I'm trying to make a character that is a dragon disciple in one of my current games. I'm thinking about going sorcerer/bloodrager, but I'm not sure if there is too much overlap between the 2 and I should go sorcerer/barbarian or bloodrager and something else entirely.
If I go sorcerer/bloodrager, what class should go into DD?
Probably sorcerer since it won't progress your bloodrager bloodline
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I agree - probably too much overlap between the two. Bloodrager is basically already a barbarian / sorcerer multiclass - though I wouldn't recommend that combo as you can't cast in a normal barbarian's rage.
From a pure power-game perspective - I'd recommend sorcerer/paladin - pali is the full combat class which benefits the most from the high charisma you'll already need for sorcerer, and it'll makes your saves really high. The disadvantage is that - like any full arcane gesalt - you have armor issues.
The other power-game combo would be cross-blooded sorcerer (draconic/empyreal) / unchained monk. This would allow you to use Wisdom for your casting stat - obviously making the monk shine. You wouldn't have armor issues defensively - and standard monk stuff combined with draconic nat armor would make your defenses really high despite being a strength monk (normally has somewhat AC issues).
I'd definitely go unchained monk in said combo - as you wouldn't have it's main disadvantage of a low Will save due to the sorcerer gesalt. In addition, they can get 1.5x strength with a weapon to take advantage of the DD strength boosts.
Slayer and Brawler would both combo reasonably well due to giving you all high saves and feats etc. if you don't want to be stuck going lawful.
Alternatively you could use the Eldritch Scion magus as well to replace bloodrager though others have distaste for it I at least enjoy the archetype
Paladin doesn't work for this character (not lawful good).
Why would the monk get 1.5 times strength?
I was thinking about going cross blood to remove some of the overlap, but having trouble finding a combination I like. I'm pretty sure I want the ability to rage somewhere in the character for flavor reasons. So either sorcerer/barbarian or bloodrager/X.
Depending on your exact rules, there's a number of different ways to get really potent gestalt DD builds... I have one posted on here somewhere that ends up with (I think) full CL as a sorcerer and +20 BAB (and pally saves).
Personally, I think that bloodrager/sorcerer may have too much overlap (especially with the draconic bloodline, some of the others are more different), but it certainly wouldn't be terrible. Take the feat that lets you use sorc spells while raging and you'll be fine.
eldritch knight/sorc @7,
EK/DD @8,
BR/DD 9-11,
EK/DD @12,
BR/DD 13-15,
EK/DD @16,
BR/DD @17,
BR/sorc 18-20.
Mixing PrCs is a big no-no for some GMs, but if it's allowed that gives you full BAB, Full CL, all 20 levels of sorc bloodline, all 10 levels of DD bonuses, 16 levels of Bloodrager abilities, and 4 levels of EK (enough to pick up weapon specialization).
Nate- yeah he is one of those DMs that doesn't like mixing prestige classes. The rules are set up that we take 2 classes all the way with the option of taking a prestige class in place of one of them with the DM's approval.
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Why would the monk get 1.5 times strength?
Unlike a normal monk - the unchained monk gets 1.5x strength when two-handing a weapon even in a flurry. That and being proficient with all monk weapons makes Str based unchained monks pretty solid, though some of their abilities require a few unarmed strikes mixed in.
If you want to rage for flavor reasons - then you're better off with Bloodrager than Barbarian as - starting a level 4 - you can cast spells while raging.
As to which to give up for DD - it depends on whether you want to be primarily a combatant or a caster. Giving up sorcerer will hurt your spellcasting, but giving up Bloodrager will hurt your BAB & raging abilities. As to bloodline - you'll get full sorcerer bloodline either way - either sorcerer 5/DD X or sorcerer 5+X. Same thing.
If you're not going the monk combo for bloodlines - but still want to go cross-blooded - I'd recommend either Orc or Abyssal to combo with Draconic. Either will let you grab the +str boost @9/13/17 - basically you should def. go Abyssal if you're a Tiefling as it'll make your Cha count a 2 points higher for all sorcerer abilities - including spell-casting.
Slayer/sorcerer works well
Urban barbarian/sorcerer allows you to cast spells while raging
Unchained monk works well, especially when you get the feat to mix natural attacks into your flurry.
You can't stack casting in gestalt the way renegade is asking about. The divine route does make for a super deadly DD though... A human with racial heritage [kobold] can take the feat Scaled Disciple, which lets you qualify for DD as an oracle (and increases oracle casting instead).
