I have been inspired by a number of threads (here, here and here) and have decided I want to try building a Sacred Fist that uses Crusader's Flurry.
I have pretty much settled on a few points of this build:
1. Likely going to need to be Human to fit all the feats in that I want.
2. I want to go with a Large sized Bastard Sword so that likely means worshipping Ragathiel. Not a bad choice in deity at all. Reasoning:
I considered going Gorum with a Greatsword but I just like the flavor of a Large sized Bastard Sword more. But perhaps there is something I haven't considered here. I am open to being enlightened as to some superior concept I may have missed.
3. Going with my first level as Bloodrager. There are a number of reasons for this:
Bloodrager seems like the natural choice. There are no alignment restrictions like Barbarian, I get Fast Movement to emulate a Monk's normal speed bonuses and I can go with Destined as my Bloodline. It seems thematic and Destined Strike can help a bit and is a free action so can be done with everything else without disrupting action economy. It also allows free use of wands for the Wand of Mage Armor that is going to be needed.
That is about where the framework of my build ends and where my questions begin.
Vital Strike:
I was strongly considering going with the Vital Strike line of feats. A Large sized Bastard Sword deals 2d8 damage. This is just the weapon damage and stacks with all effective and actual size changes. Thus going to Large size (via a variety of means: Enlarge Person, Righteous Might, etc.) and getting the Impact enhancement on my weapon or using Lead Blades on my weapon would increase it's damage to 4d8. With Vital Strike that would make it 8d8. Improved Vital Strike would be 12d8.
Vital Strike would be useful in any turn that I can't use Crusader's Flurry, mostly when I have to move to reach my enemy. Even without it carrying around a weapon that can deal 4d8+modifiers damage with each hit is good for flurrying as well. This all also makes crits tasty. Even better with the thought of having a Keen weapon. Yeah, I know it will be a while before I can have a +1 Keen Impact Large Adamantine Bastard Sword, but it is good to have goals. And besides, Lead Blades can carry me for a while until I can afford that Impact enhancement.
There are also a variety of feats that are great with this. Devastating Strike and Furious Finish can be great with such a build.
Style Feats:
Yep, I pretty much have no idea what is best here. I was strongly considering the Dragon Style line of feats but if I am going with Vital Strike then I don't want to charge.
Ascetic Style doesn't really help because there aren't many feats that I want to use with Unarmed Strike via my Bastard Sword. I did consider Stunning Fist, but I could just get Cornugon Stun if I wanted to do that. I suppose there is the Scorpion Style line of feats that could be decent. Its too bad it isn't an actual Style feat even though it has "style" in the name. I could get Belier's Bite, I guess. I don't think I'll need the bleed damage as I should be dropping foes fairly easily with the sheer damage of my attacks.
Elemental Fist could be decent, I suppose as I could apply that damage through the sword. Then I would be dealing some unholy combination of d6s and d8s. I could even use it in combination with Dragon Style... but I don't think I want to do that due to the aforementioned problem with not being able to charge while Vital Striking. Also, I'm not sure if the Sacred Fist levels count for the Special line in the Dragon Style feats to allow the character to count as a Monk of the Four Winds. If it did then it would make it slightly more worthwhile for when I would be able to get to Dragon's Roar. The character would likely never get there whether I play it in PFS or not though as the 3rd bonus style feat would come online at 19th level with this build.
Actually, am I missing where it says that Elemental Fist has to be used on Unarmed Strikes only? If such a restriction doesn't exist then that could open up some possibilities.
So what does that leave? I don't want to do any kind of grappling thing and honestly do not care to focus on unarmed strikes much. I can't mix styles so using Ascetic Style + another unarmed striking style (like Panther, Wolf, Janni, etc.) wont work. I'm not going to have a hand free so things like Crane and Snapping Turtle Style are out.
I gave some serious consideration to Swordplay Style but dealing with -2 from an inappropriately sized weapon, -2 from Flurry and Power Attack negatives doesn't seem wise to also stack Combat Expertise or Fighting Defensively as well. While I am confident that with all of the Warpriest's buffs and the high Strength the build will have I will be able to overcome the normal negatives of Flurrying with a Large Bastard Sword I do not plan on tempting the fates even further with stacking further negatives.
