I actually can not believe you have a pathfinder 2e channel. My two fav hobbies are mtg (cube and legacy) and pathfinder 2e. You have by far the best mix of fun decks, analytical gameplay and you are really good at explaining things. So having a channel that applies that to my fav ttrpg is so cool.
I just started one myself. I went for a Bakuwa Lizardfolk (for the armored skin) with fangs as weapon (for open hand to do combat maneuvers while using a shield or items like wands) and am doing the "Swole Shaman Animist Bully" route. The buffed up Familiar seems good for day to day flexibility (a whole added set of options including extra cantrips and focus points). Will probably take Circle of Spirits at level 2 because yeah, the extra 10 or even 20 (to switch back) minutes of refocus time is a drag.
Armor: Most light armors "require" either 0 str & 4 dex OR 1 str & 3 dex for a total item bonus of 5 to AC. Most medium armor "require" either 2 str & 2 dex OR 3 str & 1 dex for a total item bonus of 5 to AC. .. If you're short on dexterity you lose out on AC. If you're short on strength you get a check penalty to str- and dex checks (except attacks). If you're wearing medium armor you also get a -5 speed penalty. ... Moral for the optimizer: Probably get 0 str & 3 dex and wear light armor for the +5 to AC but malus to str/dex checks. Or better yet: Chose an ancenstry with charisma flaw! :)
@@nowfocus577 I'd skip chain shirt. and go kilted breastplate. • Chain Shirt: Common light armor, 5 gp, +2 AC, Dex cap +3, check penalty -1, Speed penalty -, Bulk 1, chain (irrelevant due to light armor), flexible, noisy. • Kilted Breastplate: Common light armor, 3 gp, +2 AC, Dex cap +3, check penalty -1, Speed penalty -, Bulk 1, plate (irrelevant due to light armor), flexible. The kilted breastplate is cheaper and non-noisy. Go go new book power creep :D
the Stalker's focus spell gives you Animal Form from level 3, making it a decent melee option that doesn't require you to have a melee built stat spread because Polymorph. Compared to a Druid it's interesting - 1 action instead of 2, but needs to be sustained. However, on Sustain you can switch form. So maybe pick something fast like a deer, get into combat and attack, then next turn BOOM you're a bear. The Lurker's focus spell is going to need good Athletics yeah, but the Lurker's spell list has good blasting a crowd control options. These are two of my favourites!
I've found with PF2e, MADness is solved once you get up to 10th level, where you'll comfortably be able to have enough for your armour of choice, with a bump to a secondary stat. It's refreshing to see a class with a 'long term' design mentality, because they have so many options some can afford to be a slow burn. With the way recall knowledge DCs tend to work, specific lores have a much lower DC, so your Intelligence store isn't massively important imo. Is there anything stopping you from using circle of spirits whilst sustaining a focus spell? Two actions a round spent to potentially get two full MAP reactive strikes from the Echo of Lost Moments and Witness to ancient battles polearm combo.
Just curious: which scenarios did you play? And/or why did you think you SHOULDN'T name them? As someone who also plays PFS and is fairly new to Pathfinder, I always enjoy hearing about your PFS & convention experiences.
I didn't want to potentially say "This lore is very good in X scenario in this video." I don't want to trickle out that meta knowledge for people who might want to enjoy the experience naturally. I played Malevolence for 3 sessions, The Blooming Catastrophe, Dacilane Academy's Delightful Disaster, and Rain Falls on the Mountain of Sea & Sky.
I thought "Store Time" was for something like casting it then Circle of Spirits to switch to Witness and have two reactive strikes. Not sure how good that would be
Well, I opted for Elf for the perks of being an Ancient Elf and getting a free dedication feat at level one, but, yes, an ancestry with a CHA flaw seems solid here.
