I dunno if I have a favourite build, I like to do different things with each new character. Generally though my favourite playatyle is something on the front-line.
I'm really enjoying my Haunt Collector Occultist in Carrion Crown, she's gone Transmutation, Abjuration, Conjuration, Divination. She's respectable in melee with VERY little invested into it, and has enough tricks to handle most unusual situations that come up - as you say, an absurd amount of Versatility.
Back in AD&D times it was possible to play a Gestalt-like triple class of fighter, wizard ("mage"?) and rogue ("thief", meh). At least in Baldur's Gate II, if you chose half-elf. I played through the entire game and its expansion with such a character. The progression was slower than single class or double class, but not that much.
Pathfinder allows you to emulate it, enough tools are already in the CRB. I took the three base classes but augmented them with arcane trickster and eldritch knight as much as possible, to effectively advance two base classes at once. I tried to keep everything in balance, and ended up with effective base class levels of fighter 8 & wizard 9 & rogue 9 at character level 20. Meaning 5th-level spells, Greater Weapon Focus and 5d6 sneak attack. Mithril fullplate should work well thanks to Arcane Armor Mastery, armor training I and solid Dex. Of course there is still room for improvement, by different priorities and due to post-CRB character options.
Still it was the most satisfying build I ever planned. Maybe because it brought back fond memories, maybe because it fits my playstyle, maybe because of the mental exercise. Ironically, it never made it to a table, but (IIRC) it was the one I finished the Kingmaker computer game with. Who knows, in 20 years it might get its third run, in another computer game...
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Regardless of game edition ranger/rogue/scout has historically been my favorite PC, followed closely by paladin. That being said, I had the most fun in PF1E with my mystic theurge and my magus.
Whenever I start a new edition, my first character is a paladin. Its just a thing I do. I am a fantasy hero at heart and I like to test-drive the alignment system to see what changes have been made.
Favorite build that I have played would probably be Variel...
Elf
1. Inspired Blade Swashbuckler
2-5. Kata Master-MoMS Monk
6. Hooded Champion Ranger
7-12. Kensai Magus
He had Panache with his Rapier, Unarmed Strikes, and Longbow. He could interchange Panache, Ki, and Arcane Pool. Had Charisma, Intellignce, and Wisdom all contributing to his combined Pools. Dex and Intelligence and Wisdom to AC. Opportune Parry & Riposte, as well as Panther Parry and Crane Riposte.
With a minor Cloak of Displacement, he went his last 3 levels without taking damage was retired at level 12.
Variel is not my favorite character, but the way everything came together for that build, it is definitely up there for builds I have played.
I am really liking Vash, my Noble Drow Arcane Duelist Bard. And my favorite character ever was Hbob, a Kobold Cleric/UnMonk gestalt.
As far as my favorite all time build? Well that goes to Ryze Kuja's Mystic Theurge Necromancer...
1-4. JuJu Oracle
5-7. Gravewalker Witch
8-9. Mystic Theurge
10-14. Agent of the Grave
15-20. Mystic Theurge
At 20:
BAB +10
Base Saves +8/+7/+14
Spontaneous Casting (Oracle):
CL 16, 8th level spells
Prepared Casting (Witch):
CL 11, 6th level spells
You can have over 250HD of Undead. Legit.
Gadrick Fain is my favorite all-rounder I've had the pleasure of playing through all of Carrion Crown.
I think my fave build I've ever played was my half-orc weapon and shield inquisitor. Spells, knowledges, intimidate out the wazoo, judgement for whatever I needed to shore up in any given fight, using quick draw to get the benefits of attacking two handed on my turn while having the ac from a quickdraw light shield off turn.
Dex build Knifemaster TWF rogue, then any one of a number of ways of gaining greater invisibility.
Like MrCharisma, I prefer to explore different things with new characters. However, I lean toward variations of [fighter or ranger]* 1/wizard** 6/eldritch knight 2/arcane archer 3/eldritch knight +8 as one of the more capable and versatile types of characters: good to strong in combat (archers in general are pretty powerful, ends up with +17 BAB, and Imbue Arrow can be literally game-changing), good to strong with magic (wizard spell list, ends up with 9th-level spells, and being an effective archer allows a more efficient use of spells), and generally decent or better with skills (Int-based caster to give extra skill points).
*- or some other full BAB class with proficiency in all martial weapons
**- or ganzi (Weaponplay oddity) arcanist 6/eldritch knight 3/arcane archer 4/eldritch knight +7, but this may not be as flexible for fitting in with a given campaign
The problem using Weaponplay Ganzi as your means of achieving Martial Weapon Proficiency as prerequisite to Eldritch Knight, is you end up with the arrmor proficiencies of your spellcasting class... likely, none.
