Pathfinder: help with solo/small group character

[Mellisan]

Hi,

I joined a play by post game recently and I'm struggling with my character build. The game is focused on exploration of a new land and is going to have a variable group of people involved in each adventure, from one to three typically. The GM is also known for his adventures being fairly lethal.

So, I'm trying to meet a few different goals:
1) Strong small group utility, ie can fill multiple party roles as needed
2) Avoiding / limiting combat. With few people it's probably better to avoid engagements or take out enemies in small groups rather than attract lots of attention.
3) Out of combat utility. There's going to be a lot of exploration, and also the GM measures time carefully, so if I don't have enough money / income I'm going to have to worry about sleeping outside and starving.


It's a 15 pt buy and we start at level 5. I'm almost certainly going to play NG alignment, and Bard is off the table since a couple other people are already doing that.

My current strong choices are:

1) Tengu Cleric: Trickery and Travel domains let me be a pseudo-rogue. I have lots of utility magic and can sell spellcasting services for day to day income.

2) Gnome Oracle: Lore Mystery gives lets me be the knowledge monkey and huge competence bonus to Int checks lets me also be an excellent crafter.

3) Elf Wizard (Diviner): Boost to init checks boosts survival dramatically, and divination is a strong choice for exploration of a new land without putting yourself in too much danger.

Druid and Ranger are good for the outdoor aspect of the exploration, but they lose a lot once you get indoors. Rogue is good at avoiding and limiting combat and exploring ruins, so could also be a strong choice.

Does anyone have a strong suggestion for this scenario? Actually building the character won't be too hard once I pick a starting point, but I really am at a loss what to pick for a race/class combo in this scenario.

Thank you very much for your help!

[Drothmal]

I would advice to look at Summoner, particularly the archetype that allows you to use your summon ability while your eidolon is out (master summoner)

Use summons for fights/skills/SLAs/cannon fodder if you need to run away

Summoner has a lot of great support spells (haste as a lvl 2 spell) and you can even take crafting and give your eidolon IMD and wands

[Mellisan]

I was actually looking at the Synthesist archetype a bit. Combining your character with the eidolon gives you the eidolon's hp as temporary HP. So now you have a nice threshold for when it's time to run away.

The summoner spell list is a bit mediocre, but summoning does act as a great toolkit, especially with the increased duration summoners get. I'll give it some consideration.
Thank you!

[grarrrg]

So, I'm trying to meet a few different goals:
1) Strong small group utility, ie can fill multiple party roles as needed
2) Avoiding / limiting combat.
3) Out of combat utility.

It's a 15 pt buy and we start at level 5. I'm almost certainly going to play NG alignment, and Bard is off the table since a couple other people are already doing that.

My current strong choices are:

1) Tengu Cleric:
2) Gnome Oracle:
3) Elf Wizard (Diviner):
Druid and Ranger... Rogue

Does anyone have a strong suggestion for this scenario? Actually building the character won't be too hard once I pick a starting point, but I really am at a loss what to pick for a race/class combo in this scenario.

INQUISITOR! (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/inquisitor)
Seriously.
It can do (almost) ALL OF THE ABOVE!
2/3 WIS based Spontaneous Divine Caster with 6 Skills/level.
It comes with choice of Domain! (like a Cleric!)
Bonus on Knowledge Checks to identify Monsters! (kinda like your Oracle idea!)
Adds WIS to Initiative! (like your reason for Diviner Wizard!)
[skills/archetypes/spells and stuff] (like a Druid/Ranger/Rogue!)

Archetype options (may be allowed to take more than 1)
Heretic: (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/inquisitor/archetypes/paizo---inquisitor-archetypes/heretic) Lose Monster Lore, Gain Mucho bonuses on Stealth/Hiding/Bluff!
Infiltrator: (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/inquisitor/archetypes/paizo---inquisitor-archetypes/infiltrator) Lose Stern Gaze, Monster Lore, gain WIS to Bluff and Diplomacy (great for Social characters!, pair with the Conversion Inquisition (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/inquisitor/archetypes/paizo---inquisitor-archetypes/inquisitions/conversion-inquisition)!)
Preacher: (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/inquisitor/archetypes/paizo---inquisitor-archetypes/preacher) Lose Solo Tactics/Teamwork Feats, gain X/day uses of handy abilities!
Spellbreaker: (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/inquisitor/archetypes/paizo---inquisitor-archetypes/spellbreaker) Lose Monster Lore, Solo Tactics and Teamwork Feats, gain great Saving bonuses vs. certain spell schools!


Stat-wise you only _need_ 3 Stats, WIS, CON, and either STR or DEX (depending on how you want to fight/what armor)!

[Blyte]

I've recently started a level 4 sorc.

human, tattooed, cross blooded (orc/sylvan). Ill write it up with what I plan to do with my next level up, to 5.

Feats:
1 Spell Focus (evocation)
1B Varisian Tattoo (evocation) (+1 CL school)
1H Boon Companion
3 Empower Spell
5 Spell Specialization (ear piercing scream) (+2 CL spell)
...
then I plan to take intensify spell and spell penetration/greater spell pen and hold a rod of piercing spell


Traits:
Gifted Adept (ear piercing scream) (+1 CL spell)
Magical Lineage (ear piercing scream) (-1 meta magic adj)

Familiar:
Scorpion +4 Initiative

Bloodline Arcana
Orc You gain the orc subtype, including darkvision 60 feet and light sensitivity. If you already have darkvision, its range increases to 90 feet. Whenever you cast a spell that deals damage, that spell deals +1 point of damage per die rolled.

