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I've been messing around with my Arcanist build for quite a while and still having trouble on a few things (Stats, Opposition Schools, & Feats). I decided to go with Elf due to Elven Immunities, Elven Magic (free Spell Penetration), and Fleet-Footed racial trait (+2 initiative). Is there anything I should change or does everything look about right?
Class – Arcanist (School Savant)
Race – Elf
Traits -
* Clever Wordplay: Use Int for UMD
* Dangerously Curious: +1 UMD & Class Skill
School Focus: Teleportation School
Opposition Schools: Illusion & Necromancy
Stats at 1st lvl -
Str: 7
Dex: 16 (+2 added)
Con: 12 (-2 added)
Int: 20 (+2 added)
Wis: 11
Cha: 7
1) Arcanist 1: Bab +0, Improved Initiative (lvl 1)
2) Arcanist 2: Bab +1,
3) Arcanist 3: Bab +1, Spell Penetration (lvl 3)
4) Arcanist 4: Bab +2, +1 Int
5) Arcanist 5: Bab +2, Extra Exploit: Quick Study (lvl 5), Familiar (exploit)
6) Arcanist 6: Bab +3,
7) Arcanist 7: Bab +3, Improved Familiar (lvl 7)
8) Arcanist 8: Bab +4, +1 Int
9) Arcanist 9: Bab +4, Extra Exploit: Potent Magic (lvl 9), Metamagic Knowledge: Persistent (exploit)
10) Arcanist 10: Bab +5,
11) Arcanist 11: Bab +5, Extra Exploit: Spell Tinkerer (lvl 11), Greater Metamagic Knowledge: Dazing (exploit)
Improved Familiar: Planning on getting a Mephit familiar at 7th level.
I wrote down Spell Penetration for 3rd level because I don't actually get my first Exploit till 5th level. I could retrain my 3rd level feat at 5th level to Extra Exploit: Potent Magic and take Spell Penetration at 9th level.
Spell Focus (Conjuration) is a better deal IMO than Spell Penetration but it's no big deal. Quick Study is nice, but probably not as commonly used as Potent Magic - I'd swap the order you get them in.
If you do get Spell Penetration 9th level sounds about when it might be regularly useful.
What is your planned role in combat? I dont see any bad choices exept i wouldent dump stats that hard, but that is personal preferance. And UMD is already a class skill for Arcanists so dangerously curious is not needed, unless you really want that +1.
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Thanks for that catch Cap. Darling, I was messing around with Arcanist and Wizard and finally decided on Arcanist but forgot they already had UMD. So that frees up 1 trait, probably get Reactionary with it or Magical Lineage.
I'm planning on using Confusion, Dominate Person, and a few other Enchantment spells along with Conjuration to Summon Monsters.
I think I'd feel more safe with Quick Study because I'm wanting to focus on some Enchantment spells. My Backup is Conjuration and Evocation though. I'm not sure what Spell Focus Conjuration would really net me though. I'll already have Summoner's Charm from the Conjuration School so my Summons will last longer already.
Honestly, I'm actually thinking of going with Gnome instead even though the stats aren't as good. I'd have Darkvision all the time and wouldn't have to waste a spell, plus it makes Darkness spell all the better when my enemies can't see in Dark. I'd also have the +2con bonus which will help me stay alive and help my Mephit later on be a little more beefy. Not too worried about the lower CMD since I'll be using the Teleporation Subschool of Conjuration I'll have a bunch of uses of "Shift" and later on some uses of "Dimensional Steps".
So really I'd like to Dominate enemies, Slumber, Confusion, Fly, have some evocation basty'ness if needed, and the ability to stay alive.
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*bump* Looking for some more advice. Debating on fitting in Effortless Trickery feat and still going with the Conjuration: Teleport School but not having Illusion magic as an opposition school. Gnome would be the weaker choice but I've been meaning to play a small race character for a while and not many of them present at our local PFS area (Mostly all Humans and Half-Elves).
