Possible Spoilers for Kingmaker book 5...
My character just died at the hands of the bizzare Gardener ghost while my group was searching for Lord Pitax's secret weapon, and I'm looking for advice on what my next character should be.
This will be my fourth character for this AP. My first was a Human Bloodrager/Paladin who wound up becoming King and retiring from adventuring. My second was a Gnome Kineticist who touched the Twice-Born Barbarian's sword and wound up under its influence, which led to him charging head on against two Derghodaemons. My third was a Half-orc Medium who ironically was killed by the first ghost we ever encountered.
A big limitation I have right now is our group's lack of a front-line combatant. We have an archer Slayer, a support Bard, and a Madness Cleric (great AC, so he CAN be up front, but outside his aura and a few spells, he doesn't do much offensively, and then next to nothing in melee). So, we need something that can get in the enemy's face and distract him from the rain of arrows and Bardic songs coming from farther down the field. The problem is, I'm really not too keen on making another front-liner. I've been wanting to make a caster for a while, now, or else something that just has more tricks than Power Attack and Reach. And, no, I've never been all that enthusiastic about Eidolons.
So my question is this: what are some fun, less-than-conventional builds that will fit this criteria for me?
How do you feel about summoners who aren't of the summoner class? Conjugation wizards and occultist arcaniststs.
I could get behind something like that, even the Master Summoner archetype, where the Eidolon is better suited for support than straight fighting.
Druid is another option: animal companion, level 9 spells, can summon creatures, good battlefield control...
Aren't abbysal bloodragers supposed to be incredibly tanky hard to kill things?
Anyway for filling out a frontline with summons I feel like a Druid or a summoner would both be reasonably powerful, but summoners tend to put people's noses out of joint so I'd go Druid. You wildshaped + a pet tiger + augmented summons will probably fill outline a frontline.
If going Druid, go with the saurian archetype so you can standard action summon dinosaurs.
I have a funish build for a frontliner that you might enjoy.
Scaled Fist Monk 1/Sorcerer (Dragon Blooded) 1/Paladin 2/Bloodrager (Dragon Blooded) 1/Dragon Disciple 4
2: Claws, +2 spells known (Ki Arrow and the Shield)
3: Smite Evil, Detect Evil, Aura of Good, Free Feat
4: Lay on Hands, Divine Grace, +1 Stat
5: Rage, Claws, Fast movement
6: +1 AC, Bloodline
7: +1 Sorcerer Casting Level, +2 Strength, Free Feat
8: +1 Sorcerer Casting Level, Breath Weapon, +1 Stat, Mage Armor, Dragon Resistances, +1 Spell Known (Level 1)
9: +1 Sorcerer Casting Level, +1 AC, +2 Strength, +1 Spell Known (Level 2), Free Feat
The basic idea is to make a dip-tastic character who makes excellent use of Charisma and eventually makes it to Dragon Disciple. There are no feats required for the build, so you can adapt it to whatever style of play you want to try. I like Ascetic style, but that is just me. It is a lot more fun than a regular martial character, and is a fun mystic take on things.
Aren't abbysal bloodragers supposed to be incredibly tanky hard to kill things?
No it is the Aberrant, Arcane, and destined bloodlines that make the best tanks. Abyssal makes for good Natural attackers due to Claws, enlarge, and STR bonuses.
Aberrant gets the Tankiness from Tumor Familiar and lots of Immunities and Layered defenses that come with the class. It works very well with a Scimitar or other high critical weapon as Staggering Strike is a very good bonus. If you can add in Primalist you can trade your 8th Level power off for Internal Fortitude AND a rage power...basically Losing Nothing (Keeping the Immunities) and gaining a FREE rage power. I always Trade off Level 12 Powers for Come and Get me and What ever else I feel like will be good for the campaign I am in. You automatically get Immunity to critical at 20th level so trading off the 50% now shouldn't be a big deal. (If your DM allows Robes of Arcane Heritage grab them at 16th level and have it 4 levels earlier.) You can also add any other archetype that catchs your fancy. I am a big fan of Spell Eater archetype because I like the Fast healing because a Bloodrager can use spells/scrolls that give DR. All around the class has become my favorite Melee type bypassing the magus who was my favorite.
Really It seems he is in a position where he has to make a frontliner whom can stand on his own and take/give a beating. Luckily he has lots of choices to pick from. I Recommend a class with access to magical effects like fly, AC boosts, Layer defense options. UMD can go a long way with low level scrolls late game. As can the new Item Mastery Feats.
I think I was confusing aberrant and abyssal
Abyssal is a fantastic reach fighter though, my favorite bloodline as well.
