Pathfinder Pathfinder: Kingmaker Builds and Strats Thread

[a cut of domestic sheep prime]

What's the best set up for sorcerer? Sylvan pets seem amazing

I want to be a dragon.

 

[hell bovine]

What's the best set up for sorcerer? Sylvan pets seem amazing

Well, as long as you buff the animal companion, it tanks better than Valerie, so you can't go wrong with the sylvan. Ms. Piggy tanked even the mandragora swarms, because they could not drain enough strength to bring her down before the party disposed of them. You can share the buffing duty with Jubilost, as alchemist get most of the necessary spells, except for mage armor and animal growth (optionally also greater polymorph).

As for offense, conjuration has the best spells: grease, glitterdust, stinking cloud, cloudkill, vine trap (I think sylvans get this as part of their bloodline). Round it up with boneshaker/shatter, web, sirocco and hellfire ray; dimension door can be occasionally handy. I'd add baleful polymorph to the list, if not for the bug where it results in unlootable corpses. So in end effect you can get away with only one spell focus (conjuration).

 

[Yosharian]

Trying to make a two hand paladin damage dealer, should I multi-class?or just stick with palandin?

Depends. You can stick with Paladin, the spells are OK and the weapon enchant ability is fairly good.

However, there are also great options if you dip 1 level in Scaled Fist then grab some spellcasting. Any caster with Charisma as a primary stat works. Eldritch Knight works as a PrC.

 

[Yosharian]

Quick question. Can you still cast all your spells and normal attacks with Dragonkind II spell? I'm thinking of giving it to Octavia for extra firepower, 1 - to make it possible she can melee a bit with all those attack bonuses, and 2 - so she can simply be a dragon and still cast her normal spell repertoire. So can #2 happen with this spell?

Yes, you retain full spellcasting with Dragonkind. Your melee attacks change completely. You gain 6 natural attacks with Dragonkind III. Less with the others, I can't remember off the top of my head.

 

[ArchAngel]

Standard Linzi has her songs and some nice offensive spells on top of the buffs. Second half of the game I've found both her and Reg (whom I've turned into a melee bard) more useful than Ekun, mainly because I'd rate aoe debuffs higher than single target non-touch ac damage.

Bards are excellent archers once your song becomes a move action. You can haste+song in round one and fire away with bow or crossbow after that. Or if you haste before battle you can song+sneak attack spell in round one. With Song their attack is as good as normal archer and they buff everyone else in the party. Pick archer only feats and don't max Charisma but Dex and you got a very useful character.

 

[jf8350143]

Trying to make a two hand paladin damage dealer, should I multi-class?or just stick with palandin?

Depends. You can stick with Paladin, the spells are OK and the weapon enchant ability is fairly good.

However, there are also great options if you dip 1 level in Scaled Fist then grab some spellcasting. Any caster with Charisma as a primary stat works. Eldritch Knight works as a PrC.

Does multi class a monk make you lose the ability to wear heavy armor(or any armor in that case)?

 

[Deleted Member 16721]

Yes, you retain full spellcasting with Dragonkind. Your melee attacks change completely. You gain 6 natural attacks with Dragonkind III. Less with the others, I can't remember off the top of my head.

That's awesome, I took it as a level 7 spell with Octavia. I'm rolling into Chapter 5 finale with a party I haven't used at all, and since I'm low on firepower - PC (Dragon Archaeologist), Valerie (Stalwart D), Regongar, Linzi, Tristian and Octavia - I decided to give her the Dragonkind II spell so if it gets ugly she can even melee for extra wreck. Although her spells are powerful but at least as a dragon she has more options. I decided to roll with this party because Octavia is trying to find her mother so I wanted Regongar with her instead of Amiri this time to see his reaction. Tristian was brought along for his uber Cleric stuff, and Linzi was mandatory at this point. So wish me luck, it's a party combination I haven't used at all (still trying to figure out how to best use Reg...) but I'm hoping I can skirt by and seal the deal in chapter 5.

 

[Deleted Member 16721]

One more quick question that I think I already asked and was answered, but for Reg's Spell Combat, can I right click Vampiric/whatever Touch spells and he will auto-use them during his attacks? Are there any other tricks to using him, besides using his Arcane Pool a bit to enchant/buff his weapon? Should I investigate the other Arcane Pool functions? I also gave him Wand Mastery which I assume I can right click and have him auto-use those as well during combat?

