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So I had asked a few questions regarding Familiars recently in the Rules and Questions board. Most of the main questions I've had have been answered and I feel it's time to move onto the next step of my character development. Please keep in mind that this is not meant to be a min-max board, but I don't want to throw a bunch of random stuff together, call it beautiful but end up being poopie. So I was hoping for some help making the build Viable and what direction I should take it...
TL-DR: I want to make a Combat Focused Familiar and asking for tips and advice for its build, my build, and our combo build.
So far I've not had much... mainly I've been thinking of going Human and grabbing the Eye for Talent feat. Kirara isn't going to be combat ready until level three, so I'm not really stuck for feats until 3rd or 4th level, and by then I'll be getting 1 feat every level (Eldritch Fighter getting one every even level, while I'm getting one every odd level for progression.)
Minus the Mandatory Evolved Familiar and Spirit's Gift Feats for the Familiar, I'm stuck with 4 anything feats and 5 Combat Bonus feats.
Regarding the Evolved Familiar feat, should I pick something to improve the damage from the Bite attack? Or should I grab 2 claw attacks?
Regarding the character itself, what feats should I be focusing on? I was thinking combat teamwork feats, and maybe mounted combat? Kind of liek Kilala from Inuyasha?
Any tips for the builds or focuses that Eldrich Guardians go?
As a human you'll find more use for the fox as a flanking buddy; I suggest Escape Route, Outflank, Wild Flanking, then maybe Dirty Fighting as a feat. The latter may encourage you to specialise in a combat maneuver. To ride it you'll be better as a halfling in which case you may want the Risky Striker feat.
If you take a level of Bloodrager and combine the Bloodrider archetype and take the Bloodline Familiar (Abyssal) ability, your mount will have a faster movement speed and a bump up in natural attack dice for ALL their natural attacks, on top of you gaining the usual benefits of Rage (or Controlled Rage, if you throw Urban Bloodrager into the mix). Pretty solid for a one level dip.
Also, if you're going with a Mauler familiar for a mount, don't forget to take Mauler's Endurance to give it +2 HP per hit die.
Is this a home game? If so, consider asking your DM if you can be a small Aasimar, especially of a variant bloodline. A small Aasimar (technically allowed in the description of the race) could potentially get a bonus to Strength and Charisma (Angelkin) and access to the Celestial Servant feat (granting your already buffed up familiar the Celestial template). At this point your familiar is basically an animal companion.
For Evolved Familiar, absolutely take Pounce if your familiar doesn't have it automatically. Otherwise, bumping up existing natural attacks or adding something more to its pounce routine is solid. There's a few Improved Familiars that are pretty good choices for mounts, too. I'm personally a fan of the Dweomercat Cub helping you absolutely ruin a spellcaster's day.
For combat feats, just grab the usual core Power Attack, Mounted Combat, Ride-by Attack, and Spirited Charge. You can also get some fun stuff like Cut From The Air/Smash From The Air/Spellcut for amusing defenses against archers and spellcasters.
Your Will saves are a bit weak, so getting the AWT for Armed Bravery is usually a decent idea, too.
To ride or not to ride, that is the question. If you're going to ride the familiar then your human bonus feat would lose much of its value since you'd need Undersized Mount. I guess the extra skill point might still be nice since Fighters aren't the best at skills.
Anyhow, Mounted Combat is pretty solid and especially helps you prevent the mount from getting hit by touch attacks. I'd also consider Bodyguard since the familiar would get it too and Benevolent armor could eventually make the AC boost really good. I had a PC with Mounted Combat who rode an eidolon with Bodyguard, and we were often called "unhittable" (that wasn't really true, but adding a bonus to stop a hit is a little more impressive than just being missed)
If you don't want to Ride then you might want to flank. Outflank becomes an obvious feat choice in that case. Greater Trip (perhaps along with Tandem Trip) can be extremely effective against the right foes, and a +4 flanking bonus would help you hit the CMD. I'm also a big fan of Vicious Stomp + Enforcer + Hurtful. Since you'd essentially be doubling up on this stuff the number of attacks generated could be impressive. This wouldn't be as good for the mounted build since you wouldn't have the flanking bonus.
