
Rennydar |

Hello,
I am currently playing a class called Witcher, https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Ka6xc5qAGr4K4K-fGiCQAaKPtXr0N-5fawYYcm6 d9oU/edit
I was wondering, whats the largest possible AC achievable at lvl 5 with 10k gold?
Its somewhat problematic for me since I cant wear a shield, other than a buckler, so I was wondering if I am maybe missing something.

Chell Raighn |

I can’t open the link, it says file does not exist...
Anyways, highest AC possible at level 5 depends on a few factors.
Dex modifier, at level 5 is most likely no higher than a +6
Armor proficiency, Mithral Breastplate is one of the better options with +6 ac +5Dex
Anyways here’s your best options for AC with 10k
Ring of Protection +1 (2,000)
Amulet of natural armor +1 (2,000)
+1 Buckler (1,155)
+1 Mithral Shirt (2,100)
That will net you +9 AC with a max dex of 6 and a little over 2k to spare
If your looking to maximize your bonus on a budget, buy the little bonuses first, it is cheaper to get a combined +2 bonus from two items than to buy a single +2 item. In fact you can get 4 +1 bonuses for the cost of a single +2 bonus.

snelss0 |

As Chell stated, your file doesn't exist, or isn't open to the public.
If by AC, you mean, purely armor class, Chell's options are good.
If you mean by avoiding a hit, here is another option to consider:
Snake Style: Boost your Sense Motive!
Feats: Improved Unarmed, Skill Focus, Snake Style, Alertness
Maximum 43AC (20rolled+23)
[+2 snake style + 5 ranks + 6 wisdom + 3 class bonus + 3 skill focus + 2 alertness + 2 suspicious trait + Roll]
Uncanny Dodge or One Mind (Teamwork) feats help keep your readiness. Good perception and high Initiative also helps.
A familiar, depending on the class can give you both alertness and a +4 initiative. As I stated, I'm not able to view it so that's the best advice I can give atm.

Cevah |

Hello,
I am currently playing a class called Witcher, Pathfinder Witcher
I was wondering, whats the largest possible AC achievable at lvl 5 with 10k gold?
Its somewhat problematic for me since I cant wear a shield, other than a buckler, so I was wondering if I am maybe missing something.
Fixed link.
Don't forget feats like Dodge. It gives a +1. There may also be a trait or two to help.
At 4th level, he gets mutagens. He could make one for dex and get +2 NA and +4 Dex (for another +2 to AC) while it lasts.
/cevah

Temperans |
Obsyluth Guile gives a dodge bonus = charisma vs a single target for just 1 feat.
Outslug Style gives a + 1 to AC and Atk with a weapon from the close weapon group and it requires other feats.
Armor/Shield Focus is a straight +1 to AC.
Combat Expertise gives 1 +1 every 4 BAB with an equal penalty to attack. But the Crane Style feats reduces the penalty, increases the bonus and let's you deflect attacks.
Shield Gauntlet Style let's you treat one of your gauntlets (that are not attacking or holding a weapon) as a buckler. Shield Gauntlet Master let's you attack without losing the bonus and any enchantment bonuses count as Shield enchantment bonuses.
A dip into Spear Fighter gives Dodge as a bonus feat in addition to the 1st lv feat. But you cant use heavy armor or shields.

