[PF] Trap dungeon

[maximus25]

My DM found this module made by Paizo. Basically a trap gauntlet, an entire dungeon that's just traps.

We need to make a couple characters that we think will make it through the dungeon. I'm thinking rogue, but I assume everyone else is too, so what's good for traps without going the rogue path like everyone else? I know if I do rogue, I'll just be the one with the highest rolls to find and disable them, since no one else knows how to optimize.

I was thinking a conjuration wizard, so I can just send minions through traps without the need to undo the traps, but that'd just be the same as going rogue. I want to contribute without outshining everyone.

What should I do?

We're going to be 5th level, we have the core rulebook, advanced players guide, ultimate magic and combat, bestiary one and two, and advanced races guide to pull from.

[eggs]

Do you know if it's going to have that annoying restriction Paizo seems to throw into half its modules where Conjurations just don't work? Because I could see that being a buzz-kill.
<-Not bitter about a summoner and a teleportation gish build rendered completely ineffective in two separate modules. Not even a little.

[Madcrafter]

Doesn't sound like much fun if the dungeon is just traps for the rogue to find and disarm. But its no fun either if it requires the players to think through everything (a la early edition d&d), unless you group really likes that sort of thing.

I would say cleric, with restorative magics and Find Traps. They can still summon too if you need some minions, and are tough besides. It does mean you might be a bit of a healbot, but since you aren't going to be fighting anything anyways (unless there are some monster summoning traps or imprisoned creatures), its not like you can do much else.

What I'm guessing play might be like:
"I search for traps" "You find no traps" 5 foot step
"I search for traps" "You find no traps" 5 foot step
"I search for traps" "You disarm the trap" 5 foot step
"I search for traps" "You find no traps" 5 foot step
Boom
"You didn't roll high enough for that one"
Rinse and repeat.

[grarrrg]

We need to make a couple characters that we think will make it through the dungeon. I'm thinking rogue, but I assume everyone else is too, so what's good for traps without going the rogue path like everyone else? I know if I do rogue, I'll just be the one with the highest rolls to find and disable them, since no one else knows how to optimize.

We're going to be 5th level, we have the core rulebook, advanced players guide, ultimate magic and combat, bestiary one and two, and advanced races guide to pull from.

Trapfinding you say?
You have MANY options.
*proceeds to rummage through his signature*

You can basically play any role you want, Warrior/Skill Monkey/Divine/Arcane.
(I've noted sources you did NOT list in parenthesis)

Alchemist Crypt Breaker (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/alchemist/archetypes/paizo---alchemist-archetypes/crypt-breaker) (Inner Sea Magic)
Bard Various (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/bard/archetypes) (Sandman, Archaeologist, Archivist, or Detective)
Oracle Seeker (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/oracle/archetypes/paizo---oracle-archetypes/seeker-oracle) (Pathfinder Society Field Guide)
Ranger Trapper (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/ranger/archetypes/paizo---ranger-archetypes/trapper) or Urban Ranger (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/ranger/archetypes/paizo---ranger-archetypes/urban-ranger)
Rogue (duh)
Sorcerer Seeker (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/sorcerer/archetypes/paizo---sorcerer-archetypes/seeker-sorcerer) (Pathfinder Society Field Guide)


There are also a handful of PrC's that grant Trapfinding or similar abilities. Although you won't be able to take levels until 6 at the earliest, and none are in any of the books you listed.
Balanced Scale of Abadar only Temporarily disables Magic traps
Cyphermage Can only detect "writing" based traps, can detect them with Perception or Knowledge (Arcana), can disable them with Disable Device or Spellcraft
Pathfinder Delver

EDIT: Almost forgot!
Go Orc Barbarian and "disarm (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/arg-feats/trap-wrecker-orc)" non-magical traps all you want!

[maximus25]

He told us there weren't many monsters, only about 10% monsters, but they're integrated into the traps.

I can't really complain, he says that anybody who survives the dungeon gets all the exp and treasure for their in campaign characters.

[Madcrafter]

Well if you are being bribed to play...

