Hello everyone,
I’m looking into the Shifter class and want to go the Deinonychus route.
I thought about taking 5 levels of Feyform Shifter & Wild Effigy OR 4 levels of Weretouched and then go into Sacred Fist Warpriest or some other Warpriest archetype?
I wanted to take the Crane Style / Crane Wing Feats for high AC.
What do think about this build?
Thanks for your support!
Sure, sounds alright. You'll have a really high touch AC for sure.
One thing to remember is that Warpriests sometimes use a lot of Swift actions. Crane wing, Quicken buff-spell using Ferver , Sacred Weapon, Sacred Armour, swift action Blessing ... you're potentially looking at 4-5 rounds to get all your buffs off. Not saying it's a problem, just something you'll have to think about.
If you're using natural weapons then base warpriest will be significantly better than sacred fist.
If you're using natural weapons then base warpriest will be significantly better than sacred fist.
Thanks a lot for your answer. Which archetype is better then?
I thought that Sacred weapon does not work on all natural weapons and I do not need the armor. And the improved unarmed strike feat will help with crane style requirements.
-
Do you think weretouched is better for shifter OR the Feyform Shifter & Wild Effigy combination?
Sure, sounds alright. You'll have a really high touch AC for sure.
One thing to remember is that Warpriests sometimes use a lot of Swift actions. Crane wing, Quicken buff-spell using Ferver , Sacred Weapon, Sacred Armour, swift action Blessing ... you're potentially looking at 4-5 rounds to get all your buffs off. Not saying it's a problem, just something you'll have to think about.
Yeah, you are completely right with the swift actions.
Maybe crane style is too much then?
Does crane wing work with natural weapons? It says *”When fighting defensively with at least one hand free ...”* in the description. How does this interact with someone that uses natural weapons and has nothing in their hand?
Sacred Weapon works with any weapon you have Weapon Focus with ... and Weapon Focus:Claws is a thing, si it should work.
Crane Style isn't necessarily too much but it' something you'll want to think about. You might decide it's too much, or that you don't need it, but maybe you'll decide you do need the defense.
It's better than spending a swift action, a spell and a point of Ferver to heal yourself mid-combat.
I don't know if Crane Wing works with Claws, it looks like it does to me though? Either way Crane Style does, so you can get at least some benefit if you want it.
If you're using natural weapons then base warpriest will be significantly better than sacred fist.Thanks a lot for your answer. Which archetype is better then?
I thought that Sacred weapon does not work on all natural weapons and I do not need the armor. And the improved unarmed strike feat will help with crane style requirements.
-
Do you think weretouched is better for shifter OR the Feyform Shifter & Wild Effigy combination?
You don't need the armor, but you're getting Wis to AC anyway and gain little from sacred fists', or from their flurry. For the base warpriest, 'If the warpriest worships a deity with unarmed strike as its favored weapon, the warpriest gains Improved Unarmed Strike as a bonus feat'. And the main bonus feats - one of the highlights of the warpriest - are much worse on the sacred fist. Though you might like the feral champion archetype come to think of it.
Feyform actually wants to stick with the plan and stay shifter IMO. If you're taking off into other classes weretouched is more front-loaded.
Do you think weretouched is better for shifter OR the Feyform Shifter & Wild Effigy combination?
Feyform Shifter does not unlock their first animal aspect until 9th level, so if you wanted a Deinonychus shifter then you want Weretouched. Keep in mind that Weretouched Deinonychus grants you five primary natural attacks as you can use your Shifter Claws in hybrid form.
I also recommend Planar Wild Shape, and Shaping Focus if your uses per day run low.
Crane Style will be fine on a Warpriest. You don't need everything every time... use your brain to determine which swift action is a higher priority for this particular encounter/round, and send it.
As for having hands free for Crane Style... your hands are free. It doesn't matter if they have claws on them, they are still free for all intents and purposes. Might run into "hands' worth of effort" BS for some things, but that's a different discussion.
Thanks for the replies! Super helpful.
Based on your suggestion I know I’ll take:
Weretouched Deinonychus for 4 levels.
About Crane Style: I’m thinking about using Crane Style and Crane Wing in non-metal armor as I’ll get 1/2 Wis + 1 from four Shifter levels and that works also in stone plate later with Warpriest heavy armor proficiency. That’s ok, right?
I will then move to Warpriest.
So should I take the Feral Champion Archetype then? Is that appropriate because of Wildshape?
Any other Warpriest archetype that you find suitable?
Again: THANKS!
Yeah, Weretouched Shifter 4 / Warpriest X, using armor, is perfect. The traits Magical Knack and Fate's Favored are highly advised.
So should I take the Feral Champion Archetype then? Is that appropriate because of Wildshape?
Any other Warpriest archetype that you find suitable?
It's possible, but far from needed. You wouldn't want to use the archetype's Wild Shape for combat, but they could be an option for flight or underwater. The Animal blessing is worthless to you, and while the claws have a bigger damage dice and count as their sacred weapons, you couldn't expand the list of sacred weapons.
