I have a character I'm planning, who I'd like to make an Eldritch Knight using early access. The plan I have uses the Sohei Monk archetype and the Empyreal sorcerer bloodline to get Wis for spellcasting and AC. My starting stats look like this:
25 Pt buy
Race: Aasimar
Str: 15 (+1 at 8th)
Dex: 15 (+1 at 4th)
Con: 14
Int: 8
Wis: 18 (all other +1's from advancement)
Cha: 10
While my primary goal is figuring out is where to go after I hit EK 10, I would like to know what would be a good reach weapon I could use that isn't a Nodachi? I'm aware that as an Aasimar, I can't get full benefit from it (no enlarge person for native outsiders), but between lunge, combat reflexes, and the spell Longarm I should be able to get a fair bit of distance.
So, how about it? Where do I go after Sohei 1/Empyreal Sorc. 2/ EK 10? Is there any hope?
Well, You could go Crossblooded (Your will save can handle it since Wisdom is your stat), and take a dragon bloodline of some sort as your other bloodline. Why? To qualify for Dragon Disciple. Medium BaB, free stats, will give you bloodline stuff for one of your bloodlines, and still advance spellcasting.
Evangelist is another option that grants medium BaB and still advances your spellcasting (Aligned Class is the feature you need).
Hell-Knight Signifier, and Master of Storms also grant medium BaB and spellcasting. I'd recommend Hell-Knight Signifier over Master of Storms though.
I hadn't thought about going crossblooded, would it stack with Empyreal? Because Dragon Disciple would be exactly what I want.
What features would the Hellknight signifier have that would make it a good alternative? I'm having trouble finding it.
I hadn't thought about going crossblooded, would it stack with Empyreal? Because Dragon Disciple would be exactly what I want.
What features would the Hellknight signifier have that would make it a good alternative? I'm having trouble finding it.
Weird, Signifier is called Enforcer on the SRD. I guess its because the Signifier is tied too deeply in Inner Sea story content, so they cannot post its name.
Also bad luck FAQ ruling
I personally disagree with this FAQ ruling because these archetypes lack the usual "his ability replaces the bloodline power gained at 3rd level" kind of wording.
Sorry for my mistake. Though if your GM agrees with me, then it all works out, right? Event he FAQ admits that its weird and up to the GM.
technically crossblooded and empyreal wouldn't stack.
Well, thats certainly disappointing. Any ideas for a weapon of choice? I'd like something Pole-arm flavored if possible.
I still think you should bring it up with your GM. People have great arguments against the ruling, and even the FAQ response makes it sound like they are being wishy-washy. There is also a large lack of the usual archetype text in both archetypes and the wildblooded bloodlines are all worded like subdomains.
Anyway, polearm weapons you can flurry with:
Monk's Spade
Tiger Fork
Polearms you cannot flurry with, but are way cool
Bardiche (An axe with reach and a 19-20 crit range)
Glaive-Guisarme
I'm digging the Monk spade's damage types and a little reading on them makes me want one for the character regardless of damage dice, but due to the lack of flurry progression, I think I'll go with a Bardiche, because axes need more love.
How do the stats look? Could I be spreading them better?
Looks fine to me honestly. At what level are you starting?
Likely 5th level. I'm mostly wondering about whether I should try to consolidate my points into Str or Dex, but would a Silken ceremonial robe work to fill that gap of armor?
I am told that Hellknight Signifer's are a better option than Eldrich Knight. Much better. And told by people who know Pathfinder better than I.
So I would explore that first, then the EK, or Evangelist, or Dragonblooded Sorcerer.
the exalted PRC advances other classes as well as itself, which might be neat to scale up monk. i know there's a deity who's 3rd boon is wis bonus to bow attacks (so as a zen archer you can double-dip!)
or scale up sorcerer (if 'advancing/gaining all class features' includes spellcasting as well)
It does.
And the Zen Archer idea, that deserves the most sincere kind of flattery.
I do want to build myself a Zen Archer at some point, but not with this character.
Overall, Hellknight Signfier is better than Eldritch Knight now that I look at it. That capstone is pretty sweet. But Catechesis would be wasted, and I'm not sure I'm a fan of the Lawful angle. Yet, all that said, it still looks better.
It looks like the Dragon-blooded sorcerer is the best way to go for access to both DD and use of either Signifier or EK. But the reason I was looking to use Sohei+Empyreal was for the Wis-to-AC, without that how would I be able to keep my AC up?