Reach Oracle...why has nobody tried this?

[Takhisis]

As the title asks. Everybody talks about, and likes, reach clerics. However, I've never seen anybody try to do the similar thing with an Oracle. That is the reason I posted up this thread. I'd like to know what, about the Oracle class, has stopped people from doing the whole "reach cleric" thing with it, using the same principles as that build but instead applying it to the Oracle? If anybody could clarify this for me I'd be grateful!

[Cap. Darling]

I cannot think of any thing stopping you. It works fine where i have seen it. With a Wood oracle and fates favorite trait you can even get in the big boys club when it comes to hit and dam.

[666bender]

Poorer action economy.

No sacred summon. No swift action heroism or growth.

[Arachnofiend]

It's not a defined build as much as the Reach Cleric is because it doesn't solve a problem that the Oracle has. The idea behind the Reach Cleric is to use those great standard action abilities that get in the way of you actually doing things (such as Touch of Luck); reach Clerics can do their buffing on their turn and their attacking on the enemy turn. Oracle mysteries don't have anything like that, though as Darling said a Wood Oracle with a Longspear is a great martial character for its own reasons.

[Magda Luckbender]

Here's a Reach Oracle of Life thread from early 2014. I've seen plenty of Oracles use a longspear and reach tactics. It works for them, too.

[Eigengrau]

A straight 12th level elven Spirit Guide Oracle with Battle Mastery revelation & the Battle spirit chosen from Shaman wouldn't be bad. Focus on using a Composite Longbow and take Improved Snap Shot and you could buff etc on your turn and attack on theirs.

You'd have Weapon Focus, Greater Weapon Focus, Improved Critical, Weapon Specialization and ability to make 1 additional Attack of Opportunity that stacks w/Combat Reflexes. You'd actually gain all of those free feats at 8th level using the Elf's ability to enhance revelation abilities at +1 every 2 levels.

Throw in Improved Snapshot and you'd threaten out to 15ft.

[Magda Luckbender]

Any Oracle can be a reach oracle: just carry a longspear and use reach tactics. Done. No feats or other investment required. Investing in feats & attributes just makes you better at it. As both a martial combatant and a full spell caster you will be feat-starved. You can load up on martial feats, but are you sure you want to?

The more you invest in melee abilities the less you have left for other stuff. You can use the reach oracle approach for as much combat focus as you want. With 0% investment in melee you will suck at it. With about 25% of your build invested in melee you can be pretty good at it. Investing more than 25% in melee combat certainly makes you better at it, but diminishing returns kick in around 50% melee investment. Some sweet combinations, like the tricky AoO archery build directly above, are possible.

For example, if you decide you want to be an Oracle of Heavens you will primarily daze foes with your super-powered color spray. This works at 15' distance from the foe, so it is compatible with reach combat. A Heaven's Oracle with at least 25% invested in melee could move up to 15', blast foes with Color Spray, then probably get effective AoOs at foes who make their save.

An oracle with a pet works really well with reach tactics. Here's one way to do it.

The biggest downside to using reach tactics is the lack of a shield. Your AC will be worse. You will take fewer incoming full attacks when you use reach tactics. I guess those about balance out. So not much downside.

[Imbicatus]

It's really not that different from a reach cleric. I have an Angel-blooded Aasimar reach wood oracle with a longspear that hits very hard with AoOs and can cast spells with standard action.

The Aasimar FCB on Wood Armor makes up for the AC loss from a shield. The biggest drawback of a reach Oracle vs a reach Cleric is the poor fort save.

[Son1x]

Takhisis wrote:

As the title asks. Everybody talks about, and likes, reach clerics. However, I've never seen anybody try to do the similar thing with an Oracle. That is the reason I posted up this thread. I'd like to know what, about the Oracle class, has stopped people from doing the whole "reach cleric" thing with it, using the same principles as that build but instead applying it to the Oracle? If anybody could clarify this for me I'd be grateful!

I'm currently playing a battle mystery oracle with a bardiche, he has been kicking ass in kingmaker so far, being able to use a full plate and all martial weapons from the get go, and having tons of spell per day to be able to buff yourself is prime!

Also one thing to look at is the maneuver mastery revelation which makes you a worthy tripping threat.

Overall i'd say they loose some abilities the cleric gets, but get other strong ones. At least the battle oracle is a full spellcaster with more melee threat than the cleric.