Help with a new PC

[HyperionPDX]

Hi Gang - I'll be starting Kingmaker in about a week or so and I've decided to give the inquisitor a try. Generally I stick to hard hitting combat characters, but this time out I decided to play the skill monkey face of the party.

The problem is I'd like to be passable in combat at best and not a hindrance at worst. I'm hoping for some help with multiclassing.

I've chosen to be a virtuoso elf inquisitor of Cayden Cailean.

My level one stats and feat are as follows:

Str 7
Dex 14
Con 10
Int 18
Wis 14
Cha 16

Feat: Breath of Experience

I had thought of slotting in a couple levels of arcanist to give myself a bit of a boost, and maybe give my character a seeker of knowledge kind of flair, but I'm not sure if there's a better option I'm overlooking.

The other members of my party will be a dwarven two-shield ranger, a half-orc bloodrager, a human witch, and two characters who've yet to be decided.

Any suggestions?

[Dafydd]

Swap the feat to Weapon Finesse, and pick up Weapon Focus and Fencing Grace. You will be a combat monster with 0 additional investment. (Yeah, 3 feats is not a small investment, but it will not require any more with the Inquisitor abilities)

Alternate Option is to go 1 level of inspired Blade Swashbuckler, then go the rest of your career as an inquisitor.

As for stats, I would swap around INT and WIS (so they are both 16). I understand you want skill points, but 10 skill points a level is a lot. Also, Wisdom is your primary casting stat, and inquisitors add WIS to everything. You could also dump CHA down a bit to pump CON or WIS if you take the Conversion Inquisition. They can use WIS instead of CHA for the main social skills.

[Secret Wizard]

If you are set on never setting a foot in battle... take the Preacher archetype! You'd otherwise waste your teamwork feats.

Also yes please, switch that WIS and INT around.

[Rynjin]

Looks like 25 point buy.

That Cha is a waste. Dump it.

These stats should work better

Str: 12
Dex: 16 (+2 Elf makes this 18)
Con: 14 (-2 Elf makes this 12)
Int: 12 (+2 Elf makes this 14)
Wis: 16
Cha: 7

Grab the Conversion Inquisition as your Domain. Now all the Face skills run on Wis instead of Cha.

Be an archer. Inquisitors and Elves both have proficiency in the Longbow.

You now have 8 skills per level (9 with the FCB), and Wisdom to Knowledge checks, Bluff, Diplomacy, and Intimidate.

You'll be a solid archer, especially at 5th when Bane comes into play.

If you absolutely need more skills you can swap your Con and Int.

Breadth of Experience IMO is pretty bad, at least for Inquisitors. +2 to Profession checks is worthless, and the +2 to Knowledge checks is quickly outdone by [urlhttp://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/general-feats/improved-monster-lore]Improved Monster Lore[/url], though they do stack...but your Knowledge checks should be more than sufficient already (+9 to all monster knowledges with 1 rank).

I'd grab Point Blank Shot instead.

Consider trading Elven Magic for Envoy (useful spell-likes all told) and Weapon Familiarity and Keen Senses for Fleet Footed.

Preacher is the raddest archetype.

[Renegadeshepherd]

Are you using rapier or bow? If a bow we need to raise your dex so you can be accurate and qualify for feats. If rapier your con is way too low.

In either case I recommend lowering charisma and using either infiltrator archetype, conversion inquisition, or something else that converts charisma to wisdom as it related to your face skills. I would lower you INT from an 18 to 16 if able so as to strengthen your physical stats a bit. For a non wizard or such, anything more than 16 is overkill. Breadth of knowledge is good but diletante is also really good if you wan to be a divine bard. Put every favored class bonus into HP.

As for dealing damage, your an inquisitor so your already good at it. Bane and judgements are all that you need to do damage so your focus is either being VERY accurate and/or getting more attacks. This is the main reason why bows are so appealing to inquisitors as they do both well.

As an elf in this case I would grab anything that granted more initiative and or speed as this will be your go to defense in the early levels to stay out of melee. And truthfully even at later levels these things will stay useful.

[Renegadeshepherd]

@Rynjin: wouldn't 12,15(17),14(12),14(16),16,8 be a little better? Less extreme on charisma dump, higher INT for his main intentions for a one point decrease in dex. Equipment or tomes would easily make up difference if needed.

[Rynjin]

That could work too, but mechanically speaking the Cha doesn't matter at all, and 1st level is when that extra to-hit is going to matter the most.

[HyperionPDX]

Thanks for the help guys.

[Renegadeshepherd]

Rynjin wrote:

That could work too, but mechanically speaking the Cha doesn't matter at all, and 1st level is when that extra to-hit is going to matter the most.

Fair point. I guess it comes down to taste.

[SmiloDan]

Kingmaker is mostly out in the open-style fighting, and you lack an archer, so I would suggest using archery. We played the first 2 chapters, and the archer ranger was VERY useful. We even had a cavalier that was able to use Mounted Combat feats! :-) Not just take them, but actually USE them!!! :-D