Lets have a conversation about Solarians. Now in the pact worlds, most Solarians follow the Cycle philosophy, correct? So what are the different Solarian "builds" that are most effective in the game? Can you have a pure Wisdom Solarian? A pure Strength one? What about a Dexterity build?
Are they martial artists first? Thus the question of a pure Wisdom Solarian. Can you build a martial artist/doctor Solarian?
I'm not sure how you would build a pure wisdom solarian. The class doesn't use it for anything but will save and a few skills.
I've seen shooty builds prioritizing DEX, 'caster' builds around CHA, and the seemingly default melee build prioritizing STR.
I'm not sure what you would be doing with a high wisdom?
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I know of five 'builds' (and I'm using that term loosely) for Solarians that look to work pretty well, overall.
In no particular order...
1. Blitz-larian. 1 or 3 level dip in Blitz Soldier paired with Weapon Solarian. Use Blitz for boost to speed, init, heavy armor prof, and set Str as your primary stat (and maxed) with Cha at 12-16 depending on race and desired starting Dex. Works very well as a melee frontliner.
2. Power-larian. Weapon Solarian. Start with a 13 Strength and as much Charisma as you can. Deal with not hitting all that often but dealing massive amounts of damage (thanks to Soulfire) when you do. At 5th level, take Power Armor Prof and use that to keep your strength effectively maxed (or near enough). Very potent. Pairs well with Korasha Lashunta (they can start 13/14/18 Str/Dex/Cha and at 5th be 18/16/21).
3. Straight up Weapon Solarian. This one is harder to pull off, but you can try for a 14/14/14 or 16/14/14 as your starting Str/Dex/Cha. You don't hit as hard as the other options long term, but you still hit hard enough to be a beast in combat.
4. Claw-larian. Armor Solarian paired with race with a natural attack, max strength, treat dex as secondary and use Cha only for enough Resolve to survive the first couple levels. Can also throw in a level of Blitz for Str as primary stat, but less useful since you don't want heavy armor. From levels 1-3 use an advanced melee weapon. At 4th-ish and higher switch to Unarmed Strikes using Improved Unarmed Strike feat and a Ring of Fangs. DPR is around the same or higher than it is with Weapon Solarian up until ~12. (But since most AP's stop there anyway...)
5. Shot-larian. Armor Solarian + Long arm proficiency. Max Dex and use rifle shots paired with crowd control and other 'fun' stellar revelations. Charisma is only for Resolve and social skills. Can be paired with 1-3 level dip in Operative or Sharpshooter Soldier for ranged attack benefits and Dex for Resolve, but not needed.
I have or have seen all of the above work out pretty dang well in actual play. Though, in all cases, especially at low levels, getting up in someone's face is expensive. Every surviving solarian I've seen has a card from 'Mk1 Healing Serums Anonymous' right up until level 4 or 5 (if not higher).
I've seen shooty builds prioritizing DEX, 'caster' builds around CHA, and the seemingly default melee build prioritizing STR.
I'm not sure what you would be doing with a high wisdom?
Teaching other Solarians of course.
Teaching other Solarians of course.I've seen shooty builds prioritizing DEX, 'caster' builds around CHA, and the seemingly default melee build prioritizing STR.
I'm not sure what you would be doing with a high wisdom?
Pretty sure profession (solarian) is a CHA skill...
In SFS play I'm having fun with a Str 14/Dex 14/Cha 14 starting solar armor solarian (created before the armory came out and thus before soulfire was a thing).
Recently made it to 5th level, and have become surprisingly tanky with DR 5 (Enhanced Resistance feat), Fire or Cold Resistance 5, and Electrical or Sonic resistance 5/10 and reasonable AC in light armor. Fleet + Stellar Rush + reach weapon makes for a highly maneuverable melee striker with a bit of area control at low levels. Bought Climbing suckers at level 2 for some extra fun before jet packs become common.
Damage is less than an armory enabled Solar Weapon Solarian, but still does melee damage. Plan to transition to an Icestar Staff around 7th with Multi-weapon fighting feat combined with Flashing strikes for EAC targeting full attacks at only -2 to hit. The full attacks at least should put out close to expected damage to a Solar weapon Solarian using soulfire, depending on enemy AC.
