Sword and board character advice for PFS

[Adderyn]

I'm drafting characters for possible use in PFS games,and I'm thinking of a dwarf that fights with a Dwarven waraxe, and shield.
**I fully realize that this style is not top tier optimized for dpr, and I dislike dumpstat minmaxing but I still would like some opinions on if the character idea will be reasonably functional in a PFS environment**

I've narrowed my choices down to either a Ranger or a Slayer with rough draft builds below the spoilers. I'm also open to suggestions on my feat choices and order.

Dwarf/Ranger/20pt buy:

STR:16, DEX:12, CON:16, INT:11, WIS:14, CHA: 8
Traits: likely Glory of Old for +1 to dwarf racial save bonus, 2nd TBD probably an initiative booster.
Feat Plan
1 Power Attack
2 Two Weapon Fighting -combat style
3 Improved Shield Bash, Endurance -class bonus
4 -
5 Iron Will or Boon Companion if I take pet
6 Shield Master -combat style
7 Shield Slam
8 -
9 Lunge, or other feat
10 Bashing Finish -combat style
11 Shield Focus or other feat

Dwarf/Slayer/20pt buy:

STR:16, DEX:12, CON:16, INT:11, WIS:14 CHA: 8
Traits: likely Glory of Old for +1 to dwarf racial save bonus, 2nd TBD probably an initiative booster.
Feat Plan
1 Power Attack
2 Two Weapon Fighting -combat style
3 Improved Shield Bash, Endurance -class bonus
4 Rogue Talent: Weapon Training -slayer talent or Trapfinding
5 Iron Will
6 Shield Master -combat style
7 Shield Slam
8 Rogue Talent: Combat Trick Lunge
9 Shield Focus, or other feat
10 Bashing Finish -combat style
11 Improved Bull Rush or other feat

Gear selection: Dwarven Waraxe, and start with light shield with spikes until level 6, then swap up to heavy shield. Shield enchants will start with bashing, plus others as affordable. Weapon enchant will be decided based on class, but bane and/or holy seem favorable. For ranged attacks,maybe a sling for simplicity or a crossbow as its a very dwarf weapon.

Are either of these builds reasonable and viable for PFS use?
Any ideas to tweak that will help make up the lack of hard core optimization?

Thanks!

[Magda Luckbender]

Both those builds are totally reasonable for PFS. PFS has a pretty low required optimization threshold. Iconics do just fine, and you are more optimized than the iconics. I'm pretty sure a well-crafted commoner could do just fine and, were it legal, I might play one. Good on you for choosing less optimization!

[Rerednaw]

Has the OP ever played PFS games?

The bar for optimization in PFS is all over the place. Many adventures are literally a cakewalk. Others will have you screaming at how unfair the universe is...like the ones where the writer decided to spend all his daily encounter xp in a single encounter. Or two encounters back to back.

And then there are the modules that are almost purely out of combat roleplaying. Granted those those are rare.

However based on the ones I have run and played...both are more than adequate.

[Brad McDowell]

Would...
STR 17, DEX 12, CON 14, INT 10, WIS 15, CHA 8
be something you're OK with?

[Charon's Little Helper]

Those both seem like solid builds. Just depends whether you want sneak attack or spellcasting between the two.

The only tweak I'd definitely make is to drop Iron Will for Steel Soul. Always a better choice for a dwarf.

You may also consider dropping Int to 10 & Cha to 6 in order to have your strength be a 17. (Doesn't help at 1, but it'd be handy at 4-7.) However - you said that you don't like dump stats. *shrug*

[RainyDayNinja]

Ditto on swapping Iron Will for Steel Soul if you have the source book.

Personally, I think 16 Con is a bit overkill. If you tone it down to 14, you could boost Dex to 14 or Str to 17, and I'd also suggest dropping Cha to 7 to get Int up to 12.

The slayer is probably a better choice for PFS, because a ranger might go a while without seeing a favored enemy.

[Adderyn]

Rerednaw wrote:

Has the OP ever played PFS games?

