I was making a half-elven investigator and was wondering if taking the Ancestral Arms-Elven Curve blade and focusing on INT and DEX would be a good avenue for combat with the investigator.
I was looking at a guide, but they didn't really discuss anything but the weapons investigator's come with, so I was just looking for some opinions.
The curve blade is a good option. I would still put a thirteen in your strength because power attack is worthwhile with a two hander. You could potentially put fourteen in both your strength and dex, and then focus on dex after that due to how studied combat works. That way you end up with more flexibility. With that array, you could attack with either your melee or ranged option relatively well.
|
The thing is, investigators don't have much use for critical hits, since Studied Combat and Studied Strike damage isn't multiplied by it. It's still nice to get a crit, but not SUPER-nice.
Many of the worthwhile exotic weapons are worthwhile because they have unusual crit ranges (falcata!). This doesn't really jive with investigators.
The curve blade is a weird weapon, too. As a 2H weapon it's most impressive with a high strength, so why would you want to use it with Finesse?
---
If I may ask, why did you want to go half-elf?
The thing is, investigators don't have much use for critical hits, since Studied Combat and Studied Strike damage isn't multiplied by it. It's still nice to get a crit, but not SUPER-nice.
Many of the worthwhile exotic weapons are worthwhile because they have unusual crit ranges (falcata!). This doesn't really jive with investigators.
The curve blade is a weird weapon, too. As a 2H weapon it's most impressive with a high strength, so why would you want to use it with Finesse?
---
If I may ask, why did you want to go half-elf?
Racial favored class bonus option.
Oh good point. I reread it and I'm just going to switch to shortsword. I see that inspired weapon would be really great then.
If I do switch to that should I still worry about power attack or should I use the feat for something like more inspiration since it would give more reliable damage boosts?
|
|
Personally I like the sword cane, because it can also be drawn as a swift action. But if you want to go dex-based, the rapier is basically THE weapon, because then you can get both fencing grace and all the investigator tricks. However, you become very dependent on it and you'll suck with any other weapon.
If you want dexed based you might want to consider the sword cane still.
It can be finessed which means you can use slashing grace with it, which you can't do with a short sword. Of course you lose out on the crits but it can still be inspired.
So Dex to damage or higher crit range. Of course if you get an agile inspired short sword then forget the sword cane.
Depends on if you want to spend gold of a feat, and how early you want that damage.
Rapier is still a better choice though (due to all of the above and the crit range).
|
Oh good point. I reread it and I'm just going to switch to shortsword. I see that inspired weapon would be really great then.
If going finesse, I'd strongly suggest a rapier instead. It enables Fencing Grace eventually and the higher crit range is solid as well.
If going Str, which is equally viable, longspear is probably the way to go.
If I do switch to that should I still worry about power attack or should I use the feat for something like more inspiration since it would give more reliable damage boosts?
Power Attack remains a much more reliable damage boost, given the limits on Inspiration per day. Or Fencing Grace if going rapier.
You can't Slashing Grace the sword cane, it's a piercing weapon.
You can use Finesse on the sword cane though, which means you could also get an Agile sword cane.
Good point thamks for correcting me.
|
|
Let's mention the elephant in the room: natural attacks. From level 4 onwards, you can use Alter Self and Monstrous Physique to gain 3-5 natural attacks. Those are nice because they're all at your full BAB and all profit from Studied Combat.
They can be Finesse'd, but that does mean you're better off with "real" Finesse than with the Swashbuckler-style finesse that only applies to some weapons.
Only problem with natural attacks is that you then need to get an Agile Amulet of Mighty Fists to get Dex to damage, and then you've got DR problems...
If you're building around natural attacks, then it's awesome, but if not... then it's just one more thing you have to purchase to try and make it work.
|
I was making a half-elven investigator and was wondering if taking the Ancestral Arms-Elven Curve blade and focusing on INT and DEX would be a good avenue for combat with the investigator.
I was looking at a guide, but they didn't really discuss anything but the weapons investigator's come with, so I was just looking for some opinions.
I actually had to check my guide to make sure weapons were mentioned.
Rapier's your best call easily, you need an inspired weapon that can get dex to damage, and Rapier's your best choice for that.
Even if you go strength, rapier is a solid choice, because it can be an inspired weapon. Also, your strength to damage will be multiplied on crit, along with other assorted damage bonuses like enhancement. Just because you have a chunk of your damage as precision, doesn't mean that crit is worthless.
I'm not sure what racial bonuses you should take as a half elf investigator to replace Multitalented and Adaptability though. Multiclassing would slow down your FCB progression, which is kind of the point of half-elf. If your DM allows it, grab Drow Magic, but it's banned in PFS.
|
|
If your planning to use mutagen at all. Take note that str bonus removes INT which loweres Studied combat.
This is true, but note that it only lowers the duration, and most foes aren't going to last too many rounds of focused fire anyway.
Still not my favorite choice at low levels, but absolutely valid a bit later on (once you've got a Headband of Intelligence).