WotR Inquisitor needs help

[Scripps]

My regular group recently started running Wrath of the Righteous and I'm playing a tiefling Inqusitor of Ragathiel with the Cold Iron Warden archetype and Archon domain. Right now we're only level 3 and I think it's a solid character so far, but I'm new to the Inquisitor and was wondering if I could get some advice/critiques. Particularly on my idea about a *gasp* dip.

Stats were done at 20 point buy and are:
Strength 16
Dexterity 14
Constitution 14
Intelligence 10
Wisdom 14
Charisma 9

Based on the guides I've read and some posts here on the boards, I've come up with this build:
1 Intimidating Prowess
3 Power Attack
5 Furious Focus
7 Cornugon Smash
9 Vital Strike (I know, I know)
11 Heavy Armor Proficiency
13 Ancestral Scorn
15 Improved Vital Strike
17 Quicken Spell
19 Dreadful Carnage

I don't know yet how the mythic stuff will work out in game, but I've looked over the Mythic book -- I'm going Heirophant and like Sustained by Faith, Enduring Blessing, Eldritch Breach and Legendary Item abilities -- obviously (given the above feats) I'll be taking Mythic Vital Strike and also eventually Mythic Spell Lore.

As for the dip, at first I was thinking Crusader Cleric, which would get the proficiency and a good aura (hello Litany of Righteousness and Greater Bane/Mythic Vital Strike) and also not halt domain advancement.

I also thought of 1 level of Paladin with the Sacred Shield archetype. The Bastion of Good ability that replaces smite is less charisma dependent (good for me) and 1 level also nets me the aura, heavy armor AND martial weapons, which is less important since I get bastard sword prof., but still nice.

Now, I realize that normally just spending a feat on Heavy Armor Prof. is better than dipping but given this particular AP, does it work? Or am I crazy, multiclass-mad grognard lost in hazy memories of running fighter/magic-user/thieves?

[XMorsX]

Nothing wrong with your build, although I would recomment to dual-path Hierophant with Champion and drop vital strike. It is a great mythic feat no doubt, but with choices like Fleet Charge as your Champion Strike and Fleet Warrior and Precision as 3rd lvl Champion path abilities, you will be able and you will want to full-attack all the time.

Heavy Armor Proficiency seem reduntant too. One lvl in Crusader cleric is probably your best choice as far as dips are concearned. Also, if you are about to lose your capstone, another great dip is 3 lvls in weapon master fighter for weapon training. Stack it with gloves of dueling for a permanent +3/+3 attack and damage bonus. Also it gives proficiency in heavy armor, make sure it is mithral so that you do not lose the benefits of the stalwart feature.

Inquisitor 5 / Crusader Cleric 1 / Inquisitor 7 / Weapon Master 3 / Inquisitor 4 is a great build, as it will let you take advantage of litany of righteousness and you will still take greater bane and the ability to have 3 judgments active at once. As I have ordered the lvls, you dip at cleric right after you obtain bane and at fighter right after you obtain greater bane.

I recommend swapping out the vital strike feats and instead take judgment surge and instant judgement. Also, with the additional feats that you will take from weapon master fighter at high lvls, consider critical focus and staggering critical.

Make sure you ake the Fate's Favored trait for boosting your Divine Favor bonuses and at higher lvl the Jingasa of the Fortunate Soldier.

[Scripps]

Ah, I didn't think it would come up, but our DM wants to limit Dual Path to 1st Tier abilities only -- a shame really, as I'd practically lusted after Fleet Charge and Precision, easily the stand outs for a Champion.

I don't agree with the move, but he's the DM -- and I don't think it's an entirely unreasonable limitation either: There's kind of 50/50 split in our group when it comes to system mastery, and I believe he's worried Mythic could widen the gap, so to speak. Hence, the vital strike line instead.

I had totally overlooked Fate's Favored and the Jingasa though. My traits are fixed (I could try to talk him into letting me change it) but I'll definitely have to try and grab that helmet!

I'll have to work up that build and play around with it a bit. Thanks!

[XMorsX]

You could try convicing him to let you take up to the 3rd lvl tiers. It is not unreasonable, explain to him that the 3rd lvl champion tiers are the "mythical fix" for the martial characters and that the real power is behind the Archmage and maybe Hierophant paths and not the other ones.

Especially as an Inquisitor, losing iteratives hurts as your bane does fixed damage to every attack. Unless mythic vital strike multiplies your bane bonus too (which by RAW it does not, it will work only as a houserule), you do not want to make a single attack per round, it will greatly redusce your DPR. Explain this to him to0, that your class features are downgraded by restricting access to 3rd lvl tiers. Offer to give your wits to anyone that seems to lack basic pf system mastery to compensate.

For these reasons, I would still avoid vital strike.

[Scripps]

LOL, thanks -- it's good advice.

Like I said, vital strike was taken to make up for not having access to those, but I know it's not ideal for the character. Bane benefiting from more whacks per round is a good point. I will talk to him again, but I'm not sure I can convince him.

Let's pretend I can't -- what would you take instead to make up the DPR?

[Satchmo]

Eldritch Breach is something you should leave to players that are focused as casters, especially if your thinking of dipping in different classes.

[XMorsX]

I would take Champion as my main path and dual path with Hierophant. The best thing Hierophant has to offer to you is Inspired Spell anyway; you can easily obtain it with Dual path, while eventually taking Fleet Warrior and Precision as Champion is going to be your main path.

[Scripps]

Damn. Why didn't I think of that? It would suck to lose Enduring Blessing but yeah, going Champion does seem preferable.

Thanks for the tip on Eldritch Breach -- I probably won't end up dipping, especially if I can save feats by dropping the Vital Strike line -- won't mind blowing a feat on Heavy Armor prof. so much then. But the Piercing Judgment can help with SR too.