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I'm working on an inquisitor for PFS and need some build advice.
Ideally, I'd like to go with a compromise between the Devastator and Aegis Inquisitors (as described in the recent guide): bastard sword and buckler. That way, he has the option to maximize damage (take the -1 to hit and two-hand the sword), but can turtle up using the buckler or take in-between options with one-handed power attack. Also, wielding a buckler I have a free hand to cast spells without dropping my weapon (which can be a concern for the pure aegis inquisitor--partially solved with a weapon cord). Out of combat, I think of the character as an divine agent--bringing a variety of social skills to the table. But every way to build the character seems to have a drawback without a way around it.
Here's version 1:
Human (alternate racial trait: adoptive parentage) Inquisitor of Iomedae 1
Str 18 (16+2), Dex 13, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 14, Cha 10.
Traits: Fate's Favored, Undetermined
Feats: Weapon Focus: longsword (through adoptive parentage: Kenku), Dodge, Step Up (through Persistence Inquisition
Inquisition: Persistence
Skills 7 (tentatively bluff*, diplomacy, intimidate, perception, sense motive, stealth*, and survival* *s are skills I don't plan to max and will get some knowledge skills with those points as I advance)
Favored class bonus: HP
Weapon: Longsword and buckler
This version manages the base concept but has to make do with a longsword which is not the ideal weapon. I'd like to spend the feat on bastard sword but can't do so without BAB. (I figure that +1 damage on all attacks or the better criticals is better on average than +1 damage sometimes which is what I would get when using the extra damage judgement with judgement surge)
Questions:
A. what should the second trait be?
B. What should the second feat be? Dodge is just a placeholder.
C. Is there an adoptive parentage race that makes a better backstory (may not have human subtype or weapon familiarity)?
D. Would it be better dropping Wisdom to 13 to boost Int for some more skills?
Here's version 2:
Half-orc (alternate racial trait: sacred tattoo) Inquisitor of Iomedae 1
Str 18 (16+2), Dex 13, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 14, Cha 10.
Traits: Fate's Favored, Undetermined
Feats: Toughness, Step Up (through Persistence Inquisition
Inquisition: Persistence
Skills 7
Favored class bonus: Skills
Weapon: Falchion or greataxe
Spells: 0. Read Magic (to use scrolls without good spellcraft), detect magic, sift, acid splash (for an easy ranged attack--will train out in a level or two when it is no longer useful); 1. Divine Favor, Cure Light Wounds
This version is more mechanically elegant and gets even more milage out of fate's favored. However, he's a straight-up devastator rather than a switch-hitter and I'm not generally a fan of crit-dependent weapons like the falchion. (I prefer reliable damage every hit even if it comes at a slight DPR hit).
Questions:
A. What should the second trait be?
B. Is it better to take toughness and use favored class bonuses for HP or to drop Wis to 13 to get 12 Int for skills and use the feat for something else?
Version 3
Human (alternate racial trait: adoptive parentage) Inquisitor of Ragathiel 1
Str 18 (16+2), Dex 13, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 14, Cha 10.
Traits: Fate's Favored, Undetermined
Feats: Weapon Focus: bastard sword(through adoptive parentage: Kenku), Dodge
Domain: Destruction (rage subdomain)
Skills 7
Favored class bonus: HP
Weapon: Bastard Sword and buckler
This version is what I was originally hoping for in combat, but the destruction (rage) domain is not nearly as interesting as some of the other inquisitions.
Questions:
A. Is there a way to get a better domain or inquisition for an inquisitor of Ragathiel? Are there any that provide new combat options/capabilities like the persistence inquisition does?
Notes: Why I'm a fan of the Persistence Inquisition: It offers increased speed when you need it, Step up which really limits the options available to foes who want to step away and make ranged attacks or cast spells, and then at sixth level gives you the swift action ability to eliminate a lot of annoying conditions.
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Wait, what is a Kenku (I think you mean Tengu) and how does it get you weapon focus?
For version 3 you arent actually proficient with a bastard sword. You'd be taking a -4 penalty.
I do mean Tengu. Adoptive Parentage lets a human trade their bonus feat for the adopted race's weapon familiarity--or if the adoptive race does not have weapon familiarity, for your choice of a racially appropriate weapon focus or skill focus. Since Tengu do not have weapon familiarity (technically) but do have proficiency with all swords, you can get weapon focus at 1st level without +1 BAB.
Version 3 is proficient with bastard sword since it is Ragathiel's favored weapon. I didn't list proficiency in the feats though.
