Feat suggestions for a new character

[Silhren Rilbahn]

Just a quick note, this is a character that I will be using in Society play. I don't think feat suggestions will be an issue either, but wanted to let everyone know.

I'm making an Undine Monk (sensei & monk of the four winds archetypes) / Ranger (guide archetype) it is definitely a strange combination of classes, but I am looking forward to it. The character itself will be more of a skill monkey but capable of fighting. I'm fairly certain I'll be taking 6 levels in each class.

The sensei archetype makes diplomacy, Linguistics, and all knowledges as class skills, which I really like.

Stats and feats are as follows:

Str-9
Dex-14
Con-14
Int-12
Wis-18
Cha-10

*I will also be hitting with WIS due to the monk archetype.

Feats:
1) Improved Initiative
3) Dodge
5) Weapon Focus- Unarmed Strike
7)
9)
11)

AP @ 4th level will go to STR
AP @ 8th level will go to CON
AP @ 12th level will go to (undecided)

As you can see, I'm undecided on the open feat slots, and the ones I listed might be moved around too, they aren't set in stone.

So what do you guys think? What feats would you recommend to a skill focused character/ secondary combatant?

[Dennis Deadsky]

PFS play is very much a team game. What will this PC contribute to the team? Will it be skills? Battlefield control? Martial Combat? Offensive spells? It's vitally important for each member of a PFS team to have at least one thing they are good at, else the rest of the team will resent the dead weight. Decide on this, and the rest will flow.

Hint: don't spend your precious Ability Score increases to increase a low stat. Instead, always use it to make high stats even higher. E.g. At build time it costs 1 point to raise STR from 9 to 10, but costs 3 points to raise WIS from 18 to 19. Start with your STR already where you want it, then increase WIS, or other high stats, later on. This will work out much better for you. One should never spend a precious ability score increase to slightly raise a mediocre score.

Warning: You don't have enough skill points, or enough INT, to be very good at many skills. So not really much of a skill monkey. E.g. Your party Wizard or Bard (with or without PotP) will probably have much better Knowledge skills, rendering yours moot.

Warning: You say this PC will be somewhat able to fight, but I don't see it. With low STR you won't do much damage when you hit [Edited: I realized accuracy will be good, but damage will be pitiful]. You should have a plan for this. You need to either re-design the character so be at least minimally competent in combat, else find a plan that doesn't require combat competence. It's perfectly possible to build a very capable monk/ranger. Doing so requires considerable system mastery to avoid making a weak and ineffectual character. You seem to be on that path. I politely suggest a bit of a re-design. For example, you might turn this PC into a very capable grappler, which would be a fine contribution to the team. Right now you got nothin'

[Kaerlic]

Dennis Deadsky wrote:

Warning: You say this PC will be somewhat able to fight, but I don't see it. With low STR you won't be able to hit very well, or do much damage even when you do hit.

The Sensei archetype lets him use Wis instead of Str to hit after 2nd level, so he will actually be very accurate.

[Dennis Deadsky]

Kaerlic wrote:

Dennis Deadsky wrote:

Warning: You say this PC will be somewhat able to fight, but I don't see it. With low STR you won't be able to hit very well, or do much damage even when you do hit.

The Sensei archetype lets him use Wis instead of Str to hit after 2nd level, so he will actually be very accurate.

True. My mistake. Still, he lacks any way to even inconvenience (much less slay) a foe. He has no way to do significant damage, and no way to inflict a worthy status effect. His best approach might be to pick up a reach weapon and attempt to trip foes - his CMB will be decent.

[Imbicatus]

Dennis Deadsky wrote:

Kaerlic wrote:

Dennis Deadsky wrote:

Warning: You say this PC will be somewhat able to fight, but I don't see it. With low STR you won't be able to hit very well, or do much damage even when you do hit.

The Sensei archetype lets him use Wis instead of Str to hit after 2nd level, so he will actually be very accurate.

True. My mistake. Still, he lacks any way to even inconvenience (much less slay) a foe. He has no way to do significant damage, and no way to inflict a worthy status effect. His best approach might be to pick up a reach weapon and attempt to trip foes - his CMB will be decent.

His accuracy is good, as is his stunning fist DC. Inspire Courage will be enough to earn his weight at a table with no bard, or allow the bard to use performance rounds for other things if there is one. If he takes True Strike as a quinggong power, it guarantees the Stunning fist attempt will hit, and can true strike the entire team at the same time.

He can take Mantis Style to further boost the Stunning Fist DC.

[Dennis Deadsky]

Precisely. Were he to emphasize those abilities, or do some of the other things you suggest, he could contribute to combat in that way.

Is his specialty, then, to be 'support'? Inspire Courage and team-truestrike seems to fit that role. How would that compare to, say, an Evangelist Cleric in the 'support' role? What else can he do in the 'support' role? Remember, Pathfinder rewards specialists. First be good at ONE thing, then diversify.