Exploit School understanding Divination Forewarned... plus you can put points in an gain the touch boost for allies. Stay alive exploit<<
Exploit School understanding Divination Forewarned... plus you can put points in an gain the touch boost for allies. Stay alive exploit<<
School savant cannot take school undestanding:(
And to the OP if you plan on summoning like a old fashioned GOD wizard i belive that Augment summoning and that one that allow summoning as a standart May be great. And then you want spell focus conjuration.
Occultist Drow .. Blasphemous Covenant/racial with Bloodline abyssal/Eldritch Heritage feats ... lvl 20 you summon 3 Demon, Nalfeshnee that stay until killed or dismissed.
Honestly, I'm actually thinking of going with Gnome instead even though the stats aren't as good. I'd have Darkvision all the time and wouldn't have to waste a spell, plus it makes Darkness spell all the better when my enemies can't see in Dark. I'd also have the +2con bonus which will help me stay alive and help my Mephit later on be a little more beefy. Not too worried about the lower CMD since I'll be using the Teleporation Subschool of Conjuration I'll have a bunch of uses of "Shift" and later on some uses of "Dimensional Steps".
I think a Wayang might also deserve consideration. You get the DEX and INT boosts of the Elf without the CON penalty. You do have a WIS penalty, but it is pretty cheap to buy it back up to 10. And, of course, you also get darkvision.
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Thanks for the replies. Drow isn't PFS legal and I can't get myself past how ugly the Wayangs are. I'd either have to go with Elf or Gnome. I'm planning on summoning some but I don't think I want to make it a focus. The only thing that I can think Spell Focus Conjuration would give is just 1 additional round that summoned creatures would stay, besides other spells being at a +1DC.
Also thinking I may go with Chaotic Neutral alignment to summon demons instead of devils. Seems devils have some more choices but the Babaus and Succubuses seem more appealing.
Summons dosent stay longer with Spell focus(conjuration) it gives bonus to DC. There ia several conjuration spells that will benefit from Spell focus, grease, the pit spells cloud kill osv. And it gives acces to augment summoning and that is a big deal.
Thanks for the replies. Drow isn't PFS legal and I can't get myself past how ugly the Wayangs are. I'd either have to go with Elf or Gnome. I'm planning on summoning some but I don't think I want to make it a focus. The only thing that I can think Spell Focus Conjuration would give is just 1 additional round that summoned creatures would stay, besides other spells being at a +1DC.
Also thinking I may go with Chaotic Neutral alignment to summon demons instead of devils. Seems devils have some more choices but the Babaus and Succubuses seem more appealing.
You're planning on not focusing on summoning, yet you've dedicated multiple build elements including your archetype and multiple feats to it...
I think you'd be better off changing either your focus or everything about your build.
There is no build in to summoning besides the School and conjuration can do other things. What feat are you talking about?
There is no build in to summoning besides the School and conjuration can do other things. What feat are you talking about?Whoops! I mixed threads up. Carry on!
He he i know that feeling.
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Yeah, the Conjuration School choice is mainly for the teleport abilities to avoid grapples, drowning, swallowed, being prone next to an enemy, etc since it allows me to have an extra escape method. The extra duration on summons from the school is just extra which helps if I decide to summon. I believe the teleport "Shift" ability allows me to full round summon while still being able to move with "Shift" if necessary.
There's not a whole lot of focus going on in the build though. I plan on using Enchantment a little (and possibly Illusion if I go with Gnome), but most of my feats/exploits are used to give spell/metamagic versatility, extra initiative and improved familiar, and spell pen and +2dc to spells when I may need to make sure something sticks better.
If I went with Elf I'd have 20int but 16dex and 12con and free spell penetration and +2initiative racial bonus. But if I went with Gnome I'd have 18int but 14dex and 16con, free darkvision, and learn 2 languages per linguistic rank. Thinking that the Effortless Trickery's maintain an illusion via Swift action would clash a ton with my "Shift" school ability though when needed since it's a swift to use. Maybe it's best sticking with Elf?
