How to play a non-martial mesmerist from level 1?

[Fromper]

So I've been looking at the occult classes, trying to come up with my next PFS character idea. The mesmerist class seems interesting, but I'm trying to figure out how it plays at low levels, before you have enough spells per day to cast all day long.

Because I already have a few low level front line PCs, I'm trying to avoid doing a martial themed mesmerist, and stick to mostly casting and other class abilities. Against things with minds, I can do hypnotic stare + Daze all day long, and pull out more potent spells as necessary. At higher levels, trade out Daze, and by then, I should have enough spells per day to cast better stuff more often.

But before picking up psychic inception at level 3, to use mind affecting stuff on monsters that are usually immune, what does a mesmerist do in combat against undead, oozes, vermin, constructs, etc? This is pretty much the same question I had when I made a bard who specializes in debuffing things with minds, but at least bards always have Inspire Courage and wands of Cure Light Wounds to fall back on.

Even after level 3, until you get enough spells per day to cast every round (probably level 7+), I'm still trying to wrap my head around how the class should play.

[MageHunter]

I figure it's pretty good to just smack someone with a sword. At least with Painful Stare.

Pretty good faces.

[Fromper]

The problem is that I won't have the stats to use a weapon effectively, or the armor to survive on the front line.

I'll probably end up carrying a light crossbow and hoping for the best, but without Precise Shot, and with a dex of only 12 or 14, what are the odds of hitting anything? At least for wizards, Acid Splash and Ray of Frost go against touch AC.

[MageHunter]

I see no reason why STR or DEX should be low. Maybe a Barbarian dip to help out? Maybe even an Oracle dip for CHA to AC and armor proficiency. I like melee Mesmerists.

6th Level Casters don't really need to max out their casting stat as much as Full Casters.

[Lady-J]

mezmerist with a dip into heaven oracle and crossblooded undead/impossible bloodline sorc will allow you to have colour spray effective till at least lvl 13

[Zabraxis]

Varisian Tattoo trait
Worship Desna
Divine Fighting Technique: Way of the Shooting Star

For a feat & trait you can fight w/ your casting stat. It's good in the lower levels but it's useful throughout your career for those times a mindless target makes its save for the round.

[captain yesterday]

Demand Offering, a first level spell, doesn't work on everyone but it helps. :-)

[Deadmanwalking]

Zabraxis wrote:

Varisian Tattoo trait

Worship Desna
Divine Fighting Technique: Way of the Shooting Star

For a feat & trait you can fight w/ your casting stat. It's good in the lower levels but it's useful throughout your career for those times a mindless target makes its save for the round.

This is probably the best advice. The flavor is specific, but potentially cool, and it makes you a pretty solid switch-hitter for the first several levels, and a decent one thereafter.

[plaidwandering]

The source shooting star is in has not been added to the AR, so it is not PFS legal. Even when DA goes up, good odds it will still not be legal.

What are you plans for race? Small gets a bonus to hit. Maybe you have enough point buy for a couple points of dex to help init and ranged, not a huge investment, just a bit.

Use magic device and you can still be the guy with a few handy wands/scrolls. You'll want your standard splash weapon allotment for swarms of course.

You still have your tricks, which can help allies avoid damage regardless of mindless.

unlike other posts, I'd totally avoid dips for a mesmerist caster, your progression is slow already. Heavens oracle certainly adds longevity to color spray, but you get a small boost to it already, and no need to be a one trick pony up to 13.

If you really feel level 1 will be too painful before you have any prestige/items at all, I think it'd be better to do a pre-2 rebuild than dip. Or just GM a bit.