[PFS] Is it safe for an offensive caster to have less then a 20 in their casting stat post racial in PFS?

[Deadmanwalking]

FanaticRat wrote:

This thread has me all confused. I've been told that, for example, a primary caster oracle needs a 17 minimum and that going 16 means you gimp yourself hard. But then people are saying buying a 17 is a b ad idea, and it makes me wonder if it's a bad idea to play a class when you don't get a racial score bonus to it.

The advice you're referring to is generally about post-racial Ability scores. The discussion in this thread about pre-racial. Which is a difference of +2...so, yeah, that's why.

[Renegadeshepherd]

Takhisis wrote:

As the title asks. If your going to play a caster in PF society who will be relying on spells with DCs(such as a witch, or a sorcerer or wizard focused on save-or-sucks), is it safe to start with an 18 or 19 in your casting stat post-racial or will such a thing totally gimp your offensive casting(and hexes if a witch) into uselessness? Or will you be able to -get by- with an 18 or 19? Any thoughts/opinions on this would be greatly appreicated.

VERY safe. PFS is far less dangerous in combat than many modules and custom campaigns until u get pretty deep into levels or "seasons". By which time u will have tactics, spells, or other means to stay alive.i would not go lower than 18 post racial though unless u have a very compelling reason.

[Koujow]

I... I just... I wish I could post pictures in these forums so I could just respond with the frustrated Jackie Chan meme because this question (and some of the responses) is just so freaking absurd that I am almost without words.

Listen, my Arcane Trickster started his career with a caster stat at 16 and he is perfectly viable. In case you aren't getting that, my character, who has to take levels in rogue (which the forums have a hard on for hating) and wizard, made his starting int at 16 and then not only played him, but was beyond useful and fun and interesting.

You don't have to sacrifice every other aspect of your character to be useful. Nor do you need to build the most crazy, optimal character out there. You can just make a character and play them.

And did someone really suggest dumping three stats to get two stats at 20? I just... *hulks out and flips tables*

[Dark Immortal]

Lol ^ ah. Yeah. But a 16 casting stat on an offensive caster? After racial modifiers? Hmmm. You are tempting me to try this out sir with my oracle (flame mystery) whose first session will be tomorrow. I hear that save dc's are all the rage but the points about survivability are so incredibly true. I even played a scenario, recently, where our party was blasted on a surprise round while in a crowd of people, with a fireball from a 7th level caster. My 5th level martial character *sorely* wished that he had a.) made the save, b.) had evasion trigger and c.) simply had more HP. As it was, any further damage taken would have dropped him unconscious and very likely have killed him.

Trying out a 16 charisma (total) flame oracle....that just sounds so awkward. But those extra points would feel incredibly good. I must consider.

[bfobar]

Alternatively, I think the only characters that can get away with having any stat maxed out are offensive casters. Nobody else should gimp their other stats because they need to fight too. Really a 20 casting stat means you're going all in on your casting. An 18 after racial mods means you have some points for better defenses and skills and such, which is probably better for most builds and adventures.