Dragon Style at least gives some resistances and I suppose having the ability to charge over difficult terrain when I otherwise wouldn't be able to move over that terrain and attack might eventually come up as being useful. Shaken could also help with Dragon Ferocity. But it also requires I get Stunning Fist which I wouldn't be using without having Ascetic Style, so... meh. Or if I got Wolf Style it could be situationally useful. I guess I could also grab Vicious Stomp which could be situationally useful there as well. I don't really want to spend feats on something that is so tertiary to the build and only situationally useful though.
Channel Smite:
I was also looking into using these feats with the build. With Versatile Channeler I could channel either positive or negative energy. This also opens up getting a Phylactery of Positive or Negative Channeling to add +2d6 damage when channeling.
I could also take the Extra Channel Energy feat if I wanted to increase the number of times/day I can use this. Improved Channel is also a possibility. Greater Channel Smite doesn't really seem worth getting, though.
The only real downfall is that this does eat into action economy slightly by using a Swift action that I could be using to activate one of my subpar Styles or more likely use for Fervor buffing or healing. But on turns I'm already buffed as much as I'd like and just want to deal extra damage this can help.
Other stuff:
Let see... for feats I already mentioned Power Attack, right? That is a huge damage boost when two handing a weapon that is too hard to turn down. It also makes Furious Focus appealing but not sure if I can fit it in the build with the distinct lack of bonus feats. Toughness is always good, but again, not sure if I can fit it in. Horn of the Criosphyinx can be good if I DO plan on going with the Dragon Style line of feats. Again, I feel that Vital Strike seems better, though.
For equipment I already mentioned the goal of a +1 Keen Impact Large Adamantine Bastard Sword. Other enhancements that I found appealing were Furious, Conductive (for channeling Fervor), Spell Storing, Vicious and Holy. Alas, one can't have it all and choices have to be made. Ki Intensifying could be nice if I went with Wolf Style, I guess.
I also already brought up the Wand of Mage Armor which I think will always be needed in the build. Monk's Robe will also help with AC and if I do get Stunning Fist it could help with that too. It wont be until later that I get it but can't think of a better body slot item to get. Of course, Str, Con, Dex and Wis items will always be beneficial. I'm not sure what combination of belts, headbands and Ioun stones I will get to accommodate the build best. Amulet I'm likely to leave to natural armor as I don't need AoMF though the aforementioned Phylactery of Channeling also seems good.
Any other suggestions for gear, feats, etc. are welcome so long as they fit with the concept.
If you wanted to use a greatsword instead of a Bastard sword, and you aren't tied to a lawful/good alignment, you could switch to Gorum and get his divine fighting technique. You can trade away a minor blessing power for it instead of spending a feat. It lets you vital strike at the end of a charge and the first attack of opportunity you make follwing using vital strike gets vital strike added to the swing.
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If you really want a large bastard sword, Feronia is an alternative to Ragathiel. She's TN and has some decent domains. That said, since sacred fist flurry no longer adds level to bab, I don't really see the benefit of using flurry over just making a TWF warpriest. Yes, you get to use one weapon, and it does 2d8. But the majority of your damage is coming from static bonuses, a minus two to hit really hurts a war priest if you're out of divine favors, and your sacred weapon damage will eventually catch up to a larger weapon.
DeathlessOne: Ooo... that does give me something to think about. Man, that is a close one in my mind. It would save me a feat (EWP: Bastard Sword) that I could spend elsewhere and only lose out on a blessing. That trade off is great to be able to Vital Strike at the end of a charge. Yeah... I'm thinking that is really too good to pass up. Plus, I own the book it is from! Nice catch. :D
Imbicatus: Yes, I know you no longer get your level to BAB. The benefit of Flurrying over TWF is twofold. First, you get a wield a two handed weapon getting 1.5 Str to damage and 1:3 ratio on your Power Attack. Second, TWF requires you to take a whole line of feats while Flurry of Blows continues to give bonus attacks just from gaining BAB. There is also the really cool thing of, you know... flurrying with a greatsword. Kinda the whole point of the build, man. ;)
I really just think you are missing how cool flurrying with a greatsword is.
I really just think you are missing how cool flurrying with a greatsword is.
I see how cool it is and I approve. Don't both with the greater power of the divine fighting technique for gorum. Your major blessings are worth more than that. Oh, you don't lose out on a blessing either, just the minor power of one of them. You still keep the level 10 power.
Don't worry about not having enough BAB for the flurrying. Just take the Strength blessing. The minor power is a swift action that adds half you level bonus to melee attack, strength checks, and skills that use strength. 3 + 1/2 your level times per day.
