So I'm starting a campaign that's set in a Gothic setting. The DM has said that the campaign would focus on social interactions and not so much on fights (though it is PathFinder so I reckon there would be a healthy dose of those). We're staring at 2nd level.
I had this idea for an character - a sort of detective of sorts who specializes in the occult and supernatural and can help people by finding and getting rid of apparitions, hauntings and things like that.
I also want him to have some kind of supernatural power that aid him.
(For examples from media think of Dirk Gently, Lorraine & ED Warren from The Conjuring films, Elise Rainier from Insidious, Frank Bannister from The Frighteners, Kyoichi Kagenuma from the Nightmare Detective and I think Harry Dresden fits here though I haven't read those books.)
What options do I have to build a character like that.
The Investigator should theoretically cover this ground but in reality by 2nd level there's not that much that helps me other than Inspiration. The Alchemy is good but has nothing to do with investigation let alone the kind I'm looking for. The Psychic Detective archetype should be closer but honestly they get too little spells and I can't find enough useful ones especially for the low level.
The Psychic should be a better version of the The Psychic Detective (The Psychic Disciplines spell selection limits you though).
The other option I'm thinking of is Spiritualist. Having a Phantom with you at all time is fun and opens alot of possibilities. But again not alot of the powers I'm looking for. It can help you in battle, give you some bonuses here and there and pass through walls but not alot of options for supernatural investigation.
It's kind of a bummer that any kind of useful Divination spells are all way higher level.
Can anybody help me? Any suggestions about class, spells and other possible options for my character?
Have you looked into Questioner Investigator? It sacrifices Alchemy for Bard casting.
Have you looked into Questioner Investigator? It sacrifices Alchemy for Bard casting.
Honestly I don't see how that's any better. The bards don't have any better spells for the purpose. Did you have anything particular in mind?
You haven't read the Harry Dresden novels? Wow! You're in for a treat.
If you want to have an actual effect on haunts, you're going to need a way to channel positive energy, like having a cleric level, or something similar. Of course, the more challenging the haunt, the more inadequate a simple 1d6 of that is going to be. I know of no other way to actually damage a haunt, aside from discovering the perplexing and nearly impossible to guess conditions for its permanent dismissal.
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A Haunt Collector Occultist might fit this theme.
Yes, I'd never seen that before, the medium's Haunt Channeler class feature allows him to damage haunts just like a cleric's channeling burst, or even to hoover up the haunt in its entirety, if he doesn't mind lending his body to a malevolent spirit. Very cool!
If you're after divinations then you probably want a prepared spellcaster - spontaneous spellcasters getting into divination have real problems trying to get all the spells they want as divination spells tend to be terribly specific.
A wizard with the hallowed necromancer archetype, an arcanist with the harrowed society student archetype, an alchemist with the crypt breaker archetype or an inquisitor with the living grimoire archetype could all fill this role in different ways; they're all prepared spellcasters (effectively).
Some relevant first level spells for the detective may be comprehend languages, detect undead or detect charm (just about any class), see alignment (alchemist or sorc/wiz from the 4 above suggestions) and alarm (inquisitor or sorc/wiz). Protection from evil may also be useful on the job though not for gathering information.
Spiritualist Investigator (archetype) or Malice Binder archetype (it will be fun))
Urban druid with a revolver and a drinking problem.
Standard occultist could also work. I could see their object reading ability being really useful for a detective, and fits the whole psychic theme. The way they get spells is a bit limited, though (they're tied to the schools of their implements), so it might not work if you're going for more of a caster.