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So as some of you will know, I've been steadily learning pf2 by making characters, but so far all I've made is spell casters.
I started with a barbarian doing animal path cause I like the stag aesthetic, but I sort of ran out of steam with it. Then I was reading an investigator guide and it struck me it seemed to be about delivering one big attack around, which sort of appeals to me (I always wanted vital strike to be better in pf1)
One big strike lead me towards sniper rifles, and then I thought, why not try doing a Investigator hybrid into a gunslinger, it'd certainly teach me new stuff about the system between archetyping and weapons and leaning more martial and also guns. Given I'm understand they have slightly janky rules.
So without further a doodle, here is Myron West, the uptight Elvish investigator.
Name: Myron West
Ancestry: Seer Elf
Background: Artist
Class: Empiricism Investigator
Languages: Common, Elvish, Gnomish, Dwarfish, Goblin, Halfling, Orcish, Celestial
Stats:
Cha: 12
Int: 22
Wis: 20
Con: 18
Str: 10
Dex: 20
Ability boots:
5) Con/Wis/Dex/Int
10) Con/Wis/Dex/Int
15) Con/Wis/Dex/Int
20) Cha/Wis/Dex/Int
Skills (Legend):
Acrobatics
Arcana
Occultism
Society
Stealth
Master:
Nature
Religion
Trained:
Everything else except performance and survival.
Skill Feats:
Alchemical Crafting
Armored Stealth
Assured Identification
Aura Sight
Battle Medicine
Biographical Eye
Disturbing Knowledge
Dubious Knowledge
Eyes of the City
Foil Senses
Kip Up
Legendary Codebreaker
Legendary Sneak
Read Lips
Recognize Spell
Slippery Prey
Specialty Crafting
Streetwise
Swift Sneak
Trick Magic Item
General Feats:
3: Fleet
7: Expeditious Search
11: Incredible Scout
15: Improvised Repair
19: true Perception
Ancestry Feats:
1) Forlorn
5) Elven Instincts
9) Elven Step
13) Avenge Ally
17) Magic Rider
Investigator Feats:
1: Known Weaknesses
2: Gunslinger Dedication
4: Lie Detector
6: Slinger’s Readiness (One shot, One Kill)
8: Basic Shooting (Defensive Armaments)
10: Practiced Reloads
12: Firearm Expert
14: Foresee Danger
16: Reconstruct The scene
18: Trickster Ace
20: All the time in the world
Its pretty straightforward I think, just have a tone of skill based tricks for knowledge that I'll completely forget I can do. Do some stealthing, do some scouting, do some sniping, do some knowledge checks all that.
Range seems better for investigators anyway, since you've got to do the whole Devise Strat and doing knowledge checks and stuff, doing one bit hit saves moving around if you're ranged.
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If I remember correctly, Investigator (Alchemical Sciences) was the first class I played as well. I multiclassed into either Witch or Wizard and then Alchemist since I was already using an intelligence based class. That way I could get experience with martial combat, the skill system and spellcasting and free consumable items, all in one build. It was complicated but not too reliant on the more complicated aspects of spellcasting and alchemical items so I could just fall back on martial combat and skills if I felt overwhelmed.
Certainly helps get to grips will skill feats cause you end up trained in almost everything lol
An alternative would be to take the Ancient Elf Heritage. That lets you start with Gunslinger Dedication right away at level 1 and also frees up your class feat at level 2.
You've got plenty of skill feats, so it's not tough to pick up detect magic through Arcane Sense rather than Seer Elf.
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Also, your ability scores seem to be missing one level 1 boost.
Str: 10
Dex: 14 (two boosts)
Con: 12 (one boost)
Int: 18 (three boosts)
Wis: 14 (two boosts)
Cha: 10
That's only eight net boosts where you should have nine: two from ancestry, two from background, one from class, and four free.
As an investigator main (and confirmed to be world best detective) I applaude your rather ballsy choice. Just keep in mind that the investigator is NOT a very damaging class and you will probably have a lot of fun with it.
That said I do have some tips:
-I see you got the alchemical specializzation. Great choice. Have a GOOD look at alchemical items, there are like a billion and you do not get many every day. This is a nice guide on it..
-Make some insight coffee everyday. If possibile buy some extra just in case.
-You do not necessarily need to use DaS every time. Unless you can do it for free that is. In that case abuse it. See the last point.
-In case your DaS sucks have something to do in your turn. Have people give you some of their potions/disposable items, shoot something else, have a snack, aid someone, take cover etc.
-since said situation will occour quite often I would advise against fighting from great distances. I would stay within 30-45 feet from the action most of the time. In my opinion being able to help allies>>> staying safe.
-Two handed weapons are fine but I would opt for a jezzail that you can one-hand if needs be instead of a musket or arquebus.
