Hello hivemind. I am going to play a tiefling orc battle mistery oracle for an upcoming campaign and i am not sure about how to build my character. While the fantasy of the battle oracle is very appealing to me, the reality is that my TPC is quite low for a martial character. So i am not sure what combat style to use to counteract this weakness. So far my options are:
Khopesh/Shorsword with the Dual weapon fighter archetype. This would give me trip as an option while also allowing me to make more attacks at a lower penalty, increasing my chances to hit. It would also allow me to take Fiendish resistance at level 5.
Warhammer/Light Hammer with the Dual weapon fighter archetype. I cannot trip with them, only shove, but i can unlock the critical specialization effect at level 5.
Guisarme or Bo staff with the mauler archetype. This would be a pure tripping build. It would also be less synergic with the oracle curse, since i would most likely make only 1 attack every round instead of 2.
My master allows us a free dedication feat and i am going to play with a conjurer wizard, a tyrant champion, a bard and a swashbuckler. Do you think i am going to keep the pace with the others melee combatants in the party with the options i chose?
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No, you won't keep pace. That's kinda the price you pay for spellcasting.
That being said, the Battle Oracle is one of the casters best suited for combat. Having a (hopefully) buffing/debuffing bard around should help your performance, but it will also help the rest of the party.
Do not expect to be anywhere near as effective in combat as the martial characters. That's not going to happen. You need to switch it up with spells if you want your character to shine. That's kinda why I dislike the battle oracle's need to Strike once per turn.
Since Warpriest comes with a build-in damage bonus to each attack, going dual-wield to increase your hit chance is probably a good call. I'd go with the swords, especially if you want to trip. I wouldn't rely on a critical specialization to do so on a caster class. You'll hardly ever crit on anything but a nat20.
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I'd avoid two action attack routines like Double Slice myself because they flash with casting spells and attacking in the same turn, and that is the secret to success for a gish this addition. Don't try to imitate a martial, do your own thing.
Move >strike>strike isn't an acceptable use of a turn like it is on a barbarian. Instead, try move >harm >strike, with the harm proccing Bespell Weapon. Harm>strike>strike is better because it at least gets two Bespell swings, but there's probably a two action spell you could be casting instead which shift the fight more.
Get Heal and Harm and other 1 action does. Get spiritual weapon because it lets you make strikes at range. And try to sell your caster friends on hasting you. That extra stride or strike is just so good for you.
Honestly, I think going for a martial dedication is probably the wrong approach. That's trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. Instead, I'd consider sorcerer so you can get some more spell slots and your own access to things like true strike and haste.
Two handed weapon is the way to go, as you'll often only get one big strike in. Your choice if that is a d12 or a reach weapon. I think I'd lean reach. It can cut down on move actions you need to take and helps you avoid AoOs because you should be casting in melee. Plus, as you pointed out, you can trip. I wouldn't necessarily trip often because it doesn't help with your curse, but you have the option.
MindFl*yer98 wrote: Hello hivemind. I am going to play a tiefling orc battle mistery oracle for an upcoming campaign and i am not sure about how to build my character. While the fantasy of the battle oracle is very appealing to me, the reality is that my TPC is quite low for a martial character. So i am not sure what combat style to use to counteract this weakness. So far my options are:
Khopesh/Shorsword with the Dual weapon fighter archetype. This would give me trip as an option while also allowing me to make more attacks at a lower penalty, increasing my chances to hit. It would also allow me to take Fiendish resistance at level 5.
Warhammer/Light Hammer with the Dual weapon fighter archetype. I cannot trip with them, only shove, but i can unlock the critical specialization effect at level 5.
Guisarme or Bo staff with the mauler archetype. This would be a pure tripping build. It would also be less synergic with the oracle curse, since i would most likely make only 1 attack every round instead of 2.
My master allows us a free dedication feat and i am going to play with a conjurer wizard, a tyrant champion, a bard and a swashbuckler. Do you think i am going to keep the pace with the others melee combatants in the party with the options i chose?
Given the free archetype, I suggest you considering using the bo staff and either staff acrobat dedication and monk dedication.
Also, consider the ancestor instead of the battle one ( you won't expend spells slots on check failure ).
You will be dancing between ancestors, relying on flourish actions depends your ancestor
- Combatant > Flurry of blow + Spell
- Skill > Staff Sweep + 2 strikes or 1 spell ( or eventually, intimidate which rocks )
- Spell > Offensive/healing spell ( for the bonus ) + 1 flurry of blow or staff sweep.
You will also benefit from having +2 perma ac by your whirlwind stance ( staffacrobat ) and won't suffer a -1 AC from battle oracle. So you will have +3 AC compared to it.
You can also take some focus spell ( free archetype doesn't mean you can't take non oracle stuff with oracle feats ) from another class, in order not to rise your curse, when needed ( like the blessed one archetype and its lvl 12 reaction ).
Free archetype means plenty of possibilities.
HumbleGamer wrote: MindFl*yer98 wrote: Hello hivemind. I am going to play a tiefling orc battle mistery oracle for an upcoming campaign and i am not sure about how to build my character. While the fantasy of the battle oracle is very appealing to me, the reality is that my TPC is quite low for a martial character. So i am not sure what combat style to use to counteract this weakness. So far my options are:
Khopesh/Shorsword with the Dual weapon fighter archetype. This would give me trip as an option while also allowing me to make more attacks at a lower penalty, increasing my chances to hit. It would also allow me to take Fiendish resistance at level 5.
Warhammer/Light Hammer with the Dual weapon fighter archetype. I cannot trip with them, only shove, but i can unlock the critical specialization effect at level 5.
