I have seen a few mentions recently of builds with a one level dip into Medium (usually Champion)
One level dips, especially into something quite non-standard sits a little difficultly with me
I would like to try and make characters who are interesting and characterful as well as effective but not with a heavy optimization focus.
With that in mind I have two questions about dipping with a medium that I would like help with:
1. Is there another "exit point" for the dip so that is not a one level only thing
2. What could be thematic reasons for not progressing further? My thoughts would be something to do with being scared of the power and impact of the spirit.
But that could lead to further sub questions such as :
- why commune with them in the first place?
- why not work on gaining more control
I would appreciate any insight on hand
1, 2, 4, 6 are all good stopping points. 2 for Shared Seance and taboo for more surges. 4 is good because your spirit power goes up by another 1, and you get 1st level spells in champion. 6 is good for the extra attack in champion.
3 is a possibility if you take outer channeler archetype, you get a familiar at that point.Perhaps it's ancestor worship, but not the characters primary focus.
In summary- these are the good bits from champion.
I find it odd, but the class seems much better if yo just focus on champion. The 'master of none' aspect is just worse compared to other classes like bard. Mostly because you can't switch too easily (it is much better with that one archetype that makes the various specialties into a rage like mechanic).
So I look at most of the specialties, and I think 'is this worth unequipping champion?' And the answer is usually 'no'. Maybe the cleric version, when you have to heal things like ability damage. Otherwise.... you mostly just look at this as a weird 'kind of full martial with a bit of spells'
Thanks! I had thought 1, 4 and 6 but wasn't sure about 2. Good to know
What archetype helps with the switches?
I think I have seen trickster mentioned if a PFS group is in dire straits for certain skills
Thanks! I had thought 1, 4 and 6 but wasn't sure about 2. Good to know
What archetype helps with the switches?
I think I have seen trickster mentioned if a PFS group is in dire straits for certain skills
It is spirit dancer. You pick all of teh spirits at the start of the day, but you only get bonuses/use abilities from the spirits while dancing. Also, you can use any one of your spirits at a time while dancing.
You can dance for cha+(lvlx2) rounds per day. You also experience some penalties after you finish dancing for 1 minute, and you can't dance during that time.
So it is slightly clunkier, but more versatile rage. But you can't get the extra rage feat for this dance, so it isn't good for dipping (since you would be very limited in how much you can use the ability). The trade of endurance for versatility is greaat for full medium, since they will get 'enough' endurance at higher levels, but it is not enough to start out to make a dip very worth while.
EDIT- not sure if this archetype is very good for trickster.... it is rounds/lvl based growth, and a lot of skills take time to use (if a skill takes 1 minute, that is 10 rounds, or all the rounds of a level 4 medium with 14 cha). Maybe you can help things with various spells (you could waste a round to grab cleric or wizard related spirits to cast a spell?That seems within the realm of efficient use).
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I wouldn't worry about thematic or concept issues with a 1-level dip. Classes and levels are simply mechanical features; no actual character goes around saying "hi, I'm a Cleric 4/ Fighter 3, nice to meet you!". A one level dip in Medium simply means that a character communes with a spirit regularly and gains some simple benefits from it, which fits easily with all sorts of other concepts. "Why didn't they go further in Medium?" is like asking "why didn't they learn some Barbarian Rage?" or "why did they take more Cleric?". Characters are what they are, and don't justify that in terms of their classes. A Cleric with a one level medium dip is a Cleric who reaches out to spirits for aid; what more does there need to be to it?