Hey, everyone! I've recently been reassigned as the party tank with my level 2 Goblin Sanctified Slayer Inquisitor of Besmara (Tactics Domain). I would have picked any other class if I knew this was to be my role, but I can make it work.
Anyway, here are my stats after racials:
S15 D18 C14 I11 W17 CH8
As you can tell from my Dexterity, right now I'm best served by a Chain Shirt in the AC front. Later I can move onto Elven Chain.
So I was prepared to go with a Circling Mongoose build, absorbing AoOs (to free casters for casting safely or letting the Rogue move into flank position), but then I saw the VMC options and it got me thinking...
Here are the options that piqued my interest:
The Rogue Route aka So Much Drama in the CDG
Extra Sneak Attack dice is good for my strategy, and Evasion combined with Stalwart allows me to ignore any spell effects on a successful save, which takes a lot of pressure off my Constitution.
Uncanny Dodge is however pretty bland for an Inquisitor (infinite Perception modifier and Initiative).
But here's the sweetest part! I can pick up the Dastardly Finish feat since I would have 5d6 sneak attack as a Sanctified Slayer! I could get it right away at level 11th through the War Domain 8th level power. AND THEN I CAST GREATER STUNNING BARRIER ON MYSELF AND START CDG MOFOS MWAHAHAHAHAHHA.
Castigate and Mass Castigate also works to make people cower.
Later on, I can pick up Merciless Butchery (yes, I do have the Studied Target feature!) and swift action CDG to blow people up if they fail the save on Castigate or Stunning Barrier.
The Oracle Option aka Scary Terry, B!~#&
The beauty of this VMC is the versatility of it.
My favorite curse option is Wasting which is easy to ignore for my class since all I do is Intimidate.
Going with Battle for Mystery, at level 12th (taking Weapon Mastery for revelation), I would have given up 3 feats for: +4 bonus against disease, immunity to sickness, Weapon Focus, Greater Weapon Focus and early access Improved Critical.
DID YOU SEE THAT THO. GREATER WEAPON FOCUS AT LEVEL 12TH. It's a long term plan, but that would allow me to pick up Deadly Stroke without being a Fighter... and I would have the Sneak Attack to make that REALLY worth it, since going Shatter Defenses is also a natural option for Inquisitors.
It only gets better at level 15th and 19th, if it ever goes on that high, since I can pick up some really sweet revelations (I'm partial towards Battlefield Clarity) and I continue to scale with my curse powers to gain other immunities.
The Other Oracle Opportunity aka Zombie Jesus Saves
This one is not as combotastic as the previous VMCs, but it's pretty solid.
Going with Wasting/Spellscar, going with the Mystic Null Revelation at level 11th , I'm looking at giving up 3 feats for +4 to saves vs. diseases, spells, spell-like abilities, and supernatural ability, plus immunity to sickness. It's questionable how good is that, considering that those 3 feats might as well been Iron Will, Great Fort and Lightning Ref.
However, picking up Eldritch Resistance, I would be giving up 3 feats for +4 to saves vs. diseases, immunity to sickness, and 10 energy resistance against cold, fire, electricity and SONIC. That shit is hard to come by.
It's overall a much more defensive option, but perhaps it could come in handy as a tank...
The Fighter Factor aka Gloves of Dueling OP gg
Pretty straight forward.
Fight VMC = Armor Training at 7th to be able to wear a Breastplate without curtailing my Dex bonus. At 11th, I get Weapon Training which allows me to exploit Gloves of Dueling.
Combines defense and offense overall. Plus gives me Bravery and, yes, that's gonna be Falcata proficiency to deal best damage.
Or perhaps I just take some regular feats.
Not sure what's it gonna be...
Whaddayathink.
The first sounds fun and effective. Even Uncanny Dodge should help when some smartass gets invisible on you.
Not too impressed with the next two. I'm sure there's some fun stuff to be done with oracle VMC, but bonuses vs. disease, sickness, and a bit of number-pumping isn't worth the feat loss IMO. At the level you might get it Con bleed of 1/round is just too slow to matter. Sonic resistance, whatever.
The fighter option might work but doesn't grab me. If you really like the image of sneaking round wearing lots of metal, sure.
Weapon Mastery isn't a Revelation available to Battle Mystery in the VMC Oracle sadly.
Only Battlecry, Battlefield Clarity, Combat Healer, Ironskin, Resiliency, Skill at Arms, Surprising Charge, and War Sight are available under the Battle Mystery.
So there's a list of allowed revelations for each mystery? Interesting.