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With a Dex-based stat, it is quite easy to get to a decent AC. If you want to maximise it, while still keeping an acceptable damage output, I would go with this build:
Race: Human
Stats: 10 18+2 12 10 14 7 (or 7 18+2 12 12 15 7 if you don't mind being wimpy)
Traits: Aldori Caution, Empathic Diplomat, Affable, [Drawback]
Feats:
1 Dodge, Improved Unarmed Strike, Weapon Finesse
3 Dervish Dance
5 Crane Style
once you can afford a Perfectionist Shavtoosh (4461gp) you can retrain to:
1 Dodge, Piranha Strike, Weapon Finesse
3 Dervish Dance
5 Crane Style
If retrain is not allowed, simply pick Piranha Strike at 7th level and do not buy the Shavtoosh.
Skills: 3 Acrobatics, 2 Perform(Dance), 5 Diplomacy, 5 Perception. Remaining 10 ranks wherever you want (1 rank in each of the important Knowledge, Sense Motive...)
Equip:
Tactically Adapted[Blocking] Mwk Scimitar (2315gp)
+1 Darkleaf Cloth Studded Leather (1775gp)
+1 Buckler (1155gp)
+1 Amulet of Natural Armor (2000gp)
+1 Ring of Deflection (2000gp)
[Effortless Lace (1500gp)]
Total = 9245gp (The Effortless Lace is only needed once you get Piranha Strike and was not included in the total)
While fighting defensively (-2 to hit), with a Dex Mutagen on, your AC will be:
AC = 10 + 4 (Armor) + 2 (Shield) + 7 (Dex) + 3 (Natural) + 1 (Deflection) + 1 (Dodge) + 6 (Fighting Defensively*) = 34
*Fighting Defensively = + 2 (base) + 1 (Crane Style) + 1 (Blocking Scimitar) + 1 (3 ranks in Acrobatics) + 1 (Aldori Caution) = + 6
The -2 to hit is not a problem for you given your huge attack bonus (full BAB and max Dex). You also use Dex to hit and damage, and get to use Piranha Strike with your Scimitar. Finally, the Empathic Diplomat and Affable traits let you use Wis to Diplomacy, now class skill, as I believe Witchers should be good at gathering info and mediating.
You can probably get +2 or so more to your AC if you sacrifice offensive feats, but then I think the character will just become unplayable.
Things you can do later on to improve your AC:
- Buy a +2/4/6 Belt of Dex.
- Buy a Dusty Rose Prism Ioun Stone (5000gp) for +1 insight.
- Buy a Celestial Armor (22400gp, although it will eventually become obsolete too).
- Upgrade Armor, Shield, Amulet of Natural Armor and Ring of Protection.
- Get a Protector Familiar (Bodyguard adds +2 to AC via Aid Another)
If you get a Protector familiar:
- Buy a +N Benevolent Armor to your familiar to increase the bonus from Aid Another by +N.
- Buy a Ring of Tactical Precision (11000gp) to increase the bonus from Aid Another by an extra +1, and maybe benefit from a Teamwork Feat that someone else in the party picked.
Not specifically AC-related: buy a Lesser Cloak of Displacement to benefit from a constant 20% miss chance.

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Piranha Strike doesn't work with a Scimitar, so unless there's something I'm missing in there you'd need 13 STR for Power Attack. 13 isn't that high, so it should be doable - drop DEX by 1 point and you should be fine (and it shouldn't change your DEX modifier at level 5).
It does with an Effortless Lace.

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Another thing you can do at mid-high levels, if you have a Druid in the party:
- Ask him to cast a couple of Extended Barkskin (a Rod of Extend Spell is only 3000gp) and Greater Magic Fang on you during the day. If he does not want to do it for free, buy him a couple of Pearl of Powers II (4000gp) and one III (9000gp)
- Buy an Animal Mask (2700gp, Wolf?)
- Buy a Defending Amulet of Mighty Fists (4000gp)
Barkskin removes the need for an Amulet of Natural Armor: at 12th level it would already give +5 AC for 8 hours*, and a +5 amulet would actually cost 50000gp, much more than what you would spend on everything listed above.
At the same level, Greater Magic Fang adds +3 enhancement bonus to your Bite (that you would get via Animal Mask). Now, every time you full-attack, you can make your Bite Defending, meaning that you would lose that bonus from hit/damage and add it to your AC, effectively having +3 AC. This bonus then grows automatically up to a +5 without you having to do anything else.
*Two casts, extended.

Cellion |

Just glanced at the witcher class and I am fondly reminded why 3pp/homebrew tends to be no-no for me.
What, you don't like full BAB classes with mutagen AND studied target that get to throw around swift-action multi-target daze effects? :D
Really though, 3pp/homebrew just requires a very good understanding of game design from the GM so they can tell if an option is going to be problematic or unbalanced vs. the other content they're allowing.

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Really though, 3pp/homebrew just requires a very good understanding of game design from the GM so they can tell if an option is going to be problematic or unbalanced vs. the other content they're allowing.
Looking at sources within Paizo Publishing limits is one thing, reading the whole 3pp/homebrew is another, and it's a no for me for that only reason (not even counting others). If it makes sense for the character, I might allow it on a case-by-case basis, but the player shouldn't take it for granted.
Using the word "just" in that context is grossly underestimating the amount of extra work it requires. Also there's seeing what the players can compromise on, instead of being allowed to do exactly what they want.

Corvo Spiritwind |

Corvo Spiritwind wrote:Just glanced at the witcher class and I am fondly reminded why 3pp/homebrew tends to be no-no for me.What, you don't like full BAB classes with mutagen AND studied target that get to throw around swift-action multi-target daze effects? :D
Really though, 3pp/homebrew just requires a very good understanding of game design from the GM so they can tell if an option is going to be problematic or unbalanced vs. the other content they're allowing.
My thinking is. "There's so few worthwhile 3pp and so many bad, that it's easier for everyone to just ban them."