[3.P] Optimizing Pathfinder Chronicler

[Human Paragon 3]

Just started looking into Pathfinder and I am pretty impressed. Aside from the many obvious improvements to normal 3.5, I saw this class, the Pathfinder Chronicler.

I have been meaning to play a character who is a playwright assigned to follow around the party for... must be 12 years. In my mind, he should be weaker than normal adventurers, someone the party has to protect, yet strangely helpful in a weird way as he uses his "ACTING!" abilities to see the party through scrapes (fast talking guards, dressing up as a lady to woo the Lord, etc.). Pathfinder Chronicler looks... perfect. I've played around with a lot of different builds and PrCs to get the feel right, but the chronicler pretty much nails it.

However, the class is weak. This is part of its allure for me, but I do want it to be good at what it does well: inspiring the group and social skills. Any suggestions on how to accomplish this? I am a total PF noob.

[grarrrg]

However, the class is weak. This is part of its allure for me, but I do want it to be good at what it does well: inspiring the group and social skills. Any suggestions on how to accomplish this? I am a total PF noob.

Total PF noob? We'll start there.
The Chronicler is basically "essense of skill-monkey", in that it has 8sp/level, no spell casting, and gains VERY few combat options.
Skills work differently in PF:
The bad, first level does NOT gain x4 skills, and max skill rank=level.
The good, any Class skills with at least 1 point in them get a +3 bonus, and Cross Class skills are purchased 1:1, and max skill rank=level.

End result is that In-class skills are about the same as 3.5. But out of class skills are 'cheaper', and have higher (overall) max ranks.
A level 20 3.5 char could have 11 ranks in a cross class, that cost him 22sp.
A level 20 PF char could have 20 ranks in a cross class, that cost him 20sp.

Now that that's over.
The prime stats for a Chronicler appear to be Cha and Int. Con is, as always, useful. Str, Dex and Wis are optional.
The Chronicler's prime role is Skill Monkey. It's combat role is "super helper support guy" i.e. Bard on Steroids. While you'll have little/no actual spell casting, you DO get a bonus on UMD-Scrolls. You can still UMD wands, you just don't get a bonus on the check.
UMD FTW!
The Chronicler gains/advances some Bard abilitites, so entry with a level or more in Bard is encouraged.
Rogue is also a good choice for Disable Device/Trapfinding.
It is worth noting that NONE of the Chronicler's abilities are dependant on what Armor he is wearing, so dipping a level of Fighter or somesuch for the proficiencies wouldn't be a bad idea.
Then again, the penalty for wearing non-proficient armor/shields is a reduction in Attack rolls. You don't belong attacking anyway. So wearing Full Plate with a Tower Shield shouldn't impede you in the least (other than carry weight).

The entry reqs are mostly skill based, which makes earliest entry at level 6.
A good entry would be Bard 4/Rogue 1 for reasons mentioned above.

There is no race with +Int and +Cha.
I'd put the overall best race as Gnome. +Con, +Cha, -Str. And you can trade in the Favored Class bonus with your Bard levels for extra rounds of Performance.
Half-Elf, Halfling and Human are good choices as well.

[Human Paragon 3]

Thanks! The pathfinder skills thing totally eluded me, so i'm glad you laid that out.

Any tips on feat selection?

[Human Paragon 3]

secret bump

[Corlindale]

You should certainly enter via. bard. For the concept you describe, you should really pick up Versatile Performance (Act) from your early bard levels. It lets you substitute Perform(Act) for Bluff and Disguise, which seems to be exactly the kind of thing you want to do. Versatile Performance (Oratory) is great for a social character too, but you'll only get one if you go Chronichler as early as possible (I would personally consider going Bard 6 before entering for this reason, as well as for grabbing the Suggestion performance, which can also be a great ability for social manipulation).

I'm not an expert on Pathfinder feats, though.

[grarrrg]

Any tips on feat selection?

*NOTE: Most of the following assume you entered Chronicler with a Gnome Bard.*

Breadth of Experiance: +2 on all Knowledge and Profession skills.

Cypher Magic: Bonus to caster level of Scroll-cast spells, bonus on UMD checks of scrolls with a higher caster level than you.

Extra Gnome Magic: Gives you a total of 3 extra uses of your Gnome-Spell-Likes. Using Alternate Racial features you have different sets of spells to choose from. I like Pyromaniac.

Extra Performance: +6 rounds Bard Performance.

Lingering Performance: Bard Performance lasts 2 extra rounds.

Master Craftsman: Gain ability to craft magic items without the necessary caster level.

Skill Focus: Pick UMD. Nuff said.

Toughness: If starting at level 1 it can be a life saver.


The exact focus of your character will depend on if the rest of your party is more Melee or Caster oriented, or a good mix.

Either way, stay out of Melee combat. Carry a good variety of scrolls/wands when possible. Keep a decent ranged weapon on you for when you run out of Scrolls/Performance.

[Human Paragon 3]

What if I want to hang out in melee combat giving out aid anothers and such?

[TroubleBrewing]

Resist that temptation?

[panaikhan]

My first PF character is planned to be a Half-Orc Bard (aiming for Chronicler) that hits people with musical instruments.

