Factotum Build; Help me optimize it.

[Perpetr8r]

Alright so I am bringing a Factotum into a Pathfinder Game. And I want to make myself useful as its just me and 1 other player, and maybe an NPC healer if we need it. The other is playing a Brawler.

So I am gonna play a Human (Possibly Azlanti if I can swing it for the +2 to everything so I can potentially dump points into INT)

Any suggestions?

Wanna be the Party Face so Diplomacy things would be nice, but don't want to slouch in the area of combat either.

[Sith_Happens]

How much else of 3.5 is allowed? That's important.

[Perpetr8r]

Pretty much anything I might need so long as its not Outrageous and too far 3rd Party.

[Sith_Happens]

Cool. First rule of building a Factotum: take Font of Inspiration (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/frcc/20070606) at least three times (though usually not right away).

Besides that, what are your preferences as far as what-doing in combat?

[Perpetr8r]

Well I want him to be doing Combat Maneuvers to be honest as I feel it makes sense for the smart guy to use manipulating techniques rather then sheer damage output. However I don't mind perhaps him using some Crit-fishing style to him allowing him to deal the damage when needed.

[Sith_Happens]

Well I want him to be doing Combat Maneuvers to be honest as I feel it makes sense for the smart guy to use manipulating techniques rather then sheer damage output.

Hm, the fact you're playing Pathfinder could actually be a problem here. Factotums usually make great trippers due to the fact that tripping in 3.5 is just an opposed Strength check and therefore Brains over Brain applies to it. The CMB/CMD mechanic ruins that, unless you can convince your DM to add CMB to the list of things that Brains over Brawn applies to as part of converting the class to Pathfinder. Which if you ask me is completely sensible, along with letting Cunning Defense and Improved Cunning Defense apply to CMD.

If your DM does agree to the above, then congratulations, you now get INT to CMB starting at 3rd level and are therefore great at combat maneuvers.


However I don't mind perhaps him using some Crit-fishing style to him allowing him to deal the damage when needed.

Cunning Insight could work well with crit-fishing if you have the inspiration points for it, but that's a big if.

The most common technique for dealing lots of damage as a Factotum is using the Iaijutsu Focus skill from Oriental Adventures, which is basically skill-check-based Sneak Attack except the target specifically has to be flat-footed and you have to have drawn a melee weapon earlier that turn. Of course, from what I know of Pathfinder it's a lot harder to make enemies flat-footed again after their first turn (in 3.5 Grease will do that even if they stand still), but once you have Cunning Surge you can get plenty of attacks on turn one if need be.

...Ooh, here's an idea. It turns out that Focused Shot (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/focused-shot-combat) is a feat that exists, and it's perfect for Factotums. You know how the problem with that feat is that it specifically takes a standard action, so you can only ever make one attack per round with it? Cunning Surge says hello again, along with Cunning Insight for INT to damage twice per shot (incidentally, this is why you wants Font of Inspiration lots of times, because Cunning Surge ain't cheap).

Lastly, not directly related to damage, but Factotums make great demoralizers.
1. Take the Imperious Command feat from Drow of the Underdark.
2. ???
3. Profit.

[bekeleven]

Look into the feat Keen Intellect (Int replaces wis on will saves and wisdom-based skills, except profession and listen). Arguably, taking Carmendine Monk (or Kung-Fu Genius) with a monk's belt gives you constant int to AC, which stacks with cunning defense. I say arguably because I had a dispute with Tippy (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?368199-The-rogue!) over it the other day, but I think the RAW is solid.

[Sith_Happens]

Hm, what ways does Pathfinder have of multiplying damage rolls (the whole roll, not just the actual dice like that abomination of a feat Vital Strike does)? Because Cunning Insight goes great with that sort of thing.

[Rickshaw]

Well there's a couple good factotum handbooks out there. My favorite is this one (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?272130-Getting-the-Facts-Straight-A-Factotum-Handbook-(WIP-PEACH)) despite its claim to be a work in progress. It has a few inserts about porting a factotum over to pf.