Weaponplay Ganzi Eldritch Knight
20pt buy (w/ racials):
15,15,12,14,10,9
Wizard
1. TWF
3. Weapon Focus Earthbreaker
4. Stat Bump: Str +1 (16)
5. Weapon Focus Klar
Eldritch Knight
6. Thunder and Fang
It is a hilariously squishy knight, eldritch or not...
At 6:
BAB +3
Base Saves +2/+1/+4
CL 5, 3rd level spells
@VoodistMonk: You did notice the characters in my post were archers and not front-liners (or even switch-hitters), as well as casters subject to spell failure in armor, didn't you?
Although, once they gain access to some of the better polymorph spells, they can be somewhat effective as switch hitters.
I did notice how both your builds had Arcane Archer. I just posted the Thunder and Fang Eldritch Knight because it is freaking funny to me, honestly.
I seem to have a lot of dex based melee characters.
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A Halfling with the Resourceful, Small Quarter Ally, and Underfoot alternative racial features... Arcane Healer-Geisha Bard, VMC Monk...
The whole idea is to abuse, I mean use, the Tea of Transference alchemical item and the Ki Channel feat to essentially have infinite Bardic Performance, Channel Energy, Ki, and Spell Slots of 4th level or lower... craft lots of scrolls, since you get Scribe Scroll for "free".
Worship Irori, wear the Bodywraps of Mighty Strikes, Monk's Robes, and a Necklace of Ki Serenity to get the full set benefits.
The Resourceful alternative racial feature counts as Catch Off-Guard/Throw Anything for prerequisites, so Shikigami Style/Mimicry/Manipulation will have to work for everything your small-sized, somewhat delayed Unarmed Strike damages cannot handle.
Be Helpful, Insprire Courage, have tea parties with your friends. She makes a fantastic cohort.
Pretty sure you can stack Sound Striker on there, too... if you need her to bring a little more offense to the table.
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Snakebite Striker Brawler gestalt with Eldritch Scrapper Sorcerer. Take the Serpentine Bloodline.
Snakebite Striker gives up the Brawler's Martial Flexibility, but Eldritch Scrapper Sorcerer gets a reduced version of Martial Flexibility that will have to do.
The Serpentine/Envenomed Bloodline offers Skill Focus Bluff as a Bloodline Feat to help with all your feinting shenanigans, and literally offers a snake's bite attack... if you want to take the whole Snakebite Striker theme to the max.
You are full BAB, all good saves, and a 9th level spontaneous caster. You have Brawler's Flurry, Sneak Attack, Martial Flexibility, and oh yeah 9th level Sorcerer spells...
At level 20 you can take Feral Combat Training to Flurry with your Serpent's Fangs... since you can now use them as often as you want due to Scaled Soul. It's as thematic as it is hilarious.
My favorite build is a Skald (Sunsinger) that uses a reach weapon, and focuses on supporting the group with rage powers, bardic masterpieces, utility spells and a secondary focus in healing (Selective Healing/Purifying Channel). If allowed, VMC into Paladin for even more tanky-ness. Only four feats you need: Lingering Performance, Combat Reflexes, Selective Channel, and Purifying Channel. Aside from that, pick up Extra Channel. Or go with VMC Magus if you want more direct damage. Or don't VMC at all.
Wizard3/Rogue1/ArcaneTrickster10-->WizardX, w/ Maxed-out Stealth and "anti-detection" feats/items and Hellcat Stealth
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My current favorite build is:
traits: surprise weapon, dockside brawler (or Magical Knack Sorcerer)
Far Strike Monk 2: for evasion, shikigami style, shikigami mimicry, catch off guard, and quick draw. Four feats with 2 levels. (unchained for BAB and HP, old style for saves)
3rd level: tattooed sorcerer: For familiar, +1 CL with evocation mage tattoo, 3rd level feat: throw anything.
4-20th level: exploiter wizard; start with dimensional glide exploit, 5th feat level shikigami manipulation.
Now you are a full caster with a 6d6 sledge melee/thrown weapon. Or you can use a wand to poke people for 2d6 damage. Or a rod for 3d6. They count as magical, and the eclipsed rod or merciful rod is the cheapest 3d6+4 weapon in the game at 1500 gp. You can enlarge person to up that to 4d6+4 (+ str boost) if you want.
You end up with double 1st level spells (basically) - a 4d6+4 shocking grasp from the sorcerer side. If you, at 9th level, take improved familiar, and get an automaton, you can remove the core. That gives you +4 Caster Levels in all ways as a lesser artifact. Which means the sorcerer side is 5d6+5 and the you can get +5 CL on the wizard side easier for all your spells.