-Be wary of firearms action economy. Carry some backup in case you need to slap someone in the face instead of running away-reloading-shooting. Quickdraw is nice to have.
-Try to have your DM use free archetype, for the love of whatever deity.
-Scout a lot or have someone do it.
-You are smart and usually campaigns tend to have recurring types or themes of enemies, have some additional lore on them when you figure out the general theme.
-Since warblood mutagen and energy mutagens are a thing, have your melee friends don a shifting spider collar. Have one yourself for good measure, it is amazing.
-Biggest suggestion yet. REMEMBER TO USE PURSUE A LEAD. I'm not kidding, it might be the most forgotten ability in the game and it is borderline crucial to being useful compared to other similar classes. It is not even fun how much better you get if you use it when you have to.
And that is it. Have fun and get them malfactors. Get em good.
@gisher - I believe I used 2 on con since I started at 8 right? Being an elf if not I’ve missed one, easily fixed :)
Ancient elf she’s like a great shout though, Thankyou.
@Raptor - yeah regarding trying to lean slightly into damage, it seems like the investigator has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to being a skill monkey/knowledge bot. Therefore I figured I could afford to spend a few resources trying to sure up a weakness. Big damage in one shot seemed like a fun way of doing that
thanks for the alchemical guide, the whole thing is a bit daunting haha. I was already thinking the Jezzail looked like a good shout. I’m also planning to carry a sword cane for surprise points.
I was also planning on being the scout. What are the mutagens?
@Raptor - yeah regarding trying to lean slightly into damage, it seems like the investigator has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to being a skill monkey/knowledge bot. Therefore I figured I could afford to spend a few resources trying to sure up a weakness. Big damage in one shot seemed like a fun way of doing that
Strictly speaking, it's not particularly special when it comes to skills. Rogues match it for skill boosts and feats and thieves are free to spec for int (a 12 int thief has the same number of trained skills as an 18 int investigator) while tome thaumaturge beats everyone on knowledge with the auto scaling class lore and has 5 other legendary skills on top to match the other skill monkeys.
@gisher - I believe I used 2 on con since I started at 8 right? Being an elf if not I’ve missed one, easily fixed :)
Oops, my mistake. Int got four boosts so all are accounted for.
Str: 10
Dex: 14 (two boosts)
Con: 12 (one boost)
Int: 18 (four boosts)
Wis: 14 (two boosts)
Cha: 10
I shouldn't try to post with a migraine.
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Ancient elf she’s like a great shout though, Thankyou.
Since your concept is a gunslinging Investigator I thought it would be nice not to have to wait a level to experience it. And having the second level feat available for an actual class feat is really nice.
...
-I see you got the alchemical specializzation. Great choice. Have a GOOD look at alchemical items, there are like a billion and you do not get many every day. This is a nice guide on it..
...
I think they went with Empiricism, not Alchemical Sciences.
I think they went with Empiricism, not Alchemical Sciences....
-I see you got the alchemical specializzation. Great choice. Have a GOOD look at alchemical items, there are like a billion and you do not get many every day. This is a nice guide on it..
...
Dang, I misread. I could have sworn I saw it. In this case i strongly advise for it, expecially since there is some synergy with the gunslinger class.
@Raptor - yeah regarding trying to lean slightly into damage, it seems like the investigator has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to being a skill monkey/knowledge bot. Therefore I figured I could afford to spend a few resources trying to sure up a weakness. Big damage in one shot seemed like a fun way of doing thatStrictly speaking, it's not particularly special when it comes to skills. Rogues match it for skill boosts and feats and thieves are free to spec for int (a 12 int thief has the same number of trained skills as an 18 int investigator) while tome thaumaturge beats everyone on knowledge with the auto scaling class lore and has 5 other legendary skills on top to match the other skill monkeys.
Agreed, this is why an investigator worth its salt should use pursue a lead.
@Raptor - yeah regarding trying to lean slightly into damage, it seems like the investigator has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to being a skill monkey/knowledge bot. Therefore I figured I could afford to spend a few resources trying to sure up a weakness. Big damage in one shot seemed like a fun way of doing thatStrictly speaking, it's not particularly special when it comes to skills. Rogues match it for skill boosts and feats and thieves are free to spec for int (a 12 int thief has the same number of trained skills as an 18 int investigator) while tome thaumaturge beats everyone on knowledge with the auto scaling class lore and has 5 other legendary skills on top to match the other skill monkeys.
When only 2 classes in the game match or beat it at something that still sounds pretty special to me.
Not being the single best at something in the whole game, doesn't mean you're not great at it. If people only ever played the class that was strictly best at the role they were aiming for class selection would be wildly limited
Dang, I misread. I could have sworn I saw it. In this case i strongly advise for it, expecially since there is some synergy with the gunslinger class.I think they went with Empiricism, not Alchemical Sciences....
