt (12.5 lb), spiked gauntlets (1 lb), handy haversack (5 lb), spell component pouch (2 lb), and peasant clothes (2 lb). The Ant Haul spell is going to be a staple.
Currently, character has 79 1/2 pounds (not counting Artisan's Tools, 'cause that's just for making day job checks; will probably just leave that "back at home"), and max load is 80 pounds. Sure, I'll be moving at 20 ft. per round as opposed to 30 ft. per round (which, while wearing medium armor, I won't be moving 30 ft. anyways). But if someone runs that far away from the only healer at the table and dies, is it really my fault? ;-)
But yes, I will be picking up Ant Haul at some point within the first 4 levels, I think.
Be sure to remember: you can't use Misfortune and immediate action turn off Life Link in the same in-between rounds.
Duly noted. :D
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Here would be my suggestions:
You are looking to be a support character that will be light on defenses.. take a page from Monty Python and 'don't stand up'... rather look to be unseen.
How does this look for one that might be a little different:
[snipped]
Certainly an interesting build. Although not what I would be going for. It's spending resources to protect itself, which is important for a healer no doubt; when the healer goes down, the party is in trouble. However, I'd lose out on the nova healing, which I find appealing.
Ponder this: if you're going to be hauling around enough to lower your movement speed to 20 on a consistent basis... then consider adding the Lame curse in, instead of one of the others.
It drops you to 20' movement too... but you also gain the additional benefit of never being slowed due to encumbrance... so you can carry as much as you want.
That's true. However, does that mean it bypasses what your maximum carrying load is? By my reading of the Lame curse, it doesn't. And my speed would still be reduced for wearing medium armor, so I'd then have to stick to light. So at low levels it'd cost me 2 points of AC.
Sure, at higher levels, I could buy Mithral Breastplate. Or, I could not take Lame and spend that 4K on something else.
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I would advise a 2-levels dip in Paladin after getting Life Link. It has wonderful synergy with Lay on Hands and you will get the superb bonus to saves.
I like to add the Wrecker curse as the non-advancing one. It hurts you little (except for using the wands) and makes Oracle's Burden real effective against armed opponents.