Right first time posting on here first time posting after many years of being in the shadows on the forums and thats as im kind of at my wits end balancing concept and functionality on this character. This'll be a long post please forgive me.
OK so I've read a few threads on Ecclesitheurge and they have mixed opinions but I'm trying to make something a little unique and as always Pathfinder to it's credit sort of meets my expectations at least half way.
My concept is a half naked slightly off the rails cleric who worships a God of some sort but tells people to sod off any time they ask about it oh and I carry a tree but we'll get back to that. In function I aim to heal and offer support with summons and maybe a reach weapon but this all adds up to the stretching thin issue... Oh and let's not forget armour class.
Now stats are not an issue my group roll and I rolled well, I'm the sort of guy who crits the assimar in round one at the end of book 1 of rise of the runelords with my paladin's smite and one shots her, dice are my friends GMs are not. 18, 17, 17, 15, 13 and 10. But like the best stories... I'm still naked and I've also kind of set my heart on running around with a Orc skull ram because metal illness might not just be only my character's problem.
So things I know fit with this well...
Weapon: Orc Skull Ram(martial for half Orc but that's a minor problem)
Domains: Darkness(night maybe) and Travel
Feats: Dreamed Secrets(oh this is rather nice), Orc weapon expertise(for ac), Tenacious Survivor chain(can get endurance free as racial trait swap ironic as that is with me being naked), Dimension Door feat chain?, Sacred summons(well duh?), Summon neutral monster(it might be worth it) Combat Reflexes, Power Attack, Selective channel and superior/augment summons maybe.
Alternate race rules: Sacred tatoos(if going Tenacious Survivor route this swap makes even more sense also characterful) and Shaman's apprentice(not a lot lost here).
Traits: Heirloom Weapon and Adopted(enlightened warrior-ok this comes later). Maybe others... But depends if I can get martial weapons another way...
OK so... Can this work and what tricks can I employ. One level of Sohei Monk?(base monk don't compare) or Unchained Monk? Is it worth the lost caster level and maybe bab(if not unchained) but Sohei gives cool stuff for a one level dip. Thinking DD feat chain probably silly as well as extra summon feats beyond Sacred oh and is summon neutral monster worth its salt?
I know I'm asking a lot but any wisom or feedback would be nice. Keep it to pazio products and no third party stuff but otherwise help if you can. And please there must be a place in your heart for this tattooed half naked cleric of sod off.
Don't know how set you are on the Orc Skull Ram, but I think that those stats really call for a Sacred Fist Warpriest... buffing is boring, quick buffing is hilarious.
Sadly, it wouldn't be able to flurry with an Orc Skull Ram...
But it opens up the possibility of taking the Toothy racial for a Bite attack, Feral Combat Training, and Outslug Style or Crane Style, both making you infuriating to your enemies.
Feral Combat Training is great because your bite attack receives 1.5x STR to damage, so you can have a 1.5x STR weapon on the flurry while benefiting from the defensive hilariousness of Crane Style, or the infuriating slipperiness of Outslug Style.
Just a thought.
PS: Sorry for hijacking the ecclethistheurge fun.
No offence taken I had looked at Sacred warpriest but that's another concept probably damned fun and I do like the toothy trick but I'm after something a little more crazy. We're taking the trees back from the hippies.
To be clearer my main worry is ac don't want to have to be too magic ite!m dependent but Orc weapon expertise can help with or without monk.
Sorry to shamelessly bump my own thread but just filtered a few ideas into cleaner questions that reference the above character.
Q1: The main crux of it is it worth a level dip into some sort of monk? I aim to be the healer channel positive energy and cast support spells and summons but will a one level dip for say the Sohei monks's be worth the casting loss or can I get by. Giving me Wis to AC, Bonus feat(combat reflexes logically), flurry of blows, unarmed strike and monk saves. I loose stunning fist and monk weapons for the Archetype but gain martial weapons, +1 inititatvie and always act in surprise round. Ofc can go Unchained monk but that leaves me short matial weapons for my Ram.
Q2: Armour? can I get by without it while being in the second row? The whole monk thing aboves hangs on the logic its I need the AC.
Q3: Feats? I've mentioned a few feats and feat chains but I need to slim them down I'm a reach cleric summmoner healer what should i cut?
Q3a: Is DD worth it with travel domain giving me it for three feats i'm wobbling on this one. (3 feats)
Q3b: Is the Tenacious Survivor chain also worth it to keep fighting and being near impossible to outright kill? (2 feats and a freebie)
Q3c: Summon neutral monster... no one talks about this but as i'll be either neutral or chaotic neutral what is the opinion on the template and new summoning options, no one really talks about this feat anywhere?
Q3d: Beyond that if I go monk I get a free feat(Combat Reflexes) and I get Endurance if I loose +2 intimidate as a half orc so that gives me room but I really want... eleven(assuming monk level) at a glance and that ain't workable... here's my list atm...
Power Attack, Dreamed Secerets, 3xDD chain, 2xTS chain,Orc weapon expertise, Selective Channel, Summon Neutral monster and Sacred Summons.