I have a Cleric L3 I'd like to get to Divine Scion for Weapon Specialization. Unfortunately, the skill requirement buy-in sucks for a 11 int non-human. What's the best way to get the required skill points? I was thinking Bard, but then I'm stuck at +2 BAB until level 6, which sucks when you're trying to improve weapon damage.
This is why you plan your character in PF before the game, at least to some extent.
If you really want to do this 2 levels of slayer gets you the required skill points (just; if you have any skill points in other skills now you'll need to retrain them) and adds to BAB both levels. You might however find it more useful to write off the prestige class until higher level and find other ways of boosting your damage. What do you have so far?
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Yeah, planning ahead is what I'm doing. Game is starting at level 3. I'm the primary party healer, so I'm not up for sacrificing my channels. But for thematic reason I switched from a warpriest Sacred Fist who had two attacks per round to a one attack scimitar wielder cleric (was able to get with deity weapon rule in cleric). Attack bonus is a slender +4 (we were required by the GM to base our stats on ourselves and my strength is...not great; currently character is 12, going up to 13 at level 4 to get power attack).
So right now I'm standing at a single +4 with a lowly 1d6 + 1 (+2 if I can use my Dirty Fighter trait). I don't have to be the big damage in the party, healing is my thing. But I'd prefer better than 1d6 + 1, even if I do critical 18-20.
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Not a great start, no. If you get the Channelling Force feat you can spend a swift action and a channel use to get a damage bonus equal to your number of dice of channelling for the next 3 attacks. Clerics do have force spells on their list, e.g. Spiritual weapon, so they qualify for the feat. The channel use is a definite cost but it's easier for you to get than weapon spec. and adds more damage considering you'd be getting WS at 7th level or later.
Martial Focus is something you might get later, mainly as a prereq for better feats but it does add 1 damage.
If you don't already have the Fate's Favored trait it may be worth picking up the Additional Traits feat to get it. Some common cleric buffs like Divine Favor benefit from it.
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Channeling Force is a great find! I've never used it. Essentially I could get a bonus as good (better later) as weapon specialization without cross-classing for the extra skill points which don't make a lot of sense for the character's background anyway. Yeah it only works for a few attacks per expenditure, but it makes better use of the resources I already have.
I'll consider Martial Focus for later.
Thanks!
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If all you want is Weapon Specialisation maybe consider taking the Crusader Archetype
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Clerics get 2 skill points per level even with 11 int. Take the +1 skill point favored class bonus. That's three skill points per level... which is what you need. If you want to spend points on some OTHER skills as well then get a +2 int item which grants one of the skills you are looking for.
Thanks for the suggestions. I think I'm abandoning Divine Scion, so the skills I'm no longer worried about. Crusader is a possibility, I'll have to think on it. Also swapped out my +1 armor (and some other gear) for a +1 scimitar, so that adds another +1 damage.