I have this character that I've been playing in PFS for a little while now. He's doing quite well as the crit-fishing partner to a heavy-hitter Paladin that my husband is playing but I am a little concerned about his Will save.
I plan to take Slayer levels for the rest of the character's play and most of what is shown in the spoiler can't be altered easily, if at all. With that in mind, does anyone have any suggestions for PFS legal ways to boost this guy's Will save that will stack with the obligatory Cloak of Resistance?
Human (ulfen) fighter (lore warden) 2/rogue (knife master) 1/slayer 1
NG Medium humanoid (human)
Init +4; Senses Perception +8
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Defense
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AC 18, touch 14, flat-footed 14 (+4 armor, +4 Dex)
hp 35 (4 HD; 1d8+3d10+8)
Fort +8, Ref +9, Will +4
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Offense
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Speed 30 ft.
Melee +1 kukri +6 (1d4+2/18-20) or
mwk kukri +6 (1d4+2/18-20) or
sap +7 (1d6+2 nonlethal) or
sap +7 (1d6+2 nonlethal)
Ranged light crossbow +7 (1d8/19-20)
Special Attacks sneak attack +1d6, studied target +1 (1st, move action)
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Statistics
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Str 14, Dex 19, Con 14, Int 12, Wis 12, Cha 7
Base Atk +3; CMB +5; CMD 19
Feats Butterfly's Sting, Combat Expertise, Dilettante, Iron Will, Two-weapon Fighting, Weapon Finesse
Traits blade of the society, pragmatic activator
Skills Acrobatics +9, Climb +6, Disable Device +10, Knowledge (arcana) +8, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +8, Knowledge (engineering) +8, Knowledge (history) +8, Knowledge (local) +8, Knowledge (nature) +8, Knowledge (planes) +8, Knowledge (religion) +8, Perception +8, Stealth +9, Use Magic Device +8
Languages Common, Dwarven, Skald
SQ hidden blade, track +1
Other Gear mithral chain shirt, +1 kukri, crossbow bolts (20), light crossbow, mwk kukri, sap, sap, cloak of resistance +1, masterwork thieves' tools, 1,816 gp, 5 sp
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Special Abilities
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Blade of the Society You gain a +1 trait bonus to damage rolls from sneak attacks.
Butterfly's Sting You can forgo a critical hit in order to pass it on to an ally.
Combat Expertise +/-1 Bonus to AC in exchange for an equal penalty to attack.
Dilettante You can make untrained Knowledge checks up to DC 15.
Sneak Attack +1d8/+1d4 +1d8 damage with a dagger-like weapon if you flank your target or your target is flat-footed.
Studied Target +1 (move action, 1 at a time) (Ex) Study foe as a Move action, gain +1 to att/dam & some skills vs. them.
Track +1 Add the listed bonus to survival checks made to track.
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Improved Iron Will is a huge boost to a Will save. Rerolling on a dice is worth about +5.
Another way to do it is to share Shake It Off as a teamwork feat with your hubby pally.
A headband of Wisdom helps too. Since you have Pragmatic Activator, I can imagine you can use a wand of Owl Wisdom as well.
Finally, I don't know if you are allowed to take the Additional Traits feat, but if you are, you can pick up Principled (-2 to Bluff, +2 to Will saves) and something like Contagious Mettle. These are a Faith and a Social trait respectively.
Finally, I don't know if you are allowed to take the Additional Traits feat, but if you are, you can pick up Principled (-2 to Bluff, +2 to Will saves) and something like Contagious Mettle. These are a Faith and a Social trait respectively.
Oh, you had me about to change all my builds. I thought principled was much more awesome than it actually is.
Admittedly, +2 on saves against charms and compulsions (As well as emotion) effects seems rather good, since those are often the most dangerous saves. Birth mark is another faith trait does pretty much the same thing, and also gives you a divine focus (in case you ever needed that kind of thing- great for rangers and hunters I guess, since they need will boosts and have divine spells)
Now, this advise is not going to help the original build in question, but it is my usual way of making something with decent saves:
Half Elf with Dual minded (+2 to will) or Half Orc with Sacred Tattoo (+1 luck to all saves)
12 wis/8 cha- easy enough to get, and usable even if you focus all of your point buy into physical stats
Iron will (And maybe improved iron will, and for half elfs, exiles path, which is iron will for compulsion/charm saves)
Useful trait (indomitable will and other +1 will boosters; maybe the +2 to charm/compulsion saves; half orcs would love fate's favored for the +1 to all luck bonuses, which means all saves for them)
I would say half elf might be slightly more valuable in this than half orc in the long run, since luck stones are slotless items. So a half elf could enjoy the luckstone's +1 luck bonus to saves, and then enjoy its +2 to will saves. Not a big deal in PFS, since it is too pricy in the long run (especially without crafting), but something to think about.
Anyway, with all that, you will be fairly well set for will saves. Since a lot of it is front loaded, you will be beating out caster clerics in the early levels. Later on, you will be able to keep up with uninvested wizards, which is fairly much the benchmark for covering up your weakness.
What other saves does Principled miss? Scry saves? Pssh.