- You couldn't meet the strength requirement for the armor. - 0 i con... damn, choosing an elf with their (optional) con penalty is lethal - IDK which classes or roles I'd be ok with that.. maybe a fighter archer? - Want more int for the lores! - Must have +4 wisdom modifier. What shall we call this class? AniMAD? MADimist? AniMADist? somepun else?! =D
@@kaiserinjacky : Good point! You can get OK AC with merely +1 Dexterity and whatever (0? -1?) Strength. Then you can get +4 Wisdom, +3 Intelligence, +1 Constitution and +1 Dexterity. (disregarding race, of course) .... But you'll take -5 feet movement penalty, and a penalty to Strength- and Dexterity-based skill checks (but not those with attack traits). IDK if that's worth it. I guess a human, elf or dwarf can start with movement feet to counteract that, somewhat..
Animist changing Lore skills isn't impressive. Anyone who has Untrained Improvisation can do the Lore skill. If your GM says Recall Knowledge can only be used Trained (it can be used untrained) any Human with Clever Improviser can do it.
As a class feature that has no feat taxes associated with it, this ability is wildly powerful. If you are using your General Feat slot to take Untrained Improvisation, you are giving up something MASSIVE like 5 feet of movement from Fleet, more hp from Toughness, or a boost to initiative from Incredible Initiative. Plus, you take a noticeable penalty until level 7.
Spreadsheet from the video: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Ci8RRStHw9EHGUj1Ow-3H0NM6X5ewOK_T1Vqa24RwbY/edit?usp=sharing
I actually can not believe you have a pathfinder 2e channel. My two fav hobbies are mtg (cube and legacy) and pathfinder 2e. You have by far the best mix of fun decks, analytical gameplay and you are really good at explaining things. So having a channel that applies that to my fav ttrpg is so cool.
Thanks for the kind words!
Dude I fucking love your magic content, and I was so excited when I found this channel. Can’t hide gems like this! Thank you
Happy to hear that! Thanks!
I dig this, you've really got the beginnings of something great here
Thank you!
This is my exact build! I didn’t go crazy on the lores but I went Elf Animist with the two apparitions you had. Good video overall.
Great minds think alike!
This was a well-thought out video. Appreciate the in-depth thoughts on all this. Thanks for making this!
This is a really nice guide and breakdown. I would love to see more content like this!
Thank you for an awesome video, keep it up!
Thanks!
And thank you!
I just started one myself. I went for a Bakuwa Lizardfolk (for the armored skin) with fangs as weapon (for open hand to do combat maneuvers while using a shield or items like wands) and am doing the "Swole Shaman Animist Bully" route. The buffed up Familiar seems good for day to day flexibility (a whole added set of options including extra cantrips and focus points). Will probably take Circle of Spirits at level 2 because yeah, the extra 10 or even 20 (to switch back) minutes of refocus time is a drag.
Armor:
Most light armors "require" either 0 str & 4 dex OR 1 str & 3 dex for a total item bonus of 5 to AC.
Most medium armor "require" either 2 str & 2 dex OR 3 str & 1 dex for a total item bonus of 5 to AC.
..
If you're short on dexterity you lose out on AC.
If you're short on strength you get a check penalty to str- and dex checks (except attacks). If you're wearing medium armor you also get a -5 speed penalty.
...
Moral for the optimizer: Probably get 0 str & 3 dex and wear light armor for the +5 to AC but malus to str/dex checks. Or better yet: Chose an ancenstry with charisma flaw! :)
Or just go chain shirt so the - is on stealth, which you weren't using anyways.
@@nowfocus577 I'd skip chain shirt. and go kilted breastplate.
• Chain Shirt: Common light armor, 5 gp, +2 AC, Dex cap +3, check penalty -1, Speed penalty -, Bulk 1, chain (irrelevant due to light armor), flexible, noisy.
• Kilted Breastplate: Common light armor, 3 gp, +2 AC, Dex cap +3, check penalty -1, Speed penalty -, Bulk 1, plate (irrelevant due to light armor), flexible.
