So after some very great suggestions, I've ended up deciding on and getting approved a Aasimar Viking Fighter. I was allowed to take the alternate aasimar parentage and went angel-blood and took the extra +2 strength instead of the SLA I'd get. Switched darkvision out for halo.
Below is the character sheet for the first game. Stats were rolled by the DM (With the racial +bonuses already in of course, explaining the 22).
I've built him as a Medium armor wearing Shield/Axe fighter geared around balancing tank-y-ness and damage dealing.
The only thing I have planned out is that I'm going to be taking Steel Flesh at level 5, Angel Wings after they become available at 10, and metallic wings after that.
I was thinking that since it's going to be RotR AP, and I've got a pretty boss starting strength I can afford to take the feats for my character's flavor. That's purely why I'm taking those; I know there are more optimal ways to get natural AR, flight, and natural attacks, but I also am a big adherent to the rule of cool.
But other than the required level feat choices for those abilities, I've got no real idea what I'm going to do with it. I'd like to stick with viking, but I think I can afford to take a dip here or there. I'm thinking most of the time doing the shield/1H weapon combo and then perhaps a powerful bow for ranged combat since I can set myself up to have a good height advantage.
I would appreciate some suggestions. Or thoughts about how to further build upon the 'gold winged warrior' concept I found so very appealing.
(I would have gone shield and spear but for some god-awful reason you need a specific archetype to even make it work even though that was one of the oldest weapon combos in history, and I already use viking and the two aren't compatible.)
Auric Goldwing
Male angel-blooded aasimar (angelkin) fighter (viking) 1 (Pathfinder Player Companion: People of the North, Pathfinder RPG Advanced Race Guide 84)
NG Medium outsider (native)
Init +1; Senses Perception +5
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Defense
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AC 19, touch 11, flat-footed 18 (+6 armor, +1 Dex, +2 shield)
hp 13 (1d10+3)
Fort +5, Ref +1, Will +0; +2 vs. [evil], +2 circumstance vs. blinded or dazzled
Resist acid 5, cold 5, electricity 5
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Offense
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Speed 30 ft. (20 ft. in armor)
Melee battleaxe +8 (1d8+6/×3)
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Statistics
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Str 22, Dex 12, Con 16, Int 14, Wis 10, Cha 16
Base Atk +1; CMB +7; CMD 18
Feats Angelic Blood[ARG], Weapon Focus (battleaxe)
Traits ease of faith, sandpoint faithful, seeker
Skills Acrobatics -6 (-10 to jump), Diplomacy +8 (+6 vs. Creatures that threaten, accuse, or challenge you and haven't apologized), Heal +2, Intimidate +7 (+9 circumstance vs. evil creatures), Knowledge (dungeoneering) +6, Perception +5, Sense Motive +0 (-2 vs. Creatures that threaten, accuse, or challenge you and haven't apologized), Survival +4; Racial Modifiers +2 Heal
Languages Celestial, Common, Draconic, Sylvan
SQ halo, pride
Other Gear four-mirror, heavy steel shield, battleaxe, backpack, bedroll, belt pouch, flint and steel, hemp rope (50 ft.), mess kit, pot, soap, torch (10), trail rations (5), waterskin, 66 gp
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Special Abilities
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Angelic Blood +2 saves vs. evil effects, to stabilize while dying, and 1 damage to evil or undead if bleeding.
Energy Resistance, Acid (5) You have the specified Energy Resistance against Acid attacks.
Energy Resistance, Cold (5) You have the specified Energy Resistance against Cold attacks.
Energy Resistance, Electricity (5) You have the specified Energy Resistance against Electricity attacks.
Halo +2 to intimidate vs evil creatures and to saves against becoming blinded or dazzled.
Pride -2 to diplomacy and sense motive vs. those who threaten, accuse, or challenge you, until they apologize
Sandpoint Faithful +1 additional hit point every time you receive magical healing.
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An Ulfen man of surprisingly good looks, Auric has a handsome, strong chinned face with long straw-blonde hair and steely eyes. He keeps his beard trimmed short. He has a powerfully built physique on a frame made to handle the muscle, and his hands are rough and calloused from years of hard work.
Auric Goldwing came to Sandpoint years ago because a vision he had told him that he would be needed there. Moving in was a simple matter, he was strong and was willing to do manual labor, and there was never a lack of work for a strong man to do.
He has lived in sandpoint for a few years, supporting himself as a militia man and in private, slaying the occasional monster that wandered too close to town. He had found Nuala Tobyn, a fallow aasimar in the public eye, but had not the ability to meet her before she and her foster father died in the church fire years ago
Are you set on Fighter? I feel like a Battle Oracle would be more thematic (not to mention more interesting and more powerful.)
WEAPONS: Why not use a Shortspear + Shield? That's the "oldest combo", I think.
FEATS/RAGE POWERS: As a sort of build plan, using coolness first, but some practicality second:
1. Weapon Focus, Angelic Blood
2. Steadfast Personality (good boost to important Will saves)
3. Intimidating Prowess
4. Dazzling Display
5. Steel Flesh
6. Lesser Spirit Totem
7. Raging Vitality
8. Reckless Abandon
9. Shatter Defenses
10. Spirit Totem
11. Angel Wings
12. Intimidating Glare
13. Metallic Wings
14. Terrifying Howl
15. Deadly Stroke
16. Greater Spirit Totem
17. Disheartening Display
18. Improved Critical
19. Iron Will
20. Some critical feat or whatever.
WEAPONS: Why not use a Shortspear + Shield? That's the "oldest combo", I think.
