I've never played a true beatstick before with even my Unchained Barbarian being more of a leader focused on TWF and Disarm. While my chosen abilty scores likely hold me back from being as strong as most beatsticks, I'm positive I can manage more dpr than most of my characters.
And so I'd like some advice for feats as most of what I've included in my prototype build below seem generic and I like unusual ideas. As it is likely I'll end up playing this character in PFS, please keep suggestions legal. Anything bolded is set in stone and I am unlikely to remove/change it
Female Human (Chelaxian)
Bloodrager/Monk/Dragon Disciple (Urban Bloodrager/Scaled Fist & Hungry Ghost)
Racial Traits:
+2 to any one ability score
Bonus Feat
Draconic Heritage (instead of Skilled)
-Low-Light Vision
-Darkvision 10ft.
Character Traits:
Draconic Destiny (Social)
Child of Two Peoples (Race)
STR 14
DEX 10
CON 14
INT 10
WIS 10
CHA 18
Melee Attacks: Lochaber Axe (Bardiche), Feet, Claws
Ranged Attacks: Composite Longbow, Spells
Bloodline: Gold Dragon
1. Bloodrager I: First <Draconic Manifestation>, Human <Noble Scion {War}>
2. Monk I: Class <Improved Unarmed Strike>, Class <Punishing Kick>, Monk <Dragon Style>
3. Bloodrager II: Third <Power Attack OR Steadfast Personality>
4. Bloodrager III: +1 CHA
5. Bloodrager IV: Class <Eschew Materials>, Fifth <Steadfast Personality OR Power Attack>
6. Bloodrager V
7. Dragon Disciple I: Seventh <Extra Rage>
8. Dragon Disciple II: +1 CHA, +2 STR, Bloodline <Improve Initiative>
9. Dragon Disciple III: Ninth <Arcane Strike>
10. Dragon Disciple IV: +2 STR
11. Dragon Disciple V: Bloodline <Blind-Fight>, Eleventh <Riving Strike>
12. Dragon Disciple VI: +1 CHA, +2 CON
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Dragon style does not apply to natural weapon attacks, only unarmed strike...so it will be a lot less useful to you...I would drop the 1 level dip into monk and just go 5 levels in Bloodrager, then into Dragon Disciple.
I am also curious why you are focusing so heavily on Cha, Bloodragers have pretty weak casting, and your feats are all focused on melee...you would be better off with swapping Cha and Str. With a 14 Cha and a +2 headband you will still be able to cast all your spells, and be MUCH better off in melee.
Then focus on spells which don't have DC checks like buffs, magic missile, etc. If you want a spell focused DD sorcerer would be a much better base to build from (1 rager, 4 Sorcerer, rest in DD)
The Monk dip & dragon style go with Punishing Kick. So even though he's using a reach weapon he can attack someone adjacent to him, and when he does he gets 1.5X STR, which pushes the enemy back 5 feet so he can continue his full attack against the enemy with his bardiche (when he gets his 2nd iterative attack that is).
The Scaled Fist Monk also uses CHA instead of wisdom for the monk's bonus AC, and Noble Scion of War means he uses CHA for initiative as well.
Realistically I'd be tempted to drop CHA to 16 & boost my STR, but you are getting a lot of goodies out of CHA.
Also you can skip the 5th level of Bloodrager and go into Dragon Disciple at 6th, which would mean you get all those goodies 1 level earlier. The only thing you're really losing is Improved Uncanny Dodge (and since you're using a reach weapon you can hopefully avoid being flanked most of the time).
And lastly I really like using LUNGE with a reach weapon. It will mean you can full attack something 20 feet away (5-foot-step + lunge + reach weapon). Also with your movement speed it means you should be able to charge anything you can see whenever you want. I'd probably swap out Arcane/Riving Strike for Lunge+CORNUGON SMASH or something.
It looks like a solid build though.
I was torn as to whether Uncanny Dodge was worth it or not, but you make a good point about having reach and being flanked.
I'm glad someone can see what I'm going for with the Monk dip. And don't think I missed your name either. Clever.
I've used a Glaive-Guisarme & Punishing Kick on another character before, but as a Fighter/Brawler she didn't have the WIS to make full use of it. As this character will be her daughter, it made sense to refine that combo while she uses her sorcerous father's blood in melee better than he ever did. Without the dip, she probably wouldn't qualify.
I like Lunge enough, but I've never heard of Cornugon Smash before. Interesting.
Yeah if you use arcane/riving strike you're using your swift action to deal +2 damage and give the enemy a +2 to saves against spells & spell-like abilities.
If you use cornugon smash you're saving yourself a feat and your swift action, and you're giving a -2 to ALL saving throws (not just spells/SL-abilities), skill checks, ability checks and attack rolls - but you do have to succeed at an intimidate check to do it (although this is a free action).
Actually if you really want to succeed at this you could take INTIMIDATING PROWESS instead of lunge.
Intimidate = 9(Skill ranks) +3 (Class skill) +5(CHA) = +17
STR = 14(Base) +4(Rage) +4(Dragon Disciple) +4 (Belt) = 26 (+8 modifier)
That's a +8 to your intimidate score for +25 to Intimidate at level 9.
That would cost you an extra feat though, so it's up to you.
Also I realised there was one more thing you get from taking Bloodrager 5 before going Dragon Disciple: You get your 2nd iterative attack at level 6 instead of level 7. If you're using retraining rules I'd probably go Bloodrager 5 when you reach level 6, and when you hit level 7 retrain to BR-4 and take DD-2. That'll be the strongest option for both levels 6 and 7.
Also your STR is low, and a lot of people would be tempted to put it up at the cost of a little CHA. However Bloodragers/Barbarians can deal with a low STR better than most, and the Dragon Disciple +4 STR means that by the end game probably nobody will know your STR started low. I'd probably go with 16 STR 16 CHA to begin with, but it's a tough call and this build is strong enough that I doubt it'll really matter.
I was also trying to think of a way for you to fit in 2 Paladin levels just for the CHA to saves, but I honestly don't think it's viable. You'd either be delaying your DD levels by 2, or you'd have to dip Sorcerer for your spell-casting progression & you'd only end up with 1 level of bloodrager ... Probably not terrible, but it's not really your build anymore at that point =P.
Perhaps extra rage since the dragon disciple doesn't actually increase the number of you rages per day?
Perhaps extra rage since the dragon disciple doesn't actually increase the number of you rages per day?
I have one copy of Extra Rage in there @ 7th currently which brings my total rage rounds to 24 at the moment, though if I drop BR5 for an additional level of DD, that will drop to 21.