so i am currently playing an oracle in a Rise of the Runelords game, i am the only source of healing for the part and have a half-used wand of CLW that has conserved spell slots for me but next game we are going to be hitting level 3 and i am faced with a difficult decision of what to take as my revelation, i am a Haunted Lunar Oracle using the Stargazer archetype, up until this point everything has been set but now i get to make my first revelation choice so i am wondering which i should take
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My first choice? Tiger, Tiger, Tiger!
Did I mention.... Tiger?
Seriously, tigers are awesome, and your pet comes in fully trained. I have a sylvan sorcerer with a tiger, and I have to say that Pumpkin (my tiger) is awesomely good.
Multiple attacks, high wisdom (so perception is +9 if you take it as a skill for your tiger) and a very versatile pet. Go tiger!
The only issue is that you will be in the middle of a dungeon with no way to get barding for your pet, so no way to buff the AC. Still, your shield of faith spell (assuming you have it) can serve to protect the tiger as well.
If you need advice on tricks and feats, just ask. At third level a tiger can have two feats. Toughness is good. Power attack is available. You could also do combat reflexes. Tigers get evasion as a bonus ability at 3rd, and they can share your spells. So if you have divine favor, the tiger can use that too.
At third level you start with 8 tricks. For tricks, I advise: attack, attack (so it will attack anything you need to take this TWICE), heel, defend, flank (so your tiger will work with your fighter and rogue and not get in their way), aid, exclusive (so enemies cannot order it) and possibly either maneuver (grapple) or serve (if there is someone else in the party you trust enough to order your tiger). Maneuver (grapple) is awesome because while your tiger will take attacks of opportunity, it can capture thugs alive so you can question them.
Nothing boosts an intimidate score more than telling people your tiger is hungry, while it is grappling them.
You will want to start putting points into handle animal, but.... go, tiger!
Hmm
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For a great guide to having an animal companion, check out Flutter's Druid's Log: Animal Companions.
Hmm
We are currently in a forested area so i was thinking maybe a wolf instead of a tiger, also, i am not sure if i could get the tiger into town, im honestly not sure about the wolf either but i may be able to get a pass for using the stables (we are local celebrities atm) as a place for him to stay, ironically i had already planned to take Eldritch Heritage (Arcane) this level so my character may have just gotten suddenly duked out in pets xD
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It depends on your bluff skill. I've taken my tiger everywhere, though I've increased its int so it could learn more tricks. With "entertain" and "fetch" I've told a number of people that my tiger was entertainment for special events. I've also introduced Pumpkin all kinds of places, and at various events. I usually just have to bring out his fetch ball and let guards play fetch with him, and we're in wherever we want to go.
Bluff is a sorcerer class skill. If we've put a point in it, we're awesome.
You're going to be third, and will be able to bump your animal's int at fourth for three additional tricks and other goodies.
I'd go with whatever animal appealed most to me. If you like wolves, go wolf and tell them, "My dog is one of those breeds with a lot of wolf in him."
Hmm
Edited to add: Tigers are fine in forests. Heck, they can swim and climb trees (though you need to invest skill points for them to do it.) But pick the animal you like best.
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It would help a little to know your build or role. It are you melee capable or did you dump strength? Looking at your archetype and listening to the play style, it sounds lime you're utility, in which case I would say grab moonlight script and call it a day. But if we are doing traditional power gaming or 'make me better in a more obvious way' the only evident choice would seem to be primal companion without really knowing any of the details of your character.
I am personally partial to moonbeam, moonlight bridge and moonlight script based on your archetype. Blinding a target with moonbeam and dealing damage can kill faster while negating a lot of damage received. It's theme-appropriate and kills two birds with one stone. Big cats are so past overdone (not that wolves don't get used a lot, too) that I cannot rightfully suggest yet another big cat animal companion. I also have immense distaste in 90% of situations for the dinosaur companions, too. Regardless, an animal companion will serve the same purpose as moonbeam, more often and generally better. I just do not feel that any of the animals really fit a stargazer (though if we use constellation imagery then they all do).
i am actually a big hitter in the party, i am about a strength mod of 3 or 4 and am currently using a glaive-guisarme (martial proficiency because i am an outsider, a Suli specifically) so i regularly kill stuff, most of combat is stabbing stuff unless i have a reason to cast spells, which tend to mostly CLW spells
Hmmm... Well, if you don't go with the tiger flank buddy (or mount once you get to 7th level, but by then you can pick that up for your next Revelation), I recommend Moonbeam. If you blind an enemy before you finally close the distance into melee, you don't take as much damage, which means you're not expending as many spells to heal. That leaves you open to buff, blast or debuff with greater freedom. Damage prevented is damage done my friend.