 

[jf8350143]

Trying to make a two hand paladin damage dealer, should I multi-class?or just stick with palandin?

Depends. You can stick with Paladin, the spells are OK and the weapon enchant ability is fairly good.

However, there are also great options if you dip 1 level in Scaled Fist then grab some spellcasting. Any caster with Charisma as a primary stat works. Eldritch Knight works as a PrC.

Does multi class a monk make you lose the ability to wear heavy armor(or any armor in that case)?

You never lose abilities retroactively.

OK, thanks for the help, might try it out.

 

[Yosharian]

Trying to make a two hand paladin damage dealer, should I multi-class?or just stick with palandin?

Depends. You can stick with Paladin, the spells are OK and the weapon enchant ability is fairly good.

However, there are also great options if you dip 1 level in Scaled Fist then grab some spellcasting. Any caster with Charisma as a primary stat works. Eldritch Knight works as a PrC.

Does multi class a monk make you lose the ability to wear heavy armor(or any armor in that case)?

No, but you can equip up to +8 armor bracers, which is the same as half-plate. You can use the Magical Vestment spell to act as an 'enhancement' to your robes. Also, your charisma bonus is added to your CMD, as well as your AC. There are Monk Robes that grant +5 Dodge AC, aswell.

The armors in this game are not very good.

 

[Deleted Member 16721]

Sacred Huntsmaster is a beast. I multiclassed Harrim to one and gave him a Mastadon pet. You get the free teamwork feats, the pet companion (the Mastadon is a beast too) and he gets extra casts of spells like Bless/Bane/etc. to bolster his Cleric spells a bit. Very good class indeed.

 

[santino27]

I'm MCing a Sacred Huntsmaster, although I threw in some KM splash and 1 fighter level for the extra feat. (Would've been monk for crane style but didn't want to play lawful). A bit feat-starved in the early going, but the leopard eats everything at the start anyway, so I figure I have time.

 

[Yosharian]

Mastadon, is that like an 'urban' version of the Mastodon?

 

[Haplo]

One more quick question that I think I already asked and was answered, but for Reg's Spell Combat, can I right click Vampiric/whatever Touch spells and he will auto-use them during his attacks?

Yes. SpellCombat allows a spellcast, delivery of said spell with your weapon trough Spellstrike - if its a melee touch attack (such as Vampiric Touch) AND iterative attacks in the same round. Note that Touch of Fatigue is a cantrip and has unlimited casts (so can be a "free" bonus attack with Spellstrike, albeit all your attacks get -2 AB). You need a free offhand for Spell Combat.
Watch out for movement though. Spell Combat is a full round action and doesn't mesh that well with movement. You can cast a spell, possibly deliver it with spellstrike - if its a melee touch spell, AND full attack only when you don't move. Otherwise you'll be "wasting" rounds when you move even a little on casting (plus 1 attack with SpellStrike if its a melee touch spell). So "unclick" the spell when you want to be mobile / move a little between the enemies. It is quite important for a magus to assume an optimal initial position, preferably so he can reach multiple enemies without moving.
When you ARE moving, you may want to disable Spell Combat entirely for that round - to 2-hand your weapon and get x1,5 Strenght bonus on Reg.

Well, a Magus IS a pretty micro-intensive class

Are there any other tricks to using him, besides using his Arcane Pool a bit to enchant/buff his weapon? Should I investigate the other Arcane Pool functions?

Yes, you probably should. You can add charisma to attack rolls vs tough cookies. Or even attack the touch AC of some enemies.
You may want to pick Arcane Strike feat for more damage, if you haven't already. Just watch out, it will be disabled every time you activate another swift action - such as Arcane Pool enchantments and will need to be activated again.

I also gave him Wand Mastery which I assume I can right click and have him auto-use those as well during combat?

Yes, preferably with Spell Combat. Note the above remarks apply.

 

[Yosharian]

The thing I'm wondering about is Dimension Strike. Can't decide if it's worth prioritizing over other Arcane Pool abilities.

 

[Haplo]

Question whether you have trouble hitting or not? At 2 AP it's pretty expensive for 1 round.
Arcane Accuracy or whatsitcalled seems to have better AP economy. The effect is weaker, of course.

Later on Brilliant Energy can provide a big part of that benefit on a semi-permanent basis (except vs undead and constructs).

Also I like to get Shatter Defenses on all my melees to deny the enemies a part of their AC (except vs undead, insects and constructs), plus even easier sneaks.

