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I've leveled my Pei Zin Practitioner to 2nd, so I need to settle on a few things before he's locked in. The general concept is that he is a third son of a Taldan noble family, and thus not in line for any inheritance/property or meaningful title. During the crusade in the Worldwound, he was enlisted as a combat medic and witnessed firsthand the horrors of war with a demonic horde. He believes that Dalenydra blessed him, and that's why he survived the campaign. He has embraced the mantle of The Blessed Attendant as he's followed Gloriana Morilla's guidance and joined the Pathfinder Society.
While he will be a pacifist, I know that word often triggers some strong feelings in PFS. I am aware of the need to contribute in combat, and I am definitely planning to have options. Also, Dalenydra's code allows for fighting if you're attacked. That being said, his melee/direct damage ability is going to be minimal. His main contributions will be healing (life link/channel/spells) and buffing, debuffing, and control spells. Because of the heavy casting focus, I would like to try to stay single classed, or at most a 1 or 2 level dip. Most Oradin builds seem to take more than 2 levels of Paladin, which hurts spell casting too much. A Medium dip is possible to pick up the Hierophant Seance bonus. But for now, worked up as single class.
EDITED: To fix the levels at which he gets Revelations.
Pei Zin Practitioner Oracle 11 (Life Mystery, Covetous Curse)
STR 8 DEX 10 CON 14 INT 10 WIS 10 CHA 22 (+2 race, +1 4th, 8th)
O1 1) Noble Scion of War, Fey Foundling, LoH 6/day 1d6
O2 2)
O3 3) Extra Revelation (Life Link)->Toughness(6th retrain), Channel 6/day 2d6
O4 4) Oracle LoH 2d6, CHA +1
O5 5) Selective Channel, Headband CHA +2, Channel 7/day 3d6, LoH 7/day 2d6
O6 6) Oracle LoH 7/day 3d6
O7 7) Life Link, Quick Channel, Master Healing Technique, Channel 4d6
O8 8) Headband of CHA +4, Oracle LoH 10/day 4d6, Channel 10/day 4d6, CHA +1
O9 9) Reactive Healing, Channel 5d6
O10 10) LoH 5d6
O11 11) Spirit Boost, (Channeled Revival?), Channel 6d6
Traits: Scarred by War, ???????
Skills: Max Diplomacy, Profession (Herbalist), UMD (class skill from Covetous). Spread other 2 ranks/level around
Spells - Really haven't figured these out yet. 1st level I'm looking at Command. I'd like a second control spell, but would like to find something that isn't language dependent. I have wands of CLW and Bless, and I'll probably pick up a Protection from Evil wand.
But in general, good control spells through level 5 would be worth knowing about. Life grants some of the healing/condition removal stuff that I would normally take: detect undead (2nd), lesser restoration (4th), neutralize poison (6th), restoration (8th), breath of life (10th), heal (12th), greater restoration (14th), mass heal (16th), true resurrection (18th)
I'm also considering dumping DEX to 8 and bumping CON to 15. That would let me get more hit points at 4th, but it would mean not getting the extra boost to CHA until 12th. It's mostly a Save DCs vs Hitpoints question.
Any help is appreciated. Especially around making a character that doesn't deal direct damage very much at all.
I have the following suggestions, but not because you've chosen anything wrong, but they are things worth considering.
Feats
Lifebound: always seemed like a nice feat to combine with lifelink.
Purifying Channel: This can give you an offensive option with your channels.
Spells
Burning Disarm: either the target drops their weapon or they take damage.
Bless & Bane: not big bonuses or penalties, but they let you affect more than one target.
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1. I've settled on the Empyreal Lord Dalendyra, both for story reasons (worshippers are battlefield medics) and mechanical reasons, since Scarred by War provides a bonus on healing from class abilities (Life Link). Unfortunately, there's no variant spell casting for Dalendyra, but the trait is really nice. The flavor also fits, and most of the backstory came from reading up on Dalendyra.