Sylvan Animal Companion; level -3 (min 1).


Bloodline Powers
Touch of Rage (Sp): At 1st level, you can touch a creature as a standard action, giving it a morale bonus on attack rolls, damage rolls, and Will saving throws equal to 1/2 your sorcerer level (minimum 1) for 1 round. You can use this ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + your Charisma modifier.
Fearless (Ex): At 3rd level, you gain a +4 bonus on saving throws made against fear and a +1 natural armor bonus. At 9th level, you lose your light sensitivity, gain immunity to fear, and your natural armor bonus increases to +2.

**** instead of "fearless" you probably want the fey bloodline power at level 3, which will give you woodland stride (perfect for exploration)


basically this character does increasingly potent ear piercing screams to take out other casters/rogues and battle field control spells like entangle/grease/etc to hamper other melee. then just sit back and let your ape buffed with shield beat down everything.

at level 5 your ape is a killing machine. I plan to take combat reflexes next level with mine, but power attack is also a good choice. so far I have built him up to medium armor proficiency. He has a 25 base ac in a +2 breast plate. buff him with shield and your DM will cry. couple that with reach, a 22 strength, and 3 attacks per round. He make a pretty damn good substitute for an eidolon.

I kinda went for the comic book theme with my sorc.. her name is Banshee and the ape is Guerrilla Grond

[Mellisan]

INQUISITOR! (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/inquisitor)
Seriously.
It can do (almost) ALL OF THE ABOVE!
2/3 WIS based Spontaneous Divine Caster with 6 Skills/level.
It comes with choice of Domain! (like a Cleric!)
Bonus on Knowledge Checks to identify Monsters! (kinda like your Oracle idea!)
Adds WIS to Initiative! (like your reason for Diviner Wizard!)
[skills/archetypes/spells and stuff] (like a Druid/Ranger/Rogue!)

Archetype options (may be allowed to take more than 1)
Heretic: (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/inquisitor/archetypes/paizo---inquisitor-archetypes/heretic) Lose Monster Lore, Gain Mucho bonuses on Stealth/Hiding/Bluff!
Infiltrator: (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/inquisitor/archetypes/paizo---inquisitor-archetypes/infiltrator) Lose Stern Gaze, Monster Lore, gain WIS to Bluff and Diplomacy (great for Social characters!, pair with the Conversion Inquisition (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/inquisitor/archetypes/paizo---inquisitor-archetypes/inquisitions/conversion-inquisition)!)
Preacher: (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/inquisitor/archetypes/paizo---inquisitor-archetypes/preacher) Lose Solo Tactics/Teamwork Feats, gain X/day uses of handy abilities!
Spellbreaker: (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/inquisitor/archetypes/paizo---inquisitor-archetypes/spellbreaker) Lose Monster Lore, Solo Tactics and Teamwork Feats, gain great Saving bonuses vs. certain spell schools!


Stat-wise you only _need_ 3 Stats, WIS, CON, and either STR or DEX (depending on how you want to fight/what armor)!

Might be able to do something fun with a ranged inquisitor tengu. I like all the skill points. Kind of a rogue / cleric hybrid. A lot of customization with all those archetypes too. Good suggestion, thank you!

[White_Drake]

I'm going to put my 2 cents in for a Rogue, or even better, a Vivisectionist with 3.5 skill-broadening feats. You can sneak past crap! Seriously though, I love tiny parties because it gives me an opportunity to actually use all of those sneaky skills without a clanky Fighter around.

[Acanous]

Given you have two BArds in the party, you may wish to be the hulking wall of meat.

In which case, I suggest
Barbarian
Invulnerable Rager
going up the Beast Totem for Pounce at lv 10.

Bards=buffs. Buffs are best when applied to a strong chassis. A Barbarian is a strong chassis.

You get nature-themed skills such as survival, swim, and climb, but also get Rage, which can solve just about anything.

[grarrrg]

Might be able to do something fun with a ranged inquisitor tengu. I like all the skill points. Kind of a rogue / cleric hybrid. A lot of customization with all those archetypes too. Good suggestion, thank you!

If you want to further the Rogue/Cleric Hybrid-ness, while still being Inquisitorial, there's the Gray Gardener (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/prestige-classes/other-paizo/e-h/gray-gardener) PrC.
Same basics (HP/Skills/etc...) as the Inquisitor, slightly less spellcasting, but it gains honest to goodness Sneak Attack, and stacks for most of the Inquisitor features (Judgment/Bane/etc...).

Same basics, mainly a shuffling of features when entered as an Inquisitor.

[Mellisan]

I've been looking at some Rogue builds, though the sneak attack from Gray Gardener isn't a huge priority for me. I'm trying to avoid combat as much as possible, so needing to do lots of damage is a sign the plan isn't working out.

While two people have picked bards, there's not really any guarantee I'll be playing with them very often. It's a big group but who's available for any given session is going to be highly variable. A ranger or summoner probably fits the role of tank better in this scenario since you can stay back and select a beefy pet to soak damage for you, and both classes have ways to also act as healer for that pet.

Thanks very much everyone for the feedback!

[grarrrg]

Inquisitors can choose 1 Domain.
Animal Domain grants a Companion at level -3.
Scalykind Domain grants a Companion at level -2, but it must be a "snake" (or Dinosaur if you pick the Sub-domain).