I recently received a Sulis race boon for GMing at a con. At the same con I found a lovely figure of a fire winged female humanoid wielding a flaming scimitar.
This has inspired me to try to make a flame oracle of Sarenrae.
Though I've made many characters in the past, most of them have been martial (at least the successful ones). My efforts to make a satisfying flame oracle have this far been frustrated as every attempt has produced very meh results.
My intention is to build a melee (scimitar and shield) and blaster oracle who at 7th level will get her wings.
This is for PFS
BTW: I'd post my build such as it is but don't know how to make those spoiler blocks.
Morag
and/or play a pyromaniac gnome for some added oompf.
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I know one trick, but it eats feats like popcorn. My GM baby time oracle is going Dervish Dance. Sadly, that requires me to take the proficiency feat, Weapon Finesse, and then DD itself. Upside? Much more freedom when assigning stats. (It was still kind of tight, as I wanted 13 STR to qualify for Power Attack and 12 INT because I love skills.)
The Fate's Favored trait makes Divine Favor (and later on, Divine Power) a go-to buff at early levels, and it will allow you to do decent damage with a 1 hander.
Consider using a buckler on your shield arm. This way you can free action pass your sword to that hand, cast, and then free action pass it back without any penalty.
Sorry for the delay in responding.
Benaji:
For traits I'm taking heirloom weapon to get scimitar proficiency with the 2nd undecided. Looking at: Reactionary, magical lineage and fate's favored.
I'd like to stay with a single class as this is for PFS and the build isn't going to come together until 7th level as it is.
CraziFuzzy:
This character is being built around the Sulis boon and cool figure I got at PDX_AGE con so gnome is out.
Cory:
I'm getting scimitar proficiency through a trait so I get to keep the fire.
Rosc:
I'm seriously thinking about a dex build but there already a lot of demands on the few feats she gets. A Sulis starts with +2 STR which kind of points in that direction. I also like skills and the Sulis has a -2 INT modifier so I have to spend 2 build points to get her back to 10. I'll take a hard look at fate's favored/divine favor as wimpy damage with her weapon was one of the things that bothered me. The other is lack of fire based spells.
She is already carrying a buckler as a shield.
Thanks everyone for you help. I hope to have a better character because of it. hope to have her ready to go by Paizo_Con.
Morag
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Oracle is indeed more efficient, given the racial bonuses. Unless you like Flame mystery revelations, go Battle or Metal Oracle, with the Spirit Guide archetype, and get the Flame spirit.
Here some ideas:
Stats:
16+2 12 14 10-2 8 14+2
Traits:
Fate's Favored (hi Divine Favor)
Heirloom weapon
Feats:
1 Improved Initiative
3 Power Attack
5 Furious Focus
7 Combat Casting or Blind Fight or Abundant Revelation (Heat Aura)
9 Extra Revelation [Touch of Flame] (use with a conductive weapon)
11 Improved Critical or Divine Interference
Revelations:
1 Cinder Dance
3 Heat Aura
7 Wings of Fire
11 Firestorm
Stats:
16+2 12 14 10-2 8 14+2
Traits:
Fate's Favored (hi Divine Favor)
Reactionary
Feats:
1 Improved Initiative
3 Power Attack
5 Extra Revelation [War Sight]
7 Extra Revelation [Surprising Charge] or Furious Focus
9 Extra Revelation [Weapon Mastery]
11 Extra Revelation [Battlefield Clarity] or Divine Interference
Revelations:
1 Skill at Arms
11 Iron Skin
Spirit Guide stuff:
3 Cinder Dance
7 Touch of Flames (use with a conductive weapon)
or, if you feel brave enough...
Stats:
18+2 7 14 10-2 9 14+2
Traits:
Fate's Favored (hi Divine Favor)
Heirloom weapon
Feats:
1 Noble Scion [Scion of War]
3 Power Attack
5 Extra Revelation [Lore Keeper] (PFS loves knowledge checks)
7 Furious Focus
9 Improved Initiative
11 Improved Critical or Divine Interference
Revelations:
1 Sidestep Secret
11 Automatic Writing
Spirit Guide stuff:
3 Cinder Dance
7 Touch of Flames (use with a conductive weapon)
Even if not optimal, you could even go Cleric: auto-scimitar-proficiency, Theologian Archetype, Fire domain and prepare all the Fireballs you want. You would also get some Channel to get by during the day. If you like more the spellcasting, go with Arson subdomain, which has better domain spells. If you like more the melee combat, go with standard Fire domain and grab a conductive weapon to burn some foes with your scimitar.