2. This is one of the major questions I have. The Phylactery is a great item. It seems like it would be more interesting if I had multiple channel pools, but it's still good with only one. If it also boosted Lay on Hands, it would be a no-brainer. I could go with the Ioun Stone, then just sell it when I'm ready to buy a Rod of Splendor. the Rod actually fits the character concept very well, as you'll see with my next answer.
3. I've selected the Covetous curse, again for story and mechanical reasons. As a third child, he has always coveted the attention and social standing of his siblings, while he, himself, was relegated to the military. It's also mechanically a very easy curse to maintain, as it just means keeping 50gp+100gp/level worth of clothes and jewelry on. For a benefit, he gets UMD as a class skill. At 5th, you get a +4 bonus to Appraise, Spellcraft to identify items, and UMD. Eventually it adds fabricate, which isn't that useful in PFS. But it's effectively a +7 to UMD between making it a class skill and the insight bonus, so that gives me some options for carrying wands and scrolls outside of the Oracle list.
4. I can probably get away with a wand of Ant Haul, at least until I have more 1st level known spells. I hate burning a known spell at low levels on that. If I did dum STR to 7, what should I do with the extra 2 points? Wisdom? If I'm not boosting CON at 4th, it doesn't seem worth putting them there, and I can't boost CHA any higher at 1st.
5. I have my levels wrong for Revelations. I was thinking every 3rd level, but it's 3rd then every 4th. So Lifelink/retraining into Toughness should happen at 7th, and Spirit Boost would be at 11th. Quick Channel is mainly to allow me to heal and cast a control or buff spell in the same round. I could get away without it, but it provides some flexibility. Reactive Healing is one I'm less committed to, since I can get a similar effect from a talisman of Life's Breath. Basically, it's insurance against miscalculating or getting hit by a larger than expected attack if I have a couple of shield others going. An Oradin would have Heroic Defiance. I don't know if there are any non-deity specific channel rider feats. Pharasma's is good, but I'm pretty set on Dalenydra.
6. Yes, I'm definitely considering wearing Heavy armor. Potentially even carrying a tower shield, though that makes things like using a Rod of Reach Spell more complicated. Currently he's in Medium Armor with a heavy shield, but now that I've got a level of gold, I may change that. I was also considering going the other direction and dropping down to a light shield to help free up a hand for spell casting when I'm holding something.
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andrew - Thanks. That's a good list of spells. Barbed chains looks like it's got potential as a good low level control spell. Shadow Trap as well (I use that on my Arcanist, so may not want to double up tactics). I'll definitely invest in some pages of spell knowledge, and the note about magic vestment is good.
LordKailas - Would it make more sense to take Extra Revelation for Spirit Boost than to take Lifebound? I know they stack, but Spirit Boost gives a bigger max. And that would let me take a different revelation at 11. Maybe Combat Healer.
Purifying Channel looks good, but I'm not sure it fits the pacifist concept, as it becomes more of direct offense. A nice option to have when needed, though.
I like Burning Disarm, and I'll definitely be using bless, though for PFS I've always gotten away with using it from a wand (which I've already purchased with prestige and used some). Bane may be worthwhile. I forget about it, because I usually don't take it due to the saving throw.
with regard to spirit boost vs lifebound. If you're not taking both then it depends on what your primary method of healing is. Lifebound works with non-spell healing like channel energy. Spirit boost as you've pointed out has a higher temporary HP cap, but only works on healing from spells.
As for combat healer, I think enhanced cures is a better option. You are already taking things like quicken channel, so hopefully you're not having to quicken channel, and channel or cast a curing spell AND cast a quickened healing spell. If it worked on breath of life that would be different, but since it doesn't I wouldn't think you'd end up using it much.
