PF:KM; Teammate "Tristian" UNMODDED Generic Cleric Build

HI all! Brothermutant here. This is another in a series of vids showcasing how I might level your various allies. I plan to do vids for most (if not all) of your found teammates, both as a MODDED version as well as the UNMODDED variety so that all can get a feel for what I might do with these deadweights... err, I mean, viable and useful allies against evil. FEAT and Ability picks as well as suggested GEAR are listed in a PINNED comment below.

[@brothermutant7370]

UNMODDED Tristian Build STATS: Str 9 Dex 12 Con 12 Int 10 Wis 17 to 22 Cha 16 Neutral Good (matters for some gear) Class Levels: Human; 20 Ecclesitheurge In Order of the video: LVL 1- Selective Channel (THIS IS WHY HE IS BETTER THAN HARRIM) & Extra Channels (Cleric) 2- 3- Metamagic Extended Spells 4- +1 WIS 5- Extra Channels (Cleric) 6- 7- Extra Channels (Cleric) 8- +1 WIS 9- Extra Channels (Cleric) 10- 11- Extra Channels (Cleric) 12- +1 WIS 13- Extra Channels (Cleric) 14- 15- Extra Channels (Cleric) 16- +1 WIS 17- Extra Channels (Cleric) 18- 19- Extra Channels (Cleric) 20- +1 WIS PIE in the SKY gear to look for: Stuff that increases his PHYSICAL ABILITIES (especially DEX and CON), Best Crossbows (either kind), best ROBES you can find him, any extra gear that gives him immunity to anything OR an extra healing or channels per day. SPELL PICKS to focus on: NEVER grab any of the "Cure" spells as he can convert any spell into one (note: HEAL does not count as a "Cure" spell so grab those); avoid melee touch attack (and only grab ray spells later in the build as his BAB is decent around level 8 and up); grab buffs for the TEAM (avoid overslotting self only buffs, one or two is fine as it will help, but not really necessary); remember to slot spells using METAMAGIC EXTEND for double the duration for short duration spells; as for damaging spells, focus primarily on AUTO HIT spells (like aoe spells or Boneshaker/Boneshatter). *SKILL points invested by the end of the build: Mobility 3; Lore Religion 20; Perception 20; Persuasion 17; UMD 20

[@quickpawmaud]

Lol you weren’t kidding extra channel every level after extend. Spells are still complicated so I need the guide and it is still very helpful.

[@eddiebulls7851]

Watching your build vids has greatly, and I mean GREATLY, helped my understanding of the mechanics, etc. of this game. So don't feel like your doing these videos is a waste. I, for one, am glad I ran across your build vids given how much more in-depth learning and understanding of the game they have given me just in watching a couple of your vids. My thanks, Sir.

[@brothermutant7370]

Thanks Eddie! I appreciate that. Are you playing the vanilla version of the game or are you using mods like I am currently?

[@eddiebulls7851]

@@brothermutant7370 Other than using Wilds, using near all the mods you are.

[@kongchangfan2237]

Dang, this is not only entertaining AF but also made me love Tristian right away.. How could i possibly sticked to Harrim until Level 7 :D Cheers!

[@DragoonIceX]

I'm loving this build! thanks for this

[@brothermutant7370]

Glad you liked it. Hope he works out for you. Tristian is WAY better at healing than Harrim.

[@Koshea69]

Somewhere in the 9/11/13 range I think I'll take reach spell in case he does need to cast an actual cure spell on someone in the front line, can make a touch cure reach 30' in a pinch for only 1 level bump. Otherwise LOVE this build, only ever figured him for a Mystic Theurge because of the no armor, this is great.

[@sechrima9998]

This is actually one of my favourite builds of yours. It has got me thinking, though, how would you build the absolute best, most min-max’d buff specialist in the game? I would probably start with an Ecclesitheurge with Community domain for Guarded Hearth.

[@Viviolau]

Used this build through Act 3. Had to bump my difficulty in act 1 cause he is such a good healer and has saved my party’s ass so many times. I’m doing a 2nd play through and I got him as soon as I could because of how efficient he is lol.