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If you want to maximize combat efficiency, and play a face, why not dump CHA, and go with Conversion inquisition? That could be used to bump your CON to 14 (essential for a melee specialist).
Really, I would go STR17, DEX12, CON14, INT14, WIS14, CHA7, and Conversion Donain. Go Ragathiel for the Bastard sword, if you wanna go that way.
For your extra feat, go with Fast Learner, for both HP and skills with fav class.
You'll pick up Heavy Armor Prof at level 3 (when you can afford MW Full Plate). Really, if you go that route, look towards a greatsword, and maybe forget the shield? You'll have great AC and be able to buff to up you to hit.
I would not worry about weapon focus, you can use Divine Favor or judgements to cover that.
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Trying to say that the Tengu swordtrained is not "technically" weapon familiarity is beyond a stretch. You will probably encounter a lot of resistance to that notion at all but the most liberally adjudicated tables.
That said, I prefer option 2... though I have a fondness for Half Orcs.
I would suggest taking the Clever Wordplay trait for whatever social skill you wish to focus on, then drop your Cha down to 8 and push Int to 12 and get skill points as well.
As for the FCB, remember that Orcs can use the Human options and could take the extra spells known, which can add some extra versatility... granted it can't get you more than 0 level until you can cast 2nd level spells.
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Thanks. If Tengu is relying too much on a technicality, what other appropriate races that would provoke less resistance? (Alternately, would you think an adoptive parentage human would gain swordtrained)?
Catfolk, hobgoblin, Samsaran, Fetchling, ratfolk, and kitsune all seem like possibilities but hobgoblins seem like the most obvious choice for gaining weapon focus. Presumably the character would have either been pressed into military service by a hobgoblin tribe desperate enough for warriors to try arming slaves or trained as a gladiator by a hobgoblin tribe that uses slaves for deathmatch entertainment as well as labor.
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You didn't ask about this, but you seem interested in maximizing your martial ability. Have you considered using a reach weapon? You are proficient with the longspear, a simple weapon. Your damage output will increase considerably, likely to more than double what it would be with the longsword and buckler. Here's why. This seems to fit in smoothly with your concept, too. Fewer feats let you inflict more damage, while also taking less damage and protecting your allies. You can still carry the sword and buckler, and may occasionally want them.
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I have thought about reach weapons a bit. They have another big advantage for an inquisitor or other 3/4 BAB class: you can get combat reflexes at level 1 so the 1St level feat isn't as close to wasted as it usually is. (There really aren't many good combat feat s you can take without +1 BAB). The downside is that it doesn't work with the step up line of feats since they require an adjacent for to step away. If I we're going for a reach weapon inquisitor, I'd look for war-tactics, or travel domains and/or going half elf to get lucerne hammer or bardiche proficiency or finding a God with a favored reach weapon.
A number of deities provide you with Bardiche or Glaive proficiency. If you can handle Evil aligned deities add the Naginata to the list. The Archives of Nethys are great for looking up this sort of stuff.
Also in race choices consider that Half-Orc will grant you a +2 bonus to all saves with Sacred Tatoo and Fate's Favored. While Tieflings might have slightly better stat modifiers Half Orcs make for awesome Inquisitors. Also picking up a bite attack with your other trait will allow you to threaten adjacent squares I hear that comes in handy with a reach weapon.
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It's generally not worth spending resources for a (slightly) better reach weapon. Just go with the longspear, and spend your build resources to either increase your static damage or to do something else for your character concept. Magda gave up Sacred Summons in exchange for Glaive access, and now regrets it.
I would also suggest Half-orc. Not only for the Sacred Tatto and Fate's Favored but they get really a good Favored Class Option as Inquisitors.
Toughness is a good Feat (saved me once already) but I also like Deepsight. 120' sniper in darkness? Talk about a message from god.
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It doesn't have to cost much to get a better reach weapon. Spending a trait on heirloom weapon for a lucerne hammer seems like a pretty good deal. (+2 average damage and a couple extra abilities which may or may not be useful vis a vis longspear). I also expect it makes more of a difference for inquisitors than clerics since inquisitors are more weapon dependent.
I'm still toying with some ideas (since I've only played the character once, I've got time to change him before I hit second level).
The starting stat array is now:
Str 18, Dex 13, Con 12, Int 12, Wis 14, Cha 8
If I go reach, I wonder if it would be worth it to drop Int or Wisdom in order to get Dex to 14. With Combat Reflexes, having 3 AoOs per round seems pretty attractive and the AC will be attractive without a shield.
Deities and domains/inquisitions of interest:
Caydan Caileen, Abadar: Travel domain
Ragathiel: Destruction (Rage) subdomain. Bastard sword proficiency as a backup weapon.
