weapons specialization help

[wei270]

guys which weapon do you specialized it, when you consider what which weapon you specialized in you also have to consider what some of the weapons that is available in game right?

i played a cavalier because it seem to be the default class, so which weapon should i specialized it, spear? or axe

also what weapon should the paladin npc specialized in as well. sword? or Glaive? or even maces?
because these two characters seem to have the largest selections of weapons avaiable to them.

[Chronocide]

Originally posted by wei270:

guys which weapon do you specialized it, when you consider what which weapon you specialized in you also have to consider what some of the weapons that is available in game right?

i played a cavalier because it seem to be the default class, so which weapon should i specialized it, spear? or axe

also what weapon should the paladin npc specialized in as well. sword? or Glaive? or even maces?
because these two characters seem to have the largest selections of weapons avaiable to them.

favored weapon of deity is a good starting point for divine characters.

I strongly suggest looking into weapon availability. Weapons in this game aren't random drops, so if there's a particular build you have in mind and the best form of it isn't available, then you just can't get it.

It's not complete, but many of the magic items are listed here: https://pathfinderwrathoftherighteous.wiki.fextralife.com/Weapons

If playing main campaign, you'll usually start with a free version of your weapon focus weapon if you take weapon focus at 1st level (it's in the chest after you fall ). No effect on through the ashes DLC or if you take weapon focus after 1st level. The bonus weapon is often cold iron. Character retraining often generates this bonus weapon, too.

As for weapon choices, depends a lot on your build. You don't need to take weapon focus, either. Weapon focus is just one route for feats.

[wei270]

but don't you need weapon focus for critical focus? and almost all the melee build are using the mystic critical focus?

[Chronocide]

Originally posted by wei270:

but don't you need weapon focus for critical focus? and almost all the melee build are using the mystic critical focus?

No idea. I do my own thing.

I'm sure there are guides out there that inform you what they think the "best" builds are. But this game has a lot of flexibility, so you can do those or not.

Regarding feats and such, it really depends on your build and what you want your character to add to the party. One feat here, means one less feat there. Lots of ways to do everything.

And remember, the game is party based - it doesn't matter that one character build is great if the party fails. Likewise, if one character build is supposedly sub-optimal, but the party keeps winning, then that's success.

[Chronocide]

Originally posted by wei270:

i played a cavalier because it seem to be the default class

Not default class. "Advanced Players Guide" class.

Pathfinder Core Classes (2009):
Druid, Fighter, Wizard, Cleric, Rogue, Barbarian, Monk, Ranger, Paladin, Sorcerer

Advanced players guide classes (2010):
Witch, Anti-Paladin (not in this game), Alchemist, Oracle, Cavalier, inquisitor, Summoner (also not in this game)

Then Ultimate Magic (2011):
Magus

then Ultimate Combat (2011)
(none of which are present in this game):
Gunslinger, Ninja, Samurai

Advanced Class Guide (2014)
Arcanist, Bloodrager, Brawler (not in this game), hunter, investigator (not in this game), shaman, Skald, Slayer, Swashbuckler (not in this game), warpriest

Pathfinder unchained (2015)
No new classes, but replaces original monk, rogue and barbarian with new versions (present in this game). Also attempts to remake summoner class (not present in this game)

More books and more classes follow....

[Schlumpsha]

For Cavalier I recommend anything polearm. In particular longspears, given that they act as substitute for lances in this game. Meaning you get more damage out of them while charging onto enemies while riding your mount.

Seelah is fine with specializing in longswords. They're THE most abundant weapon type you can find.

[Societas]

There is a mod called weapon focus plus, that lets weapon specific traits apply to weapon groups instead of just one individual weapon.

So weapon selection becomes a lot more liberal.

The mod overrides the logic in the game which checks whether a specific weapon type is the same as another, so will apply to everything where
such comparison is requested (Weapon Focus, Greater Weapon
Focus, Improved Critical etc).

The weapon group name is displayed in the information window.

Should be backwards/forwards compatible with saves, can be enabled/disabled anytime.

Groups are fully configurable via the groups.json file in the mod, please use the readme for instructions.

Groups

Axes: Battleaxe, Dwarven Waraxe, Greataxe, Handaxe, Heavy Pick, Light Pick, Tongi
Heavy Blades: Bastard Sword, Dueling Sword, Elven Curve Blade, Estoc, Falcata, Falchion, Greatsword, Longsword, Scimitar, Scythe
Light Blades: Dagger, Kukri, Rapier, Shortsword, Sickle, Starknife
Bows: Longbow, Shortbow (including composite bows)
Close: Punching Dagger, Spiked Light Shield, Spiked Heavy Shield, Heavy Shield, Light Shield
Crossbows: Hand Crossbow, Heavy Crossbow, Light Crossbow
Double: Orc Double Axe, Double-bladed Sword, Gnome Hooked Hammer, Dwarven Urgrosh
Flails / Hammers: Club, Earth Breaker, Flail, Greatclub, Heavy Flail, Heavy Mace, Light Hammer, Light Mace, Warhammer
Monk: Kama, Nunchaku, Quarterstaff, Sai, Shuriken, Siangham
Polearms: Bardiche, Fauchard, Glaive
Spears: Longspear, Shortspear, Spear, Trident
Thrown: Bomb, Dart, Javelin, Sling, Sling Staff, Throwing Axe


Everything which is not the groups listed (e.g. unarmed, natural weapons) works as without the mod.

