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Looking for critique, other options, or general Mechanic discussion. Aware this is not SFS-legal, but it's for our home AP game. Thanks in advance!
Level 7 Dwarf Mechanic (Spacefarer)
14 Strength (18 in Battle Harness)
12 Dexterity (+2 @ Level 5)
15 Constitution (+2 @ Level 5)
20 Intelligence (+2 @ Level 5, +2 Mod)
14 Wisdom (+2 @ Level 5)
8 Charisma
Swoop Hammer, Tactical: +10, 1d10+11
Battle Harness, EAC 20, KAC 22
Feats: Advanced Weapons Prof (1 Racial), Heavy Armor Proficiency (1), Advanced Weapons Specialization (3 Racial), Weapon Focus: Advanced Weapons (3), Barricade (5), Powered Armor Proficiency (7)
Skills: 7 in Athletics, Computers, Engineering, Mysticism (Not class skill), Perception, Physical Science. 4 ranks Medicine, 1 rank Profession[Wis] (Brewer), 2 ranks Pilot.
Mechanic Tricks: Energy Shield (2), Visual Data Processor (4), Overclocking (6)
Stealth Drone
Arc Rifle, static: +10, 1d12+7
EAC 19, KAC 19
Skill Unit: Computers
Mods: Longarm Proficiency, Weapon Mount, Jump Jets, Manipulator Arms
Feats: Longarm Specialization, Weapon Focus: Longarm, Mobility
Commentary:
---To Hit +10 is around 50% Hit Rate against a CR 6-7 creature per First Contact. That's going to be around the same as a Soldier who's Full Attacking.
---Other party members are an Operative and Solarian, so idea is to be drawing fire, eventually making it up there with my stumpy Dwarf legs (or Jump Jets in my battle harness), and raising hell. Drone is on the wall/ceiling/etc blasting down for extra damage or when melee isn't possible.
---At lower levels, will use a Combat Drone to maintain the Drone using Longarms and having Manipulator Arms for utility throughout the build. Once 3 mods unlock at level 5, switch over to Stealth Drone.
---Took Weapon Focus at level 3 to stay relevant with To Hit, since I wouldn't plan to put points into Strength beyond 14 in to get more benefit out of the Powered Armor.
---Higher Level Mechanic Tricks continue to focus on working up the Energy Shield and Visual Data Processor trees. We don't have anyone else with Perception or high Wisdom so it's even more important to have high Perception.
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You'd be well served by raising Str, not Wis, at 5th level. Yeah, it's not necessary in the Powered Armor you have right now, but there isn't enough Powered Armor to stay in it all the time as you level, IMO.
I mean, by 8th, you're giving up +4 EAC and +3 KAC for what...+1 to hit, +1 damage, and +1 Will Save? That's not a good trade, and remains a problem for several levels.
Honestly, until more of it is available, I'm skeptical of the utility of Powered Armor Proficiency at all.
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You make a valid point on Powered Armor. We are going to be slowly working through the AP so hopefully will be a bit more support when we get to level 7 a year from now. Either from within the AP or from the setting guide after Alien Archive.
Alternate build would be putting my stat boost in Strength and taking Iron Will at 7. Dwarves get that nice +2 to save vs Spells so should give a pretty decent chance to avoid them. Reflex will be a bad save but the temp hp and energy resistance from Mechanic Tricks should help not being able to dodge those grenades...
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You'd be well served by raising Str, not Wis, at 5th level. Yeah, it's not necessary in the Powered Armor you have right now, but there isn't enough Powered Armor to stay in it all the time as you level, IMO.
I mean, by 8th, you're giving up +4 EAC and +3 KAC for what...+1 to hit, +1 damage, and +1 Will Save? That's not a good trade, and remains a problem for several levels.
Honestly, until more of it is available, I'm skeptical of the utility of Powered Armor Proficiency at all.
You can wear light armor while you are in powered armor, and get the best EAC and KAC of either one. You do take the worse max Dex and armor check penalty, but you can improve your AC and stick with a battle harness.
While that is true, it's somewhat questionable whether that's a worthwhile exchange at later levels. The Battle Harness's +9/+12 is surpassed by light armor at level 9 by the D-Suit and its +11/+12, with a max dex of +6 vs. the Battle Harness's +2. You're now behind by up to 4 KAC and 6 EAC, and the gap only increases over the next 11 levels.
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Made some updates to this after seeing some action. Because of how nice Strength to Damage is at low levels, I'm going to be kitting my combat drone out with an Assault Hammer and pistol at low levels and using him as a flanking buddy that can switch hit if needed (especially if he takes a few hits and doesn't have enough HP remaining). TBD if once he gets to higher level if melee is still safe or if it's just too much a liability.