Optimizing a Dwarven Beard

[Anderlith]

So a coworker & I were talking today & started coming up with a character idea of a dwarf who used his beard like a whip, then we added to it, thinking that you could theoretically weave some beard hair into a bag, enchantimg it into a Bag of Holding. & so on, thinking of ways to incorporate the beard.

My thoughts so far is to play a Witch the Scarred variant for Con casting
Use the Prehensile Hair Hex on beard for a weapon
Wear any magical rings in the beard
Weave a Bag of Holding into it, possibly Bags of Tricks
Anything else i could add?

[Palanan]

Beardcasting!

Substitute beard hairs for material components, gaining the Eschew Materials feat. :smallbiggrin:

[grarrrg]

Main issue with Prehensile HairBeard is that it's only good for Minutes/level, and takes a Standard to activate.
I'm more of a fan of White HairedBeard Witch (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/witch/archetypes/paizo---witch-archetypes/white-haired-witch) where the HairBeard is permanently 'on'.
This also means you aren't 'locked into' the Witch class as much, and can multiclass more effectively, perhaps taking level in Full Bab classes? Or adding some Sneak Beard Attack?
Would still recommend 4 levels of White HairedBeard Witch to get the 10ft. reach though.

In any case, the Ironbeard (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/i/ironbeard) spell may be handy (but it isn't a Witch spell).

[Serafina]

Well, for actually using it as a weapon you really just have two options, which have already been mentioned. The Prehensile Hair (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/witch/hexes---3rd-party-publishers/hexes/common-hexes/hex-prehensile-hair-su) Hex, or taking levels in White-Haired Witch (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/witch/archetypes/paizo---witch-archetypes/white-haired-witch).

The Hex is also available to the Magus (via Hexcrafter) or the Shaman (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/hybrid-classes/shaman) - both of which have a medium BAB and so can actually profit from it. The Shaman even gets to use it with Wisdom, thus fitting well with the Dwarves stats (some Shaman Hexes don't, relying on Charisma - just don't take those).
The main drawback here is twofold:
- only a duration of 1 minute/level per day, so you can't just use it all the time
- unclear activation action, since none is stated by RAW it'd be a standard action, which is bad for so many reasons.
If you can work with your GM on both - then that's great, go for it. Take a feat or something to just make the duration infinite (it's hardly overpowered). Or make it a swift action to activate, which is fine - then use mage hand outside of combat to manipulate objects, which you then just fluff as "I do it with my hair".

The Class is only good for a dip, what with it's low BAB and no other features to speak off (other than spellcasting). The only question is whether you go for one level, or four levels. The former gives you three levels in a better class - the latter gives you a 10-foot reach (which the Hex has by default), and a swift-action trip when you hit with it. Note that you do by RAW use Strength for attack with this - just Intelligence with damage - and that you also RAW use Strength for the CMB on the Trip. Yes, it's badly written, most GMs should allow you to at least use Intelligence for the latter.
If you do go for this class, you would then benefit going for an Intelligence-based melee class - the Magus works well, and having 10 foot reach to deliver spells via your beard is stylish.

So there's three builds here:
Assuming you get Prehensile Hair down to a swift action, and get a satisfactory solution for out-of-combat usage:
- Hexcrafter Magus. You can animate your hair at 4th level, and use it to deliver touch-spells at a 10 foot range (or even more with some buff spells) while still making normal attacks
- Shaman. You can animate your hair at level 2, can easily fight with a reach weapon and your hair. If you take the Witch Doctor (http://archivesofnethys.com/ArchetypeDisplay.aspx?FixedName=Shaman%20Witch%20D octor) Archetype, you can even go for a mono-Wisdom build via Guided Hand (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/general-feats/-guided-hand) (if you have a deity that has a reach-weapon as a favored weapon).
And if not, then it's
- White Haired Witch 4/Magus X.


Other than that, you can easily fluff your beard as important for magical items. You might use rules for magic tattoos (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/item-creation-feats/inscribe-magical-tattoo-item-creation) to make it a magic item - and remember that the main importance of magic item slots is to limit how many you wear, where you actually have them is unimportant.

Oh, and most importantly:
Craft (Alchemy) for always having good shampoo and conditioner.

[Psyren]

My thoughts so far is to play a Witch the Scarred variant for Con casting

This archetype was errataed (http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/advancedRaceGuide/featuredRaces/orcs.html#scarred-witch-doctor-(witch)) and no longer casts from Con at all. So you can scrap it entirely and use White Haired Witch as others have suggested.



This also means you aren't 'locked into' the Witch class as much, and can multiclass more effectively, perhaps taking level in Full Bab classes?

My favorite route is to take Eldritch Knight; the hair gains no new tricks after 8th level, and unlike hexes its effectiveness is not based on your witch level, so there's no real reason to stay in the class. (You lose the Rogue talents, but meh.)

There aren't many great choices after that. Evangelist will squeeze out a bit more BAB and give you back some of the Rogue Talents, plus a boatload of skill points to use on your high Int, so I'd probably go that way.

