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Hi everyone! I am looking for a little advice on a character I am already playing. I would like to know what direction to possibly take this character going forward. I’m hoping this thread will function as a “Think Tank” for me.
The AP in question is Jade Regent. The character in question is a Suli Cavalier. She is a Sister-In-Arms archetype. Now the reason this was selected is because our group completed Curse of the Crimson Throne previously and she serves as a tie in to the previous game. In fact she was a captive mid brainwashing that the previous party had rescued.
The Party: Other party members include a Kitsune Monk 1 Bard 4 (exclusively going Bard from now on), a Catfolk Starsoul Sorcerer (played as a blaster), a Kitsune Bloodrager going Dragon Disciple, a Kitsune Ninja with Trapfinding trait, and a Human Shaman (Healing Hex).
As Suli is a high race point option my racial features were changed to the following. A.S.M. = +2 Str. +2 Cha. -2 Int., Type Outsider Native, and Humanoid (Human), Energy Resistance cold 5, Negotiator +2 Diplomacy and Sense Motive, Elemental Assault (cold only), Ice Walk, Darkvision 60ft, Mostly Human. *** Special GM ruling. *** As Sui did not have a special Favored Class Option listed for Cavalier, the GM ruled that ⅙ a Tactician feat would be allowed.
Current Ability Scores at level 5; Str. 16, Dex. 13, Con. 14, Int. 10, Wis. 12, Cha. 16.
Traits: Hero Worship (Shalelu), Reactionary, Carefully Hidden Drawback: Scarred
Feats: Power Attack, Outflank (Tactician), Bodyguard (Bonus), Combat Reflexes, Stand Still
Equipment: +1 Longsword, MW Chainmail, +1 Light Fortification Light Steel Shield, +1 Cloak of Resistance
Next level will be 6, which will give me my favored class bonus, I was thinking Improved Outflank. At level 7 I was considering Chain Challenge.
In general our group is struggling right now. We have had 2 deaths already. (Monk/Bard twice). Also our casters essentially completely tap themselves out of spells after a single encounter.
Thanks All!
Seems like the Teamwork feat may be better used with something like Harrying Partners to make the Monk/Bard less diey.
That being said, sounds like the party has a tactics problem mostly.
Your build is very good.
You ARE missing Combat Reflexes to get more kick out of Bodyguard (the reason why I recommended Harrying Partners).
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Ferocious Loyalty might be a bit better (or rather used more often unless you and the Ninja are constantly being able to flank) and thematic.
Don't know if there's a tactics problem or if the encounters are just overtuned to account for 6 people without more info.
You seem pretty committed to this build but I have to ask if you've looked into the Masked Maiden Vigilante archetype. I personally don't like tactician or teamwork feats but I haven't really tried it. Also the Gray Maiden Iniate feat sounds exaclty like what your character is. The benefits are kind of mediocre but Gray Maiden Endurance and Faceless Maiden can be useful.
Imperfect Control can be hit or miss (more miss with a bard in the party) but FreePlate is free and armor training is always cool. It doesn't say if she gets advanced armor training but the alternate armor training options as well as some vigilante talents can be interesting.
Real Gray Maidens are just 8th level fighters with bastard swords. I think the vigilante keeps this theme better than the cavalier. There is also the Sanguine Angel prestige class that builds directly off of fighters and possibly barbarians. The Masked Maiden would be able to prestige into this easily enough and benefit from continued armor training progression. Just some options to consider.
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Well I wasn't looking to re-spec the character. Maybe if she dies and get Reincarnated, at least that way it will feel more natural. The question was more regarding, "What should I do going forward?"
I am the parties main tank. Going Vigilante would be a pretty hard respec. Also Jade Regent is mostly an over-land travel AP, meaning Vigilante has less value.
Tactically our group is a mess. That's the biggest problem. Our Bloodrager is going Dragon Disciple, wanting the late game multi-attacks. But that means he doesn't ever overcome DR. The Sorc. is a blaster style without Precise Shot and struggles to figure out her Concentration when put on the spot. So she rarely gets her spells off, when she does she seldom hits anyways, and when she does hit she deals little damage. The Shaman almost exclusively heals. Our enemies never seem to miss an attack against us, so he is always just trying to keep us alive. Our ninja's build doesn't come online until he gets the ninja trick that gives him Greater Invisibility. Our Monk/Bard is a first time Bard and really unsure what he should be doing in most combats, (likely why she dies).
Ultimately we have low to-hit and low damage (a bad combo for sure), but also low AC, saves and healing. Each combat is a lengthy war of attrition burning all our casters spells. Add to that fact that gold is divided 6 ways instead of the AP's intended 5, and we slump behind in out equipment benchmarks.