[MightyPirate]

Hm, what ways does Pathfinder have of multiplying damage rolls (the whole roll, not just the actual dice like that abomination of a feat Vital Strike does)? Because Cunning Insight goes great with that sort of thing. Very little that I know of actually. Critical hits work like that and there's still lances and Spirited Charge (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/spirited-charge-combat---final). These still don't do anything for precision damage (or any other bonus dice for that matter) but there could be potential for multiplying int damage on a mounted charger.

I normally write off Kirin Style (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/kirin-style-combat-style) and Kirin Strike (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/kirin-strike-combat) for taking two swift actions to get started adding X2 Int on a single attack. However if you could get the drop on the enemy and then charge with a Spirited Charge lance the next turn.

That makes for 3d6+4.5xStr+3xPower Attack+9xInt+Iajutsu bonus dice. Still probably not stellar for an action as limited as a charge but respectable I suppose. This pretty much pigeon holes you into a mounted small character, I don't think that's worth the trade. Unless you like the mounted halfling thing, if you do then definitely check out Risky Striker (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/racial-feats/risky-striker-combat-halfling) as well. Get a cheeta mount a wand of Saddle Surge (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/s/saddle-surge) if you'd like cheese with that.

[Tsriel]

I'm a little envious. I've always wanted to bring the Factotum over to PF but really haven't found anyone willing to let me try the conversion.

Anyway, Sith has hit all the main points from the 3.5 side, so I'll try to add some suggestions from the PF viewpoint.

If Iajitsu Focus isn't an option, then your best best is probably to pull your best Indiana Jones impersonation and go battlefield control using a scorpion whip. (Note: Whips are treated like ranged weapons in PF.) You'll want the Whip Mastery (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/whip-mastery-combat), Improved Whip Mastery (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/improved-whip-mastery-combat), and possibly Greater Whip Mastery (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/greater-whip-mastery-combat) feats.

If Impervious Command isn't an option, then the Dazzling Display (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/dazzling-display-combat)/Shatter Defenses (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/shatter-defenses-combat---final) combo will effectively do the same thing.

Of course, you may want to talk to your GM to see if you still have to take Improved Trip/Disarm/Grapple/ect. R.A.W. with the Whip Mastery feat, you shouldn't provoke doing these maneuvers since a CMB check counts as an attack. (i.e., an attack is made whenever a die roll against a target occurs)

Other than that, it's all about getting your CMB as high as you possibly can. Buffs, magical weapons, wonderous items (like Gauntlets of the Skilled Maneuver (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic-items/wondrous-items/wondrous-items/e-g/gauntlets-of-the-skilled-maneuver)), ect will all help you.

If you have to be the trap finder/skill monkey of the party, then I'd definitely recommend the Trap Finder (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/traits/campaign-traits/mummy-s-mask/trap-finder) trait.

Have fun with your factotum! Still one of my favorite all-time classes and it only gets better in PF.

EDIT: One more recommendation, the Dervish Dance (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/dervish-dance-combat) feat if you decide to go for a crit fishing build. That feat rocks so hard for Bards and Magus. ^_^ Arcane Strike (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/arcane-strike-combat) isn't bad either. Swift action for extra damage for when you don't want to spend inspiration points.

[Sith_Happens]

D'oh, how could I have forgotten about Knowledge Devotion (Complete Champion) until now? It's practically a mandatory feat for any Factotum that wants to attack things. By which I mean it's a scaling bonus to attack and damage based on your Knowledge check to identify the target.

[Tsriel]

D'oh, how could I have forgotten about Knowledge Devotion (Complete Champion) until now? It's practically a mandatory feat for any Factotum that wants to attack things. By which I mean it's a scaling bonus to attack and damage based on your Knowledge check to identify the target.

Egad, you're right. :smallredface:

It's been a few years since I've dug into the 3.5 books, but even I should remember that one. Knowledge Devotion (http://dndtools.eu/feats/complete-champion--57/knowledge-devotion--1727/) was amazing for quite a number of builds.