List: Negative Constitution Modifier

[Covert Operator]

I want to make a list of builds that are able to (relatively safely) have a very low or even dumped CON.

The two important considerations are HP and FORT. HP is not much of a problem if you have a lot of healing; but you must make sure to resist crits; with some ability such as Misfortune, the Jingasa of the Fortunate Soldier, or something similar.

The first one I came up with is, unsurprisingly, a Barbarian. The Celestial Totem adds half their level to any HP healed by magical means. This has a very efficient combo with the Goodberry spell, and he would probably have to take the Accelerated Drinker trait. I would make this guy a semi-ranged combatant anyway, just to be safe.

The second is an Unchained Rogue (Escapologist); with Resiliency, Multitalented, Defensive Roll, and Twist Away. Roll With It is also hoped for, as it is extremely good here too (although Goblin only).

[Covert Operator]

Reddit has mentioned:
Kobold Confidence - use your Casting Stat instead of CON for FORT and maximum negative HP before death. Doesn't help with HP. - /u/mrtheshed
Synthesist Summoner - hope against hope that your Eidolon never has to pop out of existence, because you are SCREWED if so - /u/starfries
Treantmonk-style Conjuration Wizards - Invisible, summoning, buffing, and debuffing. What more needs be said? - /u/United-We-Stand

[Covert Operator]

Reincarnated Druid - If race (or age?) penalizes CON, he may reincarnate with more! - /u/evlutte
Sean Bean - (the actor that dies in virtually every movie) - /u/zefig

[avr]

Most of the characters in this thread.

Characters which stick to buffing and have flight + some effective ranged defence (invisibility by preference) should be safe in most situations.

[HyperMissingno]

Can I just ask why you would want to dump con? Every class wants at the very least 12 and there's not much roleplaying potential out of dumping it unlike the mental scores.

[Ascalaphus]

Given that you will eventually run into enemies that:
- Target areas (breath weapon, fireball)
- Target MVPs even when they hide in the back of the party (archers with improved precise shot, just about any caster played competently)
- Attack the party from behind

I don't think anyone is really safe with a negative constitution modifier. Some people can get away for a long time with merely 10-12 constitution, but I prefer 14 whenever possible.

But for barbarians, it's particularly awful, you're combining being at the front of the party with having so-so AC. It also cuts into your rage rounds per day.

[Covert Operator]

Well, ascaphalus, look at the rogue (the barbarian was more of a crazy idea, but it could possibly work. Keep in mind this will only work past 11th level (so you can't play this character with low CON before that; High level campaigns only.

vs AC: roll reflex to halve damage.
If he can become staggered, he gets two escape artist checks (vs AC [avoid] and vs damage [halve])

vs Fort: Use Twist Away to roll a reflex save and an escape artist check

vs Ref: can become staggered to roll an escape artist check

vs Will: You may be screwed, although you can escape the attack afterwards if it is mind-affecting and has a duration.

And if you still would be killed by an attack, you can use Resiliency 3 times per day to gain 2*rogue level in temporary HP

[Covert Operator]

HyperMissingno wrote:

Can I just ask why you would want to dump con? Every class wants at the very least 12 and there's not much roleplaying potential out of dumping it unlike the mental scores.

Just theorycrafting. Thought it would be fun

[Deadmanwalking]

Paladins can manage pretty well sans Con. Lay On Hands, particularly with, say, the Tiefling Favored Class Bonus and Fey Foundling, makes them super durable almost no matter what their Con is, and dropping Con for Cha actually nets you more HP per day, at least potentially, and the D10 HD, good Fortitude, and adding Cha to Fort Saves really make up for quite a bit.

It's still not a super good idea, mind you, but it's more workable than many characters.

[Pounce]

Any character with the Mark of the Devoted feat can feasibly dump Con and max out Cha, playing for long-term gains, I guess?

[Christopher Van Horn]

any character who plans on becoming undead.

[Michael Grate]

A build I have recently taken a liking to is called the Stay at Home Hexer which is built around constantly buffing ones team from far away. Because the Scar hex allows a witch to use their hexes for up to a mile away they can give their team a constant buff with the fortune/cackle combo. Adding in some sneaking and movement spells like invisibility and fly allows them to stay completely away from battle while still being an essential part of the team.

A few buff spells like heroism enhances this further and if you want, some debuff/battle field control spells to really take it to the enemy.

No fortitude or HP needed because the enemy should almost never know you are there or be too distracted by your team to care.

[Ascalaphus]

Pounce wrote:

Any character with the Mark of the Devoted feat can feasibly dump Con and max out Cha, playing for long-term gains, I guess?

Nice feat. I suppose you could even retrain it after you rise up. And juju zombies are fairly effective.

[ryric]

It's a tough path to dump Con. I regularly play 10 Con characters without issues but I hesitate to actually take a Con [I]penalty/I].

I think I'd want to:
-not be a front liner
-have Evasion for AoE damage
-probably take Great Fortitude because poison and disease would be rough

Really for me the truly tough thing is that a low Con reduces your death threshold - who wants to die at -8?