Pathfinder Pathfinder: Kingmaker Builds and Strats Thread

[Desiderius]

Has anyone done anything interesting with Jaethal? I wonder if her ability to derive HP from CHA could be better utilized somehow, maybe going Sorcerer or Cleric?

InEffect makes her 3 Inquisitor / 17 Herald Caller of Urgathoa. I am playing this build right now (albeit not on Unfair), and she is very useful.

That's a nice build. I've done Inq3/Cleric17 on Harrim and liked it a lot. WIS to initiative and Solo Tactics are both very nice.

Plus Cleric on Jaethal lets her heal herself spontaneously.

 

[Desiderius]

Was there a Barbarian power that gave you and extra APR? And has it been included in any mods like COTW?

When this first came out, I think I was building a barbarian, and I think I found that power - but it was with a mod and I don't know which one it was.

I do read the readme for each mod, but they just list the power name, not what it does. So I didn't then cross-reference it with the online SRD dictionary.

Lesser Spirit Totem

 

[NJClaw]

I'M amped up for a party where I have no buffing to do whatsoever

With the buff bot mod every party is that party.

 

[Yosharian]

I'M amped up for a party where I have no buffing to do whatsoever

With the buff bot mod every party is that party.

Does it work that well though?

Teach me the ways

 

[NJClaw]

I'M amped up for a party where I have no buffing to do whatsoever

With the buff bot mod every party is that party.

Does it work that well though?

Teach me the ways

The mod works perfectly, it only has a few problems:
- it doesn't know what to do with spells that have different modes: if you cast Magic Vestment through the mod, it won't use your slot and you will be able to cast the same spell again later;
- it doesn't know what to do with domain slots: you have to cast your domain buffs manually;
- you can't specify which character should cast each spell: while usually this shouldn't be a problem, it becomes one if you have two spontaneous casters with access to the same spell, because you will use up all the slots of the first one before starting to rely on those of the second one. Once you are aware of this behavior, you can plan your spell selection accordingly and order correctly the characters in your party (if two character have access to the same spell, the mod will use the slots of the first one in the party formation).

Don't let this stuff discourage you: it's pretty irrelevant compared to the time it will actually save you. You can create different profiles and attach a set of spells to each profile. Then, you attach a profile to each character (two characters can share the same profile: for example, I have an "animal companion" profile that I use for each animal companion in the group) and select the priority of each character (if you have two characters with a profile that requires a Mage Armor but your Wizard memorized only a single Mage Armor, the character with the highest priority will get it). You can change profiles on the spot with a single click and this is particularly useful if you have different buffing routines: in my case, I have a long-lasting buff routine and a short-lasting one (the first one casts all the 10 minutes and 1 hour per level buffs, the second one casts all the 1 minute per level buffs).

The profiles creation process takes a bit of time (still less than the time spent on a single manual buffing routine, though), but then you can click the "execute" button to cast all your buffs in a single instant.

 

[LannTheStupid]

I can't bros. This son of a bitch of an achievement has been taunting me for THREE fucking years!

Last Azlanti difficulty is a separate setting that can be combined with any other. So I'd go for Story mode / Last Azlanti if I wanted just the achievement.

 

[Darko]

You could do two parallel runs with same setups, one ironman, the other on normal. Can even set the difficulty a bit higher on normal run. Use it to practice, and only play on LA when you are confident about progressing through normal without dying.
Normal (vanilla?) in this context is opposite of Last Azlanti.

 

[Chippy]

Was there a Barbarian power that gave you and extra APR? And has it been included in any mods like COTW?

When this first came out, I think I was building a barbarian, and I think I found that power - but it was with a mod and I don't know which one it was.

I do read the readme for each mod, but they just list the power name, not what it does. So I didn't then cross-reference it with the online SRD dictionary.

Lesser Spirit Totem

Long day. Thought you were taking the piss and read it as 'laser spirit totem'. So you can use totems and stances at the same time eh? is there enough in Mad Dog to get the x3 for lethal stance line and this totem power as well?.

 

[Desiderius]

Don’t know. Don’t play Mad Dog.