Yeah, the Conjuration School choice is mainly for the teleport abilities to avoid grapples, drowning, swallowed, being prone next to an enemy, etc since it allows me to have an extra escape method. The extra duration on summons from the school is just extra which helps if I decide to summon. I believe the teleport "Shift" ability allows me to full round summon while still being able to move with "Shift" if necessary.
There's not a whole lot of focus going on in the build though. I plan on using Enchantment a little (and possibly Illusion if I go with Gnome), but most of my feats/exploits are used to give spell/metamagic versatility, extra initiative and improved familiar, and spell pen and +2dc to spells when I may need to make sure something sticks better.
If I went with Elf I'd have 20int but 16dex and 12con and free spell penetration and +2initiative racial bonus. But if I went with Gnome I'd have 18int but 14dex and 16con, free darkvision, and learn 2 languages per linguistic rank. Thinking that the Effortless Trickery's maintain an illusion via Swift action would clash a ton with my "Shift" school ability though when needed since it's a swift to use. Maybe it's best sticking with Elf?
Summoning is not a full round cast it is a one round cast so no shifting in the round you summon:(
For effect going elf is Best but if all that matteret was effectivity i wouldent be wasting my time on internet forums i would be working atm;)Go with the race that make the character what you want it to be.
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Well, I honestly have a love for the Halfling race but was having a hard time justifying it over any of the other choices. Sorry, for the flip-flopping there, but you've encouraged me to play a Halfling since I've been wanting to for so long. So, with that in mind here's my Halfling arcanist build. Should I spend the 2 feats to boost Adaptable Luck or just stick with the base ability and Fate's Favored and spend the feats elsewhere? At first I thought you could use Adaptable Luck for SR checks but doesn't look like it...
Class – Arcanist (School Savant)
Race – Halfling
Traits -
* Clever Wordplay: UMD
* Fate’s Favored
School Focus: Teleportation School
Opposition Schools: Enchantment & Illusion
Stats at 1st lvl -
Str: 9 (-2 added)
Dex: 16 (+2 added)
Con: 14
Int: 17
Wis: 10
Cha: 9 (+2 added)
1) Arcanist 1: Bab +0, Fortunate One (lvl 1), +1fcb
2) Arcanist 2: Bab +1, +1fcb
3) Arcanist 3: Bab +1, Adaptive Fortune (lvl 3), +1fcb
4) Arcanist 4: Bab +2, +1 Int, +1fcb
5) Arcanist 5: Bab +2, Improve Initiative (lvl 5), Familiar (exploit), +1fcb
6) Arcanist 6: Bab +3, Quick Study (exploit), +1fcb
7) Arcanist 7: Bab +3, Improved Familiar (lvl 7), +1fcb
8) Arcanist 8: Bab +4, +1 Int, +1fcb
9) Arcanist 9: Bab +4, Extra Exploit: Potent Magic (lvl 9), Metamagic Knowledge: Persistent (exploit), +1fcb
10) Arcanist 10: Bab +5, +1fcb
11) Arcanist 11: Bab +5, Toughness (lvl 11), Greater Metamagic Knowledge: Dazing (exploit), +1fcb
Spending FCB on +1/6 exploit = at 12th level would net +2 exploits and taking Toughness at 11th level regains those lost hitpoints.
Taking Illusion as an Opposition school, I'll just buy a Ring of Invisibility or keep a few scrolls on me if I need it that bad. Also having Enchantment as an Opposition school, the rest are too useful for me to ban. Vampiric Touch and False Life from Necromancy are pretty strong options.
So the bread and butter that I think really redeems the halfling here is Adaptable Luck racial ability. With Fate's Favored trait and 2 feats I have 5x day +5 to an ability check, attack roll, saving throw, or skill check (+4 if using it after I roll the d20.) Seems like a good way to get +5 to saving throws or touch attacks when it's imperative to succeed. Do you think it's worth it? If not then maybe I should stick with the 3x day +3 bonus (or +2 bonus if used after rolling) and save the two feats?