I've recently come into posession of two boons that will allow me to do some fairly unique things in PFS: An aasimar boon as well as a boon that allows me to add +2 to any ability score at character creation (I'm not going to spoil).
I was aiming at building a jack-of-all trades similar to a Bard in terms of buffing potential while keeping other options open. I'll be able to change spirit choice on the fly in order to fill any role needed in the party while keeping a focus on the Marshall spirit.
I'll have an initiative of around +20 at level 8, in order to always be able to use Spirit surge and other buffs on my allies whenever the situation calls for it. My charisma will be very high so that I can still get some save or sucks like Slow off at higher levels when I feel like channeling the Archmage spirit. At level 11 I'll have wings, as a nice finisher to my PFS career. This is the build i've thought out so far:
Lucy Abrian
Aasimar (Azata-blooded) Medium (No archetype)
Deity: Calistria
Faction: Liberty's Edge
CG
Racial:
Celestial resistance (Acid, Cold, Electricity resistance 5)
Darkvision
Scion of humanity(Count as human+outsider)
Glitterdust 1/day
+2 diplomacy, perform
Stats:
14
9
14
12
12
20
Feats:
1 Noble scion: War
2
3 Improved initiative
4 +1 CHA
5 Spirit focus: Marshall
6
7 Battle cry
8 +1 CHA
9 Angelic blood
10
11 Angel wings
FCB: +1/4th spirit surges per day when taboo is in effect
Traits:
Unscathed(+2 to all resistances)
Adopted > Warrior of Old(+2 Initiative)
Spells:
0 Message, Stabilize, Ghost sound, Daze
1 Paranoia, Liberating command, Enlarge person
2 Haste, Slow, Tongues, Mirror image
3 Burst of speed, Vampiric touch
Skills(5/lvl):
Diplomacy
Bluff
Use magic device
Perception
Sense motive
Items:
+2 skill ioun stone(800)
+1 initiative ioun stone(2pp)
Spell component pouch, Holy symbol(Calistria)
+2 fire-forged chain shirt(100+1000+1000+3000)
+1 spell-storing adamantine longspear(3000+2000+6000)
headband of CHA(4000)
belt of physical perfection(16000?)
Ring of feather falling(2200)
Boots of striding and springing(5500)
spring loaded wrist sheaths
sipping jacket(5000)+Potion of haste/Displacement/Blink(2pp)
Mask of persuasion(4500)
cloak of resistance +2(4000)
Eyes of the eagle(2500)
First aid gloves(4500)
Loads of wands/scrolls
Carla the Profane wrote: I've recently come into posession of two boons that will allow me to do some fairly unique things in PFS: An aasimar boon as well as a boon that allows me to add +2 to any ability score at character creation (I'm not going to spoil).
I was aiming at building a jack-of-all trades similar to a Bard in terms of buffing potential while keeping other options open. I'll be able to change spirit choice on the fly in order to fill any role needed in the party while keeping a focus on the Marshall spirit.
I'll have an initiative of around +20 at level 8, in order to always be able to use Spirit surge and other buffs on my allies whenever the situation calls for it. My charisma will be very high so that I can still get some save or sucks like Slow off at higher levels when I feel like channeling the Archmage spirit. At level 11 I'll have wings, as a nice finisher to my PFS career. This is the build i've thought out so far:
Lucy Abrian
Aasimar (Azata-blooded) Medium (No archetype)
Deity: Calistria
Faction: Liberty's Edge
CG
Racial:
Celestial resistance (Acid, Cold, Electricity resistance 5)
Darkvision
Scion of humanity(Count as human+outsider)
Glitterdust 1/day
+2 diplomacy, perform
Stats:
14
9
14
12
12
20
Feats:
1 Noble scion: War
2
3 Improved initiative
4 +1 CHA
5 Spirit focus: Marshall
6
7 Battle cry
8 +1 CHA
9 Angelic blood
10
11 Angel wings
FCB: +1/4th spirit surges per day when taboo is in effect
Traits:
Unscathed(+2 to all resistances)
Adopted > Warrior of Old(+2 Initiative)
Spells:
0 Message, Stabilize, Ghost sound, Daze
1 Paranoia, Liberating command, Enlarge person
2 Haste, Slow, Tongues, Mirror image
3 Burst of speed, Vampiric touch
Skills(5/lvl):
Diplomacy
Bluff
Use magic device
Perception
Sense motive
Items:
+2 skill ioun stone(800)
+1 initiative ioun stone(2pp)
Spell component pouch, Holy symbol(Calistria)
+2 fire-forged chain shirt(100+1000+1000+3000)
+1 spell-storing...
First, I like the idea of the Marshall being your focus - I'd looked at doing something similar. Here are a few things I'd consider:
1) I'm not sure if there's an official ruling on whether Aasimar can take the human FCB with Scion of Humanity, but assuming they can and you choose to take a weaker Marshall starting at level 6 since the intermediate power is weak, and you choose a taboo, you're still only sitting on 9 spirit surges a day (3 base, 2 from FCB, 2 from taboo + 2 weaker spirit). Those could go fast. You also can only use them once per round, so unlike a bard song which can boost everyone at once when it matters, you can really only help one person. The nice thing is you can use them only when they'll help -- but it's still something to consider.
