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Okay, so, here's the deal. I haven't been playing PFS long, and I have two real PFS characters. A murder-death machine Samurai, (level 6), and "Thermin Oswin Grundersnutt." Grundersutt started off as kind of a joke character, a throwback to another character I had a while ago, and I never expected to have him live so long. But now he's level five and I have no idea what feat to get him. Keep in mind his character concept before just throwing out feats. Also, suggesting me to rebuild him or that I shouldn't have done X with him, well, that's not really helpful, now is it?
The thing is, I didn't really plan him out very specifically. I had a character concept and went with it, and I don't know where to go with him from here.
Character concept: Thermin is a gnomish LORE oracle of Nethys that is, quite possibly, the most boring gnome on Golarion. For most of his life, all he did all day was sit in his little house and research arcane theory. He'd occasionally 'be bothered' to assist adventurers in identifying magic items or be consulted for some sage-ish work, (he does have profession: sage) but mostly that was just so he could make money for food.
However, when he hit the age of 95, he started realizing that he was going through the bleaching (the youngest gnome to ever be recorded doing so) and so he decided to schlep on down and go to the local pathfinder lodge to sign up, in order to prevent him from going insane. He now (grudgingly) goes on missions, and does miscellaneous research work for the society, which he tolerates.
Grundersnutt: Level 5 Lawful Neutral Gnomish LORE Oracle of Nethys (Tongues curse)
Str:8
Dex:14
Con:12
Int:15 (level 4 level up +1)
Wis:10
Chr:18
languages: Common, Gnome, Sylvan, Dwarven, Draconic, Thasalonian (from linguistics, this skill nets him the ability to break ciphers), Celestial (from curse), infernal (from curse)
Feats: Improved Initiative (level 1), Extra Revelation (level 3)
Traits: Excitable, Dangerously curious
Revelations: Sidestep Secret (1), Focused Trance (3), Brain Drain (feat)
Spells: 1) Cure light, Identify (Lore mystery), Liberating command, Protection from Evil, Bless, Comprehend Languages
2) Cure moderate wounds, Tongues(Lore mystery), Silence, Lesser Restoration
Grundersnutt has at least one rank in all knowledges (except nature, he doesn't care about the 'dirty outside stuff') a rank in appraise, and has max ranks in Diplomacy (he read 'how to win friends and influence people), knowledge arcana, knowledge religion, spellcraft, and Use magic Device.
HP:33, AC 20 (4 mithral chain shirt, 1 size, 4 charisma (Sidestep Secret), 1 buckler
Fort:+4, Ref+7 (Sidestep secret), Will +6 (Cloak of resistance +2)
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Oracles tend not to be too feat intensive, and you already have some of the central revelations of the Lore mystery. Your strength (and size) indicate you're not going into melee, so the typical power attack is out.
You could go with Toughness for some extra survivability. Nimble Moves will allow you to 5-foot step in difficult terrain, which is very handy for a caster. Dodge will increase your AC by a little extra, etc.
Skill Focus: Knowledge and then Eldritch Heritage Arcane would let you pick up a familiar, which you can choose a composognathus and get yet another +4 to Initiative. It will also let you deliver touch spells, scout, etc.
Beyond that I can't really think of much. The Augment Summons chain of feats might work, but the prerequisite Spell Focus (Conjuration) is of limited use for an Oracle's spell list I think.
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I'd think eldritch heritage (arcane) is right up this gnome's alley. I'd go skill focus: knowledge, arcana as the feat. Then you have a tiny little animal to run up and deliver your touch spells while the gnome stays in the back trying to stay away from the fighting.
The familiar ability says that the familiar needs to be touching me when I designate it to touch people, so I never really got the point of using it to deliver touch spells. I mean, if I could give my familiar to the fighter and then breath of life him should he go down, that'd be amazing, but it doesn't seem to work that way.
Try Battlecry, give out saving throw rerolls.
You can write your own phrase for it too!
That is a ballin' feat, but he'd need to either drop 5 skill ranks into Perform, or wait until level 7 to meet the BAB requirement.
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Another option would be flag bearer for an always on group buff.
I thought about that. However, 1) Grundersnutt is a curmudgeonly old gnome who really isn't a flag-bearer type, and 2) Grundersnutt actually ends up using both hands a lot. Holding two wands (and alternating between them) holding a rod and casting a spell, grabbing stuff for the party to use.
As for battlecry, it says that PCs have to 'hear' you. Do they have to understand you? Remember, I only speak Celestial and Infernal in combat. Or can I just shout in a language the barbarian doesn't understand in order to make him better at fighting?
When in doubt, I usually recommend boosting saves.
Skill focus /knowledge(arcana) is remarkably in character, however.
When in doubt, I usually recommend boosting saves.
Skill focus /knowledge(arcana) is remarkably in character, however.
Is "Divine Protection" not allowed in PFS?
or go a little angry-crazy and pick up those heritage chains.
Orc (str+8) and abyssal too (str+8) and become a bit more melee capable.
Ofcourse that would work better with mystery: fire and str/dex switching places.. but ohwell.
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If divine protection was allowed in PFS the only question would be 'why haven't I gotten this before?"Is "Divine Protection" not allowed in PFS?When in doubt, I usually recommend boosting saves.
Skill focus /knowledge(arcana) is remarkably in character, however.
Yeah, the feat basically outstrips three other feats easily, potentially six.
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Okay, so I'm thinking:
Level 5: Skill focus: Knowledge-Arcana (for a total of +15 Knowledge Arcana at level 5, wooo!)
Level 7: Eldrich Heritage: Familiar
Level 9: Battle Cry (so long as I can Battlecry in one language and people who don't speak that language can still benefit.)
Options for familiars:
Raven or Parrot: While Appraise and Linguistics aren't exactly the BEST options for me, the ability for them to speak common would essentially circumvent my 'tounges' curse. The familiar can speak common, and can understand any language I speak (speak with master) which means it can translate for me in combat (probably not PERFECTLY, but it can do it well enough.)
Rhamphorhynchus: While the +2 to initiative isn't as tempting as the other +4 options, it has a 40 foot fly speed, letting it get everywhere. Plus it has a decent AC for its size if I send it into a dangerous area.
Toucan: Worse maneuverability than above, but still a 40 foot fly speed and the bonus to diplomacy is always nice.
Thrush is another choice for familiars that speak and fly, although your curmudgeonly Gnome may not care to gain any bonus to diplomacy.
familiars can't cast spells for you. You spend the standard action to cast and the familiar becomes your hand so to speak and delivers the spell. You could be more action economic with casting something designating your familiar as the toucher and having it hold the spell. uncomfortable yes, but if you're in a dungeon very reasonable. Another option would be to have imbue with spell ability and cast that on it. Take raven so that it can speak and therefore cast spells with verbal components.
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If you are getting a familiar anyway, why not grab improved familiar and pick up a silvesheen agothian. You can do that at level 9 and supercharge healing with it via it's lay on hand.
Agothians have a lay on hands ability equal to a paladin of their HD, familiars treat your level as their HD (in this case, your level -2, due to the feat).
If you are dead set on a flying familiar, a homunculus (one that is improved to be able to speak and cast a few spells on it's own, alchemical handbook) can be great, especially as you will not always need to use your own spells.
I dunno, three feats is a bit much for a familiar.
Plus, I mainly want my familiar to do things like deliver touch spells to my allies, like cure spells and breath of life.