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LordKailas - Ah, that makes sense. I missed that Spirit Boost doesn't work with the other oracle abilities. It's odd that the class option doesn't work with class options, but the feat does. I'll keep Lifebound in mind, then. Enhanced Cures just doesn't seem to come into play that much. Cure Light is limited to 1d8+5, but everything above that is at least +10. Which means I'd be getting limited benefit from it before 11th, and still fairly limited benefit at 11th. And the hope would be that I'm not using actual spell slots on healing too often. Which reminds me why I didn't plan more Extra Revelations in the build. A lot of what Life gets access to is very situational once you get past life link and channel. Maybe Life Sense is a better level 11 choice for an always on see invisibility (excepting invisible undead and constructs).
Grandlounge - Mediator looks nice. I don't have anything boosting my DCs right now. I'll look through potential spells and see how much I could make use of it. Scarred by Way, oddly, gives a Diplomacy bonus (outside of combat), so that wouldn't stack. But it's a secondary benefit of both traits.
The spell choices all look good. I see Wall of Bone more as a control spell, and the damage is low enough at that level that it isn't going to pose a threat of serious injury to any enemies. Unless I leave them in the wall for a really long time.
Blindness/Deafness is a good option, as it give me something long range. I also like Burst of Radiance, though it is more of a direct damaging spell. Ordinarily striking someone permanently blind might be a bit much for a pacifist, but Pei Zin can cure that relatively easily. So it's permanent only so long as I refrain from helping the poor soul recover.
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I think if you carry a scroll of remove blindness that is accompanied with an apology the spell could be fine.
-I always pack Align Weapon at least in scroll form on these types of characters.
-Shield Other is worth having depending one the group's composition it can be more effective than life link (PFS consideration).
-Hold person is an obvious choice.
-Prayer
-Charitable Impulse is perfect!
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Oh, Charitable Impulse is great! I didn't know about that one.
Shield Other will definitely be one of my 2nd level spells. Most of the Life Oracles I've seen in play use both that and Life Link. Sometimes on the whole party! (which is why I was looking at Reactive Healing).
Align Weapon I'll probably take as a scroll rather than a known spell. It's too situational for a known spell. Hold Person and Prayer are both good.
Pei Zin can remove the Blinded condition with a DC 35 Profession (Herbalist) check as a free action as part of Lay on Hands. But I'll probably want to have the scroll on hand in case I can't make that check. At 7th, my Profession (Herbalist) would only be +20 or +21 or so.
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The only thing I would consider is dropping cha to 18 to start and cranking con. I assume you will be using FCB for most spells known?
If so your hit point per level behind. I have seen a lot of life link healers die from confusion, or getting hit by a fireball after soaking to much damage. You don't have the saves or hit die of an old school ordain so constitution and Steadfast Personality are must have from my perspective.
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I’m hesitant to lower charisma because of how many things it affects for this character. DCs, bonus spells, initiative, important skills, and most importantly the number of lay on hands and channels per day. I could drop Strength to 7 as Andrew suggested and bump CHA back up to 15. That leaves me with an odd bonus at 8th, though. The only way I can see getting to a 16 Con is to dump strength and dexterity both to 7. And that’s pretty rough.
I do plan to use my favored class bonus from 4th level on for a bonus spell. Toughness helps a little to offset that. There’s also the option in PFS to spend 3 prestige and a little gold to retrain hit points and add 1 or 2 per level.
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I thought the retaining was 3 prestige per hp or some insane cost. I remember looking into it and thinking it was never worth it.
It may be worth dumping str a little further. It's doable because you will be able to carry up to your heavy load. 7str 15 con 19 cha really stretches the stats allowing you to also take a 12 is wis.
With an 18 cha you do lose 1 first level spell, no init because you have some extra point for dex, you gain 1 ac, +1hp per level, ref goes up one, as does fort. The lay on hands and channel suck to lose.
Skills, at 20 or 18 in your main stat, I find most skills are easy to optimize in pfs to never fail levels. Spells, mw tools and and ioun stone.
I'm not sure where I land here because the build is a hybrid offensive caster/life link healer. So you may need to heal less if you cast effectively. Maybe being more well rounded is better, but I would say it is equally possible that more specialized is.
