Can this investigator shine at low level?

[Aleister VII]

Hey there! I was making an investigator build for no special reason and was wondering how good can it be from level 1 to 3 or just level 1 since he won't get studied combat until level 4 and mutagen until 2 (if I don't take another talent)

So far he is an human, with 14 str, 14 dex, 12 con, 18 int, 10 wis and 8 cha, his feats are fast learner and medium armor proficincy, the idea is get as many skills as possible since he will be the skill monkey of the party, fast learner gives me both 1hp and a skill rank per level from the favored class, it looks like a nice deal to me and medium armor gives him decent AC and lets me forget about dex, the point is that he can survive at melee, be the most freaking skill monkey and be capable of help in battle if just a little.

He is also an empiricist and will become quite sad from level 2, one of his traits is student of philosophy so he can be the face too the other trait is left blank in case the GM ask for a campaing trait or so, the weapon of choice is sword cane for flavor even if rapier is a better option and after he gets both mutagen and studied combat he'll be just fine in combat, I'm just worried for his first level.

So any suggestion? Are the feats okay or I should pick something else like toughness?

[CopperWyrm]

I'm not the biggest fan of Toughness.

If you're going to use a sword cane, consider getting the Improvised Defense trait for use with the combat scabbard that is the "cane" part of the cane sword. This would boost AC during the first few levels.

[Aleister VII]

That's a cool idea, never considered that trait but I plan to pick a masterwork buckler at level 3 or so, do the shield bonuses stack?

[CopperWyrm]

No, different bonuses never stack unless specific exceptions are given, such as dodge bonuses. The only other exception would be when the technical wording make it stack. For example, a +1 Natural Armor bonus and a +1 enhancement bonus to Natural Armor stack.

[Aleister VII]

Makes sense x.x it would be too good of they stack

[avr]

Investigators at really low level (1-2 for sure, maybe 3) aren't good in a fight. It's just the way they are; getting the toughness feat won't change that. One fix is to multiclass a level into something which is good in a fight at first level, like swashbuckler (the most common; nicknamed 'swashtigator'), barbarian, bloodrager, or maybe slayer.

[PCScipio]

I'm not a fan of an 18 int for an investigator. I think it's overkill — you'll be the best at skills by far, even with a 14 or 16 in Int. Another option, besides the Swashtigator, is a high strength build using a longspear and Combat Reflexes. For example:

Dual-Talent Human Empiricist

18 Str
12 Dex
14 Con
16 Int
10 Wis
8 Cha

Feat: Combat Reflexes
Traits: Student of Philosophy, one other
FCB: Hit points

[Derklord]

Aleister VII wrote:

the point is that he can survive at melee, be the most freaking skill monkey

Are you sure you want to do that? Skill monkey is a term from past versions of D&D to justify why one would ever take a crap class like a Rogue. It's not a thing that actually has any reason to exist in Pathfinder, not the least because the skill system works fundamentally different. In your average Pathfinder campaign, skill checks aren't important enough to warrent focussing your character on. Especially not if there's some spellcasting (including alchemy) in the party. Remember, you're not the only one in the party with skill ranks; there is no need or reason to have one character exclusively handle all skill checks.

Aleister VII wrote:

Are the feats okay or I should pick something else like toughness?

If you would have taken the skill rank for FC bonus anyway, Fast Learner does the same as Toughness, only without the early level boost. The feat does not grant you any skill ranks you wouldn't normally get. There is a feat that grants additional skill ranks (Cunning), but I really don't think that's what you need.

[MrCharisma]

On the other hand, you can focus on skills and eventually (by level 9 if not earlier) your class features can carry you through combats even if you invest in INT, so why not play the skill monkey if you want to.

I will say that for a skill-monkey Investigator I prefer Half-Elves for their favoured class bonus.

[Mark Hoover 330]

With the stats and level 1 feats you suggest, your character will be fine at level 1. BAB 0, Str +2 means you have a sword cane +2 (1d6 +2) melee attack. For ranged attack you could either go sling +2 (1d4 +2) for the Str bonus or shortbow +2 (1d6) for better range and faster ammo use; at shorter range you could throw spears or flasks of Acid. The average CR 1 monster has a 12 AC and 15 HP, so that means you have a 55% chance to hit with any of your weapon attacks and since you only need to deliver 1/4 of 15 damage, or 3.75 avg damage on a successful hit and all of your weapon attacks do that or more (except a splash weapon that only deals avg 3.5, but close enough), so you're good.

Now let's look at alchemy.

I'm not talking about your extracts, I'm literally talking about Craft: Alchemy. With 1 rank spent you've got Craft: Alchemy +9 walking in the door at level 1. Take 10 means you've got a 19, nearly enough to craft just about every alchemical item in PF. You might not be fully stocked at character creation, but after a couple encounters, if you live long enough to make it back to civilization you've got the cash to start making things, maybe even get yourself a portable lab or other masterwork tools.

Downtime, money and settlements are your best friends at low levels. With a bit of time and some cash, and the ability to take 10 and hit at least a DC 20, you're looking at Acid Flasks, Smokesticks and Weapon Blanche. You can be dropping greases around, tossing cheap 1d4 Fire damage lamp oil flasks, and masking your party's scent if need be.

Last night, against a CR 11 black dragon, an investigator 7/wizard 2 pulled out a common Tanglefoot bag and made that monstrosity burn its Standard action for a round, buying the party enough time to regroup, heal up and ready themselves for the next round of full attacks.

You will not "shine" in combat, not for a while, based on your damage alone. But at low levels, between your Extracts and the alchemical items you can craft quick and for cheap, you can be a pretty good Battlefield Controller. Then, when your 2 squares of smoke gives a party member Concealment or when YOUR Tanglefoot bag slows the big, lumbering brute down for a round, your party will lift a grateful tankard of ale in your honor!

[Aleister VII]

Thanks for the imput guys, I think I'll go half elf now n.n