Help me build a first PF character (low-mid op divine caster/face)

[PhoenixPhyre]

I never thought I'd say this, but I find myself in a pathfinder group and need character build help.

The rules
* 6th level, standard WBL
* Only Paizo options (no 3rd party, no 3.5)
* Playing Rise of the Runelords. DM has noted that he's ramping things up right now since it was "too easy" (ghoul fights before Foxglove Manor)
* Rolled stats (the only thing I can't change) were very...average: 15 13 13 13 13 11

The party
From what I can tell, pretty low optimization, mostly new players.
* Sylph Witch (focusing on buffs/debuffs)
* Undine Hunter with dinosaur companion (that's about the most effective character right now)
* Oread Brawler (probably--not monk but fights with punch daggers or otherwise unarmed)
* Ifrit Swashbuckler (can somewhat do face duties)

Requests
* I want something relatively simple to run
* I don't want to overshadow anyone
* Thinking either oracle or cleric (since they're lacking a divine caster/condition removal/party support specialist)
* Prefer caster/ranged to melee
* Especially needed: advice for feats, equipment, spells (if oracle), and mystery/domains

Thanks for any guidance you can provide.

[Eldonauran]

Hmm, since I play 15 point buy on any adventure path we go through, that stat array seems to be just fine. I do happen to have a character that would ... fit fairly easily into that group, as most of its main abilities come online at level 6. I'll give you the high lights, and you can tell me if you want more specifics:

Race: Half-elf (or elf) Screw that ghoul paralyze, and magic sleep
Class: Shaman
Main Spirit: Whatever you want (I like Nature but you could do life)
Wandering Spirit: Waves

Hexes: Protective Luck, Chant (life link as you want)
Wandering Hex: Crashing Waves

Traits: Magical Lineage (Scorching Ray or Call Lightning), Wayang Spellhunter (Pale Flame)

Feat: Spell Focus (Evocation), Ability Focus (Crashing Waves), Benthic Spell

Items: Extend Spell (Metamagic) Rod

Misc: Take the +1 spell from cleric list favored class bonus whenever you need to cherry pick spells.

Roles:
Protective Luck on tank (roll twice and take worse result for any attacks directed at target, no save)
Chant (+5ft on hex range for favored class bonus)
Pale Flame (Produce flames bigger brother) with Benthic spell enables ranged touch attack bludgeoning damage with fort save or be knocked prone.
Life link with Protector familiar + Channel energy allows for extend HP battery (include shield other as needed) to extend life of allies.

[PhoenixPhyre]

Hmm, since I play 15 point buy on any adventure path we go through, that stat array seems to be just fine. I do happen to have a character that would ... fit fairly easily into that group, as most of its main abilities come online at level 6. I'll give you the high lights, and you can tell me if you want more specifics:

Race: Half-elf (or elf) Screw that ghoul paralyze, and magic sleep
Class: Shaman
Main Spirit: Whatever you want (I like Nature but you could do life)
Wandering Spirit: Waves

Hexes: Protective Luck, Chant (life link as you want)
Wandering Hex: Crashing Waves

Traits: Magical Lineage (Scorching Ray or Call Lightning), Wayang Spellhunter (Pale Flame)

Feat: Spell Focus (Evocation), Ability Focus (Crashing Waves), Benthic Spell

Items: Extend Spell (Metamagic) Rod

Misc: Take the +1 spell from cleric list favored class bonus whenever you need to cherry pick spells.

Roles:
Protective Luck on tank (roll twice and take worse result for any attacks directed at target, no save)
Chant (+5ft on hex range for favored class bonus)
Pale Flame (Produce flames bigger brother) with Benthic spell enables ranged touch attack bludgeoning damage with fort save or be knocked prone.
Life link with Protector familiar + Channel energy allows for extend HP battery (include shield other as needed) to extend life of allies.

I'm a bit worried about stepping on the witch's toes here. From what I know, he's mostly focused on debuffs and uses some kind of hair-based touch attack. How different is the play style?

Edit: I don't see protective luck on the SRD. Is it 3rd party?

[Geddy2112]

Have you considered inquisitor? You can get a domain and a lot of good support/buff spells, with bow or repeating crossbow as a secondary role. Fill in all of the niche skills the party needs including face roles as needed.

