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So: a little backstory. In pathfinder society, I've been screwed over by traps more than once. Tired of NEVER having a trapfinder in the party, I decided to take it upon myself to build a character.
To that end I have made a kind of tank/trapfinder slayer. He's not super powerful (in fact, he has trouble doing much of anything unless he gets his +2d6 sneak attack off) but he did what I want him to do: he finds traps, and is pretty good at it.
I just hit level 7, and I was hoping for some advice. I don't know where to take him from here, since I have what I want (feat/skill wise)
P.S. as part of his flavor he hates Aspis, and I am saving up for the Normal blade of the open road. That is why he currently might seem undergeared, about I have about 15k sitting in the bank until I can buy the blade.
Slayer 6 (1/2 elf)
Str:16, Dex:17, Con:14, Int:12, Wis: 12, Chr:7
Level 1: Skill Focus (perception), Improved Shield bash
Level 2: Trap Finding
Level 3: Extra Slayer Talent: Trapspotter
Level 4: Ranger Combat Style-Sword and Board-Shield Slam
Level 5: Two-weapon Fighting
Level 6: Ranger combat Style-Sword and board-Shield Master
At level 7 I'm stuck between double slice, or Improved two-weapon fighting.
Perception: +19 (+22 vs traps)
Disable Device +18
Currently in Mithral breatplate+1 (so I have no armor check or move speed penalties) and a +1 Darkwood Heavy shield. Like I said, as soon as I pick up that blade next session, I'll start pouring my money into upgrading my defenses (especially my shield, as I have shield master)
I'm thinking that at level 9 I get Improved Critical (Longsword) so that at level 10 I can pick up ranger combat style-sword and board-Bashing finish, but I'm not sure. Like I said, I don't do much damage in combat unless I get my sneak attack off, but this character was meant to kind of be a meat shield and find/disarm traps. He also has other skills (survival/tracking, and his knowledge-local isn't bad). Just don't know where to take him from here.
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Longsword and heavy shield is bad for TWF sword and board as both weapon are one-handed causing massive penalties. You'll want to switch longsword to a light weapon. If you want to crit fish for bashing finish, your should go Kukri.
If you want to pick up two-weapon rend, get double slice, otherwise it's a wasted feat.
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Longsword and heavy shield is bad for TWF sword and board as both weapon are one-handed causing massive penalties. You'll want to switch longsword to a light weapon. If you want to crit fish for bashing finish, your should go Kukri.
If you want to pick up two-weapon rend, get double slice, otherwise it's a wasted feat.
Forgot to mention, I am Shield Trained, the Gorum trait. Makes shields count as light weapons.
Double Slice is a trap. It grants you +1.5 damage on off-hand attacks, which let's say are 50% of your attacks (actually less, because when you don't full attack, you don't even use your off-hand).
So Double Slice for you would give you a whooping +0.75 damage.
IMP TWF is the way to go.
Haven't you been using your FCB's to get an additional slayer talent at 6th btw?
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Double Slice is a trap. It grants you +1.5 damage on off-hand attacks, which let's say are 50% of your attacks (actually less, because when you don't full attack, you don't even use your off-hand).
So Double Slice for you would give you a whooping +0.75 damage.
IMP TWF is the way to go.
Haven't you been using your FCB's to get an additional slayer talent at 6th btw?
No, I'm boring and took HP. Trying to be tankish, I felt I needed the HP. One Idea was to take toughness as well, to be able to take more punishment.
Honestly, a Slayer Talent is worth a feat. 6 FCBs get you a feat. Taking HP every level is the equivalent of Toughness, so you'd need 20 of that FCB to make a feat.
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The only time double slice is worth it is if you are going to take two weapon rend. Even then, it's a pretty bad feat tax.
Edit: Since you are shield trained, you can use a one handed weapon instead of light. You should take a Scimitar instead of a longsword then. You want a big crit range if you plan on using bashing finish.
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Honestly, a Slayer Talent is worth a feat. 6 FCBs get you a feat. Taking HP every level is the equivalent of Toughness, so you'd need 20 of that FCB to make a feat.
*sigh* So, let me get this straight, your advice is "You should have done something else" and not actually giving me advice for what to do with my character now. I appreciate the input, but I've had a couple of close shaves already and the extra hp has helped a lot. My question wasn't 'what should I have done differently' but 'where should I go from here.'