If you DM allows the variant spellcasting for cleric/druids of Gorum to work with the warpriest (they should, same spelllist), you can prepare rage as a 3rd level spell, heat metal as a 3rd level spell, and leade blades as a 3rd level spell.
Alright. Here is my build:
Str 18+2
Dex 12
Con 12
Int 10
Wis 13
Cha 7
Worships Gorum:
Chaos, Destruction, Glory, Strength, War
Traits:
Fate's Favored
Killer
1st
Bloodrager 1
Destined Bloodline, Destined Strike, Bloodrage, Fast Movement, Power Attack (1st), Weapon Focus: Greatsword (human)
2nd
Warpriest 1
Aura, Blessings: Destructive Attacks, Divine Fighting Technique: Gorum's Swordsmanship, Flurry of Blows, Unarmed Strike, AC Bonus
3rd
Warpriest 2
Fervor: 1d6, Toughness (3rd)
4th
Warpriest 3
Blessed Fortitude
5th
Warpriest 4
Channel Energy, Crusader's Flurry (5th)
6th
Warpriest 5
Fervor: 2d6
7th
Warpriest 6
Dragon Style (bonus), Channel Smite (7th)
8th
Warpriest 7
Ki Pool
9th
Warpriest 8
Fervor: 3d6, Extra Flurry Attack, Vital Strike (9th)
10th
Warpriest 9
Miraculous Fortitude
11th
Warpriest 10
Major Blessings: Heart of Carnage, Battle Companion, Stunning Fist (11th)
12th
Warpriest 11
Fervor: 4d6
13th
Warpriest 12
Dragon Ferocity (bonus), Cornugon Stun (13th)
14th
Warpriest 13
15th
Warpriest 14
Fervor: 5d6, Versatile Channel (15th)
16th
Warpriest 15
Extra Flurry Attack
17th
Warpriest 16
Devastating Strike (17th)
18th
Warpriest 17
Fervor: 6d6
19th
Warpriest 18
Dragon Roar (bonus), Furious Finish (19th)
20th
Warpriest 19
Equipment:
+1 Keen Large Adamantine Greatsword (Impact later)
Wand of Mage Armor
Monk's Robe
At 9th level with only a +2 Str Belt and +1 Keen Greatsword and considering only enlarge person and lead blades the character can charge and get an attack of:
+17 (+7 BAB, +9 Str, +1 Enhancement, +1 Insight, -2 Power Attack, +2 Charge, -1 size) for 11d6+20 (+13 Str +6PA +1 Enhancement) damage, 17-20/x2
against an undead opponent.
Or in a Flurry he could be doing:
+15/15/10/10 for 4d6+20, 17-20/x2 with one attack doing an extra 3d6 vs undead
I mean... I think that is pretty decent. *shrug*
*ehem* You might want to find room for Furious Focus if you want to pursue the Divine Fighting Style (Gorum) and Vital Strike on a charge route. It'll save you some +hit bonus.
Honestly, I go against most of the forums when I suggest this: Toughness is not worth a feat. Get rid of it.
Yeah... I considered many replacements for it but couldn't decide what to put there. While I would normally agree with you on Furious Focus except that I think I am going to have a fair amount of +hit on this build. But, you might have a point. I was only including Toughness from the thought that it is built on a d8 chassis with middling Con and limited Rage rounds.
So I just remembered that when you are flurrying with a two handed weapon you still only get +Str not +1.5 Str. So I guess my numbers were off slightly. It should be 4d6+13 damage per attack in a flurry. That is on average 66 damage per turn considering all hits but no crits and without Channel Smite damage.
That is still pretty good considering that is only including a +2 Str Belt, +1 Keen Greatsword, Enlarge Person and Lead Blades. In reality the character could easily be rocking a +4 Str item (+1 per attack), Divine Favor(+3 with Fate's Favored) and Destructive Attacks (+4). That brings each attack up to 4d6+21. He also would be getting an extra attack from Ki. So his average damage considering all hits and no crits comes up to 175. But to be honest, he likely will get at least one crit in there with a 17-20 threat range so more than likely he will have an average of 210. That is also without considering Channel Smite.
On a charge he would be doing 8d6+29 (+15 Str +6PA +1 Enhancement +3 Divine Favor +4 Destructive Attacks) for an average of 57 damage. If it is against an undead then it would be 3d6 more damage.