You can imagine the possibilities from there. If you go human, you can get another feat, as well as human feats to let you get all the skills (not super great, but all can be used untrained).+1 returning gloves of improvised might? Or whatever.
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MEEEEEE!!!!!!!!
Pasha Trade Prince Small Ears No Die Brave Sir Goblin No Face The Very Scary Saver Of All His Friends And Sometimes Other People Too (With my loyal companion Good Boy Not Food)
PFS "GOBLIN" Cavalier Honor Guard Envoy (6), Bard Savage Skald (1), Rogue Thug (1), Battle Herald (1), Ranger Freebooter (2)
Together we could bodyguard for a combined 21 ac to others or half that to each other (both had ac 42 after).
With Dazzling display and the thug rogue ability every enemy within 30 ft of me that isnt immune to fear runs away whenever i say so, no save.
Most of my non-GM experience is through PFS. I'm up to 17 characters, spanning levels 2 to 15. So far, my favorites have been (in no particular order):
Dwarf stonelord paladin (currently 11th): The tankiest character I've ever built, between defensive stance, full plate, and lay on hands. His only mercy is for fatigued, which is essential to allow him some mobility during a fight. (Moving ends the stance and makes him fatigued, but a swift to LOH and a free action to enter stance again fixes that.) He doesn't do a ton of damage, partly because his archetype replaces smite evil, but now he has a holy weapon to help make up some of the difference.
Human mindblade magus (9th): First built for a level 6-8 module played in campaign mode, but I enjoyed the character enough to rebuild her from 1st level for regular PFS play. As a psychic caster, her centering jewel is critical for making defensive casting viable for spell combat. Spontaneous casting and being able to change her psychic weapon at will (especially now that she can manifest it as a swift action) is going to spoil me for any other version of the magus class.
Shoanti human ranger/fighter (12th/3rd): I'm playing him in a couple of PFS-mode adventure paths (alternating books, with occasional other modules to fill advancement gaps) with a group that meets almost every week, so while he's my dash-17, he's now my highest-level PFS PC. He's the first PC I've primarily built to maximize my damage output, using an impact earth breaker with the Power Attack and Vital Strike feat trees. (At 11th level, he became the first PC I've ever played who landed a 100+ damage critical hit, and he's been doing it regularly ever since.) He's not as absurdly min-maxed as some of the other PCs in the party (we have a couple players who are obsessive about that) but he's definitely performed up to MY expectations as a front-liner. He's primarily a two-hander style ranger with the skirmisher archetype to replace spells with hunter's tricks (which are simpler and, so far, more fun) and the guide archetype to swap favored enemy for a more flexible bonus. Ranger also gives him more skills, and thus more non-combat options, but he has dipped fighter for heavy armor (allowing him to use all his ranger class features while wearing mithral full plate, which is treated as medium) and a couple other bennies. (Another level of fighter at 16th will let him take Greater Vital Strike then.)
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One of my favorite Arcane Trickster builds is:
1-4. Eldritch Scoundrel UnRogue
5-10. Arcane Trickster
11-15. Agent of the Grave
16-19. Arcane Trickster
20. Eldritch Scoundrel UnRogue
At 15:
Rogue 4/AT 6/AotG 5
BAB +8
Base Saves +6/+9/+7
CL 14, 5th level spells
5D6 Sneak Attack
At 20:
Rogue 5/AT 10/AotG 5
BAB +10
Base Saves +7/+10/+8
CL 19, 6th level spells
8D6 Sneak Attack
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Alchemist / Master Chymist
It's not too convoluted, but makes for fun RP and has a few different ways you can shape it. Good for almost all situations in a combat sense.
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I read threads like this... or ANYTHING that Voodistmonk replies to... and realize how bad at builds I am. This isn't me being self-deprecating. Since I mostly run games, I make a lot of NPC builds.
Folks, do you realize I'm STILL trying to figure out, on my own, how to optimize Core Book class/feat combos? Like, if I sit down to make an enemy spellcaster, my knee-jerk is to look up Cleric or Wizard. I have to consciously remind myself to look at the Base or Hybrid classes.
Then there's the Archetypes... oy! I had a GM NPC years ago since we only had 2 players in the party. I specifically built her with the NPC Heroic array and made her a Dervish Dancer bard. I thought THAT was fancy. Then I look at the level dip/Archetype riddled combos VM pulls together and I have to go out to the PFSRD or AoN just to figure out what they're even talking about!