So for me its not worth it. I could see more use on builds that prioritize Int/Charisma instead of investing in their to-hit stat. On the other hand they will have more bonus from their Arcane Accuracy or whatsitcalled.
YMMV.

 

[ArchAngel]

About Reg: I would not use any of his spells on autocast. The main reason is that when he casts it once and misses, the spell stays in his weapon and will be expended on next successful attack but if you have autocast on, AI will ignore that and next round cast that spell again wasting the previous one.

 

[Haplo]

Well, true. But I'd still autocast Touch of Fatigue and just disable it when I want to use Shocking Grasp/Frigid/Vampiric Touch.
It doesn't matter for other spells, as he won't hold them when failing.

 

[Yosharian]

Question whether you have trouble hitting or not? At 2 AP it's pretty expensive for 1 round.
Arcane Accuracy or whatsitcalled seems to have better AP economy. The effect is weaker, of course.

Later on Brilliant Energy can provide a big part of that benefit on a semi-permanent basis (except vs undead and constructs).

Also I like to get Shatter Defenses on all my melees to deny the enemies a part of their AC (except vs undead, insects and constructs), plus even easier sneaks.

So for me its not worth it. I could see more use on builds that prioritize Int/Charisma instead of investing in their to-hit stat. On the other hand they will have more bonus from their Arcane Accuracy or whatsitcalled.
YMMV.

I'm theorycrafting about lategame so I have no idea. Brilliant Energy is extremely expensive, that's the problem.

My issue is that I'm theorizing that I'll only use AA when I'm up against tough bastards, like bosses or end-game enemies. I can get up to +10 from AA, but what if I still can't hit them?

I think I'll be ok, though. I have a lot of attack roll buffs in my party.

 

[Haplo]

I'm theorycrafting about lategame so I have no idea. Brilliant Energy is extremely expensive, that's the problem.

My issue is that I'm theorizing that I'll only use AA when I'm up against tough bastards, like bosses or end-game enemies. I can get up to +10 from AA, but what if I still can't hit them?

I think I'll be ok, though. I have a lot of attack roll buffs in my party.

Brilliant Energy is pretty expensive, but if/when its the difference of maybe landing 1-2 attacks and likely landing all 4, I'd say its very much worth it. Especially that you're very likely to use a minimum +3 weapon at that point already and Bane Blade is a separate enchantment which doesn't draw from the enchantment limit.

 

[ArchAngel]

Well, true. But I'd still autocast Touch of Fatigue and just disable it when I want to use Shocking Grasp/Frigid/Vampiric Touch.
It doesn't matter for other spells, as he won't hold them when failing.

You should not, if he casts it every round first he spends 3s casting it and not attacking.

 

[ArchAngel]

Also, using arcane accuracy is a bad deal. It is +3 to attack roll for ONE TURN for one 1 AP. That point is better invested as always to get weapon enhance.

Also I think it is a swift action so it disables Arcane Strike and costs you bonus free damage.

 

[Haplo]

Well, true. But I'd still autocast Touch of Fatigue and just disable it when I want to use Shocking Grasp/Frigid/Vampiric Touch.
It doesn't matter for other spells, as he won't hold them when failing.

You should not, if he casts it every round first he spends 3s casting it and not attacking.

Doesn't matter unless you want to move that round. A round has 6 s. It's still an extra cast & free attack with Spellstrike. You'll still do your iterative attacks that round afterwards - unless you move. Or unless you turn off Spell Combat / use a two-hander.
Of course it does reduce Accuracy by 2 AB and you can provoke AoOs if you fail Concentration for Defensive Casting.

 

[Haplo]

Also, using arcane accuracy is a bad deal. It is +3 to attack roll for ONE TURN for one 1 AP. That point is better invested as always to get weapon enhance.

Also I think it is a swift action so it disables Arcane Strike and costs you bonus free damage.

Yes, you give up the Arcane Strike bonus damage for that round. But you only use it when really necessary, when accuracy is more important then damage. Its too expensive AP wise otherwise. Same deal with Dimension Strike (only you burn AP at twice the rate).

 

[Haplo]

Also, using arcane accuracy is a bad deal. It is +3 to attack roll for ONE TURN for one 1 AP. That point is better invested as always to get weapon enhance.

It's not +3 to attack roll, its your Int modifier. Which should probably be around +6-7 with items by end game. About +5 earlier with Fox Cunning.
And yes, its 1 round only... how exactly is that different from Dimension Strike (which costs 2 AP)?