I think Eldritch Guardian is also compatible with Mutation Warrior, and that has some very nice things to offer.
@Kiba - That would be interesting, but the classes you listed don't have access to Familiars? How would I gain Familiar Levels?
@Avr - Its why I put a question mark in the title, I'm still really flexible on the specific builds I'm going for. Right now its just theory crafting an idea, but I am looking to find a PFS Group sometime, or even just a freelance group if I am lucky.
@DethBySquirl - I forgot to include the Mauler Feat to give them extra health, my bad. Where does the Blood Rager get their familiar from? That might be something I would like to look into, it looks solid. I also noticed Urban and Rider stack, so I assume thats why you suggested it.
I don't think a Fox gets Pounce sadly, so I'm guessing that means I'll be focusing on a single Bite attack? Whats better, 1d8 + 1.5xStr? Or 1d8+STR and two 1d4+STR? Is there any way to strengthen a Familiars attacks?
@
Devilkiller - that sounds really fun, I'll look more into that. xD
@ Scott - sadly, there is no real focus focus right now. I'm just trying to make something fun to play and interesting to build. I'll look more into Mountain Combat and Familiar Combat, but there aren't any good guides on Combat focused Familiars.
I'll build something tonight and post it. Does anyone have an online google doc template or something I can use?
@DethBySquirl - I forgot to include the Mauler Feat to give them extra health, my bad. Where does the Blood Rager get their familiar from? That might be something I would like to look into, it looks solid. I also noticed Urban and Rider stack, so I assume thats why you suggested it.I don't think a Fox gets Pounce sadly, so I'm guessing that means I'll be focusing on a single Bite attack? Whats better, 1d8 + 1.5xStr? Or 1d8+STR and two 1d4+STR? Is there any way to strengthen a Familiars attacks?
There's an option in the Familiar Folio to get a "Bloodline Familiar", which replaces the first level bloodline power and delays bloodline spells for bloodline classes (like Sorcerer and Bloodrager) in exchange for a familiar with some unique abilities (which presumably stacks with other classes that grant a familiar for effective wizard level). In this case, the Abyssal bloodline bumps up natural attack dice.
Since a fox doesn't get Pounce, the combination of the Charger size change, the Abyssal attack bump, and Evolved Familiar (Bite) would bring your bite attack to 2d6, which is pretty decent for a single attack. You could eventually get a Permanency'd Greater Magic Fang on that bite attack to boost it, too, as well as maybe some UMD Strong Jaw scrolls.
You could also maybe talk your DM into letting you get a customized version of the various magic Horseshoe items that more traditional mounts can use. Horshoes of Speed, for instance, would combine with the fox base speed and the Bloodrager fast movement for an 80 foot move speed.
I'm always tempted to go with an unarmed combat style with Eldritch Guardian. Then your familiar can use unarmed strikes too and almost all of your fighter feats transfer.
I'm always tempted to go with an unarmed combat style with Eldritch Guardian. Then your familiar can use unarmed strikes too and almost all of your fighter feats transfer.
Picking a race that has its own natural weapons works well for this. Especially since fighters can eventually take Focused Weapon and boost the damage dice of their claws or whatever. Feral Combat Training is also potentially useful here.
Since you're thinking about a fox familiar, Kitsune isn't a terrible race choice here. It fits thematically, and stuff like Fox Shape could be amusing in tandem with a fox familiar.
Too bad Improved Natural Attack isn't technically a Combat feat, so it wouldn't transfer to your familiar.
Re strengthening the multiple attacks - that's what risky striker or wild flanking (& power attack) are about. Three attacks get more benefit from those feats than just one.
Another idea - if you go with a flanking fox rather than one you ride half orcs get some nice feats (they're also heavy enough to squash a medium sized fox). Horde charge, sympathetic rage (w/bloodrager dip), amplified rage all stand out.
