Deck Card Thrower Build +Luck Feats

[Gwazi Magnum]

Basically I'm looking for help on a build that utilizes throwing cards effectively in combat.

But one with a few requirements.

1) A good number of skills and skill points, I want this to be a skillful character, not simply a raw combat one.

2) Has feats to spare for Luck Feats from 3.5.

3) Flavour/background wise could be played as a Crime Boss.

[Jarmen4u]

I think the important question is, is this inspired by Gambit or Twisted Fate?

[Gwazi Magnum]

I think the important question is, is this inspired by Gambit or Twisted Fate?

Neither. :P

[Othniel]

Cartomancer Witch (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/witch/archetypes/paizo---witch-archetypes/cartomancer-witch-archetype) or Card Caster Magus (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/witch/archetypes/paizo---witch-archetypes/cartomancer-witch-archetype) would both work well. Both classes utilize Intelligence as their casting stat, so you should end up with plenty of skill points. Suit Seeker Inquisitor (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/inquisitor/archetypes/paizo---inquisitor-archetypes/suit-seeker-inquisitor-archetype) is good too. Make sure to pick up Deadly Dealer (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/general-feats/deadly-dealer) and Arcane Strike (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/arcane-strike-combat). There's also the Harrow bloodline for Sorcerers, but Int is not one of your main stats in that case.

Can't help you with Luck feats, as I don't know anything about them.

[Gwazi Magnum]

Seems like it has to be a spellcaster sort of build if I'm to do this.

Shame since I was aiming for a more Martial Character with this one. :/
Thanks for the help everyone.

[Harmelyo]

EDIT: Ninja-ed a bit
What would you think the idea of playing a Cartomancer (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/witch/archetypes/paizo---witch-archetypes/cartomancer-witch-archetype)?
Requests:
- You get to use card to deliver your spell with a range of touch which quite effective and answer your need to combat effective (on top of being a full caster).

1) A good number of skills and skill points, I want this to be a skillful character, not simply a raw combat one.

You are INT based so skill points will not be any kind of issue

2) Has feats to spare for Luck Feats from 3.5.

Witch does not require a lot of feats, an extra hex or two and extend meta-magic.

3) Flavour/background wise could be played as a Crime Boss.

You are a witch with intimidation and the spell list, you can probably make for a frightening mob boss.

Bonus:
- You save on two feats (Deadly dealer and Arcane Strike at the low price of your familiar and an Hex)
- Passed level 3, you can enhance your deck safely and without loss as your cards are no longer destroyed by being thrown.
- Distance on your deck will allow you to throw card really far away.
- You are not limited to use your new found reach on touch on offensive actions, you can also use it to deliver buffs and healing
- Patrons allow you to give a lot of different flavors to your witch.

Malus:
- You lose the sweet bonus that a familiar is... and the bonus that a familiar bring
- You have to use your swift actions to throw card which hurt a your action economy (no quicken spell when throwing cards)
- You have a poor bab so you will probably not be able to use your cards to do damages but as range touch you should be good with a decent amount of DEXT. You can also choose one of the patron that give you boost spells (divine favor or better) to level the field.

Conclusion:
All in all, it is probably not the most powerful character or even witch you could come up with, but it would make for a good and balanced one on top of being flavorful.

[Gwazi Magnum]

EDIT: Ninja-ed a bit
What would you think the idea of playing a Cartomancer (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/witch/archetypes/paizo---witch-archetypes/cartomancer-witch-archetype)?

You make a good case.
Though I lack any experience with the Witch Class, so it's something I would have to dig into a bit first before deciding if it's a class I would enjoy or not.

[Harmelyo]

If you want to read a bit on the witch, there is a few excellent guides around.

Here is a quick summary on the Witch high lights:
- It is a wizard like caster (Familiar, INT, full progression to lvl 9)
- Your spell list is some what weaker than the wizard one but you have some spell borrowed from the divine spell lists (Reincarnate, CLW and such).
- You have a patro: a non restrictive/defined source of your power which grant you some spells known which can be a great source for off-list spells.
- Your biggest upside/signature move for the class) : Hexes. Hexes are spam-able spell-like abilities, that allows you to be effective without always relying on your spells. It is really strong. Iconics Hexes are Slumber (deep slumber effect without a HD limit), Evil Eye (debuff one of Bab, saves, skills, AC), Fortune and Misfortune (re-rolls for you or your enemies. It may be similar to the Luck feats you were talking about, I don't know), Cackle (allow you for a move action to extend the previous effects.)

