Battlefield Control With a Reach weapon (PFS Battle Herald)

[Blind_Prophet]

So the title gets most of the idea across. (PFS = Pathfinder Society)

Quick Character Layout:
Female Human Sister-at-Arms Cavalier1/Exemplar Brawler 6/Battle Herald X (Current Cav1/Brawler2)

Stats: Str 18, Dex 13, Con 14, Int 7, Wis 7, Cha 16

Feats
1. Steadfast Personality, Gray Maiden Initiate: Endurance & Acceptance, Precise Strike (Teamwork Feat)
3. Shield Focus & Shield Brace
5. Power Attack & Pushing Assault
7. Lunge & Combat Reflexes

Future Feat Thoughts: Practiced Tacticianx?, combat reflexes, Lunge, Extra Performancex?, Lingering Performance, Weapon Focus (+1 attack roll and common pre-req), bodyguard, in harm's way, Cornugon Smash, Phalanx Formation

Martial Flexibility allows me to use things like Phanlanx Formation on an as needed basis.

Anyways the original idea was to take the step up line but due to some wording of the feat it doesn't work with reach weapons and pretty much anyone I try to block to protect my allies just laughs 5-foot steps past my "outer ring" and than proceeds to ignore me.

So Hoping to combine Power Attack, Pushing Assault and Lunge to counteract that but could use some help with feat order and any other suggestions for improving my battlefield control and/or "Bardic" side. If it matters I primarily use a Lucerne Hammer & a Darkwood Heavy Shield (thanks to shield brace) but also have a halberd and a Glaive-Guisarme and some shortspears.

Note: I realize this build and Battle Herald in particular are NOT optimal choices this was chosen to fit the fluff I was going for so please try to keep your suggestions focused on this build especially since im already Level 3 and cant rebuild due to PFS rules (and retraining is expensive and wickedly slow)

[Blind_Prophet]

Another feat that was suggested to me is combat patrol....really could use some help working out which feats are best to take and in what order....theres SOOOO many :P

[upho]

First off, while I do think I know a thing or two about melee control, I'm very far from what I'd call an expert on bard stuff. And though I've helped people with their PFS builds in the past, I've never played PFS myself and seemingly always need to be reminded of the various house rules and special limitations used. So take my suggestions/recommendations with a grain of salt.


So the title gets most of the idea across. (PFS = Pathfinder Society)

Quick Character Layout:
Female Human Sister-at-Arms Cavalier1/Exemplar Brawler 6/Battle Herald X (Current Cav1/Brawler2)

Stats: Str 18, Dex 13, Con 14, Int 7, Wis 7, Cha 16

Feats
1. Steadfast Personality, Gray Maiden Initiate: Endurance & Acceptance, Precise Strike (Teamwork Feat)
3. Shield Focus & Shield Brace
5. Power Attack & Pushing Assault
7. Lunge & Combat Reflexes

Future Feat Thoughts: Practiced Tacticianx?, combat reflexes, Lunge, Extra Performancex?, Lingering Performance, Weapon Focus (+1 attack roll and common pre-req), bodyguard, in harm's way, Cornugon Smash, Phalanx FormationWell, if BFC is the main goal, I'd definitely prioritize Combat Reflexes. The additional AoO isn't necessarily the primary reason for grabbing it ASAP, at least not unless/until you can up your Dex, but the ability to make AoOs before you've acted in combat can often make a huge difference for your party defense capability. More so if you also can get Pushing Assault and/or (even better) Improved Trip going.

Otherwise, aside from perhaps Bodyguard and/or Lingering Performance and Extra Performance once you have some worthwhile inspiring commands to double-up with, I doubt I'd recommend any of the other feats you mention. But this is of course also highly dependent on what you actually wish to prioritize in combat; is it to be a party buffer/enabler or to be a melee control specialist/party defender?

The reason I'm asking is because while control/debuff can actually be the most effective melee focus in the game - enough so to make any charge damage monster green with envy - the focus is typically very resource intense, just like most other non-caster focuses. That is especially in terms of (combat) feats, and even more so for PFS, as quite a few advantageous options aren't allowed and compensating with magic items is difficult due to the very limited control you have over which items you can get. So it's usually a bit of an "all or nothing" kinda deal, at least during a large majority of the 12 levels your "Maiden Herald" will be adventuring.

That said, AFAIK PFS modules basically never require much in terms of mechanical optimization for superior adventuring performance. So unless you find combat tactics completely uninteresting or very difficult for some reason, you'll likely do just fine even should you let a die roll decide which of the above feats to take at each level. Which brings us to my next question: which level of (combat) power are you aiming for?


Martial Flexibility allows me to use things like Phanlanx Formation on an as needed basis.Actually, of the combat feats you've listed, I think Phalanx Formation is one of the better ones to have as a regular feat, since the situation when you want it often comes up in the middle of combat. I still think there are several better options, though.


Anyways the original idea was to take the step up line but due to some wording of the feat it doesn't work with reach weapons and pretty much anyone I try to block to protect my allies just laughs 5-foot steps past my "outer ring" and than proceeds to ignore me.This is unfortunately true for a lot of non-damage focused combat feats. For example, Lunge improves your reach only during your own turn, and therefore doesn't really do much for you since it doesn't increase your threatened area. Unfortunately, IME this is a recurring theme when it comes to optimizing melee builds focused on anything other than damage. All the fine-print and the often very complex combined mechanics are the major reasons why such builds often are so hard to get truly effective.


So Hoping to combine Power Attack, Pushing Assault and Lunge to counteract that but could use some help with feat order and any other suggestions for improving my battlefield control and/or "Bardic" side. If it matters I primarily use a Lucerne Hammer & a Darkwood Heavy Shield (thanks to shield brace) but also have a halberd and a Glaive-Guisarme and some shortspears.You'll likely soon have one weapon which is simply better than the other ones regardless of your feats. So there's typically little need for you to worry about your prowess with any other weapon.


Note: I realize this build and Battle Herald in particular are NOT optimal choices this was chosen to fit the fluff I was going for so please try to keep your suggestions focused on this build especially since im already Level 3 and cant rebuild due to PFS rules (and retraining is expensive and wickedly slow)No worries. I think we can whip up something workable from this chassis, improving the flavor in the process.

[Kurald Galain]

I'd try to find a way to put Long Arm and Enlarge Person on there. More reach is more good! :smallbiggrin:

[Geddy2112]

For a bard(or anything that inspires) lingering performance is a requirement. It lets you performance cycle turning one round of performance into three, and becomes even more powerful when you perform as a move or swift. It beats extra performance every day of the week. Second getting combat reflexes earlier so you can AoO before you act in combat which is huge.

Bodyguard and in harm's way are good for an AoO build, but you only have 2 AoO's with combat reflexes as is. You would need higher dex to really make them shine. Combat patrol might be worth looking into but the prereq cost is fairly steep. Coragun smash is fantastic if you are focused on intimidation anyways.


I'd try to find a way to put Long Arm and Enlarge Person on there. More reach is more good! :smallbiggrin:

I agree. You could eschew going into battle herald or just get one more level in exemplar then go bloodrager with abberant bloodline, so you get extra reach during bloodrage and can enlarge yourself. Or just have the party caster enlarge you.