Advice for Bluff / Diplomat Life Oracle - Mesmirist?

[Battlegamer]

Hi everyone,

Have been enjoying playing a NG Life Oracle of Pharasma in a home campaign.

The build has a CHA of 22 right now - with as many buffs for Bluff and Diplomacy as I can manage.

I'm finding that for myself, it's trying to tell the NPCs that "no, really, there's a dragon right over there!" that I enjoy.

So, as I look at the progression of the Life Oracle - other than dropping another point into those two skills every level, I'm not seeing much which is very exciting coming up.

I should mention that I also do enjoy Channeling. It just "feels" like a cool mechanic. And, the Oracle has most of her feats in that area: Fateful Channel; Quick Channel; Selective Channel.... And, she has the magic item which gives two extra dice (and paid the annoying amount of extra gold to merge it with my CHA magical item).

So, wondering about dipping into one or two other classes to try to enhance the flavor of things.

And, of all of the classes and archetypes I've read - Mesmirist is about the only thing I've seen so far which is CHA based - but would also let me wear my armor.

Curious if anyone has any advice or feedback on the idea of an Life Oracle / Mesmirist ??

Many thanks :)

[Markov Spiked Chain]

I've have had a lot of fun with both classes, and I could see the mixing nicely.

I would seriously consider a 1 level Cleric dip as an option too, since presumably you're not slouch in Wisdom either? I went Separatist Cleric for Luck(Fate) and Knowledge(Memory) domains. That's 9 more 3d6 channels, which are great throw-away channels to hand out Fateful Channel before a skill check, or burn on Quick Channel when healing isn't a big deal. And 2+Wis rounds of full re-rolls and 3+Wis Knowledge skill re-rolls with a bonus. It works really well.

Other general things to consider:
- Look at Authoritative Vestments. I've been wearing them forever in PFS and haven't had the initiative rolls align to use them, but with a little group discussion, they're great for a channeling Diplomat
- Spam virtue on yourself while Life Link is up out of combat to take the edge off healing.
- If you're 9th level, Imbue Hex Life Link into your familiar to Fast Heal your group to full. Familiar Life Links you. You Life Link everyone else and funnel everything through Fast Healing (and Virtue as above.)

To actually answer your question:
Mesmerist looks like a fine dip for a Fateful Channel Shaman. Stare doesn't stack with Evil Eye, so you probably want to swap that if you've got it (Misfortune is great and thematic though.) You're effectively gaining +2DC on most hexes, so you're not losing as badly on the dip.

Shadow Splinter is a Cha based (reduce a hit by 9, and a chance to deal damage to an enemy) but I'd probably still take Mesmeric Mirror. Shadow splinter requires attacking the right ally, having another enemy in range, probably stops less damage after about 7th level, and has an effectively fixed DC for the damage that will get less and less relevant.

You might take Spirit Walker if you're only going one level, to give you more undead fighting tools, although the 3+ level powers aren't very Pharasman.

[Battlegamer]

Wow - super big thank you for the Cleric suggestion.

I had it in my head that Cleric channeling would be 1d6. Had totally lost track of:
- The phylactery would add 2 dice to the Cleric channels as well
- And, that Clerics get CHA+3 instead of the Oracle's CHA+1 channels.

Following up on your suggestion I read through all of the Cleric archetypes and stumbled across the "Cardinal". That fits pretty nicely for my Oracle -- lots of skill levels -- all of which help my role playing fun -- let's me select the Memory Domain -- which I think is cool anyway -- and that ton of channels....

Thinking that I'll go with your idea first -- then maybe some more Oracle -- and come back to the Mesmerist idea later :)

Thanks again!

[Markov Spiked Chain]

Heh, I read this entire thing as Shaman instead of Oracle. Everything should mostly work though except the Imbue Hex shenanigans. If I'd noticed Oracle, I would have suggested Spirit Guide or Dual-Cursed if you can pick up archetypes.

I took Memory domain mostly as an afterthought since I really wanted Fate and it fit the re-roll theme okay. I've been pleasantly surprised at how useful it's been. All Knowledge skill as class skills is nice too.

The one piece of advice I'd add if you're going Cleric: spend your small channels aggressively like water to get Fateful Channel up as much as possible. Dungeon entrance? Throw out a cheap channel to cover Perception/Disable Device/Trap saves/Attacks if an ambush breaks out. Starting a social encounter? Throw one out to cover initial Bluff/SM rolls. Part way through a minute of Diplomacy? Throw out a channel for double-rolls. Throw one in your Vestment for a swift-action Diplomacy check. You can even hold off spot-healing after fights on the assumption that you'll throw one out for buffs at the next spot with a whiff of danger. You have so many small channels, and Fateful Channel is so good. I'd try for a few session to run yourself out of the small channels by using them willy nilly and get a sense of just how free you can/should be with them. You still have all of your current "big" channels that you can conserve.

[Ectar]

If you're in to buffing, the bless equipment line of feats can be very nice.

For the low low price of 2 channels, you can grant an ally's weapon bane v.s. whatever you happen to be fighting that combat for as many rounds as you have channeling dice.
The improved version drops the cost by 1 channeling, and you can apply two weapon (or armor) properties with a single action.
Greater lets you grab two weapons at the same time and buff them.

They're good stuff.