Strong points:
- You have the best list when it come to debuffing. If you add the debuffing Hexes to this, you can pretty much turn anything into a cripple unable to even stand up to a kobold...
- You have Hexes. This mean you never, NEVER! run out of steam.
- You are Int based so you have skill points
- You don't need a lot of feats to be effective (there is no hard feat tax either even if a few feat are strongly recommended)
- You have UMD on your skill list which free one of your traits
- You can grab a few of the really good Divine spells with the right patron (Miracle among others)

Weak points:
- weak Bab
- weak HP (d6)
- Somewhat geared on spell against will save. Against strong willed opponent you will have to look deeper in your spell list to find options.
- Only one good save: Will

[Psyren]

The problem with using a martial class for this is that cards suck as weapons. You need Deadly Dealer (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/general-feats/deadly-dealer), and even then, darts are pretty near the nadir of weapon choices in 3.5/PF, a far cry from their older D&D heydays.

Magus or some other gish is indeed your best way to make this viable.

[Gwazi Magnum]

So in a nutshell a Wizard with more spell flexibility and endurance to keep going?

I can see the appeal in such a class. :)
Like said above, I am looking away form casters for this kind of character, but the Witch does seem promising enough for me to look deeper before deciding.

And even if I do end up saying no to it, it's definitely going on my "To use later" list. :)

[Harmelyo]

Just to be sure you got me right. Witch have a less flexible spell list than wizard and the Patron part is selected once and for all.
What you have over the wizard is the Hexes which make you, indeed, go all day.

You won't be a big damage dealerbut you can be an incredible debuffer without even trying.
EDIT: looking into the Patron I saw that there is at least one patron with shocking grasp so you could, starting level 3, be able to dish out some pain with it but I would not recommend it, the Patron is terrible.

I forgot one thing about the witch... your signature spell is Ill-omen (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/i/ill-omen) and damn it is sweet :p

[JerichoPenumbra]

My personal recommendation would be Card Caster Magus (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/magus/archetypes/paizo---magus-archetypes/card-caster-magus-archetype) along with Arcane Deed (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/magus/magus-arcana/paizo---magus-arcana/arcane-deed-ex) to pick up Precise Strike from Swashbuckler. Since the Deadly Dealer feat says you treat cards as darts in all ways, that means it's treated as a piercing weapon. While technically Precise Strike has the clause that applying it's effect to thrown weapons within 30 ft only works for thrown melee weapons (like daggers) I'm sure your DM could let that slide since darts and daggers are almost completely identical mechanically speaking.

Alternatively just go Rouge, picking upCard Sharp (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/rogue/rogue-talents/paizo---rogue-talents/card-sharp-su), Papercraft Tools (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/rogue/rogue-talents/paizo---rogue-talents/papercraft-tools-ex) (if only for the theme), and Harrow Strike (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/rogue/rogue-talents/paizo---rogue-advanced-talents/harrow-strike-ex).

[Psyren]

Card Sharp is a good find - I would put that on a Ninja via the "rogue talent" ninja trick, combined with Invisible Blade or Smoke Bomb+Fogcutting Lenses. Though if you're using thrown weapons on a Ninja, shuriken are hard to beat.

[Ninjaxenomorph]

Arcane Deed was nerfed to ribbons, remember? But yes, seconding Card Caster magus. They are a spellcaster, but have the martial bent it seems you want. The spellcasting can always be flavored as 'tricks I learned' as opposed to 'my craft I studied years for and dropped out to learn how to sword'. Also, ask your GM if you can use the Background Skills rules from Unchained; it would help even more with skills to spend on Profession and the like.

[Kurald Galain]

Arcane Deed no longer works, but attaching any touch spell to a thrown card is probably the most effective way to use cards in combat. So yes, Card Caster Magus.