I am looking for a secondary role for an oracle of life. I do not want to go full caster with the halfling (its an NPC) so I'm looking for ideas on how to make him a nice melee combatant. So for now I have warsighted as an archtypes that serves well but I need some help on how to go on from there. Slashing Grace? Piranha Strike? Something else?
I'd appreciate anything you can come up with :)
Wasum
Depending on level he could use a small Agile rapier.
The NPC will start at third level - so no agile weapon yet, sadly.
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If Chaotic-Good, you might be interested in Desna's Shooting Star, hence focusing only on Cha. You can get the feat for free if dipping Warpriest.
If not, or if you really want to use Dex, I still vote for starknives and Starry Grace as they can be easily used both in melee and at range. In both cases, you can buy proficiency with them with the Adopted > Varisian Tattoo trait.
If instead you prefer a more traditional melee approach, any one between Fencing Grace, Slashing Grace and Dervish Dance might work.
If not interested in multiclassing, then Fencing Grace is pretty much out of the picture, as you are not proficient in rapiers. Dervish Dance and Slashing Grace are pretty much fair feat-wise, as the former requires Martial Weapon Proficiency (Scimitar), while the latter requires Weapon Focus. Of course, Weapon Focus is more useful than the proficiency feat, therefore Slashing Grace is seems better overall. The sad thing is that the best simple weapon you can use with it is a dagger :D so in the end you have to decide between +1 to hit with a dagger (1d3, 19-20/2x, can be thrown) or a scimitar (1d4, 18-20/2x).
If instead you're willing to multiclass, a single level in Swashbuckler or Virtuous Bravo are probably your best options, and feat-wise Dervish Dance becomes the least expensive strategy feat-wise.
In all cases, consider buying an Effortless Lace so that you can use Piranha Strike on your 1h-weapon.
Finally, another option is to actually take advantage of Halflings' alternate racial trait Warslinger and fight at range using a sling.
Halflings are experts at the use of the sling. Halflings with this racial trait can reload a sling as a free action. Reloading a sling still requires two hands and provokes attacks of opportunity. This racial trait replaces sure-footed.
You don't need to invest in Str too much (10 should be enough) as you have Divine Favour and Fate's Favoured (compulsory on every combat-focused divine caster, and even more on Halflings with the Adaptable Luck alternate racial trait) and Deadly Aim to keep up your static damage. Your first 2 feats will probably be PBS and Precise Shot, or PBS and Rapid Shot.
Not to mention the cool alliteration produced by a Warsighted Warslinger!
If willing to dip a level, the simplest (and most hilarious) thing is probably just to take one level of Urban Id Rager Bloodrager with Anger Spirit. Turn it on, and you gain +6STR and free Power Attack at a cost of -2DEX. Instant warrior, no fiddling with DEX-to-damage. One Extra Rage for a good supply.
Thanks, Gray Warden - that was super helpful!