Versatile Performance is good with Act and Oratory (as mentioned)
If you plan on going into melee, stock up on armour. You can always use the Chronicler's 'deep pockets' to pull out potions & scrolls and keep party members on their feet. Try wielding a whip, to trip/entangle foes in front of the 'true' melee characters at range.
There is an awseome Pathfinder Bard Build Guide somewhere, but I suck at finding stuff like that...

[gorfnab]

There is an awseome Pathfinder Bard Build Guide somewhere, but I suck at finding stuff like that...

Was it this one?

[panaikhan]

Indeed.

Have a cookie.

[Mojo_Rat]

if you want to do the aid other thing use a whip or other ranged weapon so you don't have to stand directly in combat.

in the apt there's is also a feat to aid as a swift action.

[Curious]

Use the totem spear from the SRD as your weapon; it lets you maintain bardic music as you fight.

[MightyIgoo]

I wanted to pop in and add to grarrrg's suggestions on feats. Specifically Extra Gnome Magic: As a bard you have access to dancing lights, prestidigitation and ghost sound as 0-level spells. Pathfinder treats 0-levels as at-wills, making your gnome magic kinda redundant (unless you really like talking to animals once a day, or you really want to focus on illusions). It might be in your best interest as a gnome to switch out the gnome spell-like abilities with one of the other racial traits (Master Linguist is a favorite, especially for a party face character) and free up a feat slot.

[MightyIgoo]

Use the totem spear from the SRD as your weapon; it lets you maintain bardic music as you fight.

Also, Pathfinder bards can maintain a bardic performance as a free action. (I guess you just need to strike a power chord every 6 seconds, or something...)

[grarrrg]

As far as a Melee Chronicler is concerned. It is the least optimal option.
If you insist on Melee capability then consider a Fighter dip for Heavy Armor/Tower Shield Proficiency, and use a Whip, Scorpian Whip to be precise, Whips are 1-handed and have Reach, so you have the double protection of a Shield, and NOT being directly next to the bad guys. Bards automatically gains proficiency with Whips, and a Scorpian Whip is treated as a Whip, but CAN do lethal damage.
As noted before, all Chronicler features function while wearing armor, but Bard spell casting will still be affected (not that it'd be that useful at higher levels anyway).

Carrying a ranged weapon would still be the better option.

I wanted to pop in and add to grarrrg's suggestions on feats. Specifically Extra Gnome Magic: As a bard you have access to dancing lights, prestidigitation and ghost sound as 0-level spells. Pathfinder treats 0-levels as at-wills, making your gnome magic kinda redundant (unless you really like talking to animals once a day, or you really want to focus on illusions).

Good point, forgot about 'all the 0's you can cast' in PathF.
Well, it comes down to which spells you want to "know" as a Bard, and which one's you want from your Race. Spells a Gnome can get that are NOT on the Bard list
Default Gnome magic has Speak with Animals.
Gnome ACF Magical Linguist has Arcane Mark and Comprehend Languages.
Gnome ACF Pyromaniac has Produce Flame.

You can only ACF your Gnome Magic away for different Gnome magic. So pick which of the above you like best. Arcane Mark is worthless, but the other have their uses. I'd personally go for Produce Flame for a cheap ranged attack/light source.

It might be in your best interest as a gnome to switch out the gnome spell-like abilities with one of the other racial traits (Master Linguist is a favorite, especially for a party face character) and free up a feat slot.

I think you are confused with "Gift of Tongues".
The only thing a Gnome can trade Gnome Magic for is different sets of daily spells.

[Human Paragon 3]

Thanks for all the tips! Any advice on staying alive while using the dirty trick feat in melee, other than strapping on armor?

[grarrrg]

Thanks for all the tips! Any advice on staying alive while using the dirty trick feat in melee, other than strapping on armor?

I'd advise against anything requiring a CMB check. Your Bab is 3/4, and your Str bonus will be poor, especially if you are a Gnome (-2 to Str, and -1 Size on CMB).

One thing I forgot to ask. What does the rest of the group look like? How many melee vs. ranged/magic?

Aid Another looks like a decent enough go-to option for when you have nothing better to do.
Chronicler's give double the Aid bonus (+4 instead of +2), with the Feats Gang-Up and Team-Up, you'll be able to flank-without-flanking with Gang-Up, and Team-Up allows you to Aid Another as a Move action.

[Human Paragon 3]

Actually, it's looking like there will be only one other player in the party, so this build might not work for the campaign! I envisioned it sort of like I'm tagging along with an adventuring party and they have to keep be alive because I'm writing their tale. However, if it's me and one other guy, I'll need to be able to contribute.

I have a ride-based bard build that goes into Eldridge Knight that I might use instead. I do intend to play this one day, though!

[grarrrg]

Actually, it's looking like there will be only one other player in the party

Yeah, Chronicler would really only be good in a party of at least 3 other characters.
It would also be fine in a small Heavy-Role-Play group. But if it's Heavy RP, then there is no need for Optimization threads.

I have a ride-based bard build that goes into Eldridge Knight that I might use instead. I do intend to play this one day, though!

So... do we make a new thread? Or just keep using this one and re-title it?