-I see you got the alchemical specializzation. Great choice. Have a GOOD look at alchemical items, there are like a billion and you do not get many every day. This is a nice guide on it..
...
I took the Alchemical crafting feat, maybe thats why you were seeing.
-Be wary of firearms action economy. Carry some backup in case you need to slap someone in the face instead of running away-reloading-shooting. Quickdraw is nice to have.
Backup melee options that you might consider are a bayonet or reinforced stock either of which can be attached to firearms.
You would need separate runes for the attached weapon, but they let you avoid the action economy costs of drawing and sheathing weapons or spending actions switching grips.
Oh really? I didn’t think my proficiency counted for fire arms, thanks for the heads up.
I am fairly married to the concept of a gun I’m afraid, sort of a cutting edge mechanical uptight science guy vibe is what I’m going for
@Raptor - yeah regarding trying to lean slightly into damage, it seems like the investigator has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to being a skill monkey/knowledge bot. Therefore I figured I could afford to spend a few resources trying to sure up a weakness. Big damage in one shot seemed like a fun way of doing thatStrictly speaking, it's not particularly special when it comes to skills. Rogues match it for skill boosts and feats and thieves are free to spec for int (a 12 int thief has the same number of trained skills as an 18 int investigator) while tome thaumaturge beats everyone on knowledge with the auto scaling class lore and has 5 other legendary skills on top to match the other skill monkeys.
The investgator gets the circumstance bonus from Devise a Strategem though. Assuming you're Pursuing the right Leads you should be consistently higher across most out of combat skill checks. The only class that I think can beat it for sheer maximum bonuses is the outwit ranger, which otherwise suffers on a few different levels.
The investgator gets the circumstance bonus from Devise a Strategem though. Assuming you're Pursuing the right Leads you should be consistently higher across most out of combat skill checks. The only class that I think can beat it for sheer maximum bonuses is the outwit ranger, which otherwise suffers on a few different levels.
This would be more impressive if Aid weren't a trivial +1 and +2 or more by the time investigators got their limited scope internal bonus to +2. Or ageless patience elves and their near-universal +2. Being internally capable is nice, but less so when it is easy to match or exceed that bonus.
Though I say that as someone who has never had to live without someone in the party taking one for all for the omnipresent Aid it has provided since it released.
The investgator gets the circumstance bonus from Devise a Strategem though. Assuming you're Pursuing the right Leads you should be consistently higher across most out of combat skill checks. The only class that I think can beat it for sheer maximum bonuses is the outwit ranger, which otherwise suffers on a few different levels.This would be more impressive if Aid weren't a trivial +1 and +2 or more by the time investigators got their limited scope internal bonus to +2. Or ageless patience elves and their near-universal +2. Being internally capable is nice, but less so when it is easy to match or exceed that bonus.
Though I say that as someone who has never had to live without someone in the party taking one for all for the omnipresent Aid it has provided since it released.
usually rogues are not great at recall knowledge though. Having the pursue a lead there sure is handy
So as some of you will know, I've been steadily learning pf2 by making characters, but so far all I've made is spell casters.
I started with a barbarian doing animal path cause I like the stag aesthetic, but I sort of ran out of steam with it. Then I was reading an investigator guide and it struck me it seemed to be about delivering one big attack around, which sort of appeals to me (I always wanted vital strike to be better in pf1)
One big strike lead me towards sniper rifles, and then I thought, why not try doing a Investigator hybrid into a gunslinger, it'd certainly teach me new stuff about the system between archetyping and weapons and leaning more martial and also guns. Given I'm understand they have slightly janky rules.
So without further a doodle, here is Myron West, the uptight Elvish investigator.
Name: Myron West
Ancestry: Seer Elf
Background: Artist
Class: Empiricism Investigator
Languages: Common, Elvish, Gnomish, Dwarfish, Goblin, Halfling, Orcish, Celestial
Stats:
Cha: 12
Int: 22
Wis: 20
Con: 18
Str: 10
Dex: 20
Ability boots:5) Con/Wis/Dex/Int
10) Con/Wis/Dex/Int
15) Con/Wis/Dex/Int
20) Cha/Wis/Dex/Int** spoiler omitted **
** spoiler omitted **...
My main comment is that I feel like this build will be very boring in combat. After you DaS and roll a miss, you don't have a good secondary action sequence other than to target another enemy with a big attack and damage penalty. No bon mots or demoralizes, no maneuvers, no feints or distractions to lower AC. You'll be very sturdy with saves but you're ideally standing at range near cover the whole time.
I would either take DEX higher early to maximize the chance of the retarget hit landing or go the other way and lean into CHA-based skills while taking a pass on DEX or WIS early, letting your proficiencies or Covered Reload make up for those saves.
If using a gun, I recommend multiclassing Gunslinger (Drifter) and pinching Risky Reload. One action to Reload+Shoot when you have a good DaS roll is great action economy.