For domains, luck is hard to beat, particularly for buff or support. That said, plenty are good utility and the cleric list allows you to prep whatever you need to fill in the gaps. Calistria has whip as favored weapon, which gives you options for ranged trip/disarm as controller as a second to buffing.

[Eldonauran]

I'm a bit worried about stepping on the witch's toes here. From what I know, he's mostly focused on debuffs and uses some kind of hair-based touch attack. How different is the play style?You won't be stepping anywhere near the witch's toes. You'll only have one witch hex, and that is Protective Luck (http://www.archivesofnethys.com/WitchHexes.aspx), serving only to 'buff' an ally. You stated you wanted ranged/caster and that is exactly what you'll get in this instance. The Witch's 'hair' attack is a reach weapon, so they will most likely be a bit closer to melee (not smart if you ask me, but their choice). You will fill the role of divine caster, buffer, and ranged support, with a side of healing. Think more along the lines of a nature themed cleric with access to druidic magic, and a familiar. You'll have access to Channel Energy for healing purposes via the Life Spirit.


Edit: I don't see protective luck on the SRD. Is it 3rd party?Don't use the pfsrd website (and I stay away from the official SRD site, as it is not maintained as regularly). Use the website I listed above. It also keeps up-to-date rules on pathfinder society play, and what is allowed.

[Andor13]

Bard perhaps? Not a divine caster, but certainly qualifies as low-to-mid op support. Go Elf for long bow proficiency and stand in the back to sing and plink.

[CharonsHelper]

Bard perhaps? Not a divine caster, but certainly qualifies as low-to-mid op support. Go Elf for long bow proficiency and stand in the back to sing and plink.

Going straight buffing bard - you'll need to use a hand on a banner. It's also handy since the group seems lacking a skill monkey.

You could go with a halfling Sound Striker Bard. They get all the bard's buffing, and then they can use their performance to do sonic damage, though it's not that great until you get Weird Words at level 6. Fortunately - that's where you're starting! - http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/bard/archetypes/paizo-bard-archetypes/sound-striker/

Just make sure to pick up Lingering Performance so that Inspire Courage will stay up while you use Weird Words.

I like halfling bards in general, but especially for buffing focus since they get stats in all the right places, +1 to saves, and if you really want to go buff happy - grab the Halfling Helper racial trait and Bodyguard feat to give +4 to your allies' AC with your attacks of opportunity.

A gnome could be very nice too for the extra +1 DC on illusions & the favoured class bonus getting you more rounds of bardic performance (important for a Sound Striker).

Try something like -

STR: 9 (-2 racial)
DEX: 15 (+2 racial)
CON: 13
INT: 13
WIS: 13
CHA: 18 (+2 racial and level 4 boost)

Feats: Lingering Performance / Flagbearer / Bodyguard

Traits: Halfling Helper / Maestro of the Society

That - and try to grab a Banner of the Ancient Kings ASAP as it combines amazingly with the Flagbearer feat and adds +4 levels to all bardic performances (including Weird Words!!)

Final tip: A Sound Striker is probably the only bard archetype which needs to ration their rounds of performance after the first level or two since Weird Words can chew through several each round. So be frugal with them. With the above build you start with 21 rounds/day. You should be fine at first, but once you hit 8 and grab a Banner of the Ancient Kings you could be chewing through 4/round (Inspire Courage as a Move / 3 Weird Words as a Standard).

While it's super awesome (heck yeah buffing while doing 12d6+10ish sonic damage!), you could quickly run on empty.

[Palanan]

Originally Posted by PhoenixPhyre
Thinking either oracle or cleric….

I’d vote for oracle myself. I played an oracle/bard in a Runelords campaign and it worked out perfectly, with the character serving as party face and all-around knowledge guy, plus healing and divine support when required.


Originally Posted by PhoenixPhyre
* Sylph Witch (focusing on buffs/debuffs)
* Undine Hunter with dinosaur companion (that's about the most effective character right now)
* Oread Brawler (probably--not monk but fights with punch daggers or otherwise unarmed)
* Ifrit Swashbuckler (can somewhat do face duties)

Did the players work out a racial theme beforehand? That's a perfect spread of elemental races.

.

