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iTookUrNick
2014-08-31, 11:58 AM
Merciful Oracle

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"While there is life, there is hope"

All life oracles are healers to some degree, but some oracles take things a step further. Though doubly afflicted with supernatural or physical hindrances, a merciful oracle can relieve himself and his allies of physical impairments and gains greater insights into the mystery of life.

Oracle’s Curse

A merciful oracle must choose two curses at 1st level. One of these curses (oracle’s choice) never changes its abilities as the oracle gains levels; for example, an oracle with clouded vision never gains darkvision 60 feet, blindsense, or blindsight. The other curse comes with its normal benefits. Such is the burden of those who heal others.

Mystery of Life

A merciful oracle must take the Life (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/oracle/mysteries/paizo---oracle-mysteries/life) mystery at 1st level.

Class Skills

A merciful oracle gains no additional class skills from her mystery.

Bonus Spells

This bonus spell replace the oracle’s mystery bonus spell at this level: Diagnose Disease (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/d/diagnose-disease) (2nd).

Revelations

An merciful oracle must take the following revelation at the listed level.


Channel Energy (Su): as the life mystery revelation, except it can only be used to heal living creatures. A merciful oracle can use this ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + her Charisma modifier. You must take this revelation at 1st level.


Merciful healer (Su): At 3rd level, a merciful oracle can channel positive energy to relieve one or more harmful conditions.

The merciful oracle chooses one of the following harmful conditions at 3rd level: fatigued, shaken, or sickened. When the merciful oracle channels energy she can remove the chosen condition from one living creature that she heals within her channel energy burst.

At 6th level, she can choose another condition. It can be one of those she didn’t choose at 3rd level, or one of the following conditions: dazed, diseased, or staggered. She can remove the selected condition or the one she chose at 3rd level from up to two creatures within her channel energy burst.

She gains another condition at 9th level, and can choose an above condition or one of the following conditions: cursed, exhausted, frightened, nauseated, or poisoned. She can remove that condition, or a condition she previously chose, from one or two creatures within the burst.

At 12th level, she can choose a lower-level condition or one of the following conditions: blinded, deafened, paralyzed, or stunned. She can remove that condition or one she previously chose from one, two, or three creatures within her channel energy burst.

At 15th level, she can choose another lower level condition. Finally at 18th level, she can choose a lower level condition and she can remove that condition or one she previously chose from up to four creatures within her channel energy burst.

Feats and effects that affect a paladin’s mercy also affect this ability. You must take this revelation at 3rd level.

In addition, a merciful oracle can choose the following revelation if she so desires:


Lay on hands (Su): as the paladin ability of the same name. Merciful healer applies to this ability as well. If you want, you can decide to take this revelation instead of channel energy at 1st level, making the channel energy revelation available to be selected later on.


Channelled spirit (Su): Whenever your channelling abilities heal a target up to its maximum hit points, any excess points persist for 1 round per level as temporary hit points (up to a maximum number of temporary hit points equal to your oracle level).


Life’s Whisper (Ex): You have become so apt at protecting life that Life itself returns the favor. You may add your Charisma modifier, instead of your Dexterity modifier, to your Armor Class and CMD. Any condition that would cause you to lose your Dexterity modifier to your Armor Class instead causes you to lose your Charisma modifier to your Armor Class.


Hi. I've been trying to come up with a good healer concept for a game, and I was thorn between the Paladin (Hospitalier) and the Oracle (Life). Apparently I'm not the only one facing such a conundrum, and looking online I found mention of the Oradin, a multi class combination of the two. With the ACG out, I thought about doing a hybrid class (Oracle+Paladin), some sort of Divine Champion if you will, but i guess that in the end an oracle archetype is the logical choice, with much less work to be done to boot.

So, I'd like to see if you have any thoughts about it, mainly about balance. Thank you in advance.
Race: Aasimar (Idyllkin, Immortal Spark, Scion of humanity), middle-aged
Starting Ability Scores: PB(15): Str 8 Dex 12 Con 14 Int 12 Wis 10 Cha 20; PB(20): +2 Con, +2 Wis; PB(25): +2 Con
Traits: Seeker, Exalted of the Society or a Campaign trait.
Favorite bonus: HPs at first, then grab extra spells known from being (partially) human.
Skills: Perception, K: Religion, Heal (if you are into RP) or Diplomacy (for Cha synergy) or Ride (to move AND heal)
Feats:

1. Noble Scion (Charisma to Initiative)
3. Extra Revelation (Life link)
5. Divine protection (Cha to Saves)
7. Selective Channel (leave people out of the channel)
9. Extra Revelation (LoH)
11. Divine Interference (rerolls)
13. Quick Channel (channel as a move action)
15. Beacon of Hope (morale bonus after channeling)
17. Nature Soul
19. Animal Ally
Revelations:

1. Lay on hands
3. Mercy
3B. Life Link
7. Channel Energy
9B. Channelled Spirit
11. Life sense
15. Life's Whisper
19. Healing Spirit
Gameplay: the characters plays as a tank/healer with a side of buffer, which is what I envision a holy paladin doing. The core idea is to keep your allies linked and heal yourself as a swift action, with an extra dose of channelling when appropriate. Later on you can heal everyone as a move action as well, and use your standard action to play your role as primary divine caster. Having a reliable mount (the druid in your party can be used as such) is key for maximum action efficiency.

At any point throughout the build there are meaningful choices to be made every round, from who to link (first few levels) to when to channel rather than cast (mid levels), to what spells to cast and wether or not to quicken some at the cost of the LoH (high-level); positioning remains key throughout the build and, indeed the game.