A big problem with Snowlilly's build is hat Slashing Grace no longer works well for Magi.
Also I suggest Lens of Detection over Eyes of the Eagle any day. The extra 1k gold is definitely worth it.
Snowlilly: Your character looks good indeed :D
I do have a couple of questions if that is ok:
- how often has darkness become an issue? Since you don't have Darkvision;
- I see the pearl of power, has it been enough to make up for the diminished spellcasting?
- Since this is not PFS, and you are completely focused on the Katana, have you been bypassing many magical weapons due to that?
- I am very impressed at how high you managed to get your Perception based on a Wis 10. I'll be taking notes from your gear list :D
1. Alter Self -> goblin when darkvision becomes mandatory. I carry an ioun torch for most circumstances, and either have the party's arcane caster hit me with darkvision or use alter self when I need to scout ahead. It's worked out well so far.
2. I tend to be very conservative with my spellcasting, using only what is necessary. I do plan on picking up a few more pearls of power. Touch of Fatigue is my primary spell in combat, with buffs being saved for challenging encounters.
3. I've not found any magical weapons that match my critical range, and as a kensai I don't have any versatility in weapon selection. Even if I had gone scimitar or rapier, we have not found any weapons of either type.
4. Bladebound gets Alertness, under the same rules as a wizard's familiar, and Seeker gives an effective +4. It all adds up. I plan on taking an ioun stone for +2 wisdom soon (more for the will save) and eventually I plan on grabbing Demon Senses (+8 racial bonus).
A big problem with Snowlilly's build is hat Slashing Grace no longer works well for Magi.
Also I suggest Lens of Detection over Eyes of the Eagle any day. The extra 1k gold is definitely worth it.
I built the character before the errata and the GM saw no need for me to rebuild. If using the errata, use a rapier and take Fencing Grace at first level. The 1 point difference in average damage changes nothing. Katana's are just cooler, and my DM really does not want me impersonating Ramon Vega (aka Bunny Wigglesworth) again.
My son has a character that uses Slashing Grace in a home game. I fully agree on no need to rebuild due to silly errata (and it definitely is silly in this case). I was simply warning in case he has a DM that doesn't agree with us and wants to rule strictly RAW.
Otherwise great build, though. :)
As agreed, I am back with an update regarding the character and how he's been playing out so far.
I'm not particularly happy with having gone with CON 12 at level 1 (9hp really aren't safe, even at low level), but since he has been able to stick mainly to the second line, it has been working out nicely so far.
I'm still not confident enough on his skills to play 'lone scout' on his own (Perception +5 and Stealth +7), but that should start to change come level 2. I'll update you by then.
I will point out that both Inspiration and the Inspired trait have already played important parts at decisive moments. I am not regretting the trait decision at all.
I have been continuously mulling my initial idea of pushing Polux up to level 2 or 3 as an Investigator (to capitalize on Int), and then multiclassing as Magus for the sweet action economy and cherry picked spell striking, but I am still not decided on it yet - on the one hand, I think these two early levels would make him a better scout, but on the other I agree that the delay in spellcasting might be a real issue once I decide to go Magus.
Last but not least, I have been wondering if a 'gish' ever actually gets enough spells to last him a whole day without using wands. My reasoning being - say you get into a fight 4-6 times in a day, in my case I would like to always use Shield (at least until I get to second level, when I will probably prefer Mirror Image or Blur) to up my AC to decent levels (I still want him to be tankish) - I will never have enough slots to do such a thing unless I use wands. There are other examples as the levels progress.
That being said, perhaps I should just stick with Investigator, make the best out of it, level up UMD, and use wands as complements to the character. I won't have the spell combat or spellstrike (which are great), but I'll have the whole smattering of Investigator abilities.
Still mulling it over though.
More important than all that - I am enjoying the character, and the group is excellent, so all is well :D
** spoiler omitted **...Snowlilly, any chance you can post that build? I would be really curious about it since when I was equating it, and even with an 18 Int, 6 skills/level seemed like too short for me, mainly because I would have to use half of those for Perception, Stealth, and Disable Device, and because Perception would never be very good.
BUT if you are succeeding in Rappan Athuk, I would definitely like to see it :D
You seem to have 5 traits. I see additional traits, but what am I missing for the 5th?
A "gish" having enough spells largely depends on the pace of the game. If you are managing 3 encounters per "day" you should have no issues. If it is 5 encounters you will probably be stretched thin/run out. The game is balanced/assumed to go 3-5 encounters a day.
The other side of that is, being a "gish" means knowing when to use your spells effectively and when to take it easy and rest on your heels a little using your martial abilities alone. Better to have that spell when a tough encounter arises, than to have wasted it on a peon in an encounter that would have lasted a round or two longer with no serious repercussions, if you didn't cast it. It is part of the risk/reward for playing this type of character.