I tend toward the former for pfs because (aside from a few scenarios) they are not balanced toward unfair levels of difficulty. I find people die when a scenario aligns with a build weakness.
Well, those are my musing, more than actual advice, take or leave as much or as little as you like.
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Noble Scion of War replaces Dex with Cha for Init, so lower CHA is lower Init and changing Dex doesn’t affect it.
7 10 15 12 12 19 is an option, though to me that’s less specialized (in casting), and still isn’t netting me an extra con bonus at first. 7 10 16 10 11 19 would be the other option.
Retraining hitpoints is 3 Prestige per hitpoint. It’s expensive, but it depends on how you think about it. 15 prestige gets you 5 hp. 16 prestige gets you a raise dead. If 5 hp keeps you from dying or going unconscious at a bad time just once, it’s worth it. Plus I have a debt to the society boon sitting around as insurance.
Let’s say I go with a Paladin dip for two levels. That’s definitely sacrificing casting, as I wouldn’t get 5th Level spells. I’d gain 3 hitpoints if I took Paladin at 1st, but a lot more lay on hands. I don’t think I want to slow down getting Life Link, though, so Paladin at 5 and 6, maybe. My saves would improve dramatically. I wouldn’t get Channel until 4th or 5th, depending on when I took the second level of Paladin. I could take Channeled Revival if I really want to to make up for not getting breath of life. I could purchase the bracers of the merciful knight to boost Paladin lay on hands (and possibly Pei Zin LoH. It’s a little unclear). My loh and channel dice would be lower. Something like:
STR 7 DEX 10 CON 15 INT 10 WIS 10 CHA 22 (+2 race, +1 4th, 8th)
O1 1) Noble Scion of War, Fey Foundling, O LoH 6/day 1d6
O3 3) Extra Revelation (Life Link), Channel 6/day 2d6
O4 4) Oracle LoH 2d6, CON +1
P1 5) Selective Channel, Smite
P2 6) Divine Grace, Paladin LoH 6/day
O5 7) Toughness, Ioun Stone CHA +2, Channel 7/day 3d6, LoH 7/day 2d6, P LoH 7/day 1d6
O6 8) Oracle LoH 7/day 3d6, Phylactery of Positive Channeling, Channel 7/day 5d6, CHA +1
O7 9) Quick Channel, Master Healing Technique, Channel 6d6, Bracers of the Merciful Knight, O LoH 7/day 5d6, Paladin LoH 7/day 4d6
O8 10) Oracle LoH 7/day 6d6
O9 11) Channeled Revival, Channel 8/ day 7d6, O LoH 8/day 6d6, Paladin LoH 8/day 3D6, Rod of Splendor CHA +2
O10 12) O LoH 9/day 7d6, P LoH 9/day 3d6, Channel 9/day 7d6
Traits: Scarred by War, Magical Knack
Skills: Max Diplomacy, Profession (Herbalist), UMD (class skill from Covetous). Spread other 2 ranks/level around
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I think the casting is is the stronger option. I would not multi class.
It may be with considering Eldritch heritage to get a familiar. Protectors +50% hp and an extra channel target. 2 feats you get more hp/ac/double your self healing by giving an addition channel target.
I miss remembered noble scion I thought it was an add to not replace. Thanks for the reminder.
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I could skip Noble Scion and take Focused Study for Skill Focus (Profession Herbalist) at 1 and maybe Skill Focus (UMD or Diplomacy) at 8. Then take Eldritch Heritage instead of Toughness at 7th. I could pick a familiar that gives +4 Init. It wouldn’t be quite the same boost as Noble Scion, and I’d lose know nobility as a class Skill (I’ve got a boon where that’s important), but I could make up for either of those with a trait. That might work out.
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Any idea how New Arcana (9th Level Arcane Bloodline Power) would interact with Oracle and Eldritch Heritage? That’s interesting if I could grab something off the Wizard list, but I know that wasn’t the original intention of the power.
