Pathfinder Pathfinder: Kingmaker Builds and Strats Thread

[Seari]

I was also thinking of playing an archeologist but it seems that lingering performance is bugged and doesn't work with archeologist's luck so screw that.

 

[Yosharian]

Archeologist sucks

 

[Sykar]

Does anyone know if spell like abilities like those from Aasimar and Tiefling profit from spell focus?

 

[Sykar]

Good to know then choosing a race and feats to incorporate the special ability falls completely on its face except in some special circumstances I guess.

 

[Haplo]

Most of them is once per day though - unless bugged, right?

 

[Sykar]

If I go for example an evocation fire wizard, then I could get Emberkin as race which gets Burning Arc which would synergize nicely with the spell focus feats. Since this is not the case though the SLA is nothing but a minor early power boost and forgettable already at mid game since on top of not synergizing with spell focus/penetration feat they cannot profit from metamagic either.

 

[Sykar]

If I go for example an evocation fire wizard, then I could get Emberkin as race which gets Burning Arc which would synergize nicely with the spell focus feats. Since this is not the case though the SLA is nothing but a minor early power boost and forgettable already at mid game since on top of not synergizing with spell focus/penetration feat they cannot profit from metamagic either.

That is generally the case in D&D barring a few very potent abilities. For example, PHB2 gives conjurers an ability to teleport before an attack lands 3 times a day as an interrupt action. it is basically a NOPE action that DMs outright ban because of it being broken. What does the same thing give to other specializations is peanuts by comparison.

Yeah I can see that. It always bothered me though that quite a lot of early game abilities are outright pointless early mid game already except for very nice applications and completely forgettable late game.

 

[Cael]

If I go for example an evocation fire wizard, then I could get Emberkin as race which gets Burning Arc which would synergize nicely with the spell focus feats. Since this is not the case though the SLA is nothing but a minor early power boost and forgettable already at mid game since on top of not synergizing with spell focus/penetration feat they cannot profit from metamagic either.

That is generally the case in D&D barring a few very potent abilities. For example, PHB2 gives conjurers an ability to teleport before an attack lands 3 times a day as an interrupt action. it is basically a NOPE action that DMs outright ban because of it being broken. What does the same thing give to other specializations is peanuts by comparison.

Only 10ft range, IIRC. A Large monster with a reach weapon can still smash the wizard, and it won't save him from a Fireball centred on him.

Spell-like abilities for player races are generally only good for utility purposes, not direct attack. Invisibility, Blur, Daylight, Darkness, Invisibility, Dancing Lights, etc., are all utility spells. It is rare that you get attack spells as a spell-like ability unless it is from non-player type monsters (e.g., Balor) because the makers of DnD realise how bad they can be.

 

[Deleted Member 16721]

Archeologist sucks

No they don't. Get them to level 5 and multiclass. They can provide spells early like Sleep, Heroism, Hideous Laughter, Cacophonous Call, etc., and at level 5 they get Arch's Luck +2 which gives a +2 to basically everything (attack bonus, weapon damage, skill checks, saves, etc..)

Just get that level 5 and multi them into something else. I decided Rogue and Dragon Disciple just for fun, but you could go Ranger or straight Rogue too.

 

[Deleted Member 16721]

Half the people I watched don't even know what to do with spell memorization. They don't even check spellbook or fill new spells when they level up.
And UI things like the little arrow that lets you turn spells into healing is lost on them.

Well to anyone who likes to watch, my Let's Play is still up there. I guarantee it is of pristine, excellent quality.

 

[lukaszek]

deterministic system > RNG

 

[Deleted Member 16721]

Well Arch is a CHA casting class, so it's easy to also get Intimidating Prowess with them too (which is what I did, I can pass any Intimidate check in the game and demoralize anyone. STR is 27 and CHA is high too.) So that does have something to do with being an Arch.

 

[ArchAngel]

Half the people I watched don't even know what to do with spell memorization. They don't even check spellbook or fill new spells when they level up.
And UI things like the little arrow that lets you turn spells into healing is lost on them.

Well to anyone who likes to watch, my Let's Play is still up there. I guarantee it is of pristine, excellent quality.

My point was to show that most of the people playing this game don't know how to play it and take way too long to learn. Now the question is if that is the game's fault or the people playing it.