As for survival, I'll continue with cleric. Leave the trapfinding to those other people (after all, the people finding the traps are the most likely to set them off).

[maximus25]

Cleric it is then. So what should I be grabbing as cleric, in terms of domains and spells?

[grarrrg]

As for survival, I'll continue with cleric. Leave the trapfinding to those other people (after all, the people finding the traps are the most likely to set them off).

You're better off with Seeker (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/oracle/archetypes/paizo---oracle-archetypes/seeker-oracle) Oracle.
You'll still be a full Divine Caster, but you'll have your own Trapfinding just in case the other members meet their untimely demise before you do. This gives you a MUCH better chance to possibly finish on your own.

Due to the lack of Monsters your lack of Spells Known won't be a problem. The lack of 3rd level spells with hurt some, but you have more spells per level than a Cleric, so you should be fine.

Also, your Curse can help you here as well, the Deaf (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/oracle/oracle-curses) Curse gives you a +3 bonus on non-sound based Perception checks. Since most traps are silent, this is pure gain.

You do NOT have Perception as a Class skill though, but the Eyes and Ears of the City (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/traits/religion-traits/eyes-and-ears-of-the-city-god-of-commerce) Trait can remedy this.

Also, most of the Main 7 races either have, or can Alt-Race-Trait a +2 to Perception (Humans don't have that option, and Dwarves only works on Stone)

[maximus25]

You're better off with Seeker (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/oracle/archetypes/paizo---oracle-archetypes/seeker-oracle) Oracle.
You'll still be a full Divine Caster, but you'll have your own Trapfinding just in case the other members meet their untimely demise before you do. This gives you a MUCH better chance to possibly finish on your own.

Due to the lack of Monsters your lack of Spells Known won't be a problem. The lack of 3rd level spells with hurt some, but you have more spells per level than a Cleric, so you should be fine.

Also, your Curse can help you here as well, the Deaf (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/oracle/oracle-curses) Curse gives you a +3 bonus on non-sound based Perception checks. Since most traps are silent, this is pure gain.

You do NOT have Perception as a Class skill though, but the Eyes and Ears of the City (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/traits/religion-traits/eyes-and-ears-of-the-city-god-of-commerce) Trait can remedy this.

Also, most of the Main 7 races either have, or can Alt-Race-Trait a +2 to Perception (Humans don't have that option, and Dwarves only works on Stone)

That all sounds good. I was thinking half-elf as a race, the skill focus feat used on Perception.

[Kudaku]

Bard with the Archaeologist archetype. Wear a fedora at all times, specialize in whips and the run feat.

[grarrrg]

Bard with the Archaeologist archetype. Wear a fedora at all times, specialize in whips and the run feat.

Meh.
Needs a feat or a Dip to be able to use Firearms.



I know if I do rogue, I'll just be the one with the highest rolls to find and disable them, since no one else knows how to optimize.

Now that I think a little more, you may be able to kill 2 birds with 1 stone here...

Trapping is actually a 2 step process.
Finding the Trap.
Disabling the Trap.

Focus all of your Opti-Fu on Finding, leaving the other party members to worry about Disabling.
Then you can do what you do best, and they can not be completely worthless!

[maximus25]

But then what if they can't disable it? Do I just then allow the next person to try their hand at it, or disable it for them?

[Fouredged Sword]

Talk to a friend and plan. Focus on finding and have someone else focus on disabling. Have a third character be a sunder monkey for the odd breaking walls to simply bypass traps. You will need healing, especially status restoration.

So half-elf bard Archaeologist X with a gunslinger pistolero dip to find the traps, a Dwarven Cleric who focuses on disarming them and keeping people alive, and a barbarian with eater of magic and save boosting feats and the smasher power who breaks things and walks in front.

[grarrrg]

So half-elf bard Archaeologist X with a gunslinger pistolero dip to find the traps, a Dwarven Cleric who focuses on disarming them and keeping people alive, and a barbarian with eater of magic and save boosting feats and the smasher power who breaks things and walks in front.

Well, I say Oracle is better than Cleric in this case. If you want to focus on the Healing then the Life Mystery is perfect.