She's playing PFS so she can't switch away from Human.
What other saves does Principled miss? Scry saves? Pssh.
She's playing PFS so she can't switch away from Human.
Well, curses are a fairly common problem since they are such great debuffs.
Anyway, I know she can't switch race, or even do much about changing the state of her build. I just listed all that as general principles I follow during character creation.
Also negative channeling, Harm/Inflicts, Dazing spells, Slow, and fear effects (incl. Phantasmal killer).
Speaking of fear, there's that other headband that does +2 Wis, and can reduce fear effects.
... but I am a little concerned about his Will save.
** spoiler omitted **...
In no particular order...
Owls wisdom. Protection from evil (doesn't stack with your cloak, but does provide some outright immunities). Remove fear potion (though you travel with a paladin). Stay stealthed / invisible another round (sub optimal, but situationally worth considering). Upgrade your cloak. Heroism. But my advise would be dip a class with good will saves.
Also negative channeling, Harm/Inflicts, Dazing spells, Slow, and fear effects (incl. Phantasmal killer).
Speaking of fear, there's that other headband that does +2 Wis, and can reduce fear effects.
plus blindness/deafness, a lot of monster SA that use will for some godawufl reason instead of fort, things like mind fog and etcetcetc
+2vs charms/compulsions is good, but i think a straight +1 to all will is a bit better
So over all, a ton of the battlefield control wizard's usual tricks? (oh, and his suggestion covered fear/emotion effects actually)
Of course, charms and compulsions are some of the most dangerous saves, since it doesn't just mess up you, but it has you mess everyone up (and getting charmed seems like a good plot device for the GM; "Why yes Ms. Batwings, I am more than happy to give you the McMEGAGuffin. I mean, you look so trust worthy with those horns and cloven feet. Would you also like a list of spells that the wizard has prepared today, and the map to where the rogue keeps all his stolen gold?") So it is definitely worth considering versus that +1 will.
Still, I tend to like birth mark better since it give a divine focus you can' lose. Sure, there is a tattoo for that...but not so much for the natur-y classes (who use...holly or something?). And two out of three of those have weak will saves. So good deal.
Luck Stone, heaband of wisdom are good ways to increase your Will ST. You can also try to take 3 levels in your different classes, it will avoid that your ST suck too much.
Thanks for all the suggestions. If the character looks a little scattered, it's because I had originally intended to keep him going with Rogue levels rather than starting on Slayer levels at 4th. Aside from tanking my will save even more than if I had stuck with Rogue, the Slayer looks like it will be quite superior in the long run so I think I will go this route now that husband has picked up a copy of the ACG.
Improved TWF, Piranha Strike and Improved Crit are my only remaining absolute must have feat selections so I should be able to figure out a good way to take Additional Traits and Improved Iron Will. With a Slayer's better BAB, I ought to be able to forgo Weapon Focus and maybe also Outflank although that would be tougher to give up since it not only boosts attacks when flanking, it provokes AoO's that we wouldn't normally get from critting. Dropping Toughness, which I had planned to work in soon, is a decent option too, considering the Slayer's superior hit die. Might be a better option than Outflank even. Hmmm.
Anyhow, you've all given me some things to think about. I appreciate the advice. If anyone has more gear-related ideas, please keep them coming. I can't do a whole lot more to alter my build but I can always save up for helpful trinkets and baubles.
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Have your husband get the wand of protection from evil. It is on the paladin spell list and takes care of a lot of the problems. Check what options there are on his channeling, Shelyn has an option for Clarifying Channel (Inner Sea Gods), there may be other options like that.
Pick slayer or rogue, do not advance both because it will hurt your saves.
You can get the ITW from a slayer combat style if want. You will have to evaluate that versus picking up a style for feats that you can't qualify for.
A ring of foe focus (Ultimate Equipment) would give +2 saves against a single foe. Since it is uncommon for there to be multiple spell casters, you could look at that. Cap of the free thinker (Ultimate Equipment) always allows you to roll twice for any mind affecting effect. Mind Sentinal Medallion also helps against mind affecting stuff.
I think pretty much everything else is covered pretty well above.
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Iron will is always a good pick. But that is a Feat.
You can put a Clear Spindle Ioun stone inside your wayfinder and get the mental protection from evil creatures....so you can't be dominated if they are evil. It's gold so a less valuable resource.
Pair it with a Cracked Green prism as suggested above for a increase to your will save....should be bought before a +3 cloak....as it is cheaper to buy the Cracked Pale Green Ioun stone then it is to upgrade to the +3...gold efficiency.
A rod of extend and Pearl of powers 1st level could get you spells from your paladin ally....Protection from evil extended 3x day is a nice thing...other paladin spells are nice as well. (I only recommend this cause you play with your husband every time.)
There is also a thing called a Luck stone in which you could pick up the feat Extra traits: Fate's Favored for a +2 luck to saves.
Introduced in Armor Masters Handbook, and can only be applied to medium armor: Balanced
Lets you reduce your armor enchant bonus to get as a bonus to any 1 save type, as an immediate action. Very solid choice IMO.