Level 1 slayer's Confirmation.

[Arutema]

So I played a table of 'The Confirmation' with a level 1 Slayer today. First the build:

Spoiler:

Alika Patin
Female Rakshasa-Spawn Tiefling Slayer 1
NG Medium outsider (native)
Init +6; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +4
--------------------
Defense
--------------------
AC 18, touch 14, flat-footed 14 (+3 armor, +4 Dex, +1 natural)
hp 12 (1d10+2)
Fort +4, Ref +6, Will +0
Resist fire 5
--------------------
Offense
--------------------
Speed 30 ft.
Melee rapier +5 (1d6+1/18-20/×2)
Ranged shortbow +5 (1d6/×3)
Special Attacks favored target
Spell-Like Abilities
. . 1/day—detect thoughts (DC 12)
--------------------
Statistics
--------------------
Str 13, Dex 18, Con 14, Int 12, Wis 10, Cha 10
Base Atk +1; CMB +2; CMD 16
Feats Weapon Finesse
Traits empyreal cultist (magnimar), reactionary
Skills Acrobatics +7, Bluff +1, Disable Device +4, Disguise +6, Knowledge (local) +5, Perception +4, Perform (dance) +1, Sense Motive +2, Survival +4 (+5 to track)
Languages Celestial, Common, Infernal, Varisian
SQ prehensile tail, track
Combat Gear Alchemist's fire; Other Gear Studded leather armor, Arrows (20), Dagger, Rapier, Shortbow, Backpack (empty), Canteen, Silk rope, Thieves' tools, 8 GP
--------------------
Special Abilities
--------------------
Damage Resistance, Fire (5) You have the specified Damage Resistance against Fire attacks.
Darkvision (60 feet) You can see in the dark (black and white vision only).
Empyreal Cultist (Magnimar) +1 on Diplomacy checks against good-aligned humanoids.
Favored Target (+1, 1 at a time, Move) (Ex) Study foe as a Move action, gain +1 to att/dam & some skills vs. them.
Prehensile Tail Your tail can retrieve small objects on your person as a swift action.
Track +1 Add the listed bonus to survival checks made to track.

Gameplay-wise, the slayer seems competent at low levels due to good BAB and HD, but lacking options. +1 from favored target is underwhelming, and no sneak attack yet means not a lot of class features to use in combat. I was most useful when using acrobatics to provide a flank for the party ninja so he could get sneak attack for massive damage

Overall, I was left feeling like the slayer needs more at level 1. Maybe start favored target at +2. Or go ahead and give it 1d6 sneak attack at level 1 (but keep the 1d6/3 levels progression).

Overall, I'd say competent, but somewhat bland at level 1. Looking forward to higher levels.

[Sean K Reynolds]

Thanks for your playtest feedback, Arutema. :)

[EricMcG]

I believe it excels as a Strength Fighter. Ignore the Rogue aspect and go for the feats. The D6s are just a bonus if you can get flanks. I played through The Confirmation with a similar Slayer build on Sunday. She spent most of her time studying a creature just to watch the Samurai/1 kill it. Bad dice may have skewed the results, but at low levels it is only a little better than a core Fighter or Ranger.

[Victor Zajic]

I played with a level 1 slayer in the same scenario last weekend, with different results. The Longbow weilding slayer managed to kill the scenario boss with arrows (only 1 a round even) before it managed to close with the rest of the party, do to the terrain.

However, the build did seem kinda simplistic/boring. The only choices were who to shoot with the bow and when to activate favored target (which was barely a choice at all).

[Rogue Eidolon]

EricMcG wrote:

I believe it excels as a Strength Fighter. Ignore the Rogue aspect and go for the feats. The D6s are just a bonus if you can get flanks. I played through The Confirmation with a similar Slayer build on Sunday. She spent most of her time studying a creature just to watch the Samurai/1 kill it. Bad dice may have skewed the results, but at low levels it is only a little better than a core Fighter or Ranger.

You say that like being "only a little stronger" than Fighter and Ranger makes it too weak?

[GreyWolfLord]

I like the flavor of the class myself...though I still think that it should have another name rather than slayer...like stalker or bounty hunter, or something along those lines instead.

[RafaelBraga]

You trade ranger spells(which has a very bad progression) for sneak attack, bonus feat(with awesome choices) every 2 levels, ability to use favored enemy at will and ability to ignore all feat requirements you really need...

if the Slayer is balanced the ranger and the rogue(and even the fighter) really need a better care :P

I really think that both the Slayer and the Swasbuckler simple completely outclass the ranger/rogue and fighter completely. Their damage scale to over 9000, they usually lose nothing important and gain a lot.

and 1st level 18 Str(human, half elf, half orc or any race with +2 str to make it cost only 10 points)slay will really make the name of the class shine.

Try an Str build starting with 2 handed weapon but slowly changing to sword and board using the ranger bonus feats to get 2 weapon fighting weapon without needing high dex... i would put 18 str 14 dex for best cost/effect. Your favored target will soon enough cancel your 2 weapon fighting penalty, and your damage will skyrocket keeping your AC high because of the shield.

Or you could always go with a dual shield cheese build...