Interesting stuff in Pathfinder

[Amechra]

The Mascot Familiar Archetype is... interesting. It looks like it would be really good in a party full of spellcasters; that 13th level feature, though, is a thing of beauty.

You have a tiny little omnitool at your disposal, capable of borrowing the skill ranks and BAB of any party member. Screw getting in danger - send Mr. Squeekems in!

[Jackinthegreen]

Those are nice finds.  Now I feel bad....  I've kind of stopped keeping up w/ Pathfinder the past year or so, because I've been fortunate enough to find 3E games and PF is a plainly worse 3E, so I was only keeping up w/ it on the bleak prospects of it being the only 3E-like system I could find games for (for quite a while, it really was like that).  So I doubt I'll be updating my Witch handbook again.

Kinda sad you can't combine the orc scarred witch doctor archetype (which uses Con for casting) with the familiar stuff since the witch's familiar gets replaced by a mask.

Arguably, since it's a different name from the typical familiar class feature, an Alchemist's Tumor Familiar can be combined w/ Scarred Witch Doctor.  A two level dip is harsh, though.  Might be other avenues...

Besides the familiar, Alchemist can still offer some fun things for the scarred witch doctor.  Mutagen comes to mind to directly boost casting through Con, though it lowers intimidate via Cha which is likely something the SWD is boosting because of the mask.

The image of a scarred witch with a hump that can detach into a familiar is pretty cool come to think of it.  It helps the theme that half-orcs have the Sacred Tattoo trait option (which also includes ritual scars in addition to tattoos) to get a +1 luck bonus to all saves in exchange for the Orc Ferocity trait.

Have the tumor familiar be a raven, parrot, or thrush, then attach it to your back and have it start talking.  Heck, the thrush grants a bonus to diplomacy checks even if it's grotesquely attached to the alchemist.

Or there's the peacock which provides an intimidate bonus.  If the tumor familiar still has feathers then put that lump on the character's neck or something and have it fan the feathers out for a WTF? moment from the enemies.

[Prime32]

Those are nice finds.  Now I feel bad....  I've kind of stopped keeping up w/ Pathfinder the past year or so, because I've been fortunate enough to find 3E games and PF is a plainly worse 3E, so I was only keeping up w/ it on the bleak prospects of it being the only 3E-like system I could find games for (for quite a while, it really was like that).  So I doubt I'll be updating my Witch handbook again.

Kinda sad you can't combine the orc scarred witch doctor archetype (which uses Con for casting) with the familiar stuff since the witch's familiar gets replaced by a mask.

Arguably, since it's a different name from the typical familiar class feature, an Alchemist's Tumor Familiar can be combined w/ Scarred Witch Doctor.  A two level dip is harsh, though.  Might be other avenues...

Just get a regular familiar. Dip wizard, sorcerer (Arcane bloodline), arcanist or fighter (eldritch guardian), or use the Bloodline Familiar option (available to sorcerer, bloodrager, dragon disciple, and characters with Eldritch Heritage or a Variant Multiclass), or take the Familiar Bond feat.

Maybe a level of Spirit Whisperer wizard, picking the Life spirit to grant your familiar fast healing 1?

For a minute I thought the Protector archetype could actually provide a use for the Companion Figurine feat, but you can't transfer damage to the familiar while it's in item form.


As an aside, Synergist is kind of cool.

[zook1shoe]

Very tumor familiary

[Amechra]

The Halfling Shaman Favored Class benefit is awesome.

Namely, you gain +1/2 level for the purposes of your Spirit Animal's Intelligence, Natural Armor, and Special Features. This is uncapped.

Also, for those of you who are sad that you can't take Familiar Archetypes with Improved Familiars, dip a level of Witch and take the Animal Patron. Then take the Patron Familiar option.

Now you have Speak with Animals of its kind at 1st level, regardless of whether you'd get it normally.

[Amechra]

The Possessed Shaman Archetype makes a terrific skill monkey, as long as you don't multiclass.

By 6th level, it basically works out to having 3 extra skill points/level, with the ability to reassign 1 skill point/level each day.

