Spells to locate & hurt creatures via very very long distance

[Rob C]

Hey guys,

Apologies for a multi-part question...

Assume a PC is in a vast maze - miles upon miles worth of maze. He knows there are other sentient creatures more physically powerful than he also in the maze. Everyone/everything else in the maze is out to get him. No 'good' guys in the way.

1. Is there a spell he could cast to locate other sentient creatures within the maze across a good distance? Something like a Commune with Nature, but that provides more specifics I think.

2. Is there a spell he could cast, once he knows his foes, that could strike them from distance? Nightmare is ok I guess, but relies on them being asleep and the will save would be fairly low given they have never met.

The goal here is to find someone/something and strike it before it can strike you. In a perfect world, this would be a PC build consisting of any Paizo class with no more than 10 levels.

Any Paizo source for spells is fine.

[Caliban_]

With no connection between your character and your targets, all conventional methods scrying either fail automatically, or have huge penalties.

You might consider other methods of gaining information to help with scrying:

Speak with Animals, an invisible familiar, etc.

If they are able to identify a target (or even bring something of theirs back in the case of a familiar), you could the use the 4th level scry spell.

If that works, you could do the classic "Scry, buff, Teleport" tactic, but it's not usually something you try solo if you can avoid it. (Although it could work - be invisible, teleport in, cast Phantasmal Killer, or Hold Monster and have your familiar CDG them, etc.)

But I don't know of anything that easily allows you to kill you enemies without them even being aware of you.

[Rob C]

Thanks for the input Caliban. I agree, I'm not aware of anything like this either but I don't profess to know the additional Pathfinder material very well at all.

The combination of long range detection + long range kill would seem an unlikely thing to allow. It would render assassins practically unnecessary.

"Oh, you want me to kill xxx? Just give me a second. Ah, there you go"

:)

[Eponine Lokrien Savet]

Here is my attempt:
Assumed Starting Wealth 62,000 gold (per wealth table for level 10.)
Master Summoner
Gnome
Start with 20 Cha, advance to 22 at level 8.
13 Int, Evolved Familiar Pre-Requisite.
Other stats as will suit you.

Skills: Max Perception, Stealth, and Use Magic Device.

Traits: Seeker (Perception needs to be a class skill if you are solo), and ????

Items: +4 Charisma Headband.16,000.

Feats:
Level 1: Skill Focus (Knowledge Anything)
BONUS: Augment Summoning
Level 3: Eldrich Heritage (Arcane) for FAMILIAR
Level 5: Superior Summoning
Level 7: Improved Familiar
Level 9: Evolved Familiar (Skilled)

Aspect (2 points) Flight (Wings)

Eidolon: Serpentine
Evolutions 8 Total:
4: Flight (Magic)
2: Arms
1: Skilled (Use Magic Device)
1: Skilled (Stealth)
0: Small

Feats:
Skill Focus (Perception)
Skill Focus (Use Magic Device)
Skills: Disable Device +12, Perception +10, Stealth +24, Use Magic Device +18

Familiar: Faerie Dragon.

Skilled Evolution to UMD

UMD skill = 10ranks +3 Cha +8 Skilled = +21, you auto pass on all wands (Wands are DC 20),

----------------------------------------------------------------

Tactic: Find somewhere high to perch, and HIDE. Taking 10 you should have at least a 25. (28 if a class skill).

Send Familiar out in circles around you to a maximum distance of about 1500 feet, then back. Same with the Eidolon, but to his max of a 1 mile radius (this covers a 2 mile diameter maze, assuming near the center).

When you spy something, dismiss the Eidolon, and cast 13 SMV to each summon 1d4+2 Lantern Archons (total of 4.5 per casting, or about 60) then cast 13 SMIV for a 1d3+2 per casting or approximately 48. Then cast 13 SMIII for another 13 lantern Archons. All together this will take a whopping 3.9 minutes. Each archon will last at least another 6 minutes.

Send the 121 or so Lantern Arcons out in waves of 9 or so to rapid deliver their 121d6 of bypasses all DR damage on the targets you found on the sweep. Stay invisible, and cast haste on as many as you can along the way. Have your Familiar do the same via his wand of haste, just in case you want to lay on any additional hurt.

Good times!

[Rob C]

lol! Love it Eponine :)

I was on a similar train of thought to you.

My thinking was for the scouting to summon some Nosoi Psychopomps. If the enemy are hiding then the Nosoi spirit sense - which works like blindsight - would help find them. Since Nosoi can fly at 50ft and have at Will invisibility, they should be able to cover a lot of area without being spotted. IF they spot something, have them cast a sound burst directly overhead as a signal.

In addition, have the eidolon with the burrow (or even earth glide ability) and tremor sense to scout for anything touching the ground or below it. I think the DC to notice something burrowing underground is like +25DC, so hopefully the eidolon can go unnoticed too.

Though it does make me chuckle to picture wave after wave of lantern archons :)