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I don't think that heirloom trait gives you a weapon you can upgrade... Though I suppose you could pay for masterwork transformation in order for it to work?
I agree that you should go strength with your build.
My thoughts on flame... It's a blaster type. It's probably one of the few oracle types that doesn't really require a high strength!
What I would do is what Gray Warden suggested. Go ancestor or battle oracle so that you can get the weapon proficiencies you want (battle is more melee kick-ass, ancestor has more diverse out of combat options) and go spirit guide archetype to pick up the flame mystery.
Myself, I like ancestor over battle for PFS because 1) Ancestor gets all knowledge skills and 2) ancestor can get charisma instead of int to all knowledges. It also has the advantage of some lovely spells, unseen servant and spiritual weapon based on CHARISMA.
At fourth level, you pick up the flame spirits spells and hexes and you can throw flames all day long... and still get the weapon proficiency that you want from ancestor mystery. Ancestor has some other lovely revelations, too.
Hmm
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half elf Ancient lorekeeper , Battle or Lonar mystery are amazing blaster and combetant.
you get to add 1 spell of wizard , even if at highter level .
Spirit guide is both great, adding a hex and spells and costly, 3 revelations are harsh.
1) Half-elves can't be ancient lorekeepers in PFS. You have to be full elf.
2) Morag wants to use her Suli boon!
3) I agree that Lorekeeper is a neat archetype, but it trades away the bonus spells from your mystery. So to get those wizard spells, you'd lose the flame spells.
4) Yes, Spirit Guide costs 3 revelations, but she's going strength based which is far less feat intensive. She can take extra revelations feat to recover lost revelations and still get to play with those wandering hexes from Spirit Guide.
Hmm
I may have to rethink this a little based on the new information. I have to admit I've never seen the spirit guide archetype. Anyway here's what I have at the moment:
Pardon my not using the Show/hide buttons but I haven't figured out how yet.
KhAvar-dokht (Daughter of Light)
Female Sulis Oracle (Elemental) Flame Revelation
Chaotic good Outsider Diety: Sarenrae
Init +2, Move 40'
STR = 12
DEX = 15
CON = 13
INT = 10
WIS = 13
CHA = 16
Saves Fort +1, Refl +2, Will +3
Energy Resistance Acid, Cold, Electricity, Fire = +5
HP = 10
AC17 Touch 12 Flat Footed 15
CM +1 CMD 13
Scimitar +1 1D6 +1
Traits Fates Favored, Heirloom weapon (scimitar)
Special Abilities
Elemental assault 1D6 Acid/Cold/Electricity/Fire 1/Day 1Rnd/Level
Progression:
Level 1 Feat Weapon Finesse, Revelation Cinder Dance
Level 2 Bonus spell Burning Hands
Level 3 Feat Dervish Dance Revelation Gaze of Flame
Level 4 Bonus stat: DEX, Elementalist spell Elemental Touch, Bonus spell Resist energy
Level 5 Feat Extra Revelation Burning Magic
Level 6 Elementalist spell Protection from energy, Bonus spell Fireball
Level 7 Feat Improved initiative, Revelation Wings of Fire
That's as far as I've taken her so far.
I don't think that heirloom trait gives you a weapon you can upgrade... Though I suppose you could pay for masterwork transformation in order for it to work?
This is for PFS so I intend to use masterwork transformation. I am under the impression that you can keep the heirloom proficiency if you do that. If that's not the case I'll have to do a lot of rework.
I am going to have to have a long look at the ancestor mystery.
Thanks for your suggestions
Morag
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Hey Morag!
If you go strength, you won't need weapon finesse to hit with either your fire spells or your scimitar, do you? And you have a strong will save as an oracle... So I would give you the following stats:
STR 16
DEX 13
CON 14
INT 10
WIS 10
CHA 16
I think they'll work better for you hitting and doing damage with that scimitar, using medium armor, etc.
Hmm
Hey Morag!
