So I'm running a couple of games tomorrow to grandfather in a couple more of the native outsider races, and finally a prestige class caught my eye: the Holy Vindicator.
So I think I want to make a negative energy channeling cleric of either Besmara or Gorum. I was originally leaning towards Besmara, but that greatsword goodness from being a Gorum worshipper is hard to pass up.
Now, I don't know a whole heck of a lit about either negative energy channelers or holy vindicators, so I throw myself on the mercy and knowledge of the forumites to help me.
A few things to remember:
1. the race has to be aasimar or tiefling, but any heritage of either will work
2. negative energy channeler, Besmara or Gorum
3. it's for PFS, so I won't play the character after I hit level 12, so no builds that don't come online until level 8 or 9
4. I do own Ultimate Campaign, so I can take Channel Smite early and then re-train out of it if I end up taking 5 levels of Holy Vindicator
5. Thanks in advance to all the wonderful people out there who are going to give me so much wonderful advice
Tiefling with Maw ability, 2 levels of Ranger for Aspect of the Beast Claws, then 4 levels of cleric. Delay spells and channeling (do you really want to negative channel?) for a "Bite Claw Claw" full attack, with that nice profane bonus to all 3 attacks.
Make sure your alignment is Chaotic Neutral.
Make sure to take the feat Channel Viciousness eventually.
Make sure to take the feat Versatile Channeler eventually. This will allow you to heal allies AND harm enemies (undead OR living). Totally worth it.
Class progression - Fighter 1/Cleric XX/Holy Vindicator. The problem with Holy Vindicator is that it's abilities don't really start to kick in until later on. And with how the channel smite works with it, you'll want to get a weapon that has a high critical threat range, like a falchion or scimitar.
Other feats you may want - Noble Scion (choose scion of war for Cha to Initiative instead of Dex), Fey Foundling for extra healing. To the last if you go Unbreakable Fighter OR a Half-Orc with the endurance starting feat. Alternatively as a half-orc you could go to Deathless Initiate and get the extra damage that goes with it.
It all really depends though beyond that on what you want to do with the class. Feats like Power Attack and Furious Focus are must haves.
The Vicious, Conductive, Spell Storing magic weapon qualities are also important to have in your weapon.
Gorumite Domains - War is a good one, though you won't get as much out of domain powers I fear due to limited cleric levels. My suggestion if you go war is to use it to empower yourself with feats as necessary. Avoid rage, as you'll have Channel Smite and quicken healing as your primary way of sticking around.
Weapons to use - Falchion, Greatsword, Scimitar, Heavy Flail, Bardiche are your better choices. They offer good critical ranges, and have a variety of options for you to take advantage of.
Well, one of the things about Holy Vindicator is that he needs Charisma because he's smiting and channeling focused. I can't recall if the Motherless get a Charisma penalty, but I do know that they're better off going into Inquisitor with their stat loadout.
Ok, made a few changes and here's what I got to start. Still starts as a bad touch cleric and may or may not go into HV.
Bad Touch Cleric:
Bad Touch Cleric
Qlippoth-Spawn Tiefling Cleric of Achaekek 1 (Pathfinder RPG Advanced Race Guide 0)
LN Medium outsider (native)
Init +1; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +2
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Defense
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AC 18, touch 11, flat-footed 17 (+6 armor, +1 shield, +1 Dex)
hp 10 (1d8+2)
Fort +4, Ref +1, Will +4
Resist cold 5, electricity 5, fire 5
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Offense
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Speed 20 ft.