 

[Vanderbilt_Grad]

Fauchard Biting Tripper Build

Class split: 12 Vivisectionist / 1 Monk / 1 Sword Saint (Fauchard)

Was trying out a far less optimized version of this and was running into an issue once I added a Monk level at 3rd. When using Feral Mutagen I clearly see the bite attacks as a primary unarmed attacks when looking at the character or inventory screen. However, some time after that - while Feral is still active - it seems to default back to the Monk unarmed attacks and I see those instead. Is this something others are running into?

 

[Haplo]

Yeah, that tends to happen. Claws get overwritten by fists. No big deal, as the damage is the same, number of attacks the same (Flurry of Blows), type arguably (slightly) better (though it hardly matters) and you keep the Feral Bite.

 

[Vanderbilt_Grad]

Meh. Annoying. Reminds me of the various BG shapeshift and magical weapon bugs.

Thanks!

 

[Saravan]

Wanted to try an archer build. Is the Ranger the way to go? I heard Fighter could be a better alternative?

 

[Desiderius]

Wanted to try an archer build. Is the Ranger the way to go? I heard Fighter could be a better alternative?

Ranged Fighter wastes a lot of the strengths of the class.

Slayers, Rangers, and Rogues make the best archers.

 

[Yosharian]

Wanted to try an archer build. Is the Ranger the way to go? I heard Fighter could be a better alternative?

Ranger is OK. I have a build for Ekun you could use. The build I use for my archer is a Tactical Leader support archer. You can find both by googling Yosharian steam builds.

Otherwise as Des says Rogue and Slayer can work.

 

[Pink Eye]

I can't wait to shill for Zen Archer and talk it up when Wraith comes out.

 

[Desiderius]

I can't wait to shill for Zen Archer and talk it up when Wraith comes out.

It... still needs some work.

 

[Saravan]

Wanted to try an archer build. Is the Ranger the way to go? I heard Fighter could be a better alternative?

Ranged Fighter wastes a lot of the strengths of the class.

Slayers, Rangers, and Rogues make the best archers.

Slayers seem a bit too complicated for me to try get a build right, I'll go with the Ranger!

Wanted to try an archer build. Is the Ranger the way to go? I heard Fighter could be a better alternative?

Ranger is OK. I have a build for Ekun you could use. The build I use for my archer is a Tactical Leader support archer. You can find both by googling Yosharian steam builds.

Otherwise as Des says Rogue and Slayer can work.

Thanks, I'll take a look at your build for Ekun.

 

[Yosharian]

Slayers seem a bit too complicated for me to try get a build right, I'll go with the Ranger!

Wanted to try an archer build. Is the Ranger the way to go? I heard Fighter could be a better alternative?

Ranger is OK. I have a build for Ekun you could use. The build I use for my archer is a Tactical Leader support archer. You can find both by googling Yosharian steam builds.

Otherwise as Des says Rogue and Slayer can work.

Thanks, I'll take a look at your build for Ekun.

Note the section on Animal Companions since that's relevant as well

 

[gurugeorge]

I've recently been wondering about a Druid build, as I've got the perfect portrait for it. Thinking about maybe multiclassing a bit into Vivisectionist for the sneak attack and mutagens, and maybe a bit of Tactician Inquisitor. Anyone have any experience playing around with that sort of thing? On testing out a Druid merc for a quick spin, I was disappointed to see that he was weaker than his pet in corresponding beast shape! If I as a mighty magic user am going to transform into a beast, surely it's going to be the most magnificent example of its species?

 

[Yosharian]

I've recently been wondering about a Druid build, as I've got the perfect portrait for it. Thinking about maybe multiclassing a bit into Vivisectionist for the sneak attack and mutagens, and maybe a bit of Tactician Inquisitor. Anyone have any experience playing around with that sort of thing? On testing out a Druid merc for a quick spin, I was disappointed to see that he was weaker than his pet in corresponding beast shape! If I as a mighty magic user am going to transform into a beast, surely it's going to be the most magnificent example of its species?

Druids are most optimal as a reach melee support caster or as a primary spellcaster, wildshape builds are not very strong (fun though)

 

[gurugeorge]

I've recently been wondering about a Druid build, as I've got the perfect portrait for it. Thinking about maybe multiclassing a bit into Vivisectionist for the sneak attack and mutagens, and maybe a bit of Tactician Inquisitor. Anyone have any experience playing around with that sort of thing? On testing out a Druid merc for a quick spin, I was disappointed to see that he was weaker than his pet in corresponding beast shape! If I as a mighty magic user am going to transform into a beast, surely it's going to be the most magnificent example of its species?

