My newest PFS character has just gotten his 3rd XP, so now I have to actually commit to a build.
The idea is that he is a Halfling Investigator (Empiricist). His out of combat role is the ultimate skill monkey. In combat, he primarily uses Aid Another and Fighting Defensively with a long spear. At 4th level he'll be able to use studied combat to more reliably attack and damage if I need him to do so.
I've been going over a lot of the advice threads here and have a couple thoughts I need to expand on:
1. I know I can't stack aid another and fighting defensively into the same action, but using the Effortless Aid Investigator Talent I can do both in the same round.
2. Do Helpful (Halfing Racial) and Combat Disciple (Combat) Traits stack? Normally, I know trait bonuses don't stack, but Helpful replaces the aid another +2 with a +4, it's not a +2 bonus.
3. Burning an Inspiration I can Aid Another as a swift, use a move action for either another Aid or Combat Advice, and then a standard to Aid. Can I do 3 aid another actions in a round like this? They wouldn't stack for the same ally, but I could spread them over 3 allies.
4. Could I use Aid Another to enhance an ally's attack, and another for the same ally's AC?
Plus, I'd like some advice on trait/feat selection.
-Blundering Defense
-Uncanny Defense
Combat Reflexes
-Bodyguard
Antagonize
Additional Traits (If I can find worthy traits)
Extra Investigator Talent (so many good ones to choose from)
Focused Inspiration
Combat Advice (Ranged Tactics Toolbox - Move action; +2 to an ally's next attack, both ally and enemy have to see and hear you)
Battlefield Disciple
Crowd Dodger
Student of Philosophy
Open to other suggestions
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The bonus from Aid Another is not typed.
Further "Multiple characters can aid the same friend, and similar bonuses stack." is found under the Aid Another entry.
So I would say 'Yes'. RAW, they do stack.
I should probably add that, yes, I know this is not the most optimized build. But he should be a lot of fun to play.
I'm pretty certain at this point I will be taking Extra Traits as the 1st level Feat. That will leave him with the following
Race - Helpful
Social - Student of Philosophy
Combat - Battlefield Disciple
Magic - Transmuter of Korada
Regional - Emissary would have been nice to get the Diplomacy boost for many enemies when using the Antagonize feat, but Korada wins out in my mind with +1 to Transmutation extract caster level.
Would a 1-2 level dip into Monk be worth it? I would then be threatening all adjacent squares unarmed (kicks) and 10' ring with the spear. With 2 levels I could either get Combat Reflexes and Dodge/Improved Grapple/Nimble Moves through Hungry Ghost or Monk of Seven Forms, or 2 style feats (Crane and Dragon) through Master of Many Styles, +3 to all saves, plus Evasion. At the cost of 2 levels of Investigator and 4 skill points. Either way, this won't come until Investigator 4 to get Studied Combat.
Snake Style is pretty useful for your personal defense, as it allows you to take an Immediate action to use Sense Motive as your AC against a specific attack. You then take the 5th level Investigator Talent that lets you roll 2d20 on Sense Motive checks.
Wow, thanks for that suggestion. I had totally missed that when I went through the style feats. That's kinda awesome with the Sense motive I'll be able to put out by adding inspiration and using my INT bonus instead of WIS.