u/InsomniaStudios

Posted about a build I was workshopping yesterday and got some feedback that made me revisit my plan and omit the witch dedication mentioned in quotes below. Still want to keep the core concept behind the character as outlined, but was looking for some input on which of the two linked builds seems to be more in line with the general idea and if there are any adjustments that would be recommended to one or both for a trip / maneuver heavy build?

Ruffian w/ Mauler Dedication

https://pathbuilder2e.com/launch.html?build=1471315

Obviously there are some voids in the build for the mauler as I was not sure what to do for the additional free archetype feats yet, any recommendations?

Monk w/ Mauler Dedication

https://pathbuilder2e.com/launch.html?build=1471316

>Planning out a build and trying to best workshop the stat progression for a character using free archetype.

>Poppet w/ a mixed heritage of Anadi (more meant to serve as adopted ancestry than actual genetically related but needs the benefits from level 1) ruffian rogue, witch dedication at level 2, mauler dedication at level 8.

>Core concept for the character is creepy little bastard with a living scarf (his familiar - a Tsukuyomi poppet) who trips / shoves / and grapples people a lot. They are the former tool of a bitter tailor, gained sentience and got their revenge before turning to a life of piracy. They now serve as a rigger on the ship, using their skills and innate Anadi heritage gifts (web weaver) to maintain the sails, ropes, etc.

>For equipment I am planning on them using a bladed scarf as their primary weapon, a combat grapnel as a limited range option, and for armor wearing a wooden breastplate.

>Given all this I am struggling to plan out their stat progression. I am not necessarily trying to MIN/MAX, but I do want to allocate my stats in a way that both makes sense and is effective.

>So, with that information, how would you at level 1 distribute their stats (using alternate ability selection and gradual ability boost, not the ancestry specified spread) vs what would you have their stats look like at level 20?

Planning out a build and trying to best workshop the stat progression for a character using free archetype.

Poppet w/ a mixed heritage of Anadi (more meant to serve as adopted ancestry than actual genetically related but needs the benefits from level 1) ruffian rogue, witch dedication at level 2, mauler dedication at level 8.

Core concept for the character is creepy little bastard with a living scarf (his familiar - a Tsukuyomi poppet) who trips / shoves / and grapples people a lot. They are the former tool of a bitter tailor, gained sentience and got their revenge before turning to a life of piracy. They now serve as a rigger on the ship, using their skills and innate Anadi heritage gifts (web weaver) to maintain the sails, ropes, etc.

For equipment I am planning on them using a bladed scarf as their primary weapon, a combat grapnel as a limited range option, and for armor wearing a wooden breastplate.

Given all this I am struggling to plan out their stat progression. I am not necessarily trying to MIN/MAX, but I do want to allocate my stats in a way that both makes sense and is effective.

So, with that information, how would you at level 1 distribute their stats (using alternate ability selection and gradual ability boost, not the ancestry specified spread) vs what would you have their stats look like at level 20?

In the class description for witch on Archives of Nethys it states the following,

"Undying: If your familiar dies, your patron replaces it during your next daily preparations. The new familiar might be a duplicate or reincarnation of your former familiar or a new entity altogether, but it knows the same spells your former familiar knew regardless. Your familiar's death doesn't affect any spells you have already prepared."

While the witch dedication states,

"You cast spells like a witch. Choose a patron; you gain a familiar with two common cantrips of your choice from your chosen patron's tradition, but aside from the tradition, you don't gain any other effects the patron would usually grant. Your familiar gains the normal number of abilities for a familiar instead of those a witch familiar normally gets."

So, just to be clear if I am understanding the wording of the rules correctly, that would mean someone taking the witch dedication would NOT get the undying familiar ability, correct?

Or would it be that since that is not a patron specific ability, but one granted to a witch's familiar automatically, even those taking the dedication would gain the benefit?

Planning on playing a poppet character in the near future and had a question in regards to the miniscule mentee ancestry feat.

The familiar is automatically designated to be a fellow poppet, and in turn a construct. Under the construct awarded ability it states, "Your familiar must have the tough pet ability to select this." I assume since this ability is automatically awarded that this requirement is negated and you are able to select a different ability instead?