Shortspears aren't that good compared to the number of martial 1H weapons. A spear has the same stats as a battleaxe, but can't be used one handed for some reason. :/
As for sticking with fighter, I am pretty sure going to stay with it for at least first level. I am not familiar with warsighted oracle.
Dipping in oracle (I'd suggest battle oracle and the Purifier archetype), you could later become a Rage Prophet. Take a pegasus as your cohort, and you're a perfect Valkyrie.
If you wanted to do a spear and shield combo, you could try trident and shield and just describe your trident as a spear. It is a one handed martial weapon with almost the same stats as a spear, including brace special quality, but lower critical multiplier and range increment.
The lack of good shield and spear combo has always been a small problem for me. I tried to design a spear to fill that niche but it pretty much came back as a trident. Making the regular spear martial or exotic seemed to be the only way to balance out dropping it down to 1 handed.
If you wanted to do a spear and shield combo, you could try trident and shield and just describe your trident as a spear. It is a one handed martial weapon with almost the same stats as a spear, including brace special quality, but lower critical multiplier and range increment.
The lack of good shield and spear combo has always been a small problem for me. I tried to design a spear to fill that niche but it pretty much came back as a trident. Making the regular spear martial or exotic seemed to be the only way to balance out dropping it down to 1 handed.
See, that 'can be used 2 handed as a martial weapon, or 1 handed as an exotic weapon' sounds like it would work just great.
Dipping in oracle (I'd suggest battle oracle and the Purifier archetype), you could later become a Rage Prophet. Take a pegasus as your cohort, and you're a perfect Valkyrie.
Like as a leadership cohort?
Okay, so I was trying to build up the character in Hero Lab and it's telling me I can't take any rage powers that have a barbarian level requirement. I'm just wondering if that's a bug in the program due to the archetype being obscure or is there something in the way Viking Fighter is built that you don't get to take anything but the basic rage powers.
Archetype is obscure, it's from a player supplement (People of the North). You should have Fighter LVL = Barb LVL -4 to qualify for rage powers.
I stopped using character builders a long time ago.
Another option, by the way, is Steelblood Bloodrager! You could take the Celestial Bloodline for a complete package.
I argue agaisnt spirit totem, it is more or less fine at low levels but it become very underpowered pretty quickly. On the other hand, I strongly argue in favor of Iron willbefore level 7. Considere also multicalssing into chevalier for better saves, soem inmunities and smite evil.
I'd stay out of multiclassing.
Iron Will before level 7 might be a good idea though, I'd combine it with Steadfast Personality too.
I just Saw there was a Titan Fighter Archetype from the giant hunter handbook, could I mix that and Titan Mauler barbarian to get the ability to use a spear (2 handed weapon) along with a shield and still get rage?
Just gonna say it one more time - to me, "choose who may die and who will live" (AKA valkyrie) still sounds way more like a Battle Oracle. But he seems married to taking fighter levels instead, although he hasn't mentioned why.
Just gonna say it one more time - to me, "choose who may die and who will live" (AKA valkyrie) still sounds way more like a Battle Oracle. But he seems married to taking fighter levels instead, although he hasn't mentioned why.
Mostly I was liking the Viking archetype and the *implied* thematics that came from it. I could probably do battle oracle, but I'm kinda... worried about the medium BAB and D8 hit dice.
Medium BAB can be made up for with buffs like Divine Favor, Bless, Aid, Bull's Strength, Channel Vigor, etc. Throw in some extra damage from Weapon of Awe and the like, pick some awesome revelations, and start filling up Valhalla!
That's what full spellcasting is there to do :)
You've got all kinds of ways to boost to hit for your entire party or just for youreslf! Prayer, Bless, Channel Vigor, Blessing of Fervor...
A battle, metal, or ancestors Warsighted Oracle is pretty nuts. The best part of being warsighted is the ability to pick up random feats that give better bonuses only in certain conditions...when you are in those conditions. Blindfight, etc.
To hit isn't that much of an issue, and if you find it to be then ask someone to be a flanking buddy or go for a revelation that gives you a flanking buddy ^_^
If I were to play that kind of oracle, what kind of curse would be appropriate?
Or you can go Lame, a Metal revelation completely counters the Lame Curse and allows you to go 30ft in Heavy Armor.
There is a WONDERFUL oracle guide on the Guide to Guides that I would suggest checking out.
For accomplish the Valkirie-Style you definitely want lance+shield or axe+shield, no doubts.
I'm checking out the oracle guide now, especially since the player who has volunteered to play our cleric is... well, the Gamemaster's handbook lists him as a 'lump'. At least then I can serve as reserve in case he can't be motivated to actually do his jorb. (this is a recent discovery, may have had some extra weight in my decision to look into it. :/ )
I think legalistic is the most acceptable of the curses I have looked at.
The problem I have with warsighted is that I don't get revelations on 1st level and the only weapon I could use one handed with the oracle's base weapon prof's is the shortspear and shield without the battle oracle's weapon revelation.
I think the Tongues curse is thematic. In combat you start spouting Celestial.
Plus I just hate the Legalistic curse... it's not really a curse...
And since you will be smashing face all the time, losing spells like Command is not a big loss.