Character dilemma

[Alasanii]

Simply put, we have a Druid a sorcerer and a two weapon fighter. I am at a cross roads, do I go reach cleric to support and be a second frontliner, or do I go skald and help give others more umph in combat along with anything we summon in and the druids pet. 25 point buy and the pc will be a half-orc.

Thanks for the advice in advance
Cheers

[Cavall]

Skald would be support and second frontline too so sounds like you're getting everything in skald. Go there.

[Lelomenia]

Is the druid planning to melee?

[MrCharisma]

Cavall wrote:

Skald Cleric would be support and second frontline too so sounds like you're getting everything in skald cleric. Go there.

Honestly either one works for everything you want.

Play what's fun. Is there one you haven't tried before? Play that one.

[DeathlessOne]

Quote:

... do I go reach cleric to support and be a second frontliner, or do I go skald and help give others more umph in combat along with anything we summon...

Why not do both with the Skald? A Skald can easily make use of a reach weapon, pick up combat reflexes, and with the right archetype you can even pick up Channel Energy (see Sunsinger). Channel Energy won't be necessary if you pick up the right rage powers (Lesser Celestial Totem) and the right spells (Path of Glory and the lesser variants).

Personally, I love the 6th level casters and find Clerics to be ... meh. Just a matter of personal taste, is all.

[Sysryke]

Play what you love first and always if you can. I've done both a skald and cleric, and either can be fun. Whichever is developing as a storied character in you mind is the one I'd choose.

If mechanical considerations come into play though, you have to ask yourself (beyond what you've already covered) what "job" you want to do, and what the party needs. If you all tend to rely heavily on healing magics and the druid isn't going to pick those up, classic cleric is the better natural healer. If you all play a bit more tactically or just don't care, then the wider skill set of the skald becomes more appealing. I know every party doesn't have to be the "classic four", but it is nice to have a scout/trap finder/skill monkey type. If nothing else, the bardic side of skald should line you up better for knowledges.

[DeathlessOne]

If I take a closer look at the potential group, I tend to lean more and more to the Skald. The Druid, Sorcerer and Fighter are not swinging around ample skill points. Cleric is going to share the same limits on skill points.

If you are worried about being able to heal your allies as a Skald, feel free to PM me. I can share a build that will more than cover that aspect of the game, short of certain condition removal. I'll just need to know what sources you have access to.

[Lelomenia]

Skald checks a lot of boxes, but i’m never going to recommend it unless there’s at least two others (including animal companions) who want a strength boost. Here, not necessarily clear anyone is attacking with Str; even the fighter, two weapon fighting kinda pushes toward a dex build. Urban Skald could also work depending on group, just saying more information would be useful because Skald is the class where it’s most important to know other people’s builds.

[Alasanii]

Thanks for the replies. Looks like the druid is going to be a Goliath Druid archetype. And the fighter is only taking enough DeX to get the feats. Like the thought about skill points. Healing seems to be our only issue but we can grab wands of cute light pretty quick. Seems like you have helped me with my dilemma. Appreciate the help. Half orc skald seems to be the winner. As to those that say play the one you haven't played before....I haven't played either class before so that was part of the dilemma. I have seen others in my groups play clerics, but never seen a skald played before so. Here goes I guess.

[Sysryke]

I love sonic damage with bardic/skald types. I know direct damage spells are sub-par for most number crunchers; but, if you want a few for flavor (depending on what your group allows) there are some great 3pp sonic spells you can find on d20pfsrd.

If you want to wade in a bit more, the barbarian side of skald makes that pretty fun and doable too. I did a full orc skald (acutally gestalted with shaman) and he was one of the best characters I ever had.