|
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Hello collective brain trust!
Given the errata which reduced the number of times Consume Spells and Consume Magic Items could be used per day (yes, I know it should have been 3 + CHA mod, but we are not here to argue that), I have been searching for ways to increase the number of points in my arcane reservoir. I have an Occultist Arcanist in PFS that I love to play and am not giving him up. Luckily, I did not dump CHA, so sitting at a 14 CHA, I am not in too bad shape.
So here are the ways I can see of increasing the points in the arcane reservoir:
Consume Spells: Add points equal to a spell clot given up for the day. Max use: CHA mod (min 1). Commentary: Most useful way to add points, but nerfed by errata. Not contingent upon actions by others.
Consume Magic Items: Add points equal to 1/2 the level of the spell contained in the item. Only spell greater than 1st count. Max use: CHA mod (min 1). Commentary: Useful way to add points, but nerfed by errata. Not contingent upon actions by others. Costs wealth.
Counter Drain: 1 point per three spell levels on a successful counterspell. Only spells greater than 2nd count. Commentary: Very conditional source of points. Requires investment in the counterspelling exploits. Arguably, counterspelling is not the most efficient use of exploits and actions, although the arcanist seems to do it best.
Resistance Drain: End spell resistance to gain ½ point per spell level of a successfully resisted spell. Commentary: Very conditional source of points. Requires investment in Spell Resistance and Greater Spell Resistance, not normally considered strong exploits.
Siphon Spell: When using greater spell disruption, if the caster level of the spell is equal to or higher than that of the arcanist, and the DC of the dispel check by 5 or more, adds 1 point. If exceeds check by 10 or more, adds 2 points. Commentary: Very conditional source of points. Requires spell disruption and greater spell disruption exploit to select this exploit.
Extra Reservoir: +3 points in arcane reservoir, and the max number of points increases by that amount. Commentary: Solid choice. Can optionally be retrained at higher levels when points are more available.
Gnome: Gain 1/6 point per level of favored class bonus. Commentary: You have to be a Gnome. 1/6 is not that impressive.
Are there any other items, tricks, traits or features which could assist in getting more points? This is my question to you.
|
|
Thank you for your input! I had read that some time ago and forgot about it.
I am surprised there does not seem to be more ways to increase the pool. I cannot complain about the nerf too much, as I still enjoy playing the Occultist. Still, the ability to use the other exploits I invested in would be nice.
Too bad it's prone to cheese, as he politely pointed out that you could just touch a friendly spellcaster and regain your arcane reservoir without repercussion.
Too bad it's prone to cheese, as he politely pointed out that you could just touch a friendly spellcaster and regain your arcane reservoir without repercussion.Well, except for the sickened condition for a round.
Point is, he can do it indefinitely outside of combat without any repercussion before continuing, and replenish all of his arcane reservoir points by simply fondling a fellow spellcaster with some outlandish Cthulhuian tendril. (Yes, I chose those words purposefully because it creates a very strange and morally uncomfortable character/party concept that probably shouldn't exist in the PG-13 context of Pathfinder.) Anyway...
Mechanically speaking, while it would promote a nova-like playstyle, Arcane Reservoir wasn't designed for a nova-like playstyle, especially considering how Paizo went to nerf the Consume Spells/Magic Items exploits, and how, when you regain Arcane Reservoir each day, that you don't regain your full amount (meaning if you were completely tapped, even a full day of rest doesn't put you at 100%, unlike most other classes with similar resource limitations who do have that).
In short, it's cheese, and no sane GM would allow it, even if the flavor would indicate Evil only, because they'd realize how easily it can be abused.