[Anderlith]

I view the character as a spellcaster, not a fighter/rogue/whatever. Just using the hair as a whip as one facet of a dwarven utility beard, good for any & all uses. Im not looking to optimize the character to be good, im looking to optimize the beard to do as much as possible

[Clopin Silk]

When I clicked this thread, I suspected a typo in the title. Imagine my delight to discover that you really did want to optimize your beard. I love this forum.

[legomaster00156]

When I clicked this thread, I suspected a typo in the title. Imagine my delight to discover that you really did want to optimize your beard. I love this forum.
Only in tabletop RPG's will you find players optimizing beards. :smallbiggrin:

[Deox]

I remember seeing Fistbeard Beardfist (http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?topic=7814.0) a while back - maybe some good inspiration.

[AvatarVecna]

I know this is a PF thread, but I can't not link to this entry (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=17402547&postcount=212) to the Dwarven Defender round of the Iron Chef competition. Some similar mechanics (equivalents to the Psychic Warrior and Dwarven Defender) should still exist in PF, making this...vaguely helpful...maybe?

[Psyren]

I view the character as a spellcaster, not a fighter/rogue/whatever. Just using the hair as a whip as one facet of a dwarven utility beard, good for any & all uses. Im not looking to optimize the character to be good, im looking to optimize the beard to do as much as possible

There's a bit of a contradiction here. Are you trying to primarily be a spellcaster, or primarily use your beard to fight things (like a gish)?

It's not a big contradiction, since White-Haired Witch can do both, but the other build recommendations (like Eldritch Knight) depend on your goals to an extent. In short, you'll likely have to give up a little casting or a little gish capability, so which do you value more?

[Clopin Silk]

Only in tabletop RPG's will you find players optimizing beards. :smallbiggrin:

Well, it looks like my sig's about to grow, provided you're okay with my using this, of course.

[Endarire]

Fistbeard Beardfist (http://www.minmaxboards.com/index.php?topic=6062.0). It's 3.5, though.

[JoshuaZ]

If third party is allowed there are multiple spells and alchemist extracts in Kobold Presses "Deep Magic" which interact with beards.

[legomaster00156]

Well, it looks like my sig's about to grow, provided you're okay with my using this, of course.
Go for it.

[ZippoMoon]

How about THIS (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?255813-When-a-Mustache-Just-Isn-t-Enough-PrC) little gem by Realms of Chaos?

[Anderlith]

There's a bit of a contradiction here. Are you trying to primarily be a spellcaster, or primarily use your beard to fight things (like a gish)?

It's not a big contradiction, since White-Haired Witch can do both, but the other build recommendations (like Eldritch Knight) depend on your goals to an extent. In short, you'll likely have to give up a little casting or a little gish capability, so which do you value more?

Im just looking for as many beard related options as i can, like using Rope Trick with the beard as the rope, casting fly & the beard forming two great wings, or rotor blades. Leomands (Hairy) Hut. Heros Feast is food found in the beard, all Bigbys spells incoroprating the beard, etc. Im looking to add as many utility options to the character theough the medium of beard.

I only suggested Witch for the Con casting & Hair hex.

[Psyren]

Im just looking for as many beard related options as i can, like using Rope Trick with the beard as the rope, casting fly & the beard forming two great wings, or rotor blades. Leomands (Hairy) Hut. Heros Feast is food found in the beard, all Bigbys spells incoroprating the beard, etc. Im looking to add as many utility options to the character theough the medium of beard.

I only suggested Witch for the Con casting & Hair hex.

Does your GM allow 3.5 stuff? Because you can get a lot of those flavor things via the Spell Thematics feat. (I personally think you should just be able to ask if your beard can play a more prominent role in your spellcasting flavor, but in case they say no to that, the feat exists as a way for you to pay for such a display with a tradeoff.)

The Heroes Feast one may however cause your party to save vs. nausea :smalltongue:

[Anderlith]

3.5 is okay. This is more a thought experiment than an actual character. Im not currently in a 3.5/pathfinder game

[Psyren]

Gotcha. So what we have so far:

1) If the goal is "use beard to do stuff in combat" you want Witch, or the Fistbeard link from earlier.
2) If the goal is "involve beard in spellcasting" - Spell Thematics will do the trick.
3) If the goal is both, mix and match as necessary.
4) If the goal is neither, feel free to clarify :smallsmile:

[Anderlith]

Gotcha. So what we have so far:

1) If the goal is "use beard to do stuff in combat" you want Witch, or the Fistbeard link from earlier.
2) If the goal is "involve beard in spellcasting" - Spell Thematics will do the trick.
3) If the goal is both, mix and match as necessary.
4) If the goal is neither, feel free to clarify :smallsmile:

Seems like thats all i need then. Unless anyone has cool ideas to add to the beard.

[ZippoMoon]

Dropping a bomb. (https://dnd-wiki.org/wiki/Dwarvenbeard_(3.5e_Equipment))

[Anderlith]

dropping a bomb. (https://dnd-wiki.org/wiki/dwarvenbeard_(3.5e_equipment))

yes this what i need