[@ADT1995]

Great video. I still don't think I'll take Tristian, but it gives me an idea of what his role is if I ever decide to pick him up again. Plus these videos are really helpful for someone new to the game. Personally I strongly prefer Harrim, while selective channel is nice it doesn't bother me enough to heal some of my enemies, I'd rather negate that damage by having a decent off-tank. When I first played I used Tristian a lot, but then I got to a point where I couldn't use him and had to bring Harrim or hire a Merc, I was level 11 or something at this point so mercenaries were really expensive and I already hired one to get a decent wizard, so I took Harrim, and yeah he had less channels, but I needed them way less, never taken Tristian since even when I got the opportunity Healing your enemies sucks but it's mostly a mental thing, I'm at least almost always concentrating fire, so healing an enemy for one attacks worth of damage isn't the end of the world, and once you get access to haste you can usually position yourself to only heal buddies Now that I've got more experience I want to see if there's any way to make Tristian borderline useful, I've been toying with the idea of making him a mystic theurgist, but that means he's going to suck until level 9ish, and there's reasons I don't emphasize the levels around that point.

[@neilmowles9581]

Ive seen some talk about giving an ecclesitheurge a dip of monk and then they can be a secondary tank / healer. How would this be built and is it any good?

[@leinardesteves3987]

Thank you thank you thank you for this build. I'm new to the game and spells are a new thing to me, seems it's easier to understand on clerics than with other casters. Do you have any Slayer sword and board build? That is primarily dps but can also serve next to val for shield wall bonus?

[@brothermutant7370]

I believe I do. Check my builds list on my channel for Pathfinder Kingmaker and you should see at least three different Slayer builds that used either STR or DEX and at least one was a two weapon wielder that used sword and board as their two weapons. Was really good at doing damage too.

[@DeltaPi314]

Harrim doesn't suck if you turn him into your teams necromancer and specialize him into summoning spoopy-skeletons. Aaaaaah, such scary beastie... it's be a pitty if he get surrounded and flanked... necormancy!

[@TheFeanor74]

If you would create a merc or main instead of leveling Tristian what domains would you choose / prefer?

[@brothermutant7370]

Oh that's a TALL order. Hmm, what are they being used for? Main healer or DPS or buff bot?

[@TheFeanor74]

@@brothermutant7370 That's a very good question. For me main purpose for a cleric is "always" heal (including conditions/poison/attribute damage/negative levels and all that nasty stuff) > buff/debuff > tankiness > DPS. And when I think for DPS, I think of melee DPS and would never consider offensive spell casting (beside the iconic "heal/turn the undead"). I think the people who designed pathfinder and the makers of PKM had the same idea. But on the other hand I know myself and my roleplaying preferences. So I would definitely consider the animal domain to get a loyal companion at my side - which is probably not the best choice regarding my priorities ;-)

[@brothermutant7370]

@@TheFeanor74 So, if ANY of the deities use both Animal domain and Healing (maybe Sun domain has it too) domain, that's where to look. The healing domain gives you free EMPOWERED heals eventually. That can't be discounted as its straight up FREE. Might not work vs undead but who cares. Use your healing to keep the party topped off. Use spells like Sanctuary to keep baddies off of you while you heal (remember to NOT attack until you feel the party can handle keeping the stragglers off of you). Use your healer defensively (I would even set the Fighting Defensive toggle on) and for god's sake, make SURE to have enough CHA to unlock Selective Channeling ASAP. I will log on to game after I make me morning coffee to let you know which Deity I would run with, so stay tuned.

[@brothermutant7370]

@@TheFeanor74 OK, for a vanilla playthrough, I would Pick any of the following and their domains: 1) Erastil (Animal and Community/Law/Plant...Only Positive Energy only) 2) Pharasma (Healing and Death/Water...Either Pos or Neg Energy Channeling) 3) Sarenrae (Healing and Glory/Good/Sun (I prefer SUN)...Positive Energy Only) 4) Irori (Healing and Law/Rune...Either energy) 5) Gozreh (Animal and Plant/Weather...Either energy) Reason for the picks...some have decent team buffs as uses per day and many have nice DOMAIN spell picks (those free spells you can choose from at each level). Remember, IF a DOMAIN choice looks crappy for BOTH Domains, you can STILL convert those free spells into healing (or Inflicting spells if you swing evil).

[@Demiurge13]

any room in this build to make him use a ranged weapon? I just don't like seeing him with a sword lol

[@brothermutant7370]

Sure you can. I went HEAVY into Extra Channels. Just swap those out for Point Blank Shot and Precise Shot and you can at least hit the target. If you want him to do dmg though, you would probably want Rapid Shot/Deadly Aim.

[@ggcpres]

So that's what you do with Tristan...

[@brothermutant7370]

Just one of many things you can do with Tristian. Personally, I like him being a AoE healer/spell caster.

[@Zoze13]

Title: unmodded 00:14: here’s my mods