help with support / buff / debuff character

[gossamar4]

. I'm looking to create a character for use in pbp, that provides buffs/debuff ect, but can contribute to combat after the buffs are out. I prefer to avoid the complexity of preparing spells, so I'm envisioning an oracle or sorcerer. I already play a bard, so I'm hoping this character will be a different class for variety, but I'm not ruling bard out as an option.

. I play PFS so I'll be using those rules for character creation.

. I want to avoid the point blank feat tree, so a melee character is going to be the focus.

. I would like to have access to divine spells, but enlarge person and similar arcane spells would be very useful. Which is where I'm looking more at a melee Oracle (lore).

. Cleric would be my 1st choice except for they have to "prepare" spells vs spontaneous. (if there is a way to turn clerics into a spontaneous caster, that might solve my issue here. In my interpretation of the classes, a spontaneous cleric IS an oracle)

. Bard with access to cleric spells would also work

. I've read most of the class guides for: cleric, oracle, sorcerer. They don't seem to address this specific concept.

. I plan on Human and will need an Int of 13 for Fast Learner at Lvl 1.

. Thank you in advance for your creative suggestions.

[TGMaxMaxer]

Try an Inquisitor.

Bless, Bane, Blistering Invective (you get intimidate bonuses and it has no SR for the debuff part), all the Litany spells.

Good skills, good combat ability, teamwork feats if others will take them too, if not at least you get them.

Good damage potential and very versatile.

Not Int based, but you only really need a 14 wis to cast with, most spells don't have a DC or will be buffs.

Judgements and Bane keep you up to snuff for damage, and the Human FCB is extra spells known.

Not sure why you want fast learner, but with 7 skills/level you might not need it.

[gossamar4]

the way I see it...

Fast Learner = 4 ability points min (2 required for con and 2 for int, to accomplish the same effect as +1 HP and +1 skill per level)

it also equates to:

+1 HP (favored class), +1 skill (human racial: skilled), AND +1 spells known (favored class)!

I'm pretty amazed when anyone doesn't take this as their human bonus feat.

Anyway...

Thanks for pointing out Inquisitor. It actually fits well, except for the spell list. I guess I never really looked at the Inquisitor class, and had a completely different idea of it's mechanics and role. (never seen one played at any table I've been at)

Without any experience with the class, and just starting my research into it, are there any "tricks", "concepts", combos, ect. that I should be looking into?

[Renegadeshepherd]

You have options here but I don't c one that will work with what you have said. Here's a few tips....

1) evangelist cleric is hands down the most diverse and high quality buffer/debuffer in the game and because it takes so little for him to do it he can easily have basic martial competency of strength 14 or even 16 with a reach weapon. A domain, bard performances, channeling, full spell list, and martial competency means you are set. The only issue I c with that choice is you don't like prepared spells.

2) oracles on the whole are not e em close to a cleric in buff/debuff department but they do have one advantage... Metamagic. Find the best "bad touch spells" and add ranged touch attack and you got something over the cleric. Only a few mysteries will support this though so you got to choose mysteries VERY well. Heaven mystery is the best I can think of off top of head thx to a color spray revelation that stays relevant for a long while.

3) if your dead set on a human with fast learner feat then your list of good classes at all shrinks. Wanting a debuffer limits this even more. Based off the favored class bonus your almost stuck with bard or sorcerer because of the extra spell known is just too good to pass up frankly. Any other class that I can think of is considerably weaker when using that feat and race unless your trying to skill monkey real heavy (even then take toughness).

4) a witch is probably best debuffer in early game and is top tier at all levels IMO. Having access to little bit of divine and arcane is really good. Again if you want to be human take racial heritage feat and then Go scarred witch doctor :) YES I'm being serious!!! Once you have used 10 points for your 16 (18 post racial) do what you want to after that because that's all you needed.

4.5) one way to go is dual talented so you can +2 to con and strength while staying scared witch. It's not optimal but having 18+ to both con and strength is certainly fun and effective. I'd probably dump charisma to 7 and improve WIS and dex to 12. Int is up to you.

[Renegadeshepherd]

Forgot to add.... Inquisitor is not a great buffer/debuffer. He is bard like in skills and combat abilities but when it comes to debuffing or buffing he is subpar. Domain spls are lost and Inquisitions tend to focus on you only (not always though).

Ear piercing scream is very good for high wisdom builds at low levels though. Daze condition is worth a serious look and you do damage with it also. Since your going melee your going to need a two handed weapon of some kind and if you do anything else its a waste baring a guided hand build (which is a good idea anyway for high wisdom characters).

[Rerednaw]

Battle Oracle is a good option. Full divine progression, Battle is a decent mystery for martial focus. Witch is probably better in the debuff role but witches don't get the martial goodies oracles do.

[FuelDrop]

Well, one of your greatest assets is your solo tactics and your free teamwork feats.

At its least imaginative you can do things like buff your combat ability when flanking, improve attacks of opportunity, improve your odds of succeeding at saves, that sort of thing.

Try and grab stealth synergy. It means that you can lurk with the rogue or the ranger without the risk of rolling low and spoiling their sneaking.

[FuelDrop]

Also, many inquisitor builds DOMINATE at intimidate. a high intimidate is an unlimited use debuff effect in and of itself. Take a few feats to hit multiple targets with it and do so quickly, and you have a fully non-magical debuff that you can use reliably and does not allow saves.