Developer
|
Forward:
So my first PFS character is getting ready for his last arc. I got some great advice [link=http://paizo.com/threads/rzs2q53g?Critique-my-MonkNinja-Detective-Build#4]here[/link] four years ago, but times have changed (as has his build, thanks to some errata-based rebuilds from Paizo and spending a few thousand gold and a dozen or so Prestige). Currently he's an Unchained Rogue Scout Rake 8/Snakestrike Brawler 2/Pathfinder Field Agent 1...but I'm thinking of using my Gencon Rebuild Boon as I prepare myself for Eyes of the Ten.
Play Report
He's been an absolute blast to play. He's a very arrogant noble with your standard tragic backstory involving his Varisian village and a convoluted plot by the Red Mantis. He has recently been 'outed' as a Rakshasa Assassin by a bored Bronze Dragon with a very active imagination, which has lead me to want to keep the Sense Motive Skill Unlock despite the potential power of the Intimidate Unlock on the character. He was definitely strongest in the 5-6 Subtier, able to one-shot most anything he ran into with his +8d6+8 sneak attacks on a charge. That's kind of petered out and I don't really expect him to be the scariest striker at the table anymore, but he makes up for it as a relatively competent skill monkey who can actually off-tank surprisingly well if he gets in a sneak attack the first round, and I'm hoping Vulpine Pounce at level 13 will make him a force to be recokoned with.
Concerns
My relatively low to-hit kind of scares me. I'm not sure what talent I should get at Rose Warden 3 (Bleeding Attack?), and I'm thinking maybe Fox Form is worth investing more in (+4 to hit, +10 ft movement). In fact, it might be worthwhile enough to completely drop Shatter Defenses/Dazzling Display, which would let me invest in Fox Form plus another combat feat to help my pathetic attack roll and get Trapfinding (No Rake Archetype).
I can always make people flat-footed with the two Scout abilities, as my full-round isn't anything to write home about. But it is nice to use the Rake Archetype to intentionally lower my sneak attacks if I actually want to knock someone out and not kill them (plus getting a +70 intimidate is kind of funny). I'm not a fan of how unreliable the Brute archetype is with my otherwise low intimidate bonus, and I prefer the flavor behind Rake.
I've also considered picking up the Headband of the Ninjitsu, but its a very expensive item and I do like the slot for Shifter's Headband +2 so I can actually qualify for Fox Form and its Cha 13 prerequisite.
I really do enjoy the Snake Style + Sap Master + Offensive Defense route. Being able to dish out a dozen sneak attack dice to get a dozen AC and then counter-attack every time someone misses me is literally thrilling. Step-Up lets me fall prone and then stand as a free action that provokes, letting me provoke additional attacks of opportunities.
Crunch:
Kircheis von Lohengram
Kitsune:
Unchained Rogue (Scout/Rake) 8/Brawler (Snakebite Striker) 1/Rose Warden 2
Ability Scores:
Str 6 / Dex 24 / Con 14 / Int 16 / Wis 10 / Cha 11
HP: 102
Initiative: +9 (Sense Motive Skill Unlock; +2 Urban)
Skill Points: 120
Sense Motive: +22
Intimidate: +14
Armor Class: 27 (Immediate Action: 1d20+22) (+12 Dodge when Sneak Attack)
Saves: Fort: +10 / Reflex +19 / Will +9
(+2 vs. Charm/Compulsion/Fear, +5 vs. Enchantment, Clear Spindle Ioun Stone)
Unarmed Strike: +16 (1d6+7+2d6 Holy) (+1 Weapon Twice per Round) (Fortuitous Twice per Round)
Nonlethal Sneak Attack: +12d6+12
Feats: Improved Unarmed Strike, Sap Adept, Weapon Finesse, Weapon Focus (Unarmed Strike), Iron Will, Combat Reflexes, Snake Sidewinder, Snake Fang, Sunder Defenses, Dazzling Display
Traits: Narrows Survivor, Carefully Hidden (Adopted)
Special Abilities:
Sneak Attack +4d6 (Brawler/Rose Warden/Rogue), Brawler's Cunning, Martial Training, Anonymity, Liberated Mind, Street Sentinel, Voice of the Masses, Offensive Defense (Rose Warden), Evasion, Debilitating Injury, Finesse Weapon (Unarmed Strike), Emboldening Strike (Favored Class), Step-Up, Rogue's Edge (Sense Motive)
Items: (104,630 GP, 55 Prestige) Celestial Armor, Belt of Dexterity +4, Mask of the Mantis, Cloak of Resistance +3, Clear Spindle Ioun Stone, Seducer's Bane Bracelet, Featherstep Slippers, Ring of Seven Lovely Colors (No Use in Combat), Amulet of Mighty Fists (Holy), Bodywraps of Mighty Strikes (+1 Fortuitous), Potion of Remove Blindness/Deafness, 5000 GP Diamond Dust, Potion of Quick-Change (3), Lesser Restoration Potion, Cure Light Wounds Wand, Mundane Gear
Advancement:
12 – Rose Warden 3 (Talent???)
13 – Brawler 2 (Two Weapon Fighting, Feat: Swift Changer, Combat Feat: Vulpine Pounce)
14 – Rose Warden 4
15 – Rose Warden 5 (Fox Form, Advanced Talent?)
|
Developer
|
I think it's up on d20srd now.
I'm still on the fence about dazzling display. I'd have to redo my stats to get 13 cha, but I feel as though the improved damage and to-hit in fox form makes it a more reliable choice than Dazzling Display/Sunder Defenses. After all, I already make people flat-footed by charging or moving 10 feet and it'd open my archetype up for counterfeiter mage to use wands of quick-change. I can even spend the extra feat on something else to help my to-hit...