Anyway, this is all a long way of saying my favorite builds are probably too rudimentary to mention. Sorcerers with the Aberrant bloodline, Improved Unarmed Strike and Arcane Strike; Elf wizards who exploit their use of the longbow with ranged attack feats and spells.
I WILL say though that when I read OTHER peoples' builds, I love "underdog" types. Like, some unassuming skill-based PC but 1/round using Precision damage, Vital Strike and other feats they can come out of nowhere with some devastating attack.
I also really like building for a "team" player. The 2 PCs I've gotten to build focused on Teamwork feats, Aid Another, and having utility or buff spells that benefit the whole party.
I am honored by your statement.
I like the builds and concepts you post, and generally think that any build focused on Teamwork feats, Aid Another, and benefiting the whole party is a decent build, indeed.
I don't even think I am especially good at building characters, honestly. I just have an ever-growing list of characters that start as napkin sketch notes... an idea, theme, or concept... sometimes just a cool feat, or trait, or spell, or weapon, or alternative racial feature, or random Deific boon I happen to read to about.
Then, when I am bored, I go search AoN for whatever and keep expanding on thise notes, keep adding to that napkin sketch idea until I have something resembling a 1-20 build/character.
Some of these notes date back years, and have taken nearly half a decade to flesh out. I am constantly going back in an editing old builds that were once "done", because I found something new to add, or tweak, or change. Some have went through multiple complete rewrites.
And most will never see a second of playtime, as characters or NPC's... which is why I post so many builds on here, even if they aren't complete. Maybe someone will get some use out them even if I don't.
I just like designing characters, have over 200 builds in varying degrees of completion stashed in the notes app on my phone. So I have lots of "favorite builds"... favorite Necromancer build, favorite Dimensional Savant build, favorite Greatsword build, favorite Intimidation build, favorite Aid Another build...
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This is far to broad, I can't say I have a favorite build... I enjoy many. However, one I find great use for is a heavy multiclass one.
1-2 levels of unmonk (scaled fist)
2 levels of paladin
2 levels of sorcerer (Draconic)
4-8 levels of Dragon disciple (whatever suits your fancy, 4 levels is likely the best)
the rest in eldritch knight or sorcerer for "power"
Paladin for "durability"
My issue is I love creating builds... but I rarely save them, so they get lost to the flows of time XD.
I'm running a character through Giantslayer right now that is a right monster all around.
Witch 5 (white-haired witch)/Brawler 2 (Strangler)/Unchained Rogue 2 (Sylvan Trickster) / VMC Magus
Between dropping Hexes (via special patron and Sylvan trickster), Bonded Mind/Share Spells (teamwork feats) and my typical hoarding mentality when it comes to consumables... Well, I can pretty much do something at any given time. I've got a static +29 to grapple checks, and it just gets worse from there the moment that I start buffing. I am cognizant of how powerful that particular ability is, so I don't make a habit of using it constantly. It is generally used only as a defensive measure or last ditch effort to save one of my allies who just got put in a bad situation.
The end goal is Witch 14/Brawler 2/Unchained Rogue 4
It is not one of my typical builds. Just one that grew organically during gameplay.
What ends up being a favorite usually has more to do with how well the character I've made matches the game than anything specific about the build. In theory I like stealthy caster types, but I've played several in games where that choice ended up being sort of dull.
My favorite build just for the sake of the build is a Jistikan Artificer/hexcrafter magus with the possessed hand feats, and hex strike. It's not super powerful, but you run around punching people with a robot arm that puts them to sleep.
Human (Focussed Study), every level +1 rank in Heal & Knowledge Planes.
Merciful Healer (does not provoke a.o.o. using heal skill).
1. Skill Focus Heal - Healer's Hands;
3. Psychic Sensitivity (Heal);
5: Incredible Healer;
7: Psychic Healing;Can use heal skill as a full round action to treat deadly wounds without provoking A.o.O.
Will heal D.C. 20 = 1 h.p./level plus ranks in knowledge planes. D.C. 25 = level plus ranks plus wisdom bonus.
If Heal Skill roll higher then that is the amount healed. (!!!)
Any excess h.p. = bonus hit points for 1 hour.
Can also treat statuses and there is a trait that allows 2/day heal skill.
No healer's kits required.
This looks very similar to my Harley Quinn build... Titan Fighter with a big@$$ hammer, using all those ranks in Know:Planes to fuel Flickering Step/Dimensional Savant...
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I don't tend to play multi-class characters, the only one is The Divine Sir Vernon Caldwell, Linnorm Bane - Gunslinger 8/Investigator 5.
