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My main campaign is going on hiatus and we are going to have a little adventure with some new character. We will be starting at level 2 or 3 with a 20 point buy. We won't be leveling higher than level 8.
Its a small group, 3 players maybe a 4th player.
The group at this point is a summoner and an artificer (link: https://sites.google.com/site/eberronpathfinder/conversion-info/classes/art ificer).
I am considering:
A longsword focused inquisitor, a zen archer, a dwarf invulnerable rager, a dawnflower dervish bard, or a swashbuckler (playtest v.2). The DM did say that a scarred witchdoctor would be possible should I opt for a full caster.
I would appreciate any help y'all could provide in narrowing it down.
Zen archer is great for a dip, and with your limited class range, it may proof an easy way to secure Pseudo- Rapid Shot, and Precise shot at lvl 1. But, with 20 point buy, your stats are gonna hurt, and monks need almost every stat. so a prolonged stay may not be fun.
If your set on single classing; I'd suggest the Inquisitor; it get's it's fun toys from level 1-5/6, before it starts just upgrading, so you'll have a power charged rise, and be able to do Melee, Magic, and social, at with around 3 Stats; Str, Dex, and Wis.
In a 3 person group, your best bets are always versatility. In your situation, a divine caster seems like a must. Even if you can get wants or potions to cover hit point damage, negative effects (disease, poison, ability damage, negative levels) demands divine magic to recover from in time measure less then multiple days.
An eidolon can provide an effective frontliner and you have a fair bit of arcane magic in the party. If the artificer has the 'dungeon skills' covered (perception, disable device) and I would assume things like knowledges and spell craft, you might not have anyone sneaky, but that isnt really a need. After all sneaking just splits the party most of the time.
You need someone with access to divine spells, and probably wouldnt hurt if you could fight a bit too. Druid with a tough companion in barding would be my first choice (divine magic plus an additional front liner, further extending the party's action economy). Of the ones you mentioned, witch or inquisitor seem like better choices.
I haven't thought of a druid but that could be fun. Would you recommend melee heavy or casting heavy?
In this group, i'd make the druid casty, but pick an effective combat companion (big cat is my personal favorite) give it light armor profficiency and put it in barding. It will make almost as good a tank as the eidolon.
I also think an intimidate focused inquisitor could be quite enjoyable.
I've never played either class before but both have been very high on my bucket list.
Inquisitors are alot of fun. Most people prefer ranged versions which wouldnt be bad for your group. After all you do have a front liner, some ranged damage would be good to have. And you would be able to be good in the social skills, particularly interrogation type skills. You wont have quite as much 'casting' though, which may be an issue in a small party.
Its a trade off, more magic and fighting ability is in the druid. More skills is in the inquisitor. You might want to ask your gm which would be more useful in what he has planned. If its a more social or urban adventure, inquisitor would be more useful. If its dungeons or wilderness, druid is more useful.
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I wish that was an option but since the DM is new to that side of the table he just wants the current classes since they are familiar to him totally understandable.
Do you guys think we would be hurting bad without a dedicated ranged character? Does a switchhitter ranger function well in a 3-person group? For an archer set-up, a wood oracle may be a solid choice as well.
I wish that was an option but since the DM is new to that side of the table he just wants the current classes since they are familiar to him totally understandable.
Do you guys think we would be hurting bad without a dedicated ranged character? Does a switchhitter ranger function well in a 3-person group? For an archer set-up, a wood oracle may be a solid choice as well.
I dont think a dedicated ranged character is necessary. Someone needs to be able to hit things at range but it isnt a 'key' component in my mind. The summoner can always drop summoned monsters on things far away (or drop them in pits), and if you play a druid you can do the same thing. Ranged is good, but if you have the mobility offered by the summoners eidolon (making it fly is rather easy and you can make it stupid fast if you want) or the druid (wild shape is the best mobility spell in the world) and 2 characters that can easiliy summon creatures on enemies heads, you dont need range.
You do however need a solid divine caster (ranger doesnt cut it in my mind) and some action economy help (druids animal companion).
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The artificer can replicate any spell in the game so we wouldn't be without divine assistance. However, I agree it would probably be nice for me to support via divine magic. Is ranger/paladin spell support enough or do you think a full 6 or 9th level caster is important?
I'll tell you the truth, a ranged inquisitor intimidates me a bit, ranged just requires so many feats and so much can go wrong where melee is very straightforward.
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Should I keep the animal companion and focus on wildshape killing or go domain & spell focus and just let summoned beasts do all the hard work.
Domain Spontaneity [General]
Prerequisite: Have access to at least one domain, Have access to spontaneous casting class feature.
Benefit: Choose one domain that you have access to. You can now spontaneously cast spells from that domain by swapping out other spells of the same level, in the same fashion as a cleric swapping out for cure or inflict spells or a druid swapping out for Summon Nature Ally spells. You can take this feat multiple times. Each time, choose a different domain that you have access to.
Should I keep the animal companion and focus on wildshape killing or go domain & spell focus and just let summoned beasts do all the hard work.
** spoiler omitted **
I would do a mix. Keep the animal companion (best option you can have in a small group) and then spend your own actions casting summoning etc (using wild shape for utility rather then combat).
And in general, almost no things are more useful then a well made druid. In particular because the druid excels across the entire level spectrum unlike a certain smarty pants book worm.
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I was leaning towards aasimar for "celestial servant" were I to take the Animal companion.
Smart idea?
The think I am having a hard time with is what feats to grab to get started. I mean I want to have strong summons SF:C and augment summoning are really important, as is combat casting. But if I want to be attiquate in combat I may need some feats dedicated there, specifically power attack.
I considered Skinwalker as a race, while flavorful, does it offer anything better than aasimar or human?