Shelyn: Defense subdomain. Glaive proficiency.
Iomedae: War (Tactics) subdomain, glory (heroism) subdomain.
Feat Chain:
1. Combat Reflexes
(Human bonus if applicable)Toughness, improved initiative, silver tongued, or trade for weapon focus through adoptive parentage.
3. Power Attack
5. Furious Focus
7. Cornugon Smash
9. Lunge
11. Divine Interference
Alternate feat chain:
If I stick with the devastator/aegis switch hitter lockdown specialist (if the tactical ability of the reach inquisitor is being impossible to approach without taking damage, the ability of this inquisitor is being impossible to escape without taking damage, and durable enough to stick around, and hopefully severely limiting the ability of an enemy spellcaster, light infantry, or archer to be effective in combat).
Iomedae: Persistence inquisition
Feat chain:
1.Toughness, Dodge, or Improved Initiative
(Human bonus): trade for weapon focus (or possibly proficiency) through adoptive parentage
Inquisition Bonus: Step Up
3. Power Attack
5. Following Step
7. Cornugon Smash
9. Step up and Strike
11. Divine Interference
Half-orc is definitely a tempting option since the human feats aren't really essential to either build, but they are nice and the skill points are nice too.
I think it would be very neat to combine the two builds--someone who is difficult to approach or escape, but it's difficult to see quite how that would work.
Carry a longspear along with the buckler (suck up the -1 to hit), cast a buff spell in round 1 and move to control an area. If the enemy approaches, take your AoO. Switch to longsword+buckler if you want to emphasize defense or if you can get into position to lock down a foe who depends on ranged attacks, spells, or mobility. If you want to lock down and deal maximum damage, use the longsword two-handed. It seems like it could work.
1.Combat Reflexes
(Human bonus): Toughness, Dodge, Silver Tongued, or trade for weapon proficiency through adoptive parentage
Inquisition Bonus: Step Up
3. Power Attack
5. Following Step
7. Cornugon Smash
9. Step up and Strike
11. Divine Interference
I like both builds but you're likely not gonna get them together into one as step up doesn't work with reach weapons.
One idea for building a part time Reach wielder would be to go Tiefling (there's an alt race that gets +2 STR +2 WIS -2 CHA )take the Maw or claw alt feature for claws and pick up bite from Adopted (Tusked).
First round of Combat cast you're buff and trigger AoO with your spear. Then once folks close with you drop that stick and unleash on them the bloody fury that is a buffed up claw, claw, bite. If you picked up step up they can't get away.
Nice thing about combining reach and natural weapons is that both require very few feats. By picking up Combat Reflexes and Power attack you have mastered the art of reach combat likewise Power Attack is the only feat really needed to make Natural weapons efficient at early levels.
You will be bleeding some extra cash into two different weapons however. But a +1 AoMF is only 4k. Also bane and natural weapons aren't the best of combos.
However the opportunity costs of getting the natural weapons really aren't that high. You're essentially trading 1 trait and a 2nd level spell like ability for a powerful complementary combat mode. However said combat mode does not age all that well but this is for PFS and with a little investment (Helm of the Mamoth Lord) Natural weapons remain viable until level 12.
Anyways I think I've convinced myself. Gonna see if I can get this character built...
Initial Build for an Oni Spawn Inquisitor. Nice thing is due to the Racial FCB and the Racial Bonus to Intimidate you can get away with dumping CHA and still being scary. I'd like WIS to be higher but a 14 will have to do. Special shout out goes to Blistering Invective which is a nice spell to pull off while hiding behind a reach weapon.
Ability Scores after racial modifiers
STR 18 DEX 14 CON 14 WIS 14 INT 12 CHA 5
Traits: Fate's Favored; Adopted (Tusked)
Alt. Racial Traits: Maw or Claw (Claws); Prehensile Tail, Scaled Skin (+1 AC)
Deity: One that gives a good reach weapon and justifies persistence inquisition? Or would Apsu grant you a bite attack?
1.Combat Reflexes
Inquisition Bonus: Step Up
3. Power Attack
5. Following Step
7. Cornugon Smash
9. Step up and Strike
11. ???
I'm thinking of building a half-orc or a dwarf, conversion inquisition and dumping Cha all the way - 7 or even 5 for the dwarf. I'm a fan of darkvision. Str/Wis 16, Con 14 or better. Heaps of teamwork feats - maybe even a level of fighter.
Or - how about a fighter with enough levels of inquisitor to get the teamwork thing?