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The game that I am GMing is shutting down, which means that I have the opportunity to start a new character in another game for Rise of the Runelords.
I love charisma-based characters. I love diplomacy. I love animal companions and/or familiars.
I've made up a list of classes that interest me, and here is what I've got so far:
- Bard (probably the straight-up, core version as my favorite bardic abilities are versatile performance, inspire courage and bardic knowledge)
- Paladin of Shelyn or Cayden Cailean (homebrew -- GM would allow the latter choice)
- Inquisitor (Conversion Inquisition or Infiltrator Archetype) probably of Cayden Cailean
- Evangelist Cleric Archetype
- Half-Elf Oradin (Paladin/Life Oracle) Healer
- Heavens Oracle or Lunar Oracle -- Possibly Spirit Guide Archetype
- Swashbuckler!
- Investigator (non-charisma, but still interesting)
- Hunter (only considered for Animal Companions with teamwork feats)
I'm currently playing a human sylvan sorcerer for PFS and a kitsune maestro sorcerer for homebrew so I probably should do something else. I am really, really great at battle field control Sorcerers though! Bloodrager is interesting, but I'm not certain I want to go that route. Skald I think I'm eliminating in favor of straight Bard as a group buffing option.
Is there anything I've missed as an option to start looking at? Any fun charismatic archers or other archetypes that I might want to look over? I like providing support (healing/textbook/buffs) and battlefield control. I know that all races and classes are open, and that the point buy is high, allowing for MAD classes to come into their own.
This GM also tends to be generous with skill points, often adding 2 per level on top of int bonus.
I don't want to do a full build until I hear where the rest of the party is going with characters. It is a large party and we'll be starting at level 2.
Hmm
Channel Focused Cleric- Not ideal but not as bad as some might think.
The one that is glaring to me as missing is the Summoner!
-Cha based
-Amazingly good at BF control
-Better than an animal companion Eidolon
-The roleplaying opportunities!
My last summoner character had a single level of Druid (because I wanted the Sunlight/Moonlight/Starlight Summons feats) I upgraded the Animal companion with boon companion and gave it throw anything feat so it remained viable as a ranged combatant. I went half-elf and took arcane bloodline then Improved Familiar for a Fairy dragon, and I was a master summoner using a skill focused Eidolon. All my other feats went into summoning enhancement. My Eidolon looked like the succubus that killed my character's brother which was partly my character's fault (my character chose this as a penance) she made an excellent wand caster.
Hunter is another shiny new choice though not a Cha focused character it might give you what you want.
Another CHA character is an Intimidation built rogue. Shatter defenses is fun, mix this with order of the cockatrice cavalier for maximum fun.
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Summoner is a *very* interesting option, especially since Master Summoner is on the table as an option. I like the idea of having a lesser eidolon in exchange for better summoning. My fear is that it would be too much like sorcerer. On the other hand, I've always wanted to play one...
I like the druid / summoner combination, especially since we are starting at level 2. It also makes druid wands available. Very interesting.
It's definitely something to consider. I just don't want to slow down gameplay or completely dominate combat in a very large group.
Hmm
Doesn't play like a sorc for the following reasons:
-You lead with summons first and always.
-Med BAB and better HP and likely a good dex opens up ranged options if you choose.
-Your spells are more oriented to buff than battlefield control. There are some good BF control on the list but buffing tends to be the favored option.
-Eidolon can be very much a character if you choose. I personally like the concept that the Eidolon is a manifestation of the summoner's sub-conscious mind which led to a cool archetype in Into the Breach: The Summoner.
Since you are simply dipping Druid see if the GM will allow Hunter (because that would give you ranger spells and druid spells.) You'd still qualify for the aforementioned feats.
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A pageant of the peacock caster bard. Only archetype I recommend might be dirge bard but I like vanilla.
Hella high charisma, with a 12 int and human you can have 12 skills by 2nd level most with great bonuses. By level 2 you can have every social skill you want..(.I dont like intimadate as DMs dont like to be threatened even in character. And dirge of doom is a thing to replace demoralize)
You also make int checks untrained and use bluff in place of it...so no wasted points of skills in knows...only 1 point wasted for linguistics and spellcraft.
I was doing a fake it till you make it bard. You can search that and look at the thread at some of the inputs and the build. Im playing it currently in curse of the crimson throne and its doing well.
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How to make Charisma do everything for an Oracle or other Cha based character who can splash 1-4 levels into Oracle:
Requires 1 level of Oracle: Nature Oracle for Natural Whispers: Cha replaces dex to AC and CMD
Requires Cha: Noble Scion (Feat, war), must be taken at level 1: replace dex for Cha to Initiative
Requires 2nd level divine spells Divine Protection (Feat): Cha bonuses to all saves
Suddenly you do not feel so bad for maxing Charisma out and it allows you to dump Dexterity as a stat entirely.
The best part is that Nature gives you a bonded mount and decent spells.
Also, Duel-Cursed stacks with Spirit Guide, so feel free to take it for the bonus revelations.
Also going to leave this here with a suggestion to take it instead of using a spell slot for bless: http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/battle-cry-combat
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Dual-cursed does not stack with spirit guide, alas. They both replace the same feature: the oracle's bonus skills.
I was looking at potentially doing a lunar oracle, which does allow one to neglect dex. I have been considering noble scion: war. I love lunar's revelations... I am less fond of lunar's bonus spells, but hey... that is part of why I am thinking of going Spirit Guide.
Of course, this will be in the campaign with the GM who allows incredibly high point buy -- attribute range from 7-17 pre-racial bonus, all attributes must total to 84. I may not need to play gut-the-dex shenanigans to get the stats I want. I won't be starting with a 20 cha, but 19 is pretty darn close.
I am looking at battle cry feat already, depending on the character.