The kilted breastplate is cheaper and non-noisy. Go go new book power creep :D
Man it was hard to find this channel, I had to search for the EXACT name. YT doesn't make it easy :P
I'll get some analytics traction over time that should make it easier!
the Stalker's focus spell gives you Animal Form from level 3, making it a decent melee option that doesn't require you to have a melee built stat spread because Polymorph. Compared to a Druid it's interesting - 1 action instead of 2, but needs to be sustained. However, on Sustain you can switch form. So maybe pick something fast like a deer, get into combat and attack, then next turn BOOM you're a bear. The Lurker's focus spell is going to need good Athletics yeah, but the Lurker's spell list has good blasting a crowd control options. These are two of my favourites!
I've found with PF2e, MADness is solved once you get up to 10th level, where you'll comfortably be able to have enough for your armour of choice, with a bump to a secondary stat. It's refreshing to see a class with a 'long term' design mentality, because they have so many options some can afford to be a slow burn. With the way recall knowledge DCs tend to work, specific lores have a much lower DC, so your Intelligence store isn't massively important imo.
Is there anything stopping you from using circle of spirits whilst sustaining a focus spell? Two actions a round spent to potentially get two full MAP reactive strikes from the Echo of Lost Moments and Witness to ancient battles polearm combo.
I believe that does work.
Well, that reinforces your idea that the Liturgist is probably the most effective subclass. That 9th level feature is amazing for double sustaining.
Best class write up!
Thanks for the kind words!
Just curious: which scenarios did you play? And/or why did you think you SHOULDN'T name them?
As someone who also plays PFS and is fairly new to Pathfinder, I always enjoy hearing about your PFS & convention experiences.
I didn't want to potentially say "This lore is very good in X scenario in this video." I don't want to trickle out that meta knowledge for people who might want to enjoy the experience naturally.
I played Malevolence for 3 sessions, The Blooming Catastrophe, Dacilane Academy's Delightful Disaster, and Rain Falls on the Mountain of Sea & Sky.
I thought "Store Time" was for something like casting it then Circle of Spirits to switch to Witness and have two reactive strikes. Not sure how good that would be
Yeah, I suppose that is potentially the intended usage, but... that's sustaining two different spells per turn. That's rough on action economy.
So... Animist is such a MAD character that the best races are those with flaw in charisma?
Well, I opted for Elf for the perks of being an Ancient Elf and getting a free dedication feat at level one, but, yes, an ancestry with a CHA flaw seems solid here.
- You couldn't meet the strength requirement for the armor.
- 0 i con... damn, choosing an elf with their (optional) con penalty is lethal - IDK which classes or roles I'd be ok with that.. maybe a fighter archer?
- Want more int for the lores!
- Must have +4 wisdom modifier.
What shall we call this class? AniMAD? MADimist? AniMADist? somepun else?! =D
the neat thing about medium armor is you don’t need the STR requirement if you’re willing to take some penalties
@@kaiserinjacky : Good point!
You can get OK AC with merely +1 Dexterity and whatever (0? -1?) Strength.
Then you can get +4 Wisdom, +3 Intelligence, +1 Constitution and +1 Dexterity. (disregarding race, of course)
....
But you'll take -5 feet movement penalty, and a penalty to Strength- and Dexterity-based skill checks (but not those with attack traits).
IDK if that's worth it. I guess a human, elf or dwarf can start with movement feet to counteract that, somewhat..
Hello ! Can we have your Edgar pathbuilder link ?
pathbuilder2e.com/launch.html?build=939118
Animist changing Lore skills isn't impressive.
Anyone who has Untrained Improvisation can do the Lore skill.
If your GM says Recall Knowledge can only be used Trained (it can be used untrained) any Human with Clever Improviser can do it.
As a class feature that has no feat taxes associated with it, this ability is wildly powerful.
If you are using your General Feat slot to take Untrained Improvisation, you are giving up something MASSIVE like 5 feet of movement from Fleet, more hp from Toughness, or a boost to initiative from Incredible Initiative. Plus, you take a noticeable penalty until level 7.