Melee sawtooth sabre +4 (1d8+4/19-20)
Special Attacks channel negative energy 5/day (DC 12, 1d6)
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 1st; concentration +3)
At will—deathwatch
Domain Spell-Like Abilities (CL 1st; concentration +3)
5/day—bleeding touch (1 round)
Cleric Spells Prepared (CL 1st; concentration +3):
1st—divine favor, divine favor, magic weapon{super}D{/super}
0 (at will)—guidance, read magic, stabilize
D Domain spell; Domains Death, Murder, Tactics, War
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Statistics
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Str 18, Dex 12, Con 14, Int 5, Wis 14, Cha 14
Base Atk +0; CMB +4; CMD 15
Feats Channel Smite
Traits blessing of darkness, fate's favored
Skills Diplomacy +6, Escape Artist -3, Sense Motive +6, Survival +4
Languages Common, Infernal
SQ aura, seize the initiative
Other Gear four-mirror, buckler, sawtooth sabre, backpack, masterwork, spell component pouch, iron unholy symbol (Achaekek), 5 gp
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Special Abilities
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Aura (Ex) The Cleric has an aura corresponding to his deity's alignment.
Bleeding Touch (1 round, 5/day) (Sp) Melee touch attack deals 1d6 bleeding damage.
Blessing of Darkness Your innate connection with the powers of darkness serves you well when evil zealots pray on your behalf. Whenever a spellcaster capable of channeling negative energy casts a beneficial spell on you, she acts as if she were one level higher for the p
Channel Smite Channel energy can be delivered through a Smite attack.
Cleric Channel Negative Energy 1d6 (5/day, DC 12) (Su) Positive energy heals the living and harms the undead; negative has the reverse effect.
Cleric Domain (Murder)
Cleric Domain (Tactics)
Darkvision (60 feet) You can see in the dark (black and white vision only).
Energy Resistance, Cold (5) You have the specified Energy Resistance against Cold attacks.
Energy Resistance, Electricity (5) You have the specified Energy Resistance against Electricity attacks.
Energy Resistance, Fire (5) You have the specified Energy Resistance against Fire attacks.
Fate's Favored Increase luck bonuses by 1.
Seize the Initiative (5/day) (Su) An ally within 30' may take the better of 2d20 for initiative
Speaking of tiefling inquisitors, I played my first game (to grandfather it) on Sunday, but he's an Oni-spawn tiefling inquisitor of Szuriel. And since he uses a great sword, I stayed away from great sword deities on this character.
A very interesting character design that I've been looking at is a magical trait for Aasimar known as Enlightened Warrior.
BUT WHY?! you ask. Well, let me show you this little gem known as Crusader's Flurry that says you can use your Deity's favored weapon in a flurry of blows. You can start this at 3rd level by going 2 monk then 1 Crusader Cleric. 3 Monk/4 Cleric/up to 5 Holy Vindicator or 4 Monk/3 Cleric/up to 5 Holy Vindicator. I like monks better, so you know what I prefer. How's that sound? Sounds like pure awesome in a flurry of gigantic blades, that's what it sounds like. I had originally planned for it to be a human monk going LG for Shelyn, and flurrying with a Glaive, or going LE for Urgathoa for flurrying with a scythe. A cool concept that can be really fun to play.
The downside? Well, to hit won't be too stellar. And perhaps you aren't looking for something as complex as that. The one true downside is that I don't know if Enlightened Warrior is allowed in PFS. If it isn't then I'll go cry in a corner.
It's legal for PFS, although that is a bit more complicated than I like my characters. Mixing monk with cleric also sounds MAD as hell (and I'm not gonna take it anymore!!! lol). If I actually end up going HV on this character, it would be the first character I ever multi-classed on. I'm also considering just staying straight cleric and taking Vital Strike, Power Attack, and maybe Extra Channel to make the most out of my attacks with Channel Smite.
I can understand that. The stat allotment is frightening, and multiclassing is frightening to begin with. But the important thing to remember is that you should have fun.
Oh I always have fun. This will be my 23rd character registered and I haven't even played 10-12 of them. I have tons of fun just trying to build (and frequently overbuild) interesting characters. Like the cleric I'm working on worships an evil god but I plan on having him be a part of the Liberty's Edge faction, which seems completely at odds with each other.