Don't know if I mentioned this, but PFS if possible.
Hm.... Flank build wouldn't require as many "me only" feats as the other build idea's I've had would require. Mount Familiar requiring Undersized Mount and Mounted Combat, and a few other combat mount feats that the Familiar wouldn't benefit from...
Food for thought, I could take a Human and give them the Natural multi attack combat feat. Additionally, I could go eye for talent to increase the fox's strength yet again. It looks like this build gets its big power spikes at level 3 and each time it gains a new feat onward. This is a very feat heavy focus for the game lol.
Keep in mind that this is build focus for the Natural Attack Bloodrager Familiar Booster.
When reaching level 4 I can hulk out when raging. Blades from Above and Below then give me flanking with my fox pet while large. I think up until level 8 I'll be struggling but after level 8 I'll be working wonders with my foxy pet. 1d6 + 2d8 + 3d6 + 3.5xStr for myself, along with 1d8 + 2d6 + 3d6 + 3.5xStr for my Familiar as long as I'm raging.
Alternatively, I need to find a way to gain Natural Attacks (prefered Bite/Claws) in humanoid form while fighting with my fox pet. I suppose I could go transform into a fox, but would that reduce my size and my strength/dice damage? Any advice for natural attacks would be a great benefit.
Okay, so here is what I have so far based on the suggestions given:
*-----=====-----*
Name: Onna (Placeholder)
Race: Half-Orc (Sacred Tattoo / Weapon Familiarity / Intimidating)
Class: Hit Dice (12) [11d10 + d6 + 36]
- Fighter [Eldritch Guardian] (2)
- Witch [Normal] (1)
- Bloodrage [Urban Bloodrager/Primalist/Familiar] (9)
Reflex: 7 || Fort: 11 || Will: 7 || BAB: +11/+6/+1
20 Point Buy (+2 Str Human, +1 Str, Con, Int for Levels).
STR 18 [+4], DEX 12 [+1], CON 16 [+3]
INT 14 [+2], WIS 8 [-1], CHA 13 [+1]
Traits:
- Beast Bonded (+2 Handle Animal, +1 Ride)
- Fate's Favored (+1 Bonus to Luck boosts)
Abilities:
- Bloodline (Modified) (Primalist Bloodrager)
- Bloodline Familiars (Familiars)
- Primalist Options (Primalist)
- Controlled Bloodrage (Urban Bloodrager)
- Fast Movement (Ex) (Bloodrager)
- Uncanny Dodge (Ex) (Bloodrager)
- Restrained Magic (Su) (Bloodrager)
- Blood Casting (Su) (Bloodrager)
- Eschew Materials (Bloodrager)
- Improved Uncanny Dodge (Ex) (Bloodrager)
- Adopted Magic (Urban Bloodrager)
- Familiar (Ex) (Eldritch Guardian)
- Share Training (Ex) (Eldritch Guardian)
- Steel Will (Ex) (Eldritch Guardian)
- Hex (Witch)
- Patron Familiar (Witch: Pending)
- Patron Spells
Bloodline Powers
- May increase size while Raging
Rage Powers:
- Animal Fury (Bite 1d4 + STR).
- Abyssal Blood, Lesser (Claws x2 1d6 + STR).
Hexes:
- Healing (Su)
Feats:
- Eschew Materials (Bloodrager Bonus)
- Spirit's Gift
- Evolved Familiar
- Maulers Toughness
- Blades Above And Below (Combat, Teamwork)
- Snapping Flank (Combat, Teamwork)
- Coordinated Charge (Combat, Teamwork)
- Toughness (Bloodline)
- Power Attack (Combat) (Bloodline)
*-----=====-----*
Name: Anno (Placeholder)
Race: Fox Familiar
Health: 1/2 of Masters, +2 per Hit Dice
Stats (Base) Tiny
STR 13 [+1], DEX 15 [+2], CON 13 [+1]
INT 6 [-2], WIS 12 [+1], CHA 6 [-2]
Stats (Transformed) Medium
STR 20 [+4], DEX 13 [+1], CON 13 [+3]
INT 6 [-2], WIS 12 [+1], CHA 6 [-2]
Natural Armor: +6
Abilities:
- Supernatural Speed (Su)
- Grotesque Appendages (Ex)
- Bond Forged in Blood (Su)
- Increased Strength (Ex)
- Battle Form (Su)
- Damage Reduction 5/Magic (Su)
- Damage Reduction 5/Adamantium (Feat)
- 1 Point Evolution: Claws (Feat)
Attacks
- Bite (1d8 + STR)
- x2 Claws (1d6 + STR)
Rage Powers:
- Animal Fury (Bite 1d4 + STR).
