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I'm still pretty new to Pathfinder, and just curious if anybody has any insight into a build I'm working on.

I'm building a level 2 Dwarf. I want to put 1 level in Barbarian, then move into Inquisitor. His back story is that his clan was driven from the mountains, forced to live with Barbarians when he was young, years later Gorum (the deity the barbs worship) began giving him magical abilities. His people as well as the barbarians are not cool with magic, so they exile him and he decides to follow the path of an inquisitor.

We rolled our ability scores I ended with:
Str: 17
Dex: 11
Con: 11 (13 with Dwarf)
Int: 16
Wis: 15 (17 with Dwarf)
Cha: 10 (8 with Dwarf)

I'm thinking dwarven waraxe with a shield and possibly the preacher archetype.

Curious if anybody has any input on how to make this work best. I know a lot of people don't recommend sword and board style with Inquisitor because it's a feat hungry build and not optimal for damage output. I'm curious if anybody has advice on how to make it work. I'm also curious if people think I should use Dwarf favored class, or if I should take the hit point? It might be worth noting that we are rolling hit points after the first die.

Thanks in advance!

My only recommendation is to not take a shield, two hand your weapon instead. But you don't want that so...

I think the racial alternative is quite good, if you don't take an archetype that replaces judgement (you could take sanctified slayer if you don't want to think about judgments, for example). Sanctified Slayer is also good since you get slayer talents later; you can get by with around 15 DEX and then take slayer talents for the things you can't grab from level 8 and on. Put 15 into DEX, put the 16 into WIS if you want to be casting offensively (I don't think you should but...), otherwise you can put it wherever.

There's also a rage inquisition and domain you could take, while you are at it.

I heavily recommend two-handing your weapon. I know you mention it, but people don't recommend s+b for a very good reason: It doesn't really help you out and gives you marginal AC benefits, ultimately.

I would also probably dump your INT down a little for more con. Why do you need such high INT? WIS does all of the heavily lifting foran inquisitor build.

Also, try to get most of your stats on even levels. You don't get a lot of level-ups so those odd levels are basically wasted points.

So, the ability scores I can't change. We decided to roll for stats, this is what I ended with. Inquisitor seemed like a better choice than most with the stats I got. Would love to have some dex and a bit more con, but the dice have spoken.
Lantern Lodge

Blackmane, he rolled his stats, he didn't use a point buy :P.

Well, if you can't switch them around that sucks because you can not take anything supporting a TWF/S&B supporting feats that require DEX until you get slayer talents at 8 (that is, if you decide to go with sanctified slayer).

If you only want 1 level of barbarian, go bloodrager instead. It can get you an extra feat that can help, and you either get a cool bloodline power, or can switch it for a cool familiar.
Grand Lodge

Blah, had a nice full post with lots of details. And the system ate it.

Anyway, If you are looking to go mage bane, I suggest just going Spell Eater Bloodrager (with Arcane Bloodline).

Make it impossible to cast around you (with the DC at 19, starting at level 1, DC 23 at level 6, for a 1st level spell) and you can eat your unuseable spell slots (due to low CHA) to heal yourself.

Yeah, high strength int and wisdom seemed like a weird combo to make work well. Wouldn't the low con and low charisma both make the bloodrager difficult?

Bloodrager only need CHA if you want to cast spells. Otherwise, as a single dip, you are fine with 8, or even 7.

I see what you mean now, that looks like a good option, thanks!
Grand Lodge

Low con is bad in general for a frontliner.

However, Spell Eater allows you to eat your unuseable spell slots for self healing at 5th. In addition, you are still able to gain spell effectsvia the arcane bloodline bloodrage powers.

Honestly, with a low con, I might look at staying away from a frontline position. Maybe as a STR Half Elf Whip Magus (without kensai) and trusting to my distance and ability to trip foes to keep me safe.

I don't disagree that low con is bad for frontliners, but I think I tied for the highest con in my party. I like the idea of the bloodrager for sure.

My thought was: we are taking full hit die for the first (rolling for the rest), so barb gives me 12 hp right off the bat, fast movement and Dwarf combo allows me to load up armor and still move 30, also allows me to rage. My thought on Inquisitor was to make use of my wisdom with spells, and int with the skills.

bleh, yeah now I see you mentioned you rolled for stats, my bad. Was it straight down the line or can you swap them around? If you can swap, I recommend moving that 16 to either CON or DEX.

We went straight down the line
Grand Lodge

I know you expressed preference for sword-and-board. Do that if you want, but know that it's not your Dwarf's most effective way of defending himself. Note I said 'defending' not 'attacking'. A big two handed weapon is stronger on offense, of course, but that's not the point. Your Inquisitor may be much stronger on defense if he uses a big two-handed reach weapon, like the Dwarven Longaxe or Dwarven Longhammer. This is because most reach weapons are defensive weapons. Many foes will avoid you, and the people near you, because they don't want to give you a free attack (AoO). If the foe rushes you anyway then you get a free attack, and may kill the foe outright with your Big Damage. The result is that your PC will take fewer attacks, and especially fewer full attacks (depending on your tactics). This effect often gives more defensive value than a shield. The defensive value of reach weapons is quite real in the Pathfinder game, but is mentioned nowhere in any rule book. Only people who have played the game a lot, or who are told about it, will typically know this. In the Pathfinder game the best defense is usually a good offense.

My suggestion concerning swording-and-boarding:

You have a dwarven waraxe. You can use it for either/or depending on the situation.

I'd say you can focus on two-handing feat lines and all that. When you're in a chump fight (y'know, one you're going to win for sure), have your shield out. However, when the chips are down, the dwarf throws his shield down, grips his axe with two hands and gets serious.

That's how I'd handle that.
Grand Lodge
DrewK2525 wrote:

I don't disagree that low con is bad for frontliners, but I think I tied for the highest con in my party. I like the idea of the bloodrager for sure.

My thought was: we are taking full hit die for the first (rolling for the rest), so barb gives me 12 hp right off the bat, fast movement and Dwarf combo allows me to load up armor and still move 30, also allows me to rage. My thought on Inquisitor was to make use of my wisdom with spells, and int with the skills.

Wearing heavy armor negates the barbarian (or bloodrager) move speed bonus--you have to make it mithril to count as medium armor. Your dwarven racial bonus doesn't negate that--it only negates encumbrance penalties for wearing armor (or for carrying stuff).

Dwarf racial feature literally says their movespeed is never modified by armor (or encumbrance).

And barbarians and bloodragers only have their faster movespeed in medium or lighter armor. Like how monks can't wear armor and flurry. It's nothing about the armor slowing you down, it's about losing the ability.

My plan with armor is to stick with medium until I can afford mithril.

I like both the reach weapon and the idea of dropping my shield and raging with the dwarven waraxe for bigger fights. Not sure which route to go, but they both sound intriguing and like they'd both be fun.

I plan to throw the dwarven boulder helmet on, which could work as a backup to the reach weapon idea, but curious how you feel about pushing assault? If the enemy DOES make it in, five foot step back, power attack to push them back, then take another AOO if they come back in.

...That actually sounds awesome both mechanically and fluff-wise.

Orc: RAAAAGH! *Charges through the poleaxe*
Dwarf: *HEADBUTTS THE ORC SO HARD HE TUMBLES BACK FIVE FEET*
Orc: Oowwwwwaggghh.

Yes, love it. I think I may be ditching my shield and grabbing a reach.
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