The only time double slice is worth it is if you are going to take two weapon rend. Even then, it's a pretty bad feat tax.
Edit: Since you are shield trained, you can use a one handed weapon instead of light. You should take a Scimitar instead of a longsword then. You want a big crit range if you plan on using bashing finish.
I disagree a bit in principle. Double slice becomes more tempting the higher strength you have. A barb with 24 str while raging, for example, that Second hit comes +7 damage instead of +3. I do agree it's not great for my character's measly 16 though.
As for the scimitar, remember I have a blade of the open road which HAS to be a long sword. Now, I'll probably get a second weapon (as the blade of the open road can is a +1 Aspisbane) but in order to make optimum use of both, I was thinking long sword.
Still don't know what to take as my level 7 feat. Improved twf gives me a 4th attack, but at a -5 to hit and only if I full attack. Toughness is tempting since I only have, like, 67 hp.
*sigh* So, let me get this straight, your advice is "You should have done something else" and not actually giving me advice for what to do with my character now. I appreciate the input, but I've had a couple of close shaves already and the extra hp has helped a lot. My question wasn't 'what should I have done differently' but 'where should I go from here.'
Live + learn. Also, is your PFS group not using retraining rules?
Still don't know what to take as my level 7 feat. Improved twf gives me a 4th attack, but at a -5 to hit and only if I full attack. Toughness is tempting since I only have, like, 67 hp.
Honestly, by now damage should scale high enough that you'll need triage if you ever get hit. I'd start considering which would be the best moment to go for Heavy Armor Proficiency + mithral full plate.
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I disagree a bit in principle. Double slice becomes more tempting the higher strength you have. A barb with 24 str while raging, for example, that Second hit comes +7 damage instead of +3. I do agree it's not great for my character's measly 16 though.
Even then, that's +4 damage on one attack per round. That's worth less than weapon specialization which is generally considered a weak feat.
Even then, that's +4 damage on one attack per round. That's worth less than weapon specialization which is generally considered a weak feat.I disagree a bit in principle. Double slice becomes more tempting the higher strength you have. A barb with 24 str while raging, for example, that Second hit comes +7 damage instead of +3. I do agree it's not great for my character's measly 16 though.
Not to mention I doubt that guy has the DEX for TWF.
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*sigh* So, let me get this straight, your advice is "You should have done something else" and not actually giving me advice for what to do with my character now. I appreciate the input, but I've had a couple of close shaves already and the extra hp has helped a lot. My question wasn't 'what should I have done differently' but 'where should I go from here.'Live + learn. Also, is your PFS group not using retraining rules?
Still don't know what to take as my level 7 feat. Improved twf gives me a 4th attack, but at a -5 to hit and only if I full attack. Toughness is tempting since I only have, like, 67 hp.Honestly, by now damage should scale high enough that you'll need triage if you ever get hit. I'd start considering which would be the best moment to go for Heavy Armor Proficiency + mithral full plate.
I . . . . wait, WHAT?
Okay, so, just to be clear, you are telling me to spend a bunch of prestige to loose six HP and gain a slayer talent (feat), for a character THAT I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO DO WITH THE FEATS I HAVE.
Also, apparently I now need to be healed after every hit. I'd like to introduce you to a lot of friends of mine with characters who do not need to do that.
I started this thread because I have no idea what feat to take at level 7. So far I'll I've heard is "Don't take double-slice" and "Rebuild your character."
Honestly, thanks for the idea for building my next slayer, but I think I'm just going to take Tougness, and next level take Slayer Talent-Rogue Talent-Combat Trick-Improved TWF.
First thing I said was get ITWF.
I just took Double Slice just because I didn't want to do the maths of recalculating my damage every time I hit someone. It's a pretty worthless feat, I admit, but I felt my Slayer was well-rounded, and I could afford it.
For real advice, Nimble Moves is nice, allowing you to 5-foot step in difficult terrain. Not the greatest option, but if you really don't know anything... Also, someone pointed me towards Seething Hatred, which is a cool thing. You often fight humans, and Demons are also a good choice.
Power attack would help your damage output. With a full BAB character and shield master eliminating the TWF penalty and allowing you to use the shield's enhancement bonus as a weapon bonus, you probably won't be having trouble hitting even with the power attack penalty. In some ways it's too bad you have that trait, because it makes it impossible to use the heavy shield two-handed for 1.5x strength and power attack, at least as I read it.