A full bloodrager who starts oracle and takes DD on that side can still cast while raging with the same feat, can cast all his spells in armor, could use Cha for AC instead of Dex, can pick up the Divine Protection feat very easily, and doesn't have nearly the overlap issues you get from a sorcerer. Definitely worth thinking about.
Thought of something that I don't know enough rules for....
Can DD and draconic sorc levels stack as a gestalt? If so then it would be possible to have a LV 30 sorc for the purposes of Dragon bloodline features. At the very least that is one VERY potent breath weapon. Depending on the wording it maybe possible to have a ton of feats because DD gives some and the sorc gives more, probably the entire bloodlines feats honestly.
While Gestalt rules are very much up to the group, as I believe that there is no official rules for gestalt in pathfinder, you aren't supposed to be able to get a 2 for one when you take your levels. So if you take sorcerer and DD at the same time the +to spellpower/ bloodlines/ would effect a different class.
Our group in particular looks at a prestige class more like an archetype that can apply multiple classes. So, if we stop progression in one class that is the class the prestige class is going apply to.
In Nate's example above our group would rule it as a sorcerer 10/ DD 10 on one side of the gestalt and Bloodrager 16/ EK 4 on the other side. Eldritch knight would not be able to apply the extra caster level to sorcerer. -Not all groups will do it this way-
as an oracle what would be the best mystery though? as a half elf you could still take racial heritage but could also pump the heck out spirit of the warrior revelation for better than Full BAB. Battle oracle with weapon focus and such would make you very accurate and heavy armor :)
You're only going to take 10-12 oracle levels (the other 8-10 going to DD), so even abusing the half-elf FCB you're not going to get any revelation above 15-18th level (you could also do that as an aasimar with scion of humanity).
In terms of revelation choice, personally I'd pick based on which type of dragon I was tied to and the feel I was trying to create around that. From an optimization stand point, your best bet is probably one of the ones that gets Cha to AC. Battle is never a bad choice for a melee oracle but since you already have full BAB and proficiencies from bloodrager and will only have 10-12 levels of oracle it's a less good option here than for a lot of other builds. Nature would be a strong contender- grab Cha to AC, the telepathic bond revelation, and the one where you auto-stabilize and gain fast healing when at negative health maybe...
He is the son of a red dragon that has been spending decades infecting the local tribe with his bloodline in order to make his offspring become tribal leaders and obedient to him.
It's starting to look like this character in particular also had some kind of dark pact involved with his creation in order to make him more powerful. This is going to backfire against the red dragon of course.
If a character cross classes bloodrager and sorcerer do they have to have the same bloodline?
If a character cross classes bloodrager and sorcerer do they have to have the same bloodline?
Yes. If you're committed to sorcerer (instead of oracle) you're required by DD to have the draconic bloodline, and you're required by bloodrager to match bloodlines... If you took the crossblooded sorcerer archetype you could take the non-draconic bloodline for bloodrager...
Bloodrager actually satisfies the casting requirement for DD so (if it'll work within your gestalt rules), you could do BR/any full arcane caster into BR/DD. DD grants +1 to any arcane casting class- so you could take a wizard, arcanist, or witch and not have any of that repetition of abilities.
Really, nobody's mentioned Magus yet?
You might need to Cross/Wild blood in the Sage bloodline or go Eldritch Scion to get your casting stats to match up, but Spell Combat with 9th level spellcasting and 3/4ths BAB boosted by that +4 Str can go a long way.
I mentioned Magus upthread but was completely ignored so *shrug*
Nate are you suggesting 10 oracle/ 10 Dragon Disciple and 20 Bloodrager or 20 Oracle / 10 bloodrager / 10 Dragon disciple? I guess I'm not really sure what oracle is bringing to the table. If I go sorcerer they only slow down spellcasting a little bit (which is helpful to me). Oracle would completely stop spellcasting progression if it went to DD, and stop all their oracle stuff progression.
I thought that both bloodlines of Bloodrager and Sorcerer would have to be the same, but I can't find where I read that. If that's the case, I kind of feel that I would have to take cross-blooded on both classes too...
I was trying to pretty much stick to what was asked about, plus I feel like the particular set up here is less conducive to magi... Personally, I think magus [eldritch scion] 8/bloodrager 12 on one side would pair nicely with sorc 12/DD 8 on the other, with broad study and mad magic... It sounds like that's not doable in their rules though... (Also, for durability you'd be hard pressed to beat the oracle/DD.)
edit: with the scaled disciple feat DD increases your oracle casting level like it was sorc. So bloodrager 20 with oracle 12/DD 8 has you casting as an 18th level oracle while still having full BAB, all the DD stat boosts, insane AC, mad magic, and all the other goodies mentioned before...