Druids are most optimal as a reach melee support caster or as a primary spellcaster, wildshape builds are not very strong (fun though)

So is it not worth faffing about with Viv to get the sneak attack and mutagens, and Inquisitor to get the feat sharing? Just go full DotTW for a bit of extra endgame oomph maybe?

 

[Yosharian]

I've recently been wondering about a Druid build, as I've got the perfect portrait for it. Thinking about maybe multiclassing a bit into Vivisectionist for the sneak attack and mutagens, and maybe a bit of Tactician Inquisitor. Anyone have any experience playing around with that sort of thing? On testing out a Druid merc for a quick spin, I was disappointed to see that he was weaker than his pet in corresponding beast shape! If I as a mighty magic user am going to transform into a beast, surely it's going to be the most magnificent example of its species?

Druids are most optimal as a reach melee support caster or as a primary spellcaster, wildshape builds are not very strong (fun though)

So is it not worth faffing about with Viv to get the sneak attack and mutagens, and Inquisitor to get the feat sharing? Just go full DotTW for a bit of extra endgame oomph maybe?

Are you trying to make an optimal build, or a fun one? If you want to just make something fun, do whatever you like.

Druid is a class that is most optimal when making the most out of its full range of spells, dipping stuff like Vivi and losing spells as a result is not optimal

Traditional Monk 1 is the only dip for this class that is remotely optimal and it still hurts

 

[gurugeorge]

I've recently been wondering about a Druid build, as I've got the perfect portrait for it. Thinking about maybe multiclassing a bit into Vivisectionist for the sneak attack and mutagens, and maybe a bit of Tactician Inquisitor. Anyone have any experience playing around with that sort of thing? On testing out a Druid merc for a quick spin, I was disappointed to see that he was weaker than his pet in corresponding beast shape! If I as a mighty magic user am going to transform into a beast, surely it's going to be the most magnificent example of its species?

Druids are most optimal as a reach melee support caster or as a primary spellcaster, wildshape builds are not very strong (fun though)

So is it not worth faffing about with Viv to get the sneak attack and mutagens, and Inquisitor to get the feat sharing? Just go full DotTW for a bit of extra endgame oomph maybe?

Are you trying to make an optimal build, or a fun one? If you want to just make something fun, do whatever you like.

Druid is a class that is most optimal when making the most out of its full range of spells, dipping stuff like Vivi and losing spells as a result is not optimal

Traditional Monk 1 is the only dip for this class that is remotely optimal and it still hurts

I generally play on Challenging, so it has to be reasonably efficient, but there's a bit of elbow room for some fun.

 

[Yosharian]

I've recently been wondering about a Druid build, as I've got the perfect portrait for it. Thinking about maybe multiclassing a bit into Vivisectionist for the sneak attack and mutagens, and maybe a bit of Tactician Inquisitor. Anyone have any experience playing around with that sort of thing? On testing out a Druid merc for a quick spin, I was disappointed to see that he was weaker than his pet in corresponding beast shape! If I as a mighty magic user am going to transform into a beast, surely it's going to be the most magnificent example of its species?

Druids are most optimal as a reach melee support caster or as a primary spellcaster, wildshape builds are not very strong (fun though)

So is it not worth faffing about with Viv to get the sneak attack and mutagens, and Inquisitor to get the feat sharing? Just go full DotTW for a bit of extra endgame oomph maybe?

Are you trying to make an optimal build, or a fun one? If you want to just make something fun, do whatever you like.

Druid is a class that is most optimal when making the most out of its full range of spells, dipping stuff like Vivi and losing spells as a result is not optimal

Traditional Monk 1 is the only dip for this class that is remotely optimal and it still hurts

I generally play on Challenging, so it has to be reasonably efficient, but there's a bit of elbow room for some fun.

DOTW 19/Traditional Monk 1 can make for a reasonably effective Wildshape build, IIRC the Earth Elemental is the best

I believe COTW has some good feats for Wildshape builds so you might want to consider that