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Let me jump one the druid bandwagon. Two bodies are going to make your bard more useful. You can fill a lot of gaps with a druid battle field control and damage are the two you seem to need most.
Consider this:
Skinwalker
Stats
S 15+2, D 12, C 14, I 10-2, W 16+2, Cha 7
Armored Hulk UnBarbarian 1 Menhir Savant X.
Basic equipment:
Furious amulet of mighty fists, Stone plate (eventually wild or barding for your favourite form), head band for wisdom, belt for strength, ioun stone for bonus to attacks, extend metamagic rod.
Feats:
You will need extra rage, natural spell.
There are lots of other version of this build you could take any animal totem and as a skinwalker be part totem animal and hunt as a pack. Or you can take the feather domain and boon companion and be the most perceptive person in the game, which is always helpful. Switching Menhir for Goliath makes you more melee capable and a monster with a reach weapon. It will also save you on armour.
Thanks for the suggestions so far, I will definitely look into a Druid. I'm also looking at a Spiritualist or Conj Wizard/Arcanist.
Any other suggestions? Thoughts on the Spiritualist?
@Grandlounge: Core Races only, so no Skinwalker, sorry!
Spiritualist with an anger phantom a sythe, outflank on both and furious focus on both is quite a considerable amount of damage and spiritualists can provide some fun buffs.
You can make them a bit more caster focused if you wish though have a nice range of potential, I don't think they're strictly as powerful as the other options mentioned though.
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Spiritualist with an anger phantom a sythe, outflank on both and furious focus on both is quite a considerable amount of damage and spiritualists can provide some fun buffs.
You can make them a bit more caster focused if you wish though have a nice range of potential, I don't think they're strictly as powerful as the other options mentioned though.
Half orc faction with butterfly sting would work really nicely for this build.
I'm still gonna Throw out a aberrant Build that would get you through the campaign.
Half Orc with Shaman's Apprentice and Sacred Tattoo Alternative Traits.
Class: Primalist Spelleater Aberrant Bloodrager
Stats: Str: 17, Dex: 14, Con: 15, Int: 8, Wis: 10, Cha 13
Traits:
Fate's Favored
Transmuter- Cat's Grace
Feats:
Orc: Endurance
1 HD: Diehard
3 HD: Fast Healer
5 HD: Tumor Familiar Hedgehog with Protector Archetype
6 HD (Bloodline): Combat Reflexes
7 HD: Power Attack
9 HD: Improved Critical- Scimitar (goes well with staggering strike)
9 HD: Raging Vitality
11 HD: Toughness
12 HD (Bloodline)Improved Initiative
13 HD: Raging Brutality
Rage Powers:
Level 8: Internal Fortitude and ________ (Your choice I like Quick reflexes with Come and Get me.)
Level 12: Come and Get me and Fearless Rage
Things you are/will become Immune to:
disease
exhaustion
fatigue
poison
staggered
sickened
nauseated
shaken
frightened
(Capstone)
Critical Hits
Sneak Attack
Blind Sight 60ft
Buy Wayfinder + Clear Spindle you become immune to Evil possession and mind control.
Half orc faction with butterfly sting would work really nicely for this build.Spiritualist with an anger phantom a sythe, outflank on both and furious focus on both is quite a considerable amount of damage and spiritualists can provide some fun buffs.
You can make them a bit more caster focused if you wish though have a nice range of potential, I don't think they're strictly as powerful as the other options mentioned though.
O that's dirty
Giving the scythe guy critsOooo so dirty.
Half orc faction with butterfly sting would work really nicely for this build.Spiritualist with an anger phantom a sythe, outflank on both and furious focus on both is quite a considerable amount of damage and spiritualists can provide some fun buffs.
You can make them a bit more caster focused if you wish though have a nice range of potential, I don't think they're strictly as powerful as the other options mentioned though.
O that's dirty
Giving the scythe guy crits
Oooo so dirty.
I've done this with a pick wielding warpriest and inspired blade swashbuckler who both took teamwork feats. It gets ugly real fast, especially once you get coordinated charge
Half orc faction with butterfly sting would work really nicely for this build.Spiritualist with an anger phantom a sythe, outflank on both and furious focus on both is quite a considerable amount of damage and spiritualists can provide some fun buffs.
You can make them a bit more caster focused if you wish though have a nice range of potential, I don't think they're strictly as powerful as the other options mentioned though.
O that's dirty
Giving the scythe guy crits
Oooo so dirty.
Wait, so which one has the Scythe? I thought Phantoms didn't have weapon proficiencies?
The spiritualist has the scythe the phantom slams things.