Companion to drop for Jubilost

[sweetja713]

I'm running a barbarian (the archetype with increased damage reduction). I have Amiri, Linzi, Octavia, Regongar, and Tristan. It's my 1st play through but I've read class spoilers and builds for companions. Though not a lot else and I'd like to keep story spoilers to a minimum so please respect that when you answer.

All of this just to say I like the idea of a mad bomber and just came across Jubilost. Who should I lose to make room. A cleric is practically a requirement in most games like this so Tristan can't be cut easily unless I replace him with the morose dwarf. Which would allow me to probably cut a front liner.

That pretty much leaves Amiri whose personality I love, Linzi who seems like narratively speaking she should stick around and Regonar who's an ass but very useful. Also I'm not sure if the bard is more useful than she seems. A lot of times she's just shooting a crossbow, missing a lot and singing as she's built for control with a lot of enchantment stuff and I hate wasting spells.

[Mork]

I would drop Linzi

Yes bard are extremely good but Linzi is a awful bard... Valerie is the best bard and by far.
But the #1 reason why i would drop her is a spoiler reason.

[Ivas]

I'd drop Linzi or Reg. Linzi just bad. And I don't really like Reg's personality.

[forkofspite]

I'd drop Octavia, especially after Jubilost has infusion and fast bombs. Bombs will be comparable to rays+sneak (and both will be limited in the number of daily uses - bombs perhaps a bit more limited).

Personally, I'd keep Linzi so that your main, Amiri, and Reg can still hit regularly. Inspire Courage + Lingering Song is extremely useful. Good Hope is also extremely useful. IMO, those abilities on their own are enough of a reason to keep Linzi.

If, on the other hand, you can still hit regularly even against "tough" enemies, dropping Linzi is reasonable. She'll never have the damage output potential of any others under consideration.

Better question - what about Ekun??

[ptirodaktill]

I would drop Amiri asap and Octavia after Jubilost get improved invisibility.

[Frostfeather]

Drop Amiri like a bad habit.

[forkofspite]

Originally posted by sweetja713:

That pretty much leaves Amiri whose personality I love, [..]

That's enough of a reason to keep Amiri.

[jsaving]

Bards partially overlap with alchemists (skill points, buffs) and clerics (healing, condition removal) whereas alchemists partially overlap with bards (skill points, buffs) and wizards (energy damage and CC at range). Ordinarily, people would see bards and alchemists as the most similar of the lot so carrying Jubilost would mean dropping Linzi.

But perhaps you heavily use Linzi's unique features like inspire competence/courage and (eventually) dirge of doom, which makes dropping her a severe blow to your party. In that case you would want to weigh whether Linzi gives you enough healing and condition removal to drop Tristian, or alternatively whether Jubilost gives you enough ranged damage/CC to drop Octavia.

You can make a reasonable case for any of these alternatives, which is probably why you're struggling with the decision. I've even done a run where I kept all four in the party, though I think that isn't a great move power-wise because the buffs Linzi and Jubilost bring to the table are most useful when applied to a large frontline. Good luck!

[sweetja713]

Originally posted by forkofspite:

Better question - what about Ekun??

I have no idea who Ekun is. I really haven't read a whole lot about all of the companions. A couple just came up when researching builds I might want to run. Those builds being knife master and bombardier

I am keeping the goblin when I get him. Huge fan of goblins.

[Mork]

Are you planning to use your mc barbarian as a tank?

[sweetja713]

Originally posted by Mork:

Are you planning to use your mc barbarian as a tank?

Yes, I planned on taking him through lvl 12 grabbing damage resistance rage powers from 6-12. I'm already playing an invulnerable rager so that's a good chunk of DR. I was then planning on going 2-handed fighter for dmg.

As an aside can you romance characters if you don't take them with you and leave them at the keep?

[forkofspite]

Originally posted by sweetja713:

As an aside can you romance characters if you don't take them with you and leave them at the keep?

Yes, but it might be difficult to progress in some cases. You might consider picnics, just the two (or three) of you at the nearby Hilltop or Ford.

(Doesn't need to be just those involved - feel free to bring everyone!! :)

[99Random]

Originally posted by sweetja713:

Originally posted by Mork:

Are you planning to use your mc barbarian as a tank?

Yes, I planned on taking him through lvl 12 grabbing damage resistance rage powers from 6-12. I'm already playing an invulnerable rager so that's a good chunk of DR. I was then planning on going 2-handed fighter for dmg.

As an aside can you romance characters if you don't take them with you and leave them at the keep?

You will run into problems later since a Barb cannot handle the incoming damage to tank later enemies. You will not be able to get AC up to the levels needed (late game enemies will have Attack Bonus well into the 40's and more) and single digit DR does very little against 40-50 point+ hits.

Of the supplied companions, Valerie as sword & board tank or Reg as pajama tank are by far the best. Remember that the AI is very simple and will attack and stay on the first character they see unless there is no room for them to attack that character. This leaves the rest of your team to focus on DPS.

[sweetja713]

Is it feasible at all to play without a cleric? I'm on normal difficultly. I was debating a party with Amiri, Octavia, Jubes, Regonar, MC, and Linzi. Can my casters cover healing? I know Linzi can but that removes her from crowd control. I know very little Pathfinder so not exactly clear on what classes can do what.

[sweetja713]

Originally posted by 99Random:

Originally posted by sweetja713:

Yes, I planned on taking him through lvl 12 grabbing damage resistance rage powers from 6-12. I'm already playing an invulnerable rager so that's a good chunk of DR. I was then planning on going 2-handed fighter for dmg.

As an aside can you romance characters if you don't take them with you and leave them at the keep?

You will run into problems later since a Barb cannot handle the incoming damage to tank later enemies. You will not be able to get AC up to the levels needed (late game enemies will have Attack Bonus well into the 40's and more) and single digit DR does very little against 40-50 point+ hits.

With the rage powers added I'll have 12 DR but I can see your point. My hope was by taking that much off each attack it'd significantly help. Any suggestions on where I take the build?

[Ivas]

Originally posted by sweetja713:

Is it feasible at all to play without a cleric? I'm on normal difficultly. I was debating a party with Amiri, Octavia, Jubes, Regonar, MC, and Linzi. Can my casters cover healing? I know Linzi can but that removes her from crowd control. I know very little Pathfinder so not exactly clear on what classes can do what.

Linzi can cover most of buffs. Octavia and Jubes can help. It's very possible. But no healing without a cleric. Then again, if you need healing in battle, something went wrong and it won't help