On that note however, having a free divination every time you sleep through Moonlit Script likely stands to eventually help your party get really prepared for battles ahead of time.
I will eventually be taking moonlit script, most likely at 7th level when i also gain Star Chart by using Extra Revelation, though possibly earlier. Wall of Force At Level One™ (Moonlight Bridge) might also be another option
also, i will have plenty of time to decide, one of our players is away so we will be playing We Be Goblins this week while we wait for him to return
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If your not playing PFS rules I recommend.
Feats:
Divine protection @ 5
Divine interference @ 11
Skills:
5 ranks Know religion for divine protection.
Wether your support, control, caster, battle priest. You will get great miles out of those feats.
I recommend your melee guys get the feat Big Game Hunter by level 9. Its not mandatory but covers 85% of your combat from that point on.
Depending on how your ability scores run, Prophetic Armor is exceptionally powerful since it lets you move your AC stat to charisma. Whatever the difference between your dex and charisma modifiers, you gain that in AC and reflex saves, and you can improve ac and reflex (along with dc) with your mental ability item slot. If you plan for it from the start it's absurdly powerful, but it can be pretty good used more casually.
the difference between my dex and cha is the difference between a 1 and a 4
also i will probably be taking those two feats Fruian, thanks :)
so basically my choices are Prophetic Armor, Primal Companion, or Bridge of Moonlight?
I think i mentioned earlier but, i am going to be taking Eldritch Heritage (Arcane) this level, unless there is a legitimately better choice atm, i am an oracle so i am hoping to make my way to Improved Eldritch Heritage (Arcane: New Arcana) for the sorcerer spells
Edit: i gotta wonder what my DM will think if i suddenly gain both an animal companion AND a familiar, sudden pet overload might catch him off guard...
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We have an oracle in our game who got both a wolf and a cricket (okay, house centipede) familiar at third level. The GM said, "Fine."
The wolf doesn't slow combat down much and the cricket cowers in a pocket when combat starts so there hasn't been a problem in our game.
Talk it over with your GM. If you do go tiger, I advise getting color-coded dice for each of your animal's attacks so that you can roll attack and damage all at once and keep things moving. If you go wolf, it's mainly just one big bite and a trip to worry about.
What were you thinking of for your familiar?
Hmm
Well, currently a reskinned thrush, theres a story for this one.
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Oh wow --
The thrush is what I am getting as a familiar for my (non-PFS) sorcerer next level. Sameera worships Shelyn, and has this whole songbird theme going. I could not resist the little songbird, especially since it TALKS and it gives a diplomacy bonus! I am so excited to be getting my little bird.
Our party has become the party of pets, with a ranger with a badger, an oracle with a wolf and a cricket, two donkeys who haul stuff, and the alchemist's dog. The dog and the donkeys are not animal companions, but they're still there. Our party had to expand the barn of the farmstead we're renting, just to house all the animals!
Hmm
I have not heard of such a thing, and if it exists i will be sad, because it would be great to add a bunch of Sorc/Wiz spells to my list, so if it takes away half the appeal of the Arcane heritage (familiars are cool) i will be a sad panda
Yeah, non-class abilities which give you spells known now don't add them to your class spell list, unless the ability says otherwise.
Neither Improved Eldritch Heritage nor the arcane bloodline ability explicitly add the spells to your class list so you're out of luck there.
well then what would it DO? nothing? maybe i should just ask the DM if he will allow it
Well, if you pick spells which are on the oracle list too it gives you extra spells known. Of course your DM can reject the FAQ/errata in this case, sure.
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Well adding 3 wizard spells on the fly is kinda OP. Originally it was enough to make oracle tier 1 next to a wizard. I was glad to see it fixed. Great way to get a familiar tho and get extra action economy. You can then take improved familiar and have a wand user.
If your going to be a big hitter in RotRL you should put some feats investments into that. The issue that comes with it is you dont get enlarge person. You wait until righteous might which is a long way away.
If you do go reach melee then your looking at power attack, combat reflexes, big game hunter.
the character wasnt INTENDED to be melee, its more like that just kinda happened due to casters having almost no spells per day at low levels
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Great spells for RotRL for a caster oracle.
Level 1: command, bless, protection from evil,
Level 2: spiritual weapon (you can household cha to work), hold person, resist energy, grace, silence, shield other
Level 3: summon monster 3, dispel magic, prayer, remove blindness (blindness becomes common book 3+) , stone shape, paragon surge
Level 4: SM 4, blessing of fervor, death ward, terrible remorse,
Level 5: breath of life, dispel evil/break enchantment (pick 1), Rightous might (just incase), plane shift (offense and defense) SM 5
Level 6: Blade barrier, SM 6
Early levels there is plenty to choose from. Command has to be my favorite level 1 caster spell.