- Abyssal Blood, Lesser (Claws x2 1d6 + STR).
Feats:
- Blades Above And Below (Combat, Teamwork)
- Snapping Flank (Combat, Teamwork)
- Coordinated Charge (Combat, Teamwork)
- Power Attack (Combat) (Bloodline)
Bump? o.o
If you’re able to share your Rage Powers and therefore Claws with the Fox I’d consider taking the Trip evolution instead of the Claws evolution. I’m guessing you have some way to do this since you have the Rage Powers listed under the Fox.
Blades Above and Below is pretty cool though Huge foes will be a drag. Coordinated Charge would be great if you had Pounce. Without it I might prefer Outflank, especially since the immediate action for CC could interfere with the Swift action for Snapping Flank.
Putting the Menacing enchantment on the Fox's amulet of mighty fists would bump your flanking bonus by +2 (+1 to hit and -1 damage for the Fox, +2 to hit for the master). Combined with Outflank that would be a really big bonus (especially nice if you decide to try the Trip angle)
Wait... I did what? *reada over the build.*
Darn it, I cant believe I made that mistake... Sorry that was my fault. Cant share rage powers atm.
I was thinking more into this, and maybe it would be better to go 10 levels fighter and dip a single level into Rager ans Witch for their Familiar bonuses?
Rager gives a lot, but this flank build is so feat heavy, I think the pure dighter gives me better options. I would get 10 feats instead of 8 and would let me be more flexible for my combat choices. And I would have enough Int to give me a decent score.
Fighter could work well for feats though it could be tough to pull off Blades Above and Below. I mean, a Small master with a Medium familiar could use it on Small and Medium foes, but as you level up Large ones would become more common (and Huge were already a problem). If you're willing to flank "for real" I guess that wouldn't be an issue though you'd want to be sure you're mobile enough to get into position consistently.
Actually, if I went Eldritch Guardian 10, Bloodrager 1 and Beast-Bonded 1, I would have more feats to work with and I wouldn't have to take the cheap version for the flank build. The only downside is I wouldn't have bite to make sure for a swift action flanking bite (anyone know how to gain a bite attack?). I'm thinking of going Human, for an extra feat and skill point (fighters lack of Skillpoints and such).
Human Bonus - Combat Expertise
Level 1 - Power Attack
Level 3 - Maulers Toughness
Bonus 4 - Gang Up
Level 5 - Evolved Familiar
Bonus 6 - Precise Strike
Level 7 - Spirit's Gift
Bonus 8 - Outflank
Level 9 - Cleave
Bonus 10 - Snapping Flank
Level 11 - ???
Honestly going to bed now, so I can't think. Any ideas or changes I should make for my feats? Anyone know how to get the Skinwalker template for PFS? If its even legal right now?
Goodnight everyone!
Sorry, I was a bit drousy last night. Was moreso asking if Skinwalkers had a boon released or not. I really want to make an Ulfen Skinwalker who is confused why everyone hates him. Hahaha
Any idea where they are given out or how to earn one then?
If not, then any advice for the feats for the fighter build?
Who do you plan to Gang Up with? In my limited experience Gang Up works great if you're mounted since you and the mount can both threaten from the same square. Then you just need one other ally to get your bonus (possibly somebody with a reach weapon standing safely behind you)