Monster Tactician (Inquisitor): Help Requested

[London Duke]

I am interested in building a Monster Tactician from the Summoner's Handbook for an upcoming game.
The game will be starting at 5th level and is a 20pnt buy and I plan on playing a human.

I was thinking that my first 4 feats should be
1. Spell Focus: Conjuration
1 human bonus. Augument Summoning
3. Superior Summoning
5. Either Summon Good or Neutral Monster

The big thing I am stuggling with is whether to just focus entirely on spell casting and ignore class abilities like solo tactics and bane, or to go with a moderate wisdom and moderate strength and use spells to buff my combat preformance combined with summons.

What do yall think?

[London Duke]

Also, what deity would you recommend since many of the gods offer expanded summons/spells.

[Hazrond]

If you go neutral Gozreh adds a bunch of cool summons to your list from SNA and other places

[London Duke]

Do you think staying caster focused works for an inquisitor or should I dabble in melee? Maybe go with a reach cleric build?

[Markov Spiked Chain]

I'd look at Evolved Summon Monster, and the Preacher archetype.

A reach Cleric style build is probably the better way to go, since you're not actually a full caster (just have full caster summons!) doing much more than buffing will be rough.

I don't remember any deities jumping out at me for summons, and you get free expanded summons. So I'd be looking at domains. I'm a big fan of Erastil for Growth. Busting out 20' reach one the first round along with a standard to either attack or summon a buddy (with extra reach from Evolved SM) is great control for the most important round of combat.

[London Duke]

Could go with Cayden for the chivalry inquisition (cavalier mount) and rust monster summons.

I'm seeing the nessesary feats being:
Spell focus: conjuration, augment summoning, superior summons, combat reflexes

Then adding improved initiative, power attack, Summon Good/Neutral Monster and evolved summon monster.

[London Duke]

Which additions do yall feel are stronger, summon good or summon Neutral?

[Cavall]

Good. That first celestial hit is always a great way to make your summons count.

[London Duke]

I agree but I would only counter by saying that if I remained Neutral, I could add good and evil creatures to my list via Expanded Summons.

Or is it just worth it to have diehard buffed celestials

[Helcack]

Buffed celestials are worth in my opinion. Also, I would suggest going a bit into combat, and I would suggest Ragathiel(chivalry inquisition is still good to go with this one). You can then wield a bastard sword in one hand with a lance in the other and lead your monsters on charges(with the teamwork feat coordinated charge) For suggested feats I would go mounted combat, ride by attack, spirited charge, Trick Riding and Mounted Skirmisher. I would suggest a 2 level dip into Sohei monk as then you don't need to meet the prerequisites and can just take spirited charge and mounted skirmisher at level 1 and 2. You can then take boon companion at 3 so your mount is equal to your level.

[Pounce]

Slightly off topic, but I feel like it could be relevant if you get Racial Heritage: Orc at some point:

Monster Tactician kind of provides a semi-reliable way of getting some of your summons amplified rage going, actually. If you go with the Anger inquisition, you get the ability to rage like a barbarian at L6, the same level you pick up a teamwork feat. If you get Amplified Rage, you can summon badgers (SM I)/ wolverines (SM III) / dire weasels (SM IV).. (pickable with your free extended summon monster) who rage whenever they are hit. If they are adjacent / flanking, Amp. kicks in, for a total of +10-12 to strength & con (+4 augment summoning, +2-4 rage, +4 amplified rage) at L6.

L1: SP: Conj
L3: Augment Summons
L3: W/E
L5: Superior Summons
L6: Amplified Rage

Now all you'd need would be some sort of feat that lets your summoned creatures use Bane.

[talast]

London Duke wrote:

Could go with Cayden for the chivalry inquisition (cavalier mount) and rust monster summons.

I'm seeing the nessesary feats being:
Spell focus: conjuration, augment summoning, superior summons, combat reflexes

Then adding improved initiative, power attack, Summon Good/Neutral Monster and evolved summon monster.

I don't think you can take the Chivalry inquisition. Because at level 8 of the inquisition, you are supposed to be able to use judgment. Monster Tactician replaced the Judgment ability with monster summoning; therefore it invalid your choice to take something that uses judgment.

I think you are better off doing monster summoning and going melee to take full advantage of your teamwork feats.

But it's all depending on your personal play style.

[Wyrmfoe]

I recommend giving Abadar a chance, if you're going for the Monster Tactician.

Mechanically, a human Monster Tactician can take Abadar's feat, "Divine Dignity," at 1st level. This feat allows its possessor to cast three harmless or domain divine spells per day without provoking attacks of opportunity from the casting.

The Monster Tactician can already cast Summon Monster as a standard action. This means that, at the start of combat, Abadar's inquisitor could move up to the enemy as the move action, cast Summon Monster as the standard action and position summoned creatures for flanking bonuses (flanking being crucial to several teamwork feats), all without provoking attacks of opportunity.

Thematically, I'm playing mine as an Andoran census-taker and keeper of the register. The concept of the stalwart citizen, flush with zeal and certain that the truly free are never alone... I really rather like that concept.

So, give Abadar a look. I think it might work well. Very much interested in your thoughts, too.