Hi guys,
I've been mulling this over for some time now, adn would liek to have the input from those more experienced than me in such dealings.
Even though I have not yet tried it out at higher levels, I am a big fan of the Oradin concept, and would like to add archery to the mix. However I am somewhat hesitant due to the feat intensive nature of the archery route.
If one picks up a big weapon and Power attack, you can at least hit hard, but Archery requires much more investment (off the top of my head: Point-Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Rapid Shot, Deadly Aim) - those are 4 feats right there which doesn't leave much maneuvering room to add stuff that would enhance his healing capability.
The issue seems to rear its ugly head right at least until level 5 - regardless of whatever class combination (between Oracle and Paladin) you take, if you grab Fey foundling at level 1 and you're not human (Tiefling FCB worth it?), then you will only have point-blank shot at level 3 and precise at level 5. That alone seems to hurt a LOT.
Skill points are another concern of mine... With human as a race it might be alleviated somewhat (not only in the amount of skills, but also with that extra feat, that could be used for at least point-blank at level 1).
Has anyone had any experience with this - how did it work out?
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There's a Paladin archetype that gets Precise Shot at first level (Divine Hunter--not to be confused with the hunter archetype of the same name...).
I haven't tried cross-breading a paladin with an oracle to get this. I'm pretty happy with straight paladin. Mine is a muse-touched aasimar (I think that's the right one...the one that has +2 to both cha/dex). Human definitely would have been a huge boon, though, since they get a bonus feat.
At lvl 1 as a human divine hunter, you could have all of Precise Shot, Point Blank, and Rapid Shot. Since mine is as aasimar I had to push Rapid Shot back to 3rd level. Here's what my progression looks like.
Divine Hunter 1 - Precise Shot
1 - Point Blank
3 - Rapid Shot
5 - Deadly Aim
7 - Manyshot (bab 6)
9 - Clustered Shots (bab 6)
11 - Improved Precise Shot (bab 11)
For you, the only level that would matter is the first one so you can pick up Precise Shot for free. After that, the feats aren't class dependent so it's up to you if you want to split your casting levels / class abilities--though oracle will kill your bab prereqs. If you're a human, that gives you another feet to play around with.
I've read that the paladin abilities Divine Hunter gives up, when compared to what he gains (apart from that sweet Precise Shot) are really not a good tradeoff - I take it you disagree? :D
My plan was going Hospitaler for the added healing.
wouldn't recommend. Doable yes but would be average at best. could have lots of quality tricks but the archery itself will not be worthwhile after a while. If you go oracle dominate build then what could you do with your subpar archery that a spell couldn't do better? and then if you went paladin then what did your oracle bring to the table that is worthwhile at mid to late levels?
I think you may have hammered the nail on the head right there Renegadeshepherd - I was most likely looking at this all wrong. My aim was to offer decent healing, but also being able to offer offensive combat support, and I guess there is no more efficient way to do that than with spells, right? :D
Thing is, I was aiming at something to do when I am not casting - picture the Evangelist Reach Cleric. when he is not casting, he is power attacking, or tripping or etc. I assume a high Wisdom Cleric/high Charisma Oracle will always have a good synergy between healing and casting offensively (Oracle will have to strike a delicate balance between offensive and defensive spells though), but they are drawing from the same pool (spells) to accomplish all of those actions. If you introduce a 'combat mode' (see Evangelist above), you have an alternative that does not draw from your main resource (spells), while allowing you to remain useful.
I've read that the paladin abilities Divine Hunter gives up, when compared to what he gains (apart from that sweet Precise Shot) are really not a good tradeoff - I take it you disagree? :D
My plan was going Hospitaler for the added healing.
Divine hunter is ok if you are only going two levels, although i don't know your plan. Mostly oracle or mostly paladin? If you are getting more than 2 levels in paladin, then do not take divine hunter, as it is a trap archetype.
You wont really need the healing personally if you are an archer, I would rather get more smites
I could get more smites CWheezy, but then I am not providing such a decent healing, right? ;)
My plan was a 3 or 4 level dip in Oracle, and the rest as Paladin (not sure on the exact progression though - maybe Pal1/Ora1/Pal2/Ora2/Ora3/Pal3/Pal4/Ora4/Pal5....?)
I could get more smites CWheezy, but then I am not providing such a decent healing, right? ;)
My plan was a 3 or 4 level dip in Oracle, and the rest as Paladin (not sure on the exact progression though - maybe Pal1/Ora1/Pal2/Ora2/Ora3/Pal3/Pal4/Ora4/Pal5....?)
I would suggest Pal 1/Pal 2/ Oracle 1 - 4 / Pal 3+.
That gives you your saving throw bonus and Lay On Hands as quickly as you can. Those help you survive. If you are going Oracle 4 it is presumably for a 2nd level spell. That means you want to get there sooner than you would have as a Paladin. Doing it the way I have it above gets you 2nd level spells one character level before a Paladin would have them.