PFS Buffing character

[Conjoy]

So I am looking fro some help on my next character. The idea I have is that it bring some really solid buffing to the group, with personal damage a secondary concern. Probably on a small race.

Option 1:
Magical Knack, maybe Fate's Favoured
Level 1 Order of the Dragon Cavalier
Level 2 Skald
Level 3+ Nature Oracle

Skald song w Lingering Performance brings a strong, easy to maintain buff, the Cavalier can spike the buffs a couple of times per day, the Companion will be pretty decent for action economy. Nice stat synergy with no need for Dex (although this is also a down-side in that the character's Initiative will suffer). The main disadvantage is the inability to cast Oracle Spells while being affected by Raging Song.

Option 2:
Level 1 Order of the Dragon Cavalier
Level 2+ Evangelist Cleric w Animal Domain
Again, a nice Animal Companion for Action Economy, this build has the advantage of being able to take advantage of Sacred Summons for added party buffs at higher levels, and higher level spells.
I understand there is a lack of synergy with Inspired Courage not stacking with the Order of the Dragon buff, but I think I can just see the Order group buff as being a once a day Swift-Action of the Bard Song, good for those occasions when you need to get a buff off as well.
I think this build potentially works better if wielding a bow 'threatens' (even if the minimal Feat allocation into shooting means the bow is actually light on overall value) for the purposes of the Order of the Dragon, as it seems better as a Dex build to be less MAD and means better Initiative for earlier buffs.
Option 3:
Level 1 Witch with Cackle and Fortune
Level 2+ Wizard or Bard?
At early levels Fortune is just amazing for characters rolling to hit, and Fortune is much better than any +1 or even +2 to hit. From level 5-6 when Fortune has started to become less of a thing, better buffs come online for the Wizard.

[Fruian Thistlefoot]

I could do Better in House RUled game but if you want to be a buffer:

Evangelist Cleric- Bardic Performance + Cleric Buffs and Spells. 9th Level Prepared Caster. Your going to get stronger spells than any other class.

Brown Fur Transmuter- You want to buff...this guy adds bonuses to buff spells. But later game you end up with the ability to put Self buffs on party members. You have a fighter in the group? Drop Mirror Image on him and give him a +6 str with your Bull's str. Are you facing enemies with strong enchantment spells? Buff that fighter with Undead anatomy 2 and give him bonuses. This guy is a different style "Buffer" than most that gets the added benefit of being a full arcane caster.

The only issue with your proposed build is that a Skald tends to not be as effective in PFS as a Bard. The Skald class is one that needs to be built around and there are many times players just do not want to accept your Inspired Rage Song. I do like the Idea of the Caviler...and outside PFS Variant multi-class into Bard would be pretty cool thing for a Cavalier using his teamwork feats and such to "Buff and Inspire" others in combat like a general. Also works pretty well with a Paladin.

I like Build Number 2 the best of the builds you listed tho. But Pathfinder does not reward Multi-classing near as much as older editions. Unlike Build 1 it only dips 1 level into Cav and you gain a lot out of it...like heavy armor, martial weapons.

[Conjoy]

Thanks, any thoughts around the Witch +?? option?
In my head it works similar to the Cavalier/Cleric option but instead of party-wide buffs it would be more targeted.

[Ched Greyfell]

Bard. Straight bard. No archetypes, prestige classes, or any of that. You can get everything you need from the Core and APG.

[Fruian Thistlefoot]

Conjoy wrote:

Thanks, any thoughts around the Witch +?? option?

In my head it works similar to the Cavalier/Cleric option but instead of party-wide buffs it would be more targeted.

You would be better off sticking Pure witch or Go Shaman for them cleric buffs.

Would be nice with VMC but that is not currently PFS legal.

But I think you want to have an impact on 3-5 other players and doing single target buffs seems slow as a buff focused character.

[Renegadeshepherd]

I've noticed that many of your options involve multiclassing. The best supporters are at their best when they do not multiclass. Bards, evangelists, oracles, clerics in general, and more demand you stay with em and classes like witch are not very different because they all scale.

[Grandlounge]

If you want a Swift action to replace order of the dragon take battle cry. It stacks with bard inspire courage or rage song. You can get it multiple times a day. If you are not attacking you can take flagbearer for a better bonus. I often retrain battle cry to flag bearer once I can get Banner of the Ancient Kings.

If you want to still want to have the spike a couple times a day you can grab a wand of Moment of Greatness. What's nice about this is, it scales because your song scales and if you get the banner of the ancient kings that feats "scales" as well.

[BadBird]

You could have an Evangelist who uses Flagbearer and a Banner of the Ancient Kings. +5 attack and damage for everyone!

[ellequoi]

A halfling could use combat actions to Aid Another, with the trait to add an extra +2 to aid:
http://www.d20pfsrd.com/traits/race-traits/helpful

Probably best combined with a bard/skald, who could lay down buff spells and give performance buffs at the same time. Three separate, simultaneous buffs is hard to beat!

[Conjoy]

Thanks for the thoughts, will have a look at the Halfling Aid other option. I was looking at BattleCry as an option, but on a 3/4 BAB class it kicks in quite late for PFS.

I was having a look at the Skald side of things again and realised that they aren't prevented from casting non-Skald spells while under the effect of their own Chant. That opens some really nice options.

[Grandlounge]

Conjoy wrote:

Thanks for the thoughts, will have a look at the Halfling Aid other option. I was looking at BattleCry as an option, but on a 3/4 BAB class it kicks in quite late for PFS.

I was having a look at the Skald side of things again and realised that they aren't prevented from casting non-Skald spells while under the effect of their own Chant. That opens some really nice options.

The requirements for battle cry are 5 BAB or 5 preform ranks. You can get it at level 5. Which is very reasonable, I think. If you intend to me combat capable you will want arcane strike, power attack, or maybe lingering performance before level 5. If you go archery you have those feats which you need before level 5.

[Grandlounge]

Also for skalds I like to grab a Poet's Cloak, Triple Time Masterpiece, Battle Song of the People's Revolt (see below for some suggestions*), and Symphony of the Elysian Heart. These will give you multiple ways to buff your party when you can't get the most out of raging song.

If you are willing to take Pointblank Shot amazing teamwork feats open up to you to support archers. If you don't have the feats Precise Strike is great for ranged attackers but helps everyone, Outflank, Phalanx Fighter, Shake it Off, Seize the Moment, Broken Wing Gambit all have their uses.