Guisarme or Bo staff with the mauler archetype. This would be a pure tripping build. It would also be less synergic with the oracle curse, since i would most likely make only 1 attack every round instead of 2.
My master allows us a free dedication feat and i am going to play with a conjurer wizard, a tyrant champion, a bard and a swashbuckler. Do you think i am going to keep the pace with the others melee combatants in the party with the options i chose?
Given the free archetype, I suggest you considering using the bo staff and either staff acrobat dedication and monk dedication.
Also, consider the ancestor instead of the battle one ( you won't expend spells slots on check failure ).
You will be dancing between ancestors, relying on flourish actions depends your ancestor
- Combatant > Flurry of blow + Spell
- Skill > Staff Sweep + 2 strikes or 1 spell ( or eventually, intimidate which rocks )
- Spell > Offensive/healing spell ( for the bonus ) + 1 flurry of blow or staff sweep.
You will also benefit from having +2 perma ac by your whirlwind stance ( staffacrobat ) and won't suffer a -1 AC from battle oracle. So you will have +3 AC compared to it.
You can also take some focus spell ( free archetype doesn't mean you can't take non oracle stuff with oracle feats ) from another class, in order not to rise your curse, when needed ( like the blessed one archetype and its lvl 12 reaction ). I considered the blessed one archetype, but i do not like that it competes with my curse for my focus pool, since i will want my curse to always be as high as possible in combat. Also while the staff master is excellent, it also requires 16 dex and i can't raise my stats that high without dropping my cos or my cha very low.
Captain Morgan wrote: I'd avoid two action attack routines like Double Slice myself because they flash with casting spells and attacking in the same turn, and that is the secret to success for a gish this addition. Don't try to imitate a martial, do your own thing.
Move >strike>strike isn't an acceptable use of a turn like it is on a barbarian. Instead, try move >harm >strike, with the harm proccing Bespell Weapon. Harm>strike>strike is better because it at least gets two Bespell swings, but there's probably a two action spell you could be casting instead which shift the fight more.
Get Heal and Harm and other 1 action does. Get spiritual weapon because it lets you make strikes at range. And try to sell your caster friends on hasting you. That extra stride or strike is just so good for you.
Honestly, I think going for a martial dedication is probably the wrong approach. That's trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. Instead, I'd consider sorcerer so you can get some more spell slots and your own access to things like true strike and haste.
Two handed weapon is the way to go, as you'll often only get one big strike in. Your choice if that is a d12 or a reach weapon. I think I'd lean reach. It can cut down on move actions you need to take and helps you avoid AoOs because you should be casting in melee. Plus, as you pointed out, you can trip. I wouldn't necessarily trip often because it doesn't help with your curse, but you have the option.
I can access almost every spell i need with Divine Access, including true strike, haste and Enlarge, but the idea of more spell slots sounds good. Right now i am a bit unsure if i should go with the champion dedication for the reaction, the resilience and the armor expertise or go Runescarred, so that i can get more spells ad that armor property rune.
Another good and fitting Archetype to consider is the Marshal. If you can get the Bard to focus on Inspire Defense or even better Dirge of Doom, that +1 status Bonus to attack goes a long way. Together with Dirge, it basically boosts your attack by 2, which is huge. And the bonus to saves will probably come in handy at some point.
The Archetype also comes with Attack Of Opportunity as an option, which is always very nice to have. Even more so if you go for a reach weapon and/or Trip.
It does potentially lose a bit of steam at level 11 if you really want to push your curse to Major often. I personally wouldn't do that, but it does have its merits.
Blave wrote: Another good and fitting Archetype to consider is the Marshal. If you can get the Bard to focus on Inspire Defense or even better Dirge of Doom, that +1 status Bonus to attack goes a long way. Together with Dirge, it basically boosts your attack by 2, which is huge. And the bonus to saves will probably come in handy at some point.
The Archetype also comes with Attack Of Opportunity as an option, which is always very nice to have. Even more so if you go for a reach weapon and/or Trip.
It does potentially lose a bit of steam at level 11 if you really want to push your curse to Major often. I personally wouldn't do that, but it does have its merits.
The marshal was the first one i considered, but i do not qualify. I do not have proficiency in every martial weapon.
Ah right, missed that. Well, for a human I'd say pick up weapon proficiency via ancestry feat at level 1. But for an Orc, you'd need to wait till level 3 when you get your first general feat, which may or may not fit your build. On the plus side, delaying the Dedication to level 4 means you get Inspiring Stance at 6 when the Bard (might) get Dirge of Doom. That might not be the worst thing
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MindFl*yer98 wrote: I can access almost every spell i need with Divine Access, including true strike, haste and Enlarge, but the idea of more spell slots sounds good. Right now i am a bit unsure if i should go with the champion dedication for the reaction, the resilience and the armor expertise or go Runescarred, so that i can get more spells ad that armor property rune. Good call on Divine Access. I forgot about that sweet little feat. You don't need champion for armor expertise though-- your mystery already grants that. The reaction is nice, but Oracles do already have a decent one built in with Divine Aegis. Runescarred is a very flavorful choice, though.
One asterisk I should put on my previous advice-- with gishing relying so heavily on mixing spells in, you'll want to be careful about when you go into Major Curse. I'd save it for mop up duty or when you're out of slots, myself, as there's nothing worse than having a spell that would turn the tide of battle and losing it to stupefied.
I love battle oracle as the basis for a shaman like berserker. It's really cool that paizo made a little mini barbarian in a caster package. Definitely one of my favorite mysteries from a mechanical standpoint
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