Any particular reason you have for Archaeologist over plain Rogue?
The Rogue Trapsmith (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/rogue/archetypes/paizo---rogue-archetypes/trapsmith) archetype has a nice level 4 bonus, not setting off the trap unless they fail by 10 or more.
Either one can qualify for the Trap Spotter (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/rogue/rogue-talents/paizo---rogue-talents/trap-spotter-ex) Rogue talent (yes, they are the "disabler" not the "spotter", but it can't hurt).
And other than the Indiana Jones reference, I'm not sure why they need to have Gunslinger.


For the Meat Shield, Trap Decoy, Barbarian, OP said this takes place at level 5, Eater of Magic isn't available until Barb 10, so that's out. But I do recommend the Scarred Rager (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/barbarian/archetypes/paizo---barbarian-archetypes/scarred-rager) archetype, as it grants extra chances to save vs. various status effects. And making them an Orc with the Trap Wrecker (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/arg-feats/trap-wrecker-orc) feat can be fun too...



For more general advice, due to the low number of monsters you'll be facing, you can each afford to heavily skew your stats.
For the Spotter/caster(s) you can drop Str and Dex to the minimums (may want some Con yet).
The Disablers can really dump most of their Mental stats.
The Walking Target can likewise dump Mentals.

[Fouredged Sword]

Yes that is true. So half elf Oracle for heals, rogue to disarm traps, and a barbarian to break things. So many traps can be bypassed when you ignore hardness. Think outside the box, door handle trapped, break door directly. Floorplate? Break handholds in the wall and climb past. If all else fails, go through the wall.

[eggs]

Psions are always fun with traps. Don't like how that statue's looking at you? Banish it to the future!

[maximus25]

I don't think I can convince the other people to make specific characters.

They'll make whatever they want, they don't really care if they make it through the traps or not, I guess. One guy is making a paladin, which definitely has no trap sense or disarm capabilities. They don't really listen to me anyway, I'm just sort of the high op guy who decimates all our challenges.

[grarrrg]

One guy is making a paladin

:smallfrown:

Well, I think you've found your Guinea Pig Front Man :smallwink:

Although _if_ he built it properly, it would make a decent healer (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/paladin/archetypes/paizo---paladin-archetypes/hospitaler).

[Madcrafter]

Hmmm... Never thought about oracle, seeing as I'm not a huge PF player myself. Though it might be good to have the trapfinding yourself, seeing as the rest of the group might be doing the same thing you are and thinking everyone else will be rogues.

[Barstro]

I think that the team as a whole should be mixed.

Rogue (go-to guy to disarm, etc.)
Some diviner to figure out which path to take
Healer, for when the first two are wrong
Summoner (Master (http://www.pathfindersrd.com/classes/base-classes/summoner/archetypes/paizo---summoner-archetypes/master-summoner), Broodmaster (http://www.pathfindersrd.com/classes/base-classes/summoner/archetypes/paizo---summoner-archetypes/broodmaster), or Regular (http://www.pathfindersrd.com/classes/base-classes/summoner)) so that you don't need to put PCs in harm's way. (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0858.html)

[maximus25]

:smallfrown:

Well, I think you've found your Guinea Pig Front Man :smallwink:

Although _if_ he built it properly, it would make a decent healer (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/paladin/archetypes/paizo---paladin-archetypes/hospitaler).

He didn't.

I've seen it, and it's not for healing. It's for hurting, which doesn't matter in a trap dungeon.

[grarrrg]

He didn't.

I've seen it, and it's not for healing. It's for hurting, which doesn't matter in a trap dungeon.

:smallmad:
There's "not optimizing" and then there is "plain stupid"...
Meat Shield all the way!

[maximus25]

I'm gonna tell him that he's the up front meat shield guy.

It's not even gonna be funny when I'm the only one who survives this dungeon. They'll just cry and say that I'm too overpowered even though I've offered help multiple times.

Or, they'll all survive only because of me and they'll think it was all them and if I try to point out I'm the one who did everything they'll just tell me I'm jealous or something.