Building a Mystery Cultist...

[Rycaut]

So has anyone built a mystery cultist? As a relatively late to enter Prestige class there are seemingly a lot of ways you might enter it - especially since that while it adds to a spell casting class it doesn't actually require you to be a specific caster (or indeed any specific class) to enter.

All you need is a good alignment, the Celestial Obedience feat, the Celestial language and Knowledge (Religion) 7 ranks. (and the RP bit of worshipping an Empyreal Lord and having been spiritually awaken by a celestial being (as a GM in home games I handwave these types of requirements - or arrange for them to happen if a player wants to enter a given class)

The bump to spell casting and the 3/4th BAB progression and the d8 HP and low skills suggests that the intent was to be entered from a divine casting class most typically (likely Oracle since the class has some CHA based boosts).

However it seems like there are a LOT of other good build options:

Paladin's are another Divine caster, CHA based that would be great (and the fervor ability etc would be really nice) - though Paladins would give up a lot of Paladin specific abilities (smite advancement, auras, divine bond progression etc)

Sorcerer - nothing in the class requires being a divine caster - and you could be a great nearly full caster with a lot of bonus divine spells/spell-like abilities to offer some great healing boosts without being a pure healer (hard to beat Heal)

Oracle - probably want was initially envisioned. While you would lose progression in mystery revelations (though magic items and feats could help) you would still progress (if slower) in your curse and would get a good boost to casting and utility - and many Oracles may be battle focused.

What builds have people done? (I've been working on a Cleric / Monk build but not sure I'm happy with it yet.

[ArmouredMonk13]

Looks like this PrC is optimal for is a melee oracle that summons a flank partner or 2 then rushes in with it. Or perhaps it is nice for a pure summoning focused sorcerer or oracle/

But if you are trying a Cleric/Monk, this looks like an incredibly sub-optimal PrC (It nerfs your BaB and flurry, and unarmed strike damage/AC bonus, and your channel energy, along with not progressing your domain powers. And you get this all for a -1 to your CL). Try instead looking at the Champion of Irori guide for your build.

[pH unbalanced]

I have an Aasimar Celestial Sorcerer that is working her way towards Mystery Cultist. She specializes in Summoning, Buffs, and Light spells. The loss in progress in Domain Powers isn't a problem because they overlap nicely with her Racial Powers.

[Alex Cunningham]

Dotted.

[Rycaut]

I'm building a support NPC, one who I hope may be with the party for potentially 17-18 levels but while I want him to have some cool (and mysterious) powers, I also don't want him to outshine the party.

So sub-optimal builds are perfectly fine - especially if they are highly flavorful and allow him to have a lot of nifty powers and utility without overshadowing the PCs.

He's also a follower of Korada - so will emphasize doing non-lethal damage, buffing the party, summing angelic aid (occasionally) and doing some healing. In combat he will frequently be trying to save innocent bystanders (sentient or the party animals).

[Samasboy1]

This could be could for toughening up a sorcerer. Celestial and Draconic (any metallic) would be fitting bloodlines.

Gold Draconic bloodline Sorcerer 5/Dragon Disciple 2/Mystery Cultist 10/Dragon Disciple +2/Sorcerer +1

Would be CL 18, and BAB 13. Base saves +7/+6/+12. 104 hp average before Con.

A Summoner would also be interesting. Model his Eidolon on an Angel (bipedal, wings, greatsword, etc). Cha synergy, 3/4 BAB to build on. Yeah, that could work.

[Irnk, Dead-Eye's Prodigal]

Samasboy1 wrote:

This could be could for toughening up a sorcerer. Celestial and Draconic (any metallic) would be fitting bloodlines.

Gold Draconic bloodline Sorcerer 5/Dragon Disciple 2/Mystery Cultist 10/Dragon Disciple +2/Sorcerer +1

Would be CL 18, and BAB 13. Base saves +7/+6/+12. 104 hp average before Con.

A Summoner would also be interesting. Model his Eidolon on an Angel (bipedal, wings, greatsword, etc). Cha synergy, 3/4 BAB to build on. Yeah, that could work.

Except for the fact that you will be nerfing arguably the two most vital aspects of a Summoner, their Eidolon & their SM SLA...

Neither will progress past your base Summoner level as I read nothing in the description that indicates you gain any progression in your base class abilities beyond caster level & caster is really the least of what a well-played Summoner can do.

[Samasboy1]

You're right. I was thinking the SLA would advance for some reason. Then you could just be a Master Summoner. But I guess it was just a brain fart.

Scratch Summoner.