In a campaign I'm playing in, there's another player focusing on charisma first, then constitution, then strength to be a "tougher" solarian (more resolve + more stamina + power armor eventually). It is working out well (certainly they were standing in situations where the more traditional 14 Dex would have been taking a dirt nap). Although we have a Mystic the party, we just brewed up a batch of 20 Mk I healing potions just for him.
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I'm an armor solarian with a one level dip in Sharpshooter Solarian for Heavy Weapon proficiency. I just hit level 5 so I got my Power Armor proficiency. Solarian armor doesn't stack with Heavy Armor, but says nothing about Power Armor so I'm good there. The plan is using Blazing Orbit and a Cathode Cannon with the continuous fusion to do battlefield denial tactics.
But yeah, couldn't find much use for wisdom.
Solarian armor doesn't stack with Heavy Armor, but says nothing about Power Armor so I'm good there.
"It is compatible with light armor, but it gives you no benefit if you’re wearing heavy armor."
It's true that it doesn't say that it works or doesn't work with Powered Armor, but I expect most GMs to rule that it doesn't work.
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Solarian armor doesn't stack with Heavy Armor, but says nothing about Power Armor so I'm good there."It is compatible with light armor, but it gives you no benefit if you’re wearing heavy armor."
It's true that it doesn't say that it works or doesn't work with Powered Armor, but I expect most GMs to rule that it doesn't work.
In a home game possibly. Though most of those I home-game with would let it work anyways. But this is a society character so it works as written.
What's less clear is stacking of armor mod slots on my light armor + the power armor, but that's a discusion for another thread.
But this is a society character so it works as written.
RAW, nothing's said. RAI, it doesn't work. So, it doesn't work for a Society game either, unless you have a very nice GM.
On my table, it'd be a no.
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It also says nothing on when you're wearing no armor at all, yet the description seems clear that it should apply there.
In any case, I'm wearing Light Armor while in the power armor (and using the worse penalty for each per page 203). Solar Armor is declared compatible with light armor. It doesn't improve the armor itself - it gives an enhancement bonus to my armor class. Thus even though I use the higher EAC and KAC bonuses from the power armor, the enhancement bonus and resistance bonuses still apply.
Does anyone actually get an even mix of Graviton and Photon powers and cycle between attunements?
Most people I see are balanced. But that's anecdotal, obvs.
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Does anyone actually get an even mix of Graviton and Photon powers and cycle between attunements?
I don't. My Solarian is a Charisma 8 android who goes into photon mode for Corona and doesn't even try to explode.
I've mostly ignored graviton powers because many of them are easily duplicated with a jetpack or have horrible action economy (spend my standard to make someone else maybe fail a save and move closer? I'd rather move up to them and attack this round).
So I get the unbalanced attunement, but I don't care because I'm not planning to nova, because that turns off the Plasma Sheath and Corona I spent time turning on. All this stuff ending when you go nova is really cramping my style.
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Constructive Interference is a solid Graviton power for an Armor Solarian, even if you're mostly Photon. Pretty much always on, and twice as strong while attuned (Either - it doesn't say graviton attuned). Yes, you can duplicate it through an armor mod, but this is free. Well, not quite - there's an opportunity cost of not picking a different power. But there's not that many other great powers out there either.
Does anyone actually get an even mix of Graviton and Photon powers and cycle between attunements?I don't. My Solarian is a Charisma 8 android who goes into photon mode for Corona and doesn't even try to explode.
I've mostly ignored graviton powers because many of them are easily duplicated with a jetpack or have horrible action economy (spend my standard to make someone else maybe fail a save and move closer? I'd rather move up to them and attack this round).
So I get the unbalanced attunement, but I don't care because I'm not planning to nova, because that turns off the Plasma Sheath and Corona I spent time turning on. All this stuff ending when you go nova is really cramping my style.
Heeey! 8 Charisma Android Solarian buddies!
You ever spend the first few rounds of combat surreptitiously urging everyone to get to cover and avoid engaging just yet so you have the time to get your buffs rolling?
Have you ever opened a door, rolled initiative, and closed it to the same effect?
I've built a weapon solarion with heavy armor and a lot of STR. He's a Sarenrae Worshipper who was once a Knight of Golarion.