[Elricaltovilla]

If you want to play an oracle, and match the party's interesting racial dynamic you could play a Suli (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/races/other-races/uncommon-races/arg-suli/). Their stats are pretty well tuned for battle oracle's, but you don't have to play as a Melee guy if you don't want to.

[PhoenixPhyre]

Thanks everyone--

Here's my draft oracle:


Race: Ifrit
Stats: 13/13/13/13/11/18
Class: Oracle 6
Mystery: Life
Curse: Tongues (Auran/Terran)

Feats:
Armor Proficiency (Heavy)
Extra Revelation
Improved Initiative

Revelations:
Channel
Healing Hands
Life Link

Spells: Those marked with * are added by the class or mystery and can't be traded out.
level 1
Bless
*CLW
Detect Undead
Divine Favor
Doom
Entropic Shield

Level 2
* CMW
Path of Glory
* Restoration (Lesser)
Summon Monster II

Level 3
* CSW
Dispel Magic
Neutralize Poison

Equipment
Cloak of Resistance +1
Half-plate
morningstar
Heavy Steel Shield
Wand of CLW


Things I'm concerned about:
Combat contribution
I don't see any way for me to contribute in combat other than passively soaking damage with life link and occasionally channeling and sometimes summoning a few (weak) creatures. My weapon capabilities are basically null and none of the cleric spells seem useful.

Spells
Are there better spells for a buffer/healer role?

Equipment
I have no idea (other than a cloak of resistance) what I should have at this point. I still have 8k gp from my WBL left.

[EldritchWeaver]

Did the players work out a racial theme beforehand? That's a perfect spread of elemental races..

Is there an avatar theme going on? Maybe going Kineticist would work. I remember that something from Wood can really heal well and you remain ranged, if you want.

[PhoenixPhyre]

Is there an avatar theme going on? Maybe going Kineticist would work. I remember that something from Wood can really heal well and you remain ranged, if you want.

I'm not sure if there was anything intentional at first, but it's rather become a Captain Planet (except with some evil/incompetent people). I guess I'm stuck as "Heart".

[Eldonauran]

I'm not sure if there was anything intentional at first, but it's rather become a Captain Planet (except with some evil/incompetent people). I guess I'm stuck as "Heart".I guess you are set on being an oracle, so I can't help much more than I already have, unless you are amicable towards the Spirit Guide archetype. It mixes in a bit of the Shaman spirits at the cost of a few revelations (you can always pick back up with extra revelation feat). As far as I am concerned (and this is my opinion), the Shaman spell list may be more limited but it is much more versatile when you can cherry pick the cleric spells you want via favored class bonus.

[CharonsHelper]

I'm not sure if there was anything intentional at first, but it's rather become a Captain Planet (except with some evil/incompetent people). I guess I'm stuck as "Heart".

If you aren't going to do combat anyway, go for Dual-Cursed. It makes you a great de-buffer. The Misfortune ability is amazing - and it makes the spell which gives someone else your curse(s) that much better.

[Geddy2112]

I second the spirit guide oracle as damn near a straight upgrade. You can even pick life mystery from Shaman and go a completely different mystery like lore, while keeping the ability to pinch hit from the shaman.

If you are going life, the key is to never have to directly heal your party unless it is huge. You sponge damage, heal yourself, and cast buff/support spells. If you get bored in combat just get a crossbow to pewpew. You might want to look into the Oradin (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?257365-PF-Oradin-Mini-Guide-Or-How-to-be-a-Healbot-minus-the-bot)build, which is an uberhealer combined with pally beatstick or oracle casting(depending on build)

For life mystery, you want fey foundling as one of your first feats without question. This is exponentially more important than heavy armor proficiency, which is questionable at best. If you are not fighting or using armor check penalty skills there is not even a need, or just get mithral full plate.

As for spells:

Detect undead is pretty useless unless you worship pharasma and you can get her kick ass eerie sense feat (http://archivesofnethys.com/FeatDisplay.aspx?ItemName=Eerie%20Sense). Even without it, deathwatch is going to pinch hit for detect undead if you can see them, great for undead pretending to be corpses or living people(liches, vampires and the like) In addition, it has the medic feature of seeing how healthy your squad is. Get it as a permanant feature with the cheap as chips deathwatch eyes (https://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic-items/wondrous-items/wondrous-items/e-g/eyes-deathwatch/) or by being a tiefling.

