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Hi have been round and round on what my new Sovereign Court. I am looking to build a martial character with a good bonus to social skills: Bluff, Diplomacy and intimate. Also with Perception and Knowledge Nobility, (Knowledge Nobility is obtained from a boon to use on day jobs and to work on a boon the character received). I have two builds I am struggling to chose between.
These are the build I am currently entertaining.
1 Human Focused Study Human Cavalier (Honor Guard/Strategist)
Order of the Dragon bodyguard build whose background would be an up and comer in Taldor, elevated to nobility.
Pros: Social skills already class skills, has an animal Companion.
Cons: Trying to fit Bluff, Diplomacy, Intimidate, Knowledge Nobility also with Handle Animal and Ride is difficult, Having a horse can be difficult to bring in some scenarios.
2 Focused Study Sliver Tongue Human Bloodrager (Urban Bloodrager or regular Bloodrager
Destined Bloodline straight up damage build with a background of having come to Taldor to seek work in the Ulfen guard or similar work but was elevated to nobility for his work with the society.
Pros able to fit all skills with with using one trait or 2 traits if regular Bloodrager.
Cons: losing out on Bloodrager buffs by being an Urban Bloodrager or using two traits then having to use extra trait feat to shore up saves if regular Bloodrager.
Also I for what ever reason am fighting being a bard which would be able to accommodate all the above but isn't martial.
Suggestions and critiques welcome.
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Have you had a look at the dandy ranger archetype? It gets the bard spell list but isn't otherwise that class. Full BAB makes it martial by most standards.
I understand straight up damage builds are really common in PFS, the cavalier sounds like it might stand out more.
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Horses are difficult to incorporate in many PFS scenarios, so that is a significant problem. If you go that route, be prepared to use Spider Climb, a Hosteling shield, and related shenanigans to get your horse into places no horse ought to be found.
Have you considered an Avenger Vigilante? It sounds like you have some good character hooks, and if you have one that would fit the Dual Identity, I think that would be a great match for Sovereign Court.
An Investigator (Empiricist) or Inquisitor (Conversion Inquisition or Urban Infiltrator) also bring a strong blend of martial ability and social skills to the table.
Have you had a look at the dandy ranger archetype? It gets the bard spell list but isn't otherwise that class. Full BAB makes it martial by most standards.
I understand straight up damage builds are really common in PFS, the cavalier sounds like it might stand out more.
And how would you build a dandy ranger, in general terms?
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And how would you build a dandy ranger, in general terms?
You want to be good with weapons you might be able to take into a social situation so you're looking at the two-weapon style. As a ranger you can be mostly strength-based and do that. You're going to have a decent Cha so you might focus on that a bit - irrepressible or steadfast personality for will saves, osyluth guile for AC, or possibly feinting for attack. For spells the bard list has many good buffs, and you hunt down the longer lasting ones considering how many spells/day you get.
Not the only way to do it but that's the easiest IMO.
And how would you build a dandy ranger, in general terms?You want to be good with weapons you might be able to take into a social situation so you're looking at the two-weapon style. As a ranger you can be mostly strength-based and do that. You're going to have a decent Cha so you might focus on that a bit - irrepressible or steadfast personality for will saves, osyluth guile for AC, or possibly feinting for attack. For spells the bard list has many good buffs, and you hunt down the longer lasting ones considering how many spells/day you get.
Not the only way to do it but that's the easiest IMO.
When choosing spells: vanich, heightened awareness, Disguise self, Heroism, invisibility, glibness...
What else from the buffs i do not see in the list of bards?
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My issue with the Dandy is the change to Favored Enemy. I think I would prefer to use both starting traits to get Bluff and Diplomacy. In a similar vein is the Velvet Blade, nice class but the change to Studied Target leave a little to be desired.
I am interested in the Cavalier but to use Hosteling armor for a horse would need to place it on heavy armor which would not be until around 4-5 level to have the fame for it.
But if I instead went with Beast Rider instead of Strategist I could get a Lion companion at 7th. and part of my inner child wouldn't mind to play a HE-MAN & Battle Cat build. I also recently saw a some artwork for a knight on a lion that was inspiring.