Shaman(Witch Doctor) Build

[Sharillon]

Hello,

I finished the game allready once on the Azata and Angel path on normal difficult. I am allready aware of the Pathfinder System, but still figure sometimes new stuff out and I don`t know everything. I play right now for my first time the Shaman class(Witch doctor) on core difficult. I am close to the final attack at the grey garrison. My Build with the current hero group works very well so far, I want to go for the Aion path in this playtrough.

Main Character:
Allmost Level 6
Race: Aasimar (archon blooded) for the extra elemental resistance
Background: Pickpocket(extra initiative+trickery for extra xp at start)
Talents so far: Improved initiative, medium armor focus (I want to grab the legendary medium armor talent endurance), toughness
Attributes: 14 str, 14 dex, 16 con, 12 int(extra skill point), 16 wisdom, 14 cha
Spirit: Battle Spirit for weapon specialization+focus later and battle spirit.
First hex: Iceplant, at level 10 shall follow Battle master
At the moment I use a longspear(Finnean) as weapon. I have four possible resolutions for later:

1. Range with Javelins or Crossbows
2. Longspear what I do now
3. Grabbing the talent for the use of normal shields+ one hand single weapon(Club, Mace...)
4. Pick the talent for war material weapons and use a bardiche/gleve

But I am not sure at the start of act 3, how good will be a Shaman on core difficult at the frontline with a shield.

My group final Group shall be look like this:
Seelah Level 5 Paladin with Horse(Bulwark), I change her later maybe for Regil with Bismuth or going some levels into one cavalier class. I am aware that the pet will be not max level then, in this fact I am not sure.
Lann Level 5 (will stay the whole playttrough), 1 Zen Archer, 4 divine hunter(with dog, will stay most class divine hunter, zen archer only 2-3 picks)
Nenio Level 5 (will stay the whole playtrough+full mage)
Sosiel will join at the start of act 2, first pick animal domain(Smilodon, agressor)
With the last character I am unsure at the moment, maybe greybor.

I will not use any modifications for my playtrough, for changing the class on the companions. My main Character does the support part and when possible damage with the longspear.

But I am unsure for later, which will be the the best choice for the playtrough, so that I don`t have to much trouble to beat the game. I want to stay pure shaman, later talents shall be maybe : resounding spells, for the nice damage spells which will follow after circle.

Thanks for your reply, be aware of the fact please, that english is not my main language.

[Chronocide]

Originally posted by Sharillon:

1. Range with Javelins or Crossbows
2. Longspear what I do now
3. Grabbing the talent for the use of normal shields+ one hand single weapon(Club, Mace...)
4. Pick the talent for war material weapons and use a bardiche/gleve

I find longspears lacking in WotR, not because they are lacking in pathfinder rules, but because there seems to be a lack of good named longspears for non-mounted characters. Seems like most of them are intended for mounted characters. Availability of weaponry is an annoying limiter in this game.

For range, I often find my hex-classes to be too preoccupied hexing things to make ranged weapons practical on them. Might also give them a wand, or scrolls, for when they aren't hexing things. The feat chain for ranged weapons is often too great if you don't specialize.

Regarding #3, could also go down the feat path of shield bash, where your shield IS your club. Leaves you with a hand free (which might be helpful and might not be).

Or another for #3, could go the dueling sword route and take: Aldori Dueling Mastery, which gives you a shield bonus without actually having a shield. Probably too late for you, but that feat change is easy because there's a background trait or two that give that particular exotic weapon proficiency. Though, like the longspear, I've had issues finding good dueling swords.

There are a lot of good Glaives and Bardiches for non-mounted characters. And, I suppose, you could also go the Lunge route and not bother with an actual reach weapon.

Regarding the viability of your build as a frontline character, I mean, you've got mid offensive stats on a not full BAB class, so you'll not really be better than a support character. Battle spirit is probably a waste. I mean, should probably have 19 base Str if going battle spirit.

Another thing, your stats, they're all even numbers. So the trick in pathfinder is that you'll get 5 ability points as you level, so the trick with the point buy system is to asign your highest cost stat as an odd number, then add 5 points to it as you level. Though you are 6th, so maybe this is already included there? EDIT: notable exception if going legend route, as you get 10 pts instead of 5 if you have 40 levels of character to choose.

[Sharillon]

I will stay on the Aion path how I mentioned, and I planned the+5 bonus stats allready in. I started with 15 wisdom and wants to spent all rest points into it. So that`s the reason, why I have allready 16 wisdom. I thought about the fact, that 14 strength with other Buff items(gloves or belts) would be enough in the end. Because most times I move in for buffs and maybe some damage spells. The melee weapon is just in cause to use for "trash enemies". But the feat for Lunge is new to me, so that`s let me open for more possible weapon choices like the two-handed club. I start now the second Act, so thanks for your help.

[Chronocide]

Originally posted by Sharillon:

I will stay on the Aion path how I mentioned, and I planned the+5 bonus stats allready in. I started with 15 wisdom and wants to spent all rest points into it. So that`s the reason, why I have allready 16 wisdom. I thought about the fact, that 14 strength with other Buff items(gloves or belts) would be enough in the end. Because most times I move in for buffs and maybe some damage spells. The melee weapon is just in cause to use for "trash enemies". But the feat for Lunge is new to me, so that`s let me open for more possible weapon choices like the two-handed club. I start now the second Act, so thanks for your help.

np. glad it helped.