I have not, just home games over the years.

Rerednaw wrote:

However based on the ones I have run and played...both are more than adequate.

Thanks for the opinion, I'm willing to adjust my play style to fit the group, but it's nice to know I don't have to alter too much.

[Adderyn]

Brad McDowell wrote:

Would...

STR 17, DEX 12, CON 14, INT 10, WIS 15, CHA 8
be something you're OK with?

Actually that was one of my draft stat arrays.

[Adderyn]

Thanks all for the replies.
I'll definitely consider the advice when finalizing the character.

[Zedorland]

I would personally recommend the slayer build. The addition of sneak attack and flat bonus to hit/damage are both very strong additions to TWF build.

[Fruian Thistlefoot]

Its a shame your dex isn't 13. I always recommend dodge over shield focus.

Typically its dodge> improved natural armor> shield focus when it come to +1 ac feats.

Both builds are fine. I like the slayer build better. Im going to 3rd the steel soul feat over iron will if you can pick it up. If not iron will is fine.

[Charon's Little Helper]

Fruian Thistlefoot wrote:

Typically its dodge> improved natural armor> shield focus when it come to +1 ac feats.

For the bonus itself and in this cast I agree with you. However, often shield focus is handy due to it being a pre-req for some other handy feats. (Not in either of these builds though.)

He could take ironhide to get the +1 nat armor instead of +1 shield bonus without any stat tweaking. (In PFS Improved natural armor is a no-no.)

At second look - I agree with some who suggest pumping the dex up to 14. I just always think of dwarves in full plate - but in this case that's not a possibility due to the ranger/slayer style feats.

However - I'd suggest taking heavy armor proficiency instead of Shield Focus actually - that would allow you to wear mithril full plate for a +3 armor boost. (Admittedly with a hefty gp cost as well.)

Actually - can anyone confirm whether or not a slayer can't wear heavy armor when using a ranger combat style. The wording is actually that he gains a feat "of that style" - not that he gains the style. (If he actually gained the style - it'd include the drawback of being limited to medium armor.)

[Fruian Thistlefoot]

You knew what I ment.

I saw it isn't a pre reqs and since all dodge bonuses stack its more optimal to get a dodge bonus over a shield bonus.

Iron hide was what I was thinking. Just was doing a rushed post.

[Adderyn]

Charon's Little Helper, and Fruian,
Thanks for the suggestions, I hadn't even considered Ironhide or Dodge feats instead of the shield focus.
Both of those are worth considering, as is the upgrade to heavy armor.

[meeko]

I would recommend taking advantage of Shield slam and shield master, as there bab requirements are normally out of reach in pfs.

Human Ranger 1-6 /Fighter (viking) 7-11
STR:18, DEX:15, CON:14, INT:10, WIS:12, CHA: 7
Traits: initiative booster, class skill something
Feat Plan
1 Improved Shield Bash, two weapon fighting
2 Shield slam -combat style
3 power attack, Endurance -class bonus
4 -
5 improved bull rush
6 Shield Master -combat style
7 Greater bull rush, Improved TWF
8 Double slice
9 shield focus
10 Iron will, FRIKIN RAGE!
11 Greater TWF

[Charon's Little Helper]

meeko wrote:

I would recommend taking advantage of Shield slam and shield master, as there bab requirements are normally out of reach in pfs.

No offense - but you basically ignored his entire post except that he wanted to go TWF with a shield.

Also - in your build you don't actually qualify for Improved/Greater TWF.

[VampByDay]

While I'm normally all on board with more trapfinding in PFS, I wouldn't recommend it on your slayer unless you go whole hog. Many trap perception DCs are in their 30s, and your disable device skill probably won't be that great in armor with a shield (unless you work to reduce your armor check penalties.) I've made a trapfinding slayer that is similar, but he's build around it. Trapspotting, Massive perceptions score, and eventually mithral breastplate and darkwood shield in order to disable. Plus he has 16 dex.

Just saying, if you want to find traps reliably, you kinda have to go all in.