 

[lukaszek]

deterministic system > RNG

 

[Deleted Member 16721]

lukaszek Not really, between that and Heroism/Greater Heroism he rarely fails a check anyway. And it stacks, since it's a Luck bonus, and works in dialogue (which Imposing Prowess or whatever that adds STR to intimidate/demoralize checks he never fails those either)

 

[lukaszek]

deterministic system > RNG

 

[ArchAngel]

i think i need to start over. Got some questions:
I want to maintain high enchantment dc but I might consider dropping 2cha. What Im thinking about doing is some sort of more str focused build with reach weapon, cornogun smash, dazzling performance... in general be intimidating powerhouse.
Some questions: are horc of larger size so they have better reach?
What is best reach weapon?
What does eldritich knight offer? I understand that I can splash him without losing enchantment dc/spell pen checks but I fail to see what does he actually offer.

Half Orc is not bigger.
Fauchard is best reach but it is exotic so you need to spend a feat.
EK offers full BAB of a fighter, d8 life and almost full spellcasting.
Also offers some bonus feats, it is considered as gaining fighter levels and you can qualify for fighter only feats and gets a very nice ability at lvl 10 where critical hits you succeed at let you cast your next spell quickened.

 

[Yosharian]

Archeologist sucks

No they don't. Get them to level 5 and multiclass. They can provide spells early like Sleep, Heroism, Hideous Laughter, Cacophonous Call, etc., and at level 5 they get Arch's Luck +2 which gives a +2 to basically everything (attack bonus, weapon damage, skill checks, saves, etc..)

Just get that level 5 and multi them into something else. I decided Rogue and Dragon Disciple just for fun, but you could go Ranger or straight Rogue too.

I'm sure you have fun with it but that is not an optimal multiclass

DD is bad as well, honestly

 

[Deleted Member 16721]

Well I wouldn't say it's not optimal, everything is optimal depending on your gear setup and how you use it. I can cast spells, hit for good sneak attack damage, high strength bonus with a 2d6 free energy damage bite per round, intimidate anyone in dialogue and demoralize anyone easily and more. You can make it work.

 

[lukaszek]

deterministic system > RNG

 

[ArchAngel]

Also offers some bonus feats, it is considered as gaining fighter levels and you can qualify for fighter only feats and gets a very nice ability at lvl 10 where critical hits you succeed at let you cast your next spell quickened.

while its nice indeed id have to lose some spell lvls to get 10 lvls of ek, as such its not an option.
For ek id need to spend a feat to get martial prof. As such Ek free feats will be first spend as gaining feat back. If thats all it can offer it aint worth it :/

EK only loses caster level at lvl 1. You lose as much with arcane trickster (one caster level + 1 feat). You get lots more defense and life with EK. And BAB. And feats. And if you build it as a crit character (falchion or scimitar) it can give you a lot of free quickened spells once it reaches lvl 10 (around lvl 15 total). That will be very nice for end game.

 

[lukaszek]

deterministic system > RNG

 

[Yosharian]

everything is optimal depending on your gear setup and how you use it

 

[Yosharian]

Also offers some bonus feats, it is considered as gaining fighter levels and you can qualify for fighter only feats and gets a very nice ability at lvl 10 where critical hits you succeed at let you cast your next spell quickened.

while its nice indeed id have to lose some spell lvls to get 10 lvls of ek, as such its not an option.
For ek id need to spend a feat to get martial prof. As such Ek free feats will be first spend as gaining feat back. If thats all it can offer it aint worth it :/

EK only loses caster level at lvl 1. You lose as much with arcane trickster (one caster level + 1 feat). You get lots more defense and life with EK. And BAB. And feats. And if you build it as a crit character (falchion or scimitar) it can give you a lot of free quickened spells once it reaches lvl 10 (around lvl 15 total). That will be very nice for end game.

The problem is that you get quite a lot of progression in Pathfinder by simply levelling in base classes. Even Wizard, the slightly more vanilla caster, gets lots of toys like free metamagic/focus feats, and special abilities, or progression in those abilities, if they are a specialist.

You always lose something no matter what your base class is, and thus it's not simply a question of -1 spellcasting progression, you also lose lots of other things.

EK is still quite good, but it's not as straightforward as it was in 3.5

 

[ArchAngel]

EK only loses caster level at lvl 1. You lose as much with arcane trickster (one caster level + 1 feat).

what i meant is not caster lvl, but entire circles of spells missing. Dont know bard progression, but to reach 10lvl ek i expect to miss both lvl 5 and 6 spells entirely

Why would you miss spells?! EK is considered as a full caster. You get spells and caster levels and all. If you are a Bard you only lose Bard Song and related abilities.