Pure Buffing Character


Advice


What Class / Feat / Skill combination would be viable for a pure buffing/healing/Debuffing build, Not going offensive in combat unless absolutely necessary but still be able to contribute in those situations?


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To do buffing/healing/debuffing in PF2 is simple, and there are many viable builds to do so. To make it "pure"-ly those roles would be a mistake since those routes are limited and you may end up with a lot of wasted rounds. You don't need to sacrifice your offense for that, and don't get much in return if you do sacrifice your offense.
This advice depends on group size of course. If in large groups, especially when tight for space, you can contribute a lot this route, but if in a smaller group, you'll need to have regular offense.

Buffing: Buffs have been toned back in PF2, mainly because the power curves are so tight. And durations have been shortened, so it's hard to buff and watch. That said, Bards (or MCD Bards) w/ their compositions can repeatedly buff so go with one of those if this is your focus.
The +1 to attack represents about +1/6 of a boost to an ally's damage, which is superb for 1 action, but bad if helping one or two people is all your input. Get several allies and toss out a Demoralize and this all multiplies to a solid contribution with an endless resource.

Healing: Healing is a secondary role at best partly because PF2 out-of-combat healing is limited only by time (and sometimes your allies aren't all that hurt to burn a spell slot). In-combat healing can definitely swing a battle or save a life, but it can drain one's resources rather fast if you cast indiscriminately. If this is your emphasis, a Healing Font Cleric w/ good Cha has twice the resources of other classes (except perhaps vs. a mid-late game Sorcerer w/ Heal as a Signature Spell).

Debuffing: There are so many ways to debuff, and the three classes mentioned above (Bard, Cleric, Sorcerer) all have access to good debuffs, but so does most anybody with a good Charisma.
On the martial side, a Champion can be made to fill those roles to a lesser extent, but also using their Reaction to mitigate damage (which can prevent a lot of hurt!). And you wouldn't need to be guarded.

Demoralize (and the feats that support Intimidate) is the default way to contribute a debuff, just make sure there aren't too many people going this route. Bon Mot (w/ Diplomacy) works if you have people who target Will saves in your party.
Athletics might be a good way to Trip or Shove, but doesn't mesh well with casters, though would work fine if a Champion. And of course, lots of martial classes can impose debuffs (mainly Fighter/Monk/Rogue) as can a lot of spells (w/ Fear & Slow being forum favorites).


This is basically what the Bard is for. If you really want to double down on it and never spend an action striking or using an attack spell you can archetype into Swashbuckler to get One For All, which would allow you to maintain a status bonus on all of your allies and a circumstance bonus on your favorite one pretty consistently. Note that I would absolutely never do this unless I know I'm partying up with a big chonkin' damage character that can benefit from it, so like a Fighter or Barbarian with a 1d12 weapon.


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The alchemist also deserves mention. You can apply a pretty huge variety of buffs between poisoning weapons and the various situational elixirs. The bard has the single best buff cantrip in the game but that is usually just one of your actions each round and there's only so many spells that stack with each other. The alchemist can probably spend more of it's time providing distinct buffs. Admittedly, part of that is they will have crappy action economy while they do it, but if the goal is to always have something other than attacking to do the fit the bill.


You want a cleric, MC bard for composition cantrips

A bard would also work very well by taking the feat harmonize


One thing about Demoralize is that you can only use it once on any enemy. You can freely use it on a different enemy, but if the first enemy lives for a round or two you can't re-apply the frightened condition using Demoralize.

So if going with Demoralize you might look at Swashbuckler and Antagonize, then kite the enemy around the battlefield. Doesn't work quite as well against enemies that have ranged attacks though. There is also Witch(curse) with Evil Eye, but Witch doesn't have all that much else to offer for the build you are looking for.

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The biggest problem that I see with doing this is what Castilliano mentioned - adding good buffing or debuffing options to a character is fairly easy, but it shouldn't be the only thing that your character does in combat. Most buffs are only of minor to moderate impact and won't take your entire turn to set up. And they either won't be usable for the entire battle (Demoralize style) or they won't take more time to keep active (Bless style).

So if you are set on going with a pacifist route for your character, make sure that your GM is on board with that. Because the GM will probably have to adjust the encounter difficulty to account for having one of the characters only contributing at about half capacity.


From experience I can tell you that a bard with Swashbuckler archetype is very strong. Bon mot and One for all are very good actions, guardians deflection (use a whip) is a very good reaction, a bard can stand close to the frontline due to armor, 8 hp. So contributes very well near the front line, has super spells, for buffs and debuffs, and can also do good damage with spells. But even without spells, you can fill a turn with useful actions which help the group.


Cleric of Narriseminek for synesthesia, healing font, and bless / heroism.

Liberty's Edge

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One day I will try my zero hostile action build.

Basis = Cloistered Cleric (because you cannot get Healing Font with multiclassing) of Ketephys (for Invisibility).

Bard MC for Inspire Courage.

Liberator MC for the reaction and the Armor.

If you can, do put some Battle Oracle MC for Call to Arms but beware the penalty you will always get since you will never Strike.

Sanctuary and other no hostile action spells are your friends. And max Stealth too.

Note that how efficient this can be depends entirely on what your GM considers hostile. And opinions really run the gamut here.

Liberty's Edge

Otherwise, an Archer Bard with Battle Oracle MCD looks pretty good. I will try it on my PFS character. At level 4,you grant +1 to hit and damage, + 2 to Initiative and 2 temporary HP to your fellow PCs. And you might even hit with the bow Strike you use every round to avoid the AC and saves penalty.


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Bard Marshal. Stand behind your allies to buff them with your Inpiring Marshal Aura while you debuff the enemies with Dirge (or buff your party with Inspire Defense if the enemy can't be frightened). Marshal also has a few good support-y one action abilities like Cadence Call.

Wield a whip for Trip. Be human and get Cooperate Nature so you can Aid with increased success.

If you can fit in Swashbuckler Dedication somehow (probably requires free archetype or comes late via Multitalented) yo can add One for All so your Diplomacy score becomes even more important (besides activating your Aura).

At the very high levels, you can use Eternal Composition with Symphony of the Muses to have Inspired Defense, Dirge of Doom and your aura running at all times, shifting the majority of the game's math in the favor of your party by about 2 levels.

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