I know a lot of people say to leave the Gunslinger class after you hit level 5 (which is when you get Dex to Dam), but sticking until level 7 gets you something really nice; Targeting (ex). I just finished putting Sir Vernon through The Eyes Of The Ten and ...
Since the Gunslinger levels were acquired first, the Investigator extracts tend to be utility items (he is 8 levels behind a mono-class Alchemist or Investigator). Things that nobody else brings along, like Monkey Fish and the very handy Longshot (Sir Vernon uses a pistol).
Suddenly a Ranged Striker has turned into a Skill Monkey (Headband of Intellect +4 in use), and the class bumps his Will saves.
Vernon Caldwell, I mixed Gunslinger and Investigator with pretty good results...
Sleuth-Steel Hound Investigator 1-4/
Maverick Gunslinger 5-8/
Sleuth-Steel Hound Investigator 9+
Combining Sleuth and Steel Hound is a wee stretch, but it makes perfect sense if you actually look at the two archetypes and what they modify/what you get.
AND...
I will match strayshift's Court Bard with my Brazen Deceiver.
My absolute favorite liar-liar, pants on fire build... Cawn, the Lovable Scoundrel.
Tengu
Charaltan-Guild Agent Rogue 1-4/
Brazen Deceiver Bard 5+
The Amiable Blunder trait and the Lovable Scoundrel feat make it almost impossible to actually get caught telling a lie...
Charaltan-Guild Agent Rogue gifts you the Rumormonger Advanced Talent super early, Blackmarket Connections Talent, the Natural Born Liar ability, the Gossip Collector Vigilante Talent, and we choose Obfuscate Story and Steal Story as the level 2 and 4 Rogue Talents. The Convincing Lie Rogue Talent is picked up at level 5 via Extra Rogue Talent, during the first level of your new career as a Bard.
Brazen Deceiver is all about that Deceptive Tale Performance... and at level 15 (Bard 11), this particular Performance applies to impossible lies.
It's all over. With the bonuses and rerolls, and feats like Persuasive, Confabulist, and Rhetorical Finish... you can steal from a guard and tell him he gave it to you, you can tell people you are a herald from the king, you can tell people you are the messiah/prophet, you can simply tell shopkeepers you already paid... people will be forced to believe your lies, and people will spread your lies for you. And the people they tell will believe them, because they spread your lies with your bonuses from their mouths. Lol.
One of my favorite Intimidate builds:
Negotiator Bard VMC Cavalier
... Order of the Cockatrice
Order of the Cockatrice gives you Dazzling Display, Negotiator Rogue Talents gives you Mein of Dispair... Order of the Cockatrice gives you Steal Glory, Negotiator Rogue Talents gives you Opportunist...
Pick up Power Attack, Hurtful, Cornugon Smash... and enjoy being really scary.
One of my favorite Aid Another builds:
Arbitor Bard VMC Cavalier
... Order of the Dragon
Order of the Dragon gives you Aid Allies... full stop. This IS an Aid Another build. Lol. Arbiter gets a version of Solo Tactics, and Teamwork feats to use with it... VMC Cavalier gets Tactician and the Greater thereof... now you can hand out your Teamwork feats to others.
Pick up Combat Reflexes, Bodyguard, Flagbearer, Arcane Strike... Banner of Ancient Kings, and the Gloves of Arcane Striking... hand out Harrying Partners so your massive Aid Another bonuses last... enjoy being really useful.
Another favorite Aid Another build is the Inspired-Internal Alchemist VMC Cavalier (Order of the Dragon) using Spell Knowledge to get Magic Trick:Unseen Servant and Arcane Strike... basically same shenanigans as the Arbiter Bard, using Aid Allies/Bodyguard/Gloves of Arcane Striking/Harrying Partners.
The Inspired-Internal Alchemist can VMC Monk, and just be a Helpful Halfling to make up for the lack of Order of the Dragon's Aid Allies ability. Has a different flavor, but still Helpful.
@strayshift, I don't know if your Court Bard wants to pal around with the likes of Cawn and his heterosexual lifemate, Izzek. Those two Tengu are pure trouble.
But yes, your diplomancer/enchanter Court Bard would be a welcome addition.
Cawn is just a pathological liar, that can provide moral support to Izzek if they get caught up in too much trouble and have to fight their way out. Your Glorious Epic could help Izzek deliver Sneak Attack, as well. Izzek is Cawn's protector... the bite to Cawn's bark... a cRogue, swinging a Greatsword.
Your Court Bard being Human could probably help a lot, too. Cawn can only be in Long-nose Form for so long. Does your Human Court Bard have a name? I can throw it in the mix with my ever-growing list of NPC's, if you don't mind me borrowing it.