In general, you don't really get much from any Warpriest class features apart from Fervor and spellcasting. Which in return means you can take pretty much any archetype you want. Want a Smite Opposite Alignment? Doable! Want Sneak Attack? No Problem! (Trades Heavy Armor Prof and the Weapon Focus feat for 4 skill ranks/level.) Want a mount? You can get one! (You should be able to get it to full level via Boon Companion, and you could even get exotic mounts like a griffon.) Want attack & damage bonuses? If you're willing to invest into Weapon Focus for each natural weapon type, you get get that.
That is awesome advice! :-)
Thanks again @VoodistMonk, @Derklord, @Wonderstell, @avr and @MrCharisma!!
So I put together the following concept for PFS based on your suggestions!
Weretouched Shifter is set.
Thanks Derklord for your summary above - unfortunately I am still not sure about the Warpriest archetype . >> I am leaning towards vanilla Warpriest OR Champion of the Faith because of overcoming DR evil and Smite that eats 2 Fervor although the character is not going to have the Charisma. Is this worth loosing channel and 1 feat? Should I go vanilla Warpriest and just take the good blessing to overcome evil DR although that only affects one weapon?
Race: Human
Attributes: Str 18 (Human +2), Dex 8, Con 16, Int 7, Wis 16, Cha 7
Level progression:
* Lvl 1: Shifter (Weretouched) 1 | Feats: Power Attack, Dodge (Human)
* Lvl 2: Warpriest (Archetype?) 1 | Feats: Weapon Focus Claws, Unarmed Strike (Free as deity's fav. weapon)
* Lvl 3: Shifter 2 | Feats: Crane Style
* Lvl 4: Shifter 3
* Lvl 5: Shifter 4 | Feats: Shifter's Rush
* Lvl 6: Warpriest (Archetype?) 2
* Lvl 7: Warpriest (Archetype?) 3 | Feats: Planar Wild Shape; Crane Wing (Bonus Warpriest Feat) OR if Champion of the Faith is chosen then nothing as this Warpriest bonus feat is replaced
* Lvl 8: Warpriest (Archetype?) 4
* Lvl 9: Warpriest (Archetype?) 5 | Feats: ???
* Lvl 10: Warpriest (Archetype?) 6 | Feats: Barroom Brawler (Warpriest Bonus Feat); ??? (Human Warpriest favored class bonus combat feat after six levels) OR Crane Wing if Champion of the Faith and Crane Wing could not be taken at level 7
* Lvl 11: Warpriest (Archetype?) 7 | Feats: ???
~
Warpriest blessings:
* 1st: Restoration blessing
* 2nd: Good blessing if Deity is Lythertida (required deity for Champion of the Faith) OR Strength if IRORI is chosen with vanilla Warpriest
Is this ok? Any suggestions?
Anyone have some final feedback or suggestions? :-D
A couple of thoughts. First, Dex 8 and focusing on AC seems odd. Wis to AC is in addition to Dex not instead of.
Also 7 Cha & 7 Int probably with no skill points in social skills is saying that you're thick as pigshit and are less pleasant to be around. You may not find this all that pleasant as your alter-ego, unless your game is nothing but combat. YMMV.
Yeah those stats are rather ... extreme. Unless you're going for an intentional imbalance for character reasons I'd change it.
I'm assuming for your stats you mean:
STR: 16 = 10 points (+2 for Human = STR:18)
DEX: 08 = -2 points
CON: 16 = 10 points
INT: 07 = -4 points
WIS: 16 = 10 points
CHA: 07 = -4 points
Total = 20 points. Is that correct?
So you don't need to start with 18 STR, drop it down to 17 and you save yourself 3 points. You 100% don't need 16 CON, so drop it down to 14 and you save yourself another 5 points.
Then you can up your DEX/INT to 10/12 or 12/10 (depending if you want more AC/Initiative or an extra skill rank per level.
You have high AC and the ability to self-heal (second only to the Paladin), so the loss of HP really won't matter.
Seconded - even if you just drop Con to 14, you could have 13 Dex, thus trading -1 hp/level and -1 fort for +2 ref, +2 AC, and +2 init. I also support having at least some skills.
although the character is not going to have the Charisma.
That's not an issue, though. A negative charisma mod is not applied, and the DR penetration and damage bonus make Smite strong enough even without an attack roll bonus.
Is this worth loosing channel and 1 feat?
Thanks to slow progression and four lost levels, the healing from Channel Energy is rather low for your character level, anyway. For example, at 10th level, it's 2d6, 7 average healing, less than 10% of your expected HP at that point.
For your empty feat slots, Improved Initiative is always good (pouncing an enemy to death before they got a chance to act is very powerful). If you want more damage, Mutated Shape would add another natural weapon. If you need to take a different trait (e.g. campaign trait), or just in general, Additional Traits is always interesting, I especially like Deathtouched for +2 on most will saves. There's also Cunning for +1 skill rank per level.
Perfect! That is so helpful!
I will take the Champion of the Faith archetype based on Derklord's suggestions.
I lowered the extreme stats to be able to increase Dex.
Yeah, this will be one of my only combat only characters with little social skills.
Thanks again for your time!