EDIT: I found the answer. It doesn’t work. So since I won’t have any Metamagic feats to take advantage of the 3rd Level Power, and the 9th Level Power doesn’t do anything for me, there’s no need to take Improved Eldritch Heritage. That leaves my 11th leek feat for Toughness if I think I need it at that point or Steadfast Personality or something else. I think I like where the build is headed. I’ll post an updated breakdown later this afternoon.
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Ok, here's where I'm at with it. Thanks everyone for the advice.
Kelvus Metrius
LG Human
Pei Zin Practitioner Oracle 11 (Life Mystery, Covetous Curse)
Deity: Dalenydra
STR 7 DEX 10 CON 20 (+1 4th, +4 Belt) INT 10 WIS 10 CHA 25 (+2 race, +1 8th, +4 Rod)
HPs: 114 FORT: +8 REF: +3 WILL: +7 (+14 vs mind-affecting) Not counting cloak
Alternate Racial Traits: Focused Study
O1 1) Skill Focus (Profession: Herbalist), Fey Foundling, LoH 6/day 1d6+1
O2 2) Mystery Spells
O3 3) Extra Revelation (Life Link)-> Toughness (11th Retrain), Channel 6/day 2d6+1
O4 4) Oracle LoH 2d6+1, CON +1
O5 5) Belt +2 CON, Selective Channel, Channel 6/day 3d6+1
O6 6) Ioun Stone +2 CHA, Oracle LoH 7/day 3d6+1, Channel 7/day 3d6+1
O7 7) Eldritch Heritage (Arcane), Protector Familiar (Greensting Scorpion), Master Healing Technique, Channel 4d6+1
O8 8) Skill Focus (Diplomacy), Phylactery of Positive Channeling, Oracle LoH 7/day 4d6+1, Channel 7/day 6d6+1, CHA +1
O9 9) Quick Channel, Channel 7/day 7d6+1
O10 10) Rod of Splendor CHA+4, LoH 8/day 5d6+1, Channel 7d6+1
O11 11) Belt +4 CON, Life Link, Steadfast Personality, Channel 7/day 8d6+1
Traits: Scarred by War, Child of the Temple (+1 Kn: Nobility and Religion, Nobility class skill)
Skills: Max Diplomacy, Profession (Herbalist), UMD (class skill from Covetous). Spread other 2 ranks/level around
Spells - At 2nd level:
0: Create Water, Detect Magic, Guidance, Light, Stabilize (Swap eventually for Read Magic)
1: Barbed Chains, Command, Cure Light Wounds, Detect Undead(m)
Wands: CLW, Bless, Protection from Evil
Scrolls: Ant Haul x5, Burst of Radiance, Comprehend Languages, Obscuring Mist, Shield Other
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That’s my biggest remaining dilemma. I’m not sure just how many hit points I’ll need. I’ve seen an ordain soak up well over 200 points of damage in a round and still be conscious to heal themself. Granted that was at 13th level, but this build is also not really going to approach that number even that high of a level. So dropping 11 hitpoints feels like I’m sacrificing an area even more that’s already been sacrificed for better casting.
Another contributing factor is that I feel like I’m unlikely to hit Seeker levels with this character before 1.0 starts to fade. Though there’s a good chance I’ll still be able to get to the 8-10 range. So prioritizing a few things that pay off at lower levels seems like a good idea. This is a character I might consider reworking for War of the Crown if I ever get a chance to play that, though, so I might make different choices in that situation.
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Ah, yes. Another good point. So Level 1 will be Skill Focus (Knowledge... something.) Level 8 Skill Focus (Herbalist). Not sure what I was thinking. I put Focused Study in, because I needed a Skill Focus, then seem to have forgotten what I needed Skill Focus in. Thanks!
Nobility would fit the character and help with the boon. But the boon isn’t really that fantastic. It would eventually let me use Nobility for a day job, but my Profession: Herbalist will be much higher. There’s a vanity type aspect of the boon that’s more important from a character background standpoint, but not particularly mechanically important except in maybe two scenarios.
Religion would be a mechanically stronger choice for identifying undead.