
Red Spirit |
I know this seems a bit redundant, given that most players are heroes who essentially go around helping people. But I thought it was only fair that I put effort into optimizing "Helping People" as much as I used to try and optimize my characters.
You see I have found that role playing good characters is very fun. I enjoy helping people in real life and want to include that in my fantasy games as well.
I am a fan of the "teach a man how to fish" form of helping and would like assistance finding permanent ways of helping NPC's in game.
So far I have:
False Focus Feat + Bless Water = Free Holy Water for commoners facing undead. (Note that flooding the market will NOT help local clergies, so this should be used sparingly, probably... I'm not an economics expert but I agree with Momo Yaoyorozu in this regard)
Polymorph Any Object = Free +2 Strength/Dex bonus until dispelled (or potentially other bonuses depending on form)
And that's it.
Can anyone find something else for me?

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Tactician ability to allow people to "learn" feats when they are in combat. It's temporary, but role play wise it's thematically appropriate.
There is also a paladin archetype(?) That allows you to spend a certain amount of time with others to coach people and have an effect similar to Tactician.
The Well-Prepared halfling feat can potentially allow you to suddenly have any one item needed in a particular situation. Alternatively, if you're ratfolk, Pack Rat is a feat that works similarly.

Fuzzy-Wuzzy |

False Focus Feat + Bless Water = Free Holy Water for commoners facing undead. (Note that flooding the market will NOT help local clergies, so this should be used sparingly, probably... I'm not an economics expert but I agree with Momo Yaoyorozu in this regard)
The good news is, you don't have to worry about the economy for holy water!
Temples to good deities sell holy water at cost (making no profit).
The bad news is, False Focus won't work with bless water because it only exists as a divine spell.
You can use a divine focus to cast arcane spells.
Prerequisites: Knowledge (religion) 1 rank, ability to cast arcane spells.
Benefit: By using a divine focus as part of casting, you can cast any spell with a material component costing the value of that divine focus (maximum 100 gp) or less without needing that component. For example, if you use a silver holy symbol worth 25 gp, you do not have to provide material components for an arcane spell if its components are worth 25 gp or less. The casting of the spell still provokes attacks of opportunity as normal. If the spell requires a material component that costs more than the value of the divine focus, you must have the material component on hand to cast the spell, as normal.
Normal: A divine focus has no effect when used as a component in arcane spells.
I realize the first sentence of the Benefit says "any spell" not "any arcane spell," so in a very strict RAW environment (e.g. PFS) the GM may be forced to allow it to work on divine spells, but I wouldn't expect it to work with a GM who has any discretion because the intent is so clear.

Mysterious Stranger |

If you want to really help people make sure your character has the required skills and spells. The examples you gave all fall under giving a fish instead of teaching a man to fish”
Start out by making sure you have profession teacher so that you know how to actually teach someone. This may seem like something you can skip and just take ranks in the skill to be taught, but knowing how to do something and being able to teach someone how to do is not the same. Next take some ranks in other craft and professions so that you have something to teach.
Always learn or memorize the 0 level spell Mending. It is just about every spell list that includes 0 level spells, and is incredibly useful for helping people. Being able to fix a broken tool for someone is going to provide long lasting benefit with costing you anything. Sure you could buy them a new tool, but than that cash you spent is not available for other things.
Most other spells are going to provide temporary assistance but will often help.
Create Water and Purify Food and water are going to be staples. Between them they should allow you to provide basic substance to large number of people in an emergency.
Prestidigitation is also going to be something that will prove useful. Use this to make bland food more palatable. You can also use this to quickly and easily clean up an area to improve sanitation. The warming function can save lives in a cold environment, and the chilling function can also be used in hot environment. The only limit on this spell is your imagination.

Red Spirit |
"The examples you gave all fall under giving a fish instead of teaching a man to fish”
I disagree. I am merely giving them tools (see: fishing rod) such as holy water, or extra stats and attacks in order to overcome obstacles they normally couldn't. I am not solving their problems for them (see: giving a fish).
I am however greatly interested in your line of thinking. Spells that benefit the castor such as Mending, and Create Water and Purify Food and Water are some of the best ways to help NPC's suggested so far, even if those are mostly "give-a-fish" idea's.
I think we could even go further with that line of thought and extend it to spells such as stonewall, fabricate, and permanent illusions that could create shelter, places of business, advertising, and protection/security from outside threats; even to help solve common issue such as bad weather.
I will have to look at other spells because THIS is getting GOOD.
OH! Just thought of using advanced Homunculi creation rules that could act as temporary teachers that teach NPC's essential skills.
Or even just permament animated objects that could serve as bodyguards, transportation, etc... although now we are starting to get a bit expensive and therefore prohibitive.