Hi there! I'm a newer player and I don't need to be min/maxing here but I want to make sure that whatever build I'm planning is still bringing something to the table, so all help is appreciated.
Ok so lets get into it! I want to play a Kineticist, the reason is I love the Flash, so we will go with an air focus. I want the utility that air provides, also I have the idea of using "ride the wave" with "air's reach" to do a Flash like super speed ;)
Another idea I was thinking of going with is "kinetic blade" and doing 2 weapon fighting with this. OVERALL this doesn't need to be the Flash but bonus points the closer you get. If we can make a build that is viable using the kinetic blade, then all the better!
So with a 20 point buy, starting at level 5 what sorta race, stats, feats should I be looking at? How will this build look in further levels?
Once again THANK YOU
You could name the character Balin, like in Lord of the Rings. Then you would be airy Balin. More seriously, the first build you suggest with ride the blast, extreme range, air's reach will let you travel really fast. You could also take some electric attacks to match Flash's lightning attacks.
TWF isn't great for a kineticist; they have one really good attack, and your second attack has to be amazing to be worth taking a -2 attack on that. On the other hand haste + kinetic blade is terrifyingly effective, you don't need anything more to make kinetic blade 'viable'. You can even get haste in-class with the Celerity wild talent, though not until 6th level, and you may want Wings of Air at that level instead.
By level 5 you might have toughness, weapon focus (kinetic blast) and weapon finesse. Or you might have dodge, mobility and canny tumble. Or if you're going to use ranged blasts by preference, point blank shot, precise shot and weapon focus.
You want dexterity and constitution as your highest stats. You probably want a positive wisdom modifier due to your poor will save from the class, but it doesn't need to be as high. If you're going to spend a feat on weapon finesse or you're not going to use kinetic blade you can dump everything else; if you want to use kinetic blade and you don't want to use a feat on weapon finesse then you need some strength. Any race is viable though small races have a minor advantage.
At level 5 you have two level 1 infusions and one up to level 2. Also one level 1 wild talent and one up to level 2. Draining infusion is useful to have in case you need to affect creatures of your element which might otherwise be immune or resistant to your attacks. Kinetic blade and blade rush would be decent for the other two infusions, or kinetic blade and extended range in preparation for your later hijinks. You want air cushion or air's leap if you're ever going to get wings of air, and you already plan to get air's reach.
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If I may offer a nature themed alternative, a Druid of the Wolf Shaman archetype will allow you to forego your animal companion for the Travel domain. This starts you off at a higher base speed, while giving you extra spells that make you go even faster. Heck, you can flavor your teleportation spells as going way too fast for the naked eye to see. Slap on some Slipstream and some version of Longstrider and you'll be leaving enemies in the dust.
You're also one level off from being able to shapeshift into a wolf, giving you a base speed before all of your other buffs are even being factored in.
Kineticists have a few key feats. If you start physical ranged blasts, Point Blank Shot and Precise Shot are pretty much mandatory. Energy blasters will eventually want Spell Penetration and Improved Spell Penetration to handle Spell Resistance. Kinetic Bladers want Weapon Finesse. All of these styles benefit GREATLY from Toughness, Iron Will, and Weapon Focus (Kinetic Blast)
Druid style is a bit different, with its focus on ground combat: the Run feat could be useful. If you can afford it, Dodge and Mobility help the theme as well. A Wolf Shaman is likely going to be in melee, so decent Strength and the Power Attack feat have you covered.
Races? My money is on Human. More skills, a head start on feats, and freedom in stat priorities. This is especially true for a druid, since Wild Shape will ignore your birth race's biology for things like vision type, size, and base speed.
Awesome! thanks for the help, and your right if I get celerity I get 2 attacks with both having a higher chance to hit then if I use 2 weapon fighting (plus that's a lot of feats)
We are playing through rise of the Runelords so I was thinking Draining infusion might be something for later down the road! So based off of advice so far lemme show you what I'm thinking...
Human or a small race (with human I would take the favored class bonus)
For infusion 1) kinetic blade 2) Extended range
Utility talents 1) Airs reach 2) Celerity
however long term I'm thinking snake, extreme range, ride the blast, wind sight, and wings of air all seem interesting. CLARIFICATION eventually when I get multiple iterative attacks I will be shooting more then one kinetic blast right? If this true then by the description of Ride the Blast the ability doesn't actually end your turn nor take up any portion of your turn...hmm...theoretically as a full round with one 2 blast total, could I blast a target riding the blast to the target then use my second blast to be infused as a kinetic blade? or just first blast to close ground to target via riding it, then 2nd blast hitting target that I;m now in range of?
Celerity is a 3rd level wild talent. You can get it at 6th character level at the earliest. For now you most likely want one of the prerequisites to wings of air, i.e. air cushion or air's leap.
Also, you have 2 level 1 infusions, gained at levels 1 & 3, and a level 2 infusion. If draining infusion is unwanted or unnecessary then get blade rush in addition to the two you named.
No, you don't get iterative attacks with the ranged blast, or the extra haste attack either. You do get either/both with kinetic blade.
Wow!
I'm so glad you brought that up, that completely went over my head. So I need to have double the kineticist level to qualify for a specific talent of any level other then first. ALSO the blast is a standard action unable to be combined into a full round attack. My tactics where so far off haha
NEW GAME PLAN
Human
- Feat (weapon focus *blast*)
Level 1) elemental focus (air), infusion (kinetic blade) feat (weapon finesse)
Level 2) Utility (air's reach)
Level 3) infusion (Blade Rush) feat (toughness)
Level 4) Utility (Air's cushion)
Level 5) Infusion (gusting infusion) feat (?)
Level 6) Utility (Wings of air)
Level 7) expanded element (air again, giving me Celerity) feat (?)
Level 8) Utility (windsight) Favored class human bonus (i'm thinking i could get bonus hp level 1/2 then at 3-8 get the 1/6 extra wild talent so then i can get a 3rd level maybe magnetic infusion or wind sight)
I guess if im understanding the rules, I could quicken a blast at higher levels and ride the blast to then full round kinetic blade them. Until then though, where should feats be going? spring attack seems fun but, counter intuitive since I want to be doing full round attacks. Opening volley would work well, hit them with a blast then do blade rush?
A slight change in the feat order - weapon focus needs +1 BAB, so swap it with toughness which has no prereqs.
You probably do want extended range in there and gusting infusion is OK but not great.
Spring attack doesn't work for kineticists as their blast is a special standard action, not just an attack. The human FCB isn't as good as it looks because the extra wild talent feat treats you as your level -6 for which wild talents you can get - at 8th level that means another 1st level wild talent. Opening volley does work. Mobile gathering is another you might like.
At some point you'll probably want kinetic whip. Having your blast stick around so you can perform AoOs with it is handy.
I recommend a small race. for +1 ac and to hit with your attacks. Gnomes give + con and halflings give +dex if I'm not mistaken. So both work well.
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The Human FCB is okay. It all depends on what talent you want with it. Air has a few neat 1st level utilities.
If nothing else, I compare the HP or Skill Point FCB as being worth one feat each, since Toughness and (blessed be Paizo) Cunning exist. Using that logic, any FCB that gives at least two feats worth of a bonus is a solid investment.