Also, you get to use your Wisdom bonus instead of the normal ability bonus, which can be a sizeable bonus.

[Keldar]

Sadly, an Improved Familiar gives up the same ability every Familiar archetype gives up, Speak with Animals.

rules quote? So you're saying improved familiars can't take archetypes?

Edit: saw it. You're right... Ah well umd + wand of shield other. ..

Going by the SRD Witches with the Animal Patron can give their familiar the ability to Speak with Animals of their type.  No clue if it works for Improved Familiars or not.  But it could induce shenanigans.

[Amechra]

Sadly, an Improved Familiar gives up the same ability every Familiar archetype gives up, Speak with Animals.

rules quote? So you're saying improved familiars can't take archetypes?

Edit: saw it. You're right... Ah well umd + wand of shield other. ..

Going by the SRD Witches with the Animal Patron can give their familiar the ability to Speak with Animals of their type.  No clue if it works for Improved Familiars or not.  But it could induce shenanigans.

Two posts up, my friend.

[Keldar]

 

[Snowbluff]

The Possessed Shaman Archetype makes a terrific skill monkey, as long as you don't multiclass.

By 6th level, it basically works out to having 3 extra skill points/level, with the ability to reassign 1 skill point/level each day.

Also, you get to use your Wisdom bonus instead of the normal ability bonus, which can be a sizeable bonus.

On a similiar note, the Catfolk Alternate Favored Class Bonus gives you another 10 points in Knowledge checks over your usual Bardic Knowledge. Know everything on a budget!

[TiaC]

So, here's a nice trick for summoner wizards:

Cast Heightened Mount. Then, cast Alter Summoned Monster. You now have a summon that lasts 2 hours/level. Communal mount requires multiple castings of Alter Summoned Monster, but probably works better at higher levels.

Add metamagic reducers, Rod of Giant Summoning and a Summon Slave Crystal to walk around all day in a big summoned body.

[Fadier]

So, here's a nice trick for summoner wizards:

Cast Heightened Mount. Then, cast Alter Summoned Monster. You now have a summon that lasts 2 hours/level. Communal mount requires multiple castings of Alter Summoned Monster, but probably works better at higher levels.

Add metamagic reducers, Rod of Giant Summoning and a Summon Slave Crystal to walk around all day in a big summoned body.

Add in Magical Lineage and Wayang Spellhunter to get +2 level higher Summons than normal. Not broken at all.

[phaedrusxy]

Holy crap that's insane.

[zook1shoe]

Wait, but.... yeah, that's ridiculously amazing

Found my next PFS build

No rod, but the rest is legal

[Unbeliever]

Great find.  Does Alter Summoned Monster have any purpose other than this kind of exploit?  I was just trying to figure out what it was supposed to do, besides be a kind of funky idea reminiscent of a Magic card.

I was hoping you could combine it with Summon Eidolon.  But, doesn't look like it's possible. 

Good thing Pathfinder curb-stomped all those cheesy monk exploits, right?

[TiaC]

Well, you can use it to switch out the enemy's summoned Elder Elemental for a badger.

[phaedrusxy]

Good thing Pathfinder curb-stomped all those cheesy monk exploits, right?

[Craiconn]

If you allow 3.5 material to be ported into PF (backwards-compatible and all that), then the Alter Summoned Monster spell can get even more interesting.

Reference the Bedevil spell from Champions of Ruin:

http://dndtools.pw/spells/champions-of-ruin--27/bedevil--267/

Is a "mischievious spirit" a creature?  By RAW, I believe so.  And there you go, a duration of 1 Day/CL with your Heightened Bedevil spell.  With the Extend Spell feat, 2 Days/CL.

****

Also to note, Alter Summoned Monster can be cast via Shadow Conjuration.

[TiaC]

A nice little added flair I just found for that trick is the Dark Tapestry subdomain. Yes, I would like my summoned body to have +4 to all stats.

Meanwhile, the Plains Domain doubles the duration of all your mount spells and gives you pounce a few times a day.

[Libertad]

This involves Pathfinder, therefore it qualifies: