The new one from Planar Adventures.
Here is what I know so far: I want to go with thrown weapons as I really like the Lantern feat style chain from Distant Realms. May go Scythe for Melee. Leaning toward Human for the extra feat. May choose Varisian Tattoo as a trait--bladed scarves and star knives proficiency.
For those who do not know: This archetype replaces the Phantom with a Raven familiar--until 4th level, when it 'evolves' into a Nosoi Psychopomp.
Any experience or ideas are welcome! Thanks in advance.
New information: It's for the AP Strange Aeons, if that helps at all.
Thrown weapon builds want a lot of feats; soul warden spiritualists have no bonus feats. This is not a marriage made in heaven. Also the final feat in the lantern style line bases its save off Cha, rather than the Wis which is your casting stat or the Dex or Str you use to throw stuff. Spiritualist spells are not well suited to buffing thrown attacks.
There's no good way of making this work I think. Even item-based workarounds would be difficult as I've read that Strange Aeons does not make acquiring specific magic items easy. Is there any part of the above you're willing to pull out - changing the archetype to phantom blade or dropping lantern style would make your idea merely difficult rather than impossible.
Hmmm....I had overlooked the Cha req for the last Lantern feat. Haven't confirmed my ability scores yet. We actually roll, so I will see what those results are when it happens.
As for Thrown Weapons, I thought PBS, Precise shot and high Str would work fairly well...but I've never done Thrown before. Any advice welcome.
Still open to any advice for this archetype, including spell advice.
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No, those feats alone aren't enough to be effective given the lack of in-class accuracy or damage bonus, or spiritualist spells which can buff ranged attacks. You're going to want rapid shot as well (or two-weapon fighting), which in turn will require quick draw with thrown weapons, and you might get close quarters shot (& its prereqs weapon focus and dodge). If you're going to be switching between thrown weapons and melee then opening volley and power attack will be wanted. If you want to reduce multiple attribute dependency you might go for divine fighting technique (Desna's shooting star). And then there's your lantern feats.
A starknife with point-blank and precise shot and say Str 16 will do 1d4+4 damage once a round. That isn't that much. Thrown weapons can be effective with a lot of feats but without they're an inferior style of combat.
On spells which might help - you can get the shield spell for defense, and later on shield of darkness gives you defense and allows you to attack as if you were invisible. Mindshock might work.
Thanks for reminding me of the Divine Fighting technique! I have the Anthology and that will be great, provided my Cha is good...will roll later this week. If so, the Lantern feats could be viable.
Shield is a fave 1st level spell. I'll have to look into shield of darkness and Mindshock. Sounds great. This is my first time playing a divine caster, so all suggestions appreciated.
Thanks for your help, avr.
Any more ideas? I am open to any.
What about ideas for the Nosoi Psychopomp familiar? Any ideas feat-wise for that? I've done animal companions (dinosaurs) but not had much experience with a familiar. This one gets spell-like abilities such as Haunting Melody, which works a bit like Bardic Performance and the Nosoi will be able to use these melodies to create auras from certain phantoms: Anger, Dedication, Despair, Fear, Hatred, Jealousy or Zeal.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for the assistance thus far.
As a familiar it doesn't get feats besides those it starts with (alertness & weapon finesse) and you certainly can't spare any. Retraining one or both of those two feats may be an option though.
It can use writing tools so it should be able to handle a wand and it's even got a decent Cha. Max out the use magic device skill. Maybe even retrain one of its feats to skill focus (UMD).
The auras are interesting. If you can retrain its feats then changing one of them to ability focus (phantom elegy) might be worthwhile.
It might also find quicken spell-like ability (invisibility) useful eventually.
Rolled and these are the results:
Str 14
Dex: 14
Con: 12
Int: 12
Wis:17
Cha: 18
Going with Divine Fiighting Desna's Shooting Star and Point-Blank Shot for 1st level Feats. Human, obviously. Varisian Tattoo as one trait.
Will start with Raven familiar (Nosoi can appear as any bird, but has to use Raven stats--going to role-play it as a Whippoorwill for I hope obvious reasons!). 4th level, it will become a Nosoi Psychopomp with it's wonderful abilities.
I know, it isn't optimized. I'm more than okay with that.
Couldn't figure out how to get Halfling Staff Sling (and be human) without giving up a feat. Otherwise, that is the route I would've gone.
Any ideas? Thanks for all the feedback thus far.
OK, with a feat on divine fighting technique that puts you further behind on the basic ranged feats. Not that you should drop it but maybe you can do without precise shot for a while - you can use starknives in melee when things get close. That would let you take quick draw at L3, rapid shot at L5 (or TWF if you find a belt of +Dex), then finally get precise shot at L7. Then you can start on your lantern feats.
All I know about a whippoorwill is that it's an American bird and it's associated with Pharasma in PF. Is the association with Pharasma the reason or is there more that only an American would know?
Whippoorwill is associated with the collecting of souls, according to Lovecraft.
Thanks again, avr. You seem to be the only one watching this thread and I really appreciate your input.
I don't see this recommended often, but for builds that rely on ranged weapons, you can pick up an extra feat simply by investing gold. If you are only every going to use a combat feat when you are wielding a specific weapon, merely enchant it with the Training weapon ability. Depending on what level you would normally pick up the feat, you could easily afford it.
I don't see this recommended often, but for builds that rely on ranged weapons, you can pick up an extra feat simply by investing gold. If you are only every going to use a combat feat when you are wielding a specific weapon, merely enchant it with the Training weapon ability. Depending on what level you would normally pick up the feat, you could easily afford it.
True. I rather like it. Thanks for the reminder.