2) If you are using the Marshall to actively surge, you're almost certainly going to end up in spirit penalty territory from time to time. That's going to penalize your single good save and your stats don't really lend to having terribly strong other saves. If you're up in melee, that could be rough.
cavernshark wrote: Carla the Profane wrote: ... First, I like the idea of the Marshall being your focus - I'd looked at doing something similar. Here are a few things I'd consider:
1) I'm not sure if there's an official ruling on whether Aasimar can take the human FCB with Scion of Humanity, but assuming they can and you choose to take a weaker Marshall starting at level 6 since the intermediate power is weak, and you choose a taboo, you're still only sitting on 9 spirit surges a day (3 base, 2 from FCB, 2 from taboo + 2 weaker spirit). Those could go fast. You also can only use them once per round, so unlike a bard song which can boost everyone at once when it matters, you can really only help one person. The nice thing is you can use them only when they'll help -- but it's still something to consider.
2) If you are using the Marshall to actively surge, you're almost certainly going to end up in spirit penalty territory from time to time. That's going to penalize your single good save and your stats don't really lend to having terribly strong other saves. If you're up in melee, that could be rough. 1)I believe there is consensus of some sorts: Scion-of-Humanity-and-Favored-Class-Bonuses. And I agree that my supply of Spirit surges will be limited, but am ready to accept that offset. Keep in mind the intermediate power of the Marshal doesn't cost any resource except for a standard action, at level 8 that's a +4 to all allies' attack and damage rolls, ON TOP of Spirit surges and spells like liberating command. If you spam it every encounter your buddies will thank you. Bring a backup longspear for a chance at some attack of opportunities and you're set!
2)Yes, I think at later levels I will switch more to a caster role. I might take eldritch heritage: Half-elf at 7 so I can cast Paragon surge when I channel my Archmage spirit... with expanded arcana the spell list is endless! (FAQ Here) The charisma score is there for decent DC's without sacrificing too much in versatility IMHO.
Carla the Profane wrote:
1)I believe there is consensus of some sorts: Scion-of-Humanity-and-Favored-Class-Bonuses. And I agree that my supply of Spirit surges will be limited, but am ready to accept that offset. Keep in mind the intermediate power of the Marshal doesn't cost any resource except for a standard action, at level 8 that's a +4 to all allies' attack and damage rolls, ON TOP of Spirit surges and spells like liberating command. If you spam it every encounter your buddies will thank you. Bring a backup longspear for a chance at some attack of opportunities and you're set!
2)Yes, I think at later levels I will switch more to a caster role. I might take eldritch heritage: Half-elf at 7 so I can cast Paragon surge when I channel my Archmage spirit... with expanded arcana the spell list is endless!...
1) It is a powerful buff if you can afford to spam it and treating yourself like a reach cleric does avoid some of the pain, I just can't help but feel that it may be difficult in practice to keep it going. Any fight where there are other situational factors at work (e.g. you need to drink a potion or administer one to a friend, read a scroll, cast any of your other spells) is now a round where you've lost your party buff. Compare that to a bard who can realistically keep up +2/+2 with a move action to activate and free to maintain by 8, who has spells like Saving Finale and Gallant Inspiration. It starts to look a look like the Marshall Focused medium, but with more spells and more freedom to be flexible in actions. Not to say it won't work a lot of the time, I just have personal reservations and you did ask for advice. ;)
2) I think you might be thinking of a different feat (maybe Racial Heritage)? Eldritch Heritage grants a sorcerer bloodline power, which would certainly be an option for your build - but it wouldn't give you access to being treated as a half-elf. Also keep in mind the restriction on Paragon Surge to making variable choices once per day per feat ( url=http://paizo.com/paizo/faq/v5748nruor1gh#v5748eaic9s4y]Paragon Surge FAQ[/url]). You could certainly use it as your one arcane spell to give yourself access to two spells temporarily, but it'll take a standard action to activate before or during combat -- so your bread and butter probably still need to come off your medium list (which will be a spell level behind on spells known). That strategy might conflict with granting your intermediate spirit power unless you only use Paragon Surge for utility spells.
Whoops, I ment racial heritage of course. Any ideas on how to stay useful like you suggested? I was considering maxing UMD (since the marshal bonus applies to charisma based skills and I can also take the seance boon from trickster on top) and bring a couple of offensive wands but I'm not sure if it'll be worth it in the long run.
In essence I'll be bringing a weird type of support misfortune oracle to the table, albeit with extremely poor spells/day. Any ideas?
EDIT: Taking eldritch heritage into improved familiar might actually not be such a bad idea
Carla the Profane wrote: Whoops, I ment racial heritage of course. Any ideas on how to stay useful like you suggested? I was considering maxing UMD (since the marshal bonus applies to charisma based skills and I can also take the seance boon from trickster on top) and bring a couple of offensive wands but I'm not sure if it'll be worth it in the long run.
In essence I'll be bringing a weird type of support misfortune oracle to the table, albeit with extremely poor spells/day. Any ideas?
EDIT: Taking eldritch heritage into improved familiar might actually not be such a bad idea
I do think a familiar would help a lot if you plan to use the marshal intermediate power a lot (using your standard). An improved familiar would give you a second set of hands and some of them can cast as sorcerers or use UMD (using your skill ranks) to do it. That would at least cover a lot of situations where you might need to not buff the group. Another benefit is that the familiar could use a wand of enlarge person on you at the start of the fight, allowing you to buff everyone and position for AOOs. This does take 3 feats though (Skill Focus (Knowledge), Eldritch Heritage (Arcane), Improved Familiar)
You could also consider maximizing your reach potential. Phalanx Formation from Melee Tactics Toolbox lets you negate the cover penalties for using a reach weapon through combat. You'd almost certainly want Combat Reflexes too.. but you'd need to push your dex up a bit to get benefit.
You could probably free up a feat for either of those strategies by dropping Spirit Focus (Marshall). Realstically, you're already getting 1d6 + 5 with your stats, I'm not sure that the extra +1 is worth it given your need to balance out to other areas. You'll still be a beast at making rolls count when they need to.
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