[Chronocide]

Originally posted by talemore:

There are pickaxes with 4x critical hit.

The Scythe, Light Pick, and Heavy Pick are all 4x multiplier.

One thing to keep in mind, the crit multiplier also affects the Coup De Grace saving throw.

Coup De Grace is an auto-crit.
If they survive the damage, they take a fort save
DC 10 + attacker's BAB + melee damage attribute modifier + weapon's critical modifier
If they fail the fort save, they die.

[Janthis]

Between loot and merchants, the game offers enough weapons of all kinds that you can specialize in whatever you like, imo. Personally I like longsword for Seelah (there's a very good plot-important one that keeps getting upgraded throughout the game), and glaive for my MC because I like the reach and the animation. It's so much fun to use Cleave and cut down an entire crowd of enemies in one hit. And of course, there's also Finnean.

Enhancement won't matter that much because 1) you will find powerful weapons in almost every category (even some nobody uses, like Tongi) and you'll have spells like Holy Sword or Crusader's Edge.

[Draken]

Originally posted by talemore:

the dodge feat gives nothing to her since a flanked character gets no ac from dodge.

Are you certain? I though the Dodge AC only goes away if you get your dexterity bonus denied. And flanking doesn't do that. Flanking just gives the attacker a +2 to attack bonus.

[FunkyMonkey]

Originally posted by Draken:

Originally posted by talemore:

the dodge feat gives nothing to her since a flanked character gets no ac from dodge.

Are you certain? I though the Dodge AC only goes away if you get your dexterity bonus denied. And flanking doesn't do that. Flanking just gives the attacker a +2 to attack bonus.

Flanking isn't the same as flat-footed (which does take away Dodge, among other things). Talemore is just wrong here, but that isn't too surprising, he gets a lot of stuff wrong for what I remember.

[Razer]

Originally posted by talemore:

Originally posted by FunkyMonkey:

Flanking isn't the same as flat-footed (which does take away Dodge, among other things). Talemore is just wrong here, but that isn't too surprising, he gets a lot of stuff wrong for what I remember.

When you and an ally are flanking a foe, it has a harder time defending against you. A creature is flat-footed.

You are the liar.

No flanking just gives a +2 to attack. It doesn't cause flat-footed on the enemy.

[wei270]

Originally posted by Razer:

Originally posted by talemore:

When you and an ally are flanking a foe, it has a harder time defending against you. A creature is flat-footed.

You are the liar.

No flanking just gives a +2 to attack. It doesn't cause flat-footed on the enemy.

ok that is why shattered defense used to be so popular, because it consistently apply flatfooted to enemy.

[Razer]

Originally posted by wei270:

Originally posted by Razer:

No flanking just gives a +2 to attack. It doesn't cause flat-footed on the enemy.

ok that is why shattered defense used to be so popular, because it consistently apply flatfooted to enemy.

Yep. If flanking applied flat-footed then shattered defenses wouldn't be a thing.

[FunkyMonkey]

Originally posted by talemore:

Originally posted by FunkyMonkey:

Flanking isn't the same as flat-footed (which does take away Dodge, among other things). Talemore is just wrong here, but that isn't too surprising, he gets a lot of stuff wrong for what I remember.

When you and an ally are flanking a foe, it has a harder time defending against you. A creature is flat-footed.

You are the liar.

You are just wrong. Not lying, I wouldn't call you a liar, that would be childish.

[Chronocide]

Originally posted by FunkyMonkey:

Originally posted by talemore:

When you and an ally are flanking a foe, it has a harder time defending against you. A creature is flat-footed.

You are the liar.

You are just wrong. Not lying, I wouldn't call you a liar, that would be childish.

Flanking and flat footed are separate things.

Flanking: is a bonus to melee attacks. You get a +2 flanking bonus if your opponent is threatened by another enemy character or creature on its opposite border or opposite corner. Diagram here: https://d20pfsrd.opengamingnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/01/d20pfsrd_combat_mat_04-1.jpg

Flat Footed: is a condition where you can’t use your Dexterity bonus to AC (if any) while flat-footed. A flat-footed character also can’t make attacks of opportunity. Flat footed is normally gained at the start of a battle, before you have had a chance to act (specifically, before your first regular turn in the initiative order), you are automatically flat-footed.

It's notable that flatfooted only negates the dex "bonus" to AC, a dex "penalty" to AC will still apply. Also swapping dex with another attribute that adds to AC instead will also swap what flat footed negates as a bonus to AC.