Is bane worth sacrificing for the immolator archetype?

[timewalker6]

I'm choosing a race for my inquisitor and I want to be an outsider so I can get a proficiency with martial weapons but I was wondering what race I should be, if I go ifrit I might go immolator but is bane worth sacrificing?

[yumad]

Being an outsider player race doesn't automatically give you martial weapon proficiency in Pathfinder. Bane is a large gain in damage for an inquisitor, I would not suggest giving it up, even if you did gain martial weapon proficiency.

A cavalier 2 dip order of the cockatrice could get you what you want plus it plus it provides dazzling display to use with intimidate, which is very handy as an inquisitor.

[Suthainn]

Pathfinder player races specify exactly what you gain in them, there is no additional bonuses for being Outsiders, it's all included in the race description.

That said, I'd vote absolutely not. Bane is an incredibly powerful and versatile ability of the Inquisitor which allows them to stand toe to toe with smiting paladins, favoured enemy rangers and weapon training fighters and keep up on damage.

[GoldEdition42]

Bane is the best ability of the Inquisitor as you can use it on any type of creature (as long as you can ID it). No dips in other classes (or at least until you hit 5th level) as with Bane you will outdamage pretty well any other class at the same HD as you.

[XMorsX]

Vanilla Inquisitor is probably stronger, but the Immolator archetype is noy much behind and fits the flavor of the Iffrit. Combine it with the Ash subdomain (associated with the Fire domain) and the Firesight racial trait and you can have an excellent archer, shooting through the smokes at flat-footed enemies. You may be tempted to take a lvl of Figheter for tanking the essetcial archery feats faster, but even if you don't you can use the Fire Bolt domain power for good ranged damage at low lvls.

[timewalker6]

Well damn I really want that proficiency do you know of any other races that would give me a proficiency in both longsword and short swords? (Preferably aside from tengus, according to my GM no tengus because this is a non-oriental campaign.

[XMorsX]

timewalker6 wrote:

Well damn I really want that proficiency do you know of any other races that would give me a proficiency in both longsword and short swords? (Preferably aside from tengus, according to my GM no tengus because this is a non-oriental campaign.

Do you intend to dual-wield them? Then Inquisitor is not the right class for you, both bane and the immolator replacement work on only one weapon.

If this is the case, going with a Two-weapon warrior will probably serve you better.

[wraithstrike]

Elves give longsword proficiency. I dont know if they give short sword proficiency or not.

[insaneogeddon]

Only for an archer. Probably not as powerful - loosing bane AND the smiting judgement means DR can be an issue. That said bows have an easier time with DR then melee (have a couple of every type of arrow). Also the wisdom loss can hurt but as an archer the dex bonus is great.

Conductive weapon allows you to channel your fire bolt through your bow and you can ignore fire resistance (though this does take from using judgement for hit or damage). Fire Bolt does stack well with burnt offering if you don't want to lurk in a static smoke cloud that likely lasts one round or at least is up to DM whim. Fire Bolt is also handy at low level if you loose your bow, don't have a good one yet or face DR.

Also bear in mind with smoke cloud as written as another noticed 'if you're inside the smoke attacking out, you have one kind of attack penalty. And if you're outside the smoke attacking in, you have a different kind of attack penalty. And if you and your opponent are on opposite sides of the smoke, you have no attack penalty!'.

The real question to ask with the archetype: is burning opponents to ash something you want to do?
"....... Now flames, the blazing fire, must devour the lord of warriors who often endured the iron tipped arrow shower, when the dark cloud loosed by bow strings broke above the shield wall, quivering; when the eager shaft, with its feather garb, discharged its duty to the barb." -- from Beowulf

PS: elves get longswords. There is also the doublebane feat in ultimate combat but it burns through those bane rounds 2x as fast (and they go quick anyway) and you couldn't use the feat with the immolator archetype.. or any of the bane feats. Not a great loss none are particularly good and it saves you from temptation.

[Akerlof]

You could go Elf for longsword proficiency and take Norgorber as your deity for Short Sword.

It's not recommended, but it's possible. I would suggest going with two of the same weapon if you intend to go TWF, especially if you aren't a fighter. But it's your character.