Another option would be to do a bard with flag bearer feat. Inspire courage stacks entirely with flag bearer.
What I think I will do is present my GM with my set of options for "fill in holes in the party" and call it good.
Hmm
Just pointing out you can dip into Orcale then buy revelations as you please with the Extra Revelation Feat.
It is also worth noting most revelations say you must be x level before selecting but not x oracle level...
Sczarni Swindler Rogue is great, pretty good to go Dazzling Display or Eldritch Heritage: Rakshaza/Shadow (Rak for facing, Shadow for combat).
Plus the roleplaying possibilities! I take with me four Jacks of every suit. I use Spades to mean attack, Clubs for Stealth, Diamonds for Sleight of Hand (preparing to use Underhanded for insane amounts of damage), Hearts for Intimidate ( (I actually use Bluff since I used a small race with Taunt). Pick two, Let Fate Decide, then move onto my target.
Ninja is good too, let crazy than the Swindler but more effective.
I noticed you are missing Cavalier? It's a great class that deals tons of damage and some Orders/builds can grant you a nice amount of face power. Of course, its preferred to go this way if you take a small race.
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Oh, I know all about dipping into Oracle. One of the options listed above was an Oradin healer after all.
I was also considering a Sor-acle with a dip in heavens for Awesome Display. However, that would have me playing yet another Sorcerer.
However, the option of going Spirit Guide Archetype as an Oracle really interests me for the flexibility of the Wandering Spirit feature. I also think it would be fun to roleplay.
If only bards got "Color Spray" on their spell lists. A bard with a dip in Heavens Oracle could be great fun!
Hmm
Can you play a Samsurian because they have a racial trait that solves that issue.
A fun option might be Vishkanya Deadly courtesan with the sleep venom feat. Scaling sleep poison with a mix of rogue and bard abilities.
I think it'd be fairly easy to shoe-horn an Investigator, especially an Empiricist, into the "face" role for your party because it's not too taxing to make it so you can add inspiration dice to your face-y skills for free. Although I had plenty of success making an Alchemist into our party face for Council of Thieves, the first thing I thought when I got the ACG and saw the Investigator was "Damn, this class would have worked even better!"
I know Investigator is already on your list but it doesn't seem to be getting any love and that is a shame.
I love my Skald. It feels like Bard++. Fated Champion brings in some great utility when you get Spell Kenning and can grab higher level Divination spells. Inspire Rage and the Rage Power feature make combat hilarious. You still get Versatile Performance. The downside? No Loremaster, 2 fewer skills per level.
I have a diplomancer Paladin of Shelyn, as well. Level 3, +15 diplomacy. Sadly, with the Paladin chassis, you have to make a lot of sacrifices to adequately address many situations. If you can count on the party to handle the other skills, this can be really good. Unfortunately, you get sucked into the Paladin Code, which means that most uses of Bluff are out. You can kind of get around it if you only tell the truth, but Bluff to make them think you're lying.
I would strongly advocate for the Conversion or Heresy Inquisitions on an Infiltrator Inquisitor. You get absolutely brutal modifiers, can dump CHA itself, and have a versatile set of abilities to go with it.
Wizard, Witch or Arcanist, lots of skill points. can put cross class ranks in many social skills without much issue except for the lack of the +3. charisma penalty might hurt early on, but can become pretty social with cosmopolitan feat, hermean blood feat or extra traits
Alchemist, intelligence based class, again with lots of skill points, can spend crossclass ranks, feats and/or traits to boost social skills and be a versatile face
rogue or slayer, rogue and slayer both have a lot of skill points, but traits and skill points can boost diplomacy. with a slayer as a standard action, you can gain a bonus to social skills against your primary focus equal to half a ranger's maximum favored enemy bonus
urban ranger, with favored enemy, a trait and skill ranks, you can be a face with a specific creature type and have a damage bonus against them
Magus; an intelligence based class with lots of skill points. can invest in a few face skills
ninja, essentially a rogue archetype that has a charisma based resource and access to diplomacy
mysterious stranger, a social gunslinger archetype
Sage Bloodline Sorcerer, an intelligence based sorcerer that has enough skill points to have more face skills than just diplomacy
Cavalier, Samurai or Barbarian, not really an inherently charisma based class, but has some skill points to spare on diplomacy if you make some sacrifices.
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3) evangelist cleric: BEST choice except maybe the sylvan sorcerer. Though the first two levels are tough on you, and you won't get a maxedout animal companion till level 5, you have awesome features. Horus is THE charisma based deity when it comes to having animal domain because like his brother Ra he has rulership variant channeling. In short you can as a standar action daze lock entire mobs of enemies. Even though this will lose some of its potency over the levels, by then you have your animal in full swing, plenty of spells, and probably inspire courage as move or swift action. If you elect to go with a side of necromancy you theoretically 1) raise a dead army,2) summon a small army for short period, 3) inspire the army (not undead), 4) use longspear from safety, 5) channel the mob, and use control spells. You could even do all that in 2 Rounds depending on the level and feats.
Evangelist Cleric has been on my list for a long time as a fun option.
What is this about Horus, Ra and Variant Channeling?
I think it'd be fairly easy to shoe-horn an Investigator, especially an Empiricist, into the "face" role for your party because it's not too taxing to make it so you can add inspiration dice to your face-y skills for free. Although I had plenty of success making an Alchemist into our party face for Council of Thieves, the first thing I thought when I got the ACG and saw the Investigator was "Damn, this class would have worked even better!"
I know Investigator is already on your list but it doesn't seem to be getting any love and that is a shame.
The investigator *is* fascinating. I was going to try out the Quinn (the pre-Gen) at the next PFS game that I play to get a better sense of the class. A group of us are going in at first level with a bunch of ACG pregens to try out different ones!
Hmm