I'm busy creating a Kitsune character, and would love to have permanent claws to go with a permanent Bite attack. The obvious way to do this would be Aspect of the Beast but I'd prefer to avoid a 2 level dip into Ranger if at all possible. It's certainly not the end of the world if it's the only option, though.
Any suggestions?
In addition to the methods listed above by Dafydd, if you can wait until 6th level or so, you can take beast totem as a skald. In which case whenever you perform you grow claws. As does all of your allies.
Any druid can take Aspect of the Beast, as can slayers and sanctified slayer inquisitors. Those latter classes can pick ranger combat style feats as a slayer trick, so they can take Aspect of the Beast if they choose to.
I play a Kitsune Abyssal Bloodrager in PFS and I did find the limit of only when raging a pain at level 1, by level 3 it is never a problem. I also make use of reach weapon/bite for a really good threatened area, which will double when I get to level 4 and can get bigger when I rage. The biggest problem by far though is my 15 strength, running out of rage is far less frustrating than paying 13 build points for a strength of 15 when it would be 19 on a Half-Orc with the same build.
Another way to get Aspect of the Beast is to contract lycanthropy. So either 2 levels in Inquisitor, Ranger or Slayer; 4 levels in Druid; or become a werebeast (getting yourself cured is optional.) I don't know of anything else that isn't either rounds/day or only when raging.
Slayer just seems like the way to go for this kind of character. Not only does it provide you with aspect of the beast via the style feat, but you can actually use the style feats for kitsune feats (since those feats allow you to sub them out for these kinds of bonus feats). So even if you do not like the feat selection past aspect of the beast, you still have great options, like realistic likeness or vulpine pounce.
It also gives you sneak attack and studied target to get the most out of a lot of natural attacks.
Slayer just seems like the way to go for this kind of character. Not only does it provide you with aspect of the beast via the style feat, but you can actually use the style feats for kitsune feats (since those feats allow you to sub them out for these kinds of bonus feats). So even if you do not like the feat selection past aspect of the beast, you still have great options, like realistic likeness or vulpine pounce.
It also gives you sneak attack and studied target to get the most out of a lot of natural attacks.
And unlike the rogue, the slayer has a decent enough attack bonus that he might actually hit something every once and a while. ;- )
Slayer is a good option. I'm simply trying to avoid too many dips to get where I need, especially since both Slayer and Ranger are wisdom based and I don't plan to have too much wisdom. But for a two level dip, it's not too big a deal.
Sadly, contracting lycanthopy is not currently an option, although a Kitsune werewolf is kinda badass...
Slayer is a good option. I'm simply trying to avoid too many dips to get where I need, especially since both Slayer and Ranger are wisdom based and I don't plan to have too much wisdom. But for a two level dip, it's not too big a deal.
Sadly, contracting lycanthopy is not currently an option, although a Kitsune werewolf is kinda badass...
Well, slayer is not actually wisdom based. I mean, it could use wisdom, since will is its weak save, but no, it is not the main focus.
Actually, a few of its key abilities key off of intelligence. Admittedly, there are only three abilities that do that (slowing strike, assassination, and the capstone). Slowing strike is rather....eh.. so the only good abilities that need INT are fairly high level, so it is not an issue for a dip.
Hell, it is not an issue for rangers either, since the spell casting only comes up at level 4.
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1 level dip into Bloodrager (Draconic Bloodline) gets you claws even when you are not bloodraging.
Claws (Su)
At 1st level, you grow claws. These claws are treated as natural weapons, allowing you to make two claw attacks as a full attack, using your full base attack bonus. These attacks deal 1d6 points of damage each (1d4 if you are Small) plus your Strength modifier. At 4th level, these claws are considered magic weapons for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction. At 8th level, the damage increases to 1d8 points (1d6 if you are Small). At 12th level, these claws deal an additional 1d6 points of damage of your energy type on a hit.
Honestly, I would just go straight slayer. Grab Aspect of the Beast, Improved Natural Attack, and Multiattack as your ranger combat style feats in that order. If you're playing PFS and want to take Improved Natural Attack with the natural weapon that you don't already have, then take your two-level dip in ranger and pick it up. (In Pathfinder Society, you can't take Improved Natural Attack or Multiattack unless something gives it to you as a bonus feat, and a slayer only ever gets a maximum of three ranger combat style feats.)
The slayer really doesn't have any ability score dependencies, so you could grab Weapon Finesse as your first feat and focus on Dexterity if you want to. As with any martial kitsune build, the Strength penalty stinks (which is why going skald / bloodrager is nice), but the slayer can be dangerously effective with its claws.
1 level dip into Bloodrager (Draconic Bloodline) gets you claws even when you are not bloodraging.
Claws (Su)
At 1st level, you grow claws. These claws are treated as natural weapons, allowing you to make two claw attacks as a full attack, using your full base attack bonus. These attacks deal 1d6 points of damage each (1d4 if you are Small) plus your Strength modifier. At 4th level, these claws are considered magic weapons for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction. At 8th level, the damage increases to 1d8 points (1d6 if you are Small). At 12th level, these claws deal an additional 1d6 points of damage of your energy type on a hit.
I...did not spot that. I assumed it was the same as the usual version, where you got them for a limited time. It gives me a few other ideas for a Half-Orc.
I'm also tempted by the Slayer option. It has a lot going for it.
Thank you folks.
Draconic bloodrager does not actually have claws outside of when he is raging.
Unless otherwise specified, he gains the effects of his bloodline powers only while in a bloodrage; once the bloodrage ends, all powers from his bloodline immediately cease, and any physical changes the bloodrager underwent revert, restoring him to normal.
Draconic bloodline claws do not have any wording that gives them to you outside of a bloodrage. Compare that to, say, the capstone Infernal bloodline power, which states "You have these benefits constantly, even while not bloodraging."
Honestly, I would just go straight slayer. Grab Aspect of the Beast, Improved Natural Attack, and Multiattack as your ranger combat style feats in that order. If you're playing PFS and want to take Improved Natural Attack with the natural weapon that you don't already have, then take your two-level dip in ranger and pick it up. (In Pathfinder Society, you can't take Improved Natural Attack or Multiattack unless something gives it to you as a bonus feat, and a slayer only ever gets a maximum of three ranger combat style feats.)
The slayer really doesn't have any ability score dependencies, so you could grab Weapon Finesse as your first feat and focus on Dexterity if you want to. As with any martial kitsune build, the Strength penalty stinks (which is why going skald / bloodrager is nice), but the slayer can be dangerously effective with its claws.
Eh, improved natural attack is not that amazing for this build (since it applies to either claws or bite, and it is usually just 1 more average damage).
And the level 10 feat is definitely taken up by vulpine pounce. It is one of the cool thing about those kitsune feats- they have a special rule that lets you take them instead of bonus feats.
So grabbing pounce seems like a big bonus (even if it is slightly wonky and can only be used every other round).
Also, why would you take Multiattack if you have three primary attacks?
Also, why would you take Multiattack if you have three primary attacks?
Probably to throw in a sword/dagger/rubber chicken to get more attacks.
I can't say it is necessarily advised (getting more items to enchant in return for BAB-5 and BAB-10 attacks, while nerfing your other attacks), but I can at least see the general idea behind it.