If you go strength, you won't need weapon finesse to hit with either your fire spells or your scimitar, do you? And you have a strong will save as an oracle... So I would give you the following stats:
STR 16
DEX 13
CON 14
INT 10
WIS 10
CHA 16I think they'll work better for you hitting and doing damage with that scimitar, using medium armor, etc.
Hmm
Hmm,
The intent of that build was to go Dervish Dance at 3rd level and have DEX to Hit and Damage. The plan for armor was to start with a chain shirt and buckler and eventually graduate to a mithral breastplate and buckler. My original attempt was a STR build and had stats just about what you recommend.
I admit I'm torn between a STR or DEX build.
Right now I'm looking at the ancestor mystery you recommended and don't see how you are switch all your knowledge checks to CHA.
Also it looks like you only have your scimitar for 1 minute/level per day. Then you're unarmed and not proficient.
BTW: My history in making characters is sort of hit or miss with my best characters usually being martial. I'm trying to branch out a bit, hence the oracle.
Morag
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You are going to play a race with a Strength racial bonus
with a class that gives automatic medium armor proficiency,
sometimes heavy armor proficiency,
not Dex-dependent,
and in a role with high Strength affinity.
Why going Dex-focused?
Dervish Dance lets you deal the same damage you would deal if you just went full Strength, and without spending a feat. With the Lore mystery you could even DUMP Dexterity! Just pick a good breastplate and take your Dex as low as possible. If you go Battle Oracle you can even use a heavy armor.
Oracle is one of the few classes that doesn't need Dex that much. Plus, using a racial bonus on a low score almost nullify that bonus (i.e. if you apply your +2 on 16 Str, you get a total of 18, which corresponds to 17 points, but you only spent 10 points, which leads to a gain of 7 points; if you apply the +2 on 10 Str, you get only an equivalent +2 gain in the point buy system)
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The Ancestors Spirit Guide option has the Wisdom of the Ages Hex. For shamans this makes all knowledge skills Wisdom based. The spirit guide archetype changes any references to wisdom to charisma.
Dang, my error.
I was remembering the ancestor spirit not the ancestor mystery. Morag, my apologies... I have a spirit guide oracle who was using the ancestor spirit bonus. :(
About strength vs dex... Gray Warden's analysis is mine as well. With strength you still have those scimitars. You still do good damage and to hit, and you can carry better armor. You've got a strength bonus character. Revel in it!
Hmm
The Ancestors Spirit Guide option has the Wisdom of the Ages Hex. For shamans this makes all knowledge skills Wisdom based. The spirit guide archetype changes any references to wisdom to charisma.Dang, my error.
I was remembering the ancestor spirit not the ancestor mystery. Morag, my apologies... I have a spirit guide oracle who was using the ancestor spirit bonus. :(
About strength vs dex... Gray Warden's analysis is mine as well. With strength you still have those scimitars. You still do good damage and to hit, and you can carry better armor. You've got a strength bonus character. Revel in it!
Hmm
You guys convinced me that the strength build is the way to go. I dropped weapon finesse and Dervish dance and picked up power attack and furious focus.
Also dropped DEX & WIS to 10 and bumped STR to 17 (18 at level 4). I stayed Flame mystery for the time being.Compared to andreww's 7th level build mine is has a slightly lower AC I am staying with light armor (mithral breatstplate and buckler vs. full plate). That keeps me at 40 ft of movement. I have wings of fire at 7th level and I'm not sure how heavy armor would affect that..
He has a slightly better to hit with his adamantine scimitar vs. my mithral one(11 vs 12) due to his taking weapon focus to me taking furious focus. Our damage output looks the same and I have 1 better to hit w/ power attack.
our revelations and spells are also a bit different.
I like my selection of revelations (cinder dance, gaze of flames, burning magic and wings of fire) but he does seem to have a slightly larger and better spell list.
She also seem to have a bit broader selection of skills at her disposal. Its been hammered into me at our local PFS games that everyone needs to have some skills.
I also figured out that the elementalist archetype wasn't getting me anything as (at least according to Herolab) you only get 1 of the bonus spells when both offer bonus spells at the same level. so I dropped that.
Anyway, I've got a lot of prep work to do to get ready for Paizo_Con so she's done for now. I've got 3 adventures to decide if I need any other changes.
Thanks to you all! I believe I have a much better character now than I would have had without straying from the concept.
Morag