Entropic shield is outright useless, pick almost any other spell and you are better off. Sanctuary is a great spell for you if you don't plan on fighting. Command/murderous command are also decent 1st level spells.

Summon monster becomes exponentially more powerful if you can get an aura feature, which a pally dip for oradin can give. This is because of the sacred summons feat, making summoning a standard action. Summoning is still strong though.

Neutralize poison is an okay scroll, but never worth hard coding as a spell known. Prepared casters might prepare it if expecting poison, but you won't use it often enough to justify knowing it. A good heal check can often do the job, and lesser restoration can mitigate and cure the damage.

Silence is a bonkers good 2nd level spell. Cast on a bolt, or your melee fighter of choice and have them get near a caster to shut down spells with verbal components. It also has stealth and utility applications like negating sonic and language effects, etc. Tears to wine is a powerful buff spell that saves your party on copper at the tavern. get a bag of holding, fill with wine(it won't spoil in the bag) and keep a permanant buzz going to get bonuses to tons of skills. The amount of hooch that spell can make is staggering; do the math and see for yourself.

[grarrrg]

I'm not sure if there was anything intentional at first, but it's rather become a Captain Planet (except with some evil/incompetent people). I guess I'm stuck as "Heart".

You already have a Fire though.
Be a Fetchling (http://www.archivesofnethys.com/RacesDisplay.aspx?ItemName=Fetchling). It has similar "humans went to the Plane of ____, and got busy with the locals" thing going on.

EARTH!
FIRE!
WIND!
WATER!
DARKNESS! ... err... HEART!


You might want to look into the Oradin (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?257365-PF-Oradin-Mini-Guide-Or-How-to-be-a-Healbot-minus-the-bot)build, which is an uberhealer combined with pally beatstick or oracle casting(depending on build)

Oradin is old and busted, Pei-Zin (http://www.archivesofnethys.com/ArchetypeDisplay.aspx?FixedName=Oracle%20Pei%20Zin %20Practitioner) Oracle is the new hotness.
You basically trade a Revelation for Lay on Hands.

If not allowed, then yeah, Oradin will do in pinch.


Detect undead is pretty useless...Neutralize poison is an okay scroll...
Doesn't get much choice, those are the Life Mystery bonus spells.

[Elricaltovilla]

You already have a Fire though.
Be a Fetchling (http://www.archivesofnethys.com/RacesDisplay.aspx?ItemName=Fetchling). It has similar "humans went to the Plane of ____, and got busy with the locals" thing going on.

EARTH!
FIRE!
WIND!
WATER!
DARKNESS! ... err... HEART!



Nah Suli (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/races/other-races/uncommon-races/arg-suli/) is where it's at.

BY ALL YOUR POWERS COMBINED!

[Psyren]

Nah Suli (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/races/other-races/uncommon-races/arg-suli/) is where it's at.

BY ALL YOUR POWERS COMBINED!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrmJ7hsVMQs

[PhoenixPhyre]

My current build:

Race: Aasimar (going Outsider, but orthogonal to the inner-plane guys)
Class: Oracle (Spirit Guide) 6
Mystery: Life
Curse: Tongues
Stats: 13/13/13/13/13/18

Traits:
Dangerously Curious (+ UMD/UMD as class skill)
Seeker (+Perception/Perception as class skill)

Feats:
Fey Foundling
Extra Revelation
Selective Channeling

Revelations:
Life Link
Channel

Spells (* are from mysteries/class) (does not include spirit spells as those are each day)
Bless
*CLW
*Detect Undead
Divine Favor
Sanctuary

*CMW
*Restoration(lesser)
Silence
Summon Monster II

Borrow Fortune
*Cure Serious Wounds
*Neutralize Poison

Equipment
Cloak of Resistance +1
Breastplate
Mithril Buckler
Heavy Crossbow / morningstar
wand of CLW

Thinking my go-to spirit should be ancestors for Wisdom of the Ages (for utility, lets me use CHA instead of INT for skill checks), Ghost Blade, or Ancestral blessing. I'm not willing to deal with Arcane Enlightenment from Lore, so :shrug: