The Oni
2013-08-01, 03:58 AM
A very strange build. I actually decided to do this build specifically because one of the guys in my party insisted that his character was really unusual...:smallbiggrin: I was not to be outdone.
Jacques of Braids (Dual-Talented Human, Lawful Good)
L1 Sohei/L2 White-Haired Witch
Patron: Agility / Familiar: King Crab
CMB 8 / CMD 18 / BAB +1
HP 28 / AC 17
Str 7 (-2)
Dex 15 (+2)
Con 16 (+3)
Int 20 (+5)
Wis 7 (-2)
Cha 9 (-1)
Feats:
Deflect + Snatch Arrows
Improved Unarmed
Flurry of Blows (basically never used)
White Hair (deals 1d4 + 5 damage), also Grab + Constrict
Light Armor Proficiency, Martial Weapon Proficiency
Devoted Guardian (act in the surprise round always even if surprised)
Snake Style (Sense Motive currently gets +8 so this is often better than my AC but not always)
Equipment:
Scizore 1d10 (for extra AC in a pinch)
Bracers of Armor + 1
Mithril Shirt + 4 with armor spikes
Wand of Ray of Enfeeblement
So the way this works is that if I can't reach the opponent with a move action then I use spells. Anything with that deals STR damage lowers the damage they can do to me (if they're Melee) and also their CMD, so I can grab them more easily. This includes my Wand, of course.
If I can reach them then I hit them with my hair, which at present deals 1d4 + 5 and a free grapple attempt with no AoO. (NOTE: The hair means that my grapples use my glorious INT in place of my atrocious STR.) If the grapple attempt works (and it usually does) then I get another 1d4 + 5 damage, plus 1d6 damage from the armor spikes, this translates to a caster that can deal 11-24 damage and possibly immobilize an opponent in one round without spells.
Snatch Arrows lets me insta-block one projectile a round and throw it back, even if I'm in the middle of a grapple (hair-grapples are hands-free!)
So far this build has been very successful (it managed to take out a Darkstalker boss in Pathfinder Society; this particular module was said to be infamous for killing players, but we managed to save everyone including the newbie pregen.)
Now, I just hit 3rd level, so I could still change Snake Style to something else before I play again, but I think it's a good idea seeing how commonly Jacques is on the front lines. The more defensive options he has the better considering that his HP will be comparatively low for a character who sees the front lines as often as he does.
Why Mithril Shirt and not Mage Armor?
A) Mage Armor has to be renewed
B) I needed something to put my armor spikes on
I'm not thrilled about the 10% spell failure chance but it's not a killer, and I'm taking Arcane Armor Training @ 5th so it'll be nonexistent at that point. However, until then I could return the Mithril Shirt and go with the Haramaki instead - no ASF, still gets spikes, super cheap, and Mage Armor stacks over it but doesn't cancel the spikes. I'd lose spells, but the spells I do cast will be 100% reliable. (and at present, I have 10 of them, yay bonus spells for INT)
So what do you think, Snake Style or no Snake Style, and Mithril Chain or Haramaki Mage Armor?
Jacques of Braids (Dual-Talented Human, Lawful Good)
L1 Sohei/L2 White-Haired Witch
Patron: Agility / Familiar: King Crab
CMB 8 / CMD 18 / BAB +1
HP 28 / AC 17
Str 7 (-2)
Dex 15 (+2)
Con 16 (+3)
Int 20 (+5)
Wis 7 (-2)
Cha 9 (-1)
Feats:
Deflect + Snatch Arrows
Improved Unarmed
Flurry of Blows (basically never used)
White Hair (deals 1d4 + 5 damage), also Grab + Constrict
Light Armor Proficiency, Martial Weapon Proficiency
Devoted Guardian (act in the surprise round always even if surprised)
Snake Style (Sense Motive currently gets +8 so this is often better than my AC but not always)
Equipment:
Scizore 1d10 (for extra AC in a pinch)
Bracers of Armor + 1
Mithril Shirt + 4 with armor spikes
Wand of Ray of Enfeeblement
So the way this works is that if I can't reach the opponent with a move action then I use spells. Anything with that deals STR damage lowers the damage they can do to me (if they're Melee) and also their CMD, so I can grab them more easily. This includes my Wand, of course.
If I can reach them then I hit them with my hair, which at present deals 1d4 + 5 and a free grapple attempt with no AoO. (NOTE: The hair means that my grapples use my glorious INT in place of my atrocious STR.) If the grapple attempt works (and it usually does) then I get another 1d4 + 5 damage, plus 1d6 damage from the armor spikes, this translates to a caster that can deal 11-24 damage and possibly immobilize an opponent in one round without spells.
Snatch Arrows lets me insta-block one projectile a round and throw it back, even if I'm in the middle of a grapple (hair-grapples are hands-free!)
So far this build has been very successful (it managed to take out a Darkstalker boss in Pathfinder Society; this particular module was said to be infamous for killing players, but we managed to save everyone including the newbie pregen.)
Now, I just hit 3rd level, so I could still change Snake Style to something else before I play again, but I think it's a good idea seeing how commonly Jacques is on the front lines. The more defensive options he has the better considering that his HP will be comparatively low for a character who sees the front lines as often as he does.
Why Mithril Shirt and not Mage Armor?
A) Mage Armor has to be renewed
B) I needed something to put my armor spikes on
I'm not thrilled about the 10% spell failure chance but it's not a killer, and I'm taking Arcane Armor Training @ 5th so it'll be nonexistent at that point. However, until then I could return the Mithril Shirt and go with the Haramaki instead - no ASF, still gets spikes, super cheap, and Mage Armor stacks over it but doesn't cancel the spikes. I'd lose spells, but the spells I do cast will be 100% reliable. (and at present, I have 10 of them, yay bonus spells for INT)
So what do you think, Snake Style or no Snake Style, and Mithril Chain or Haramaki Mage Armor?