Hi InEffect,
Love what you do. I currently reading through your builds and they sound awesome most of the time!
I would love to make a request… or maybe u can point me to an older build I can use as framework?
I want to play: Tank - No Dmg - CBMonster (no trip) - (Intimidation/debilitation)
Since I am a filthy Casual it does not need to be Unfair-viable (or Mutagen dependent) and I would not mind meta-gaming Alignments till midgame.
I picture him as King Leonidas with (Shield and Spear?) – Bullrushing/enabling/de-buffing without Magic.

Like I said, I appreciate time and effort that went into your builds. Will you do this work for the next Pathfinder game, too?

for an abyssal scion you kinda have to have 1 monk cause he has no AC ramp otherwise and you want spell access from level 19 scion, so you just don't have levels to spare. The damage is good enough as is, though.

I'd say you want water shield bash kinetic knight. Not exactly covering the spear part, but at least it'll be usable much unlike standard combat maneuvers.

What is the recommended bard subtype for Valerie bard? the default one? I was wondering because your MC build was for archeologist.

Val should be default bard. You want her to have dirge and all that.

I have one general Question if it's okay.

If instead of hiring a Sylvan merc Sorc I make the MC one, which of the builds would you suggest? Sylvan from this thread, adapted Sylvan merc build from your Unfair guide or maybe AT/Sorc from here (no pet early and no conjuration focus till mid gameso maybe suffering)? I realized that using mercs is hampering my fun in a sense. I thought about making Octavia a controller but I'm not sure if thats even possible with her foundation.

I'm currently playing on hard and have the early game completely down(Thanks to your help) with min/max and strats but will one day go for unfair which I guess is a completely different beast.

For MC caster I'd suggest the thing I soloed the game with. Sylvan8/V1/AT10/SF1. Conjuration+Evo. In my solo run I took monk level last, but in party play I'd maybe try to fit it in at 9, before taking the 1st vivi level. The build kinda makes sense as you do have a use for the pet early and pretty much don't need it for the late-game, apart from carrying your luggage. Said sylvan will also hog LG robes and both arcane protectors. And you'd want amulet of four elements instead of dying wisdom to have +2 damage/dice rolled. That's mostly not cause we really want to tank with it, but cause a) we can b) MC dying is a reload. And I hate reloads.

The build is more or less the AT/sorc from unfair guide, except you need to fit in boon companion at 9. Actual question would be who'd tank. So you'd need some sort of Valerie for sure and the other one will be hard. With the lack of better ortions either vivisectionist or bard jaethal will do.

You also probably don't want two casters. There is a limited supply of good caster stuff to go around.

Thats a lot of information to process, thank you very much.
For tanks I'd go Val and Jaethal. I tried it before and I quite liked it.

Not sure about the stat distribution since I will have more buyout than a merc and I guess I can go even stats on the non main stat since I won't be going for DLC Amulet. Shuffling arround feats as well.

I wouldn't run 2 caster. Me mentioning Octavia was just a thought in case I neither get a sylvan sorc merc nor run it as MC. I'm not sure if that's doable on hard and unfair.

Only difference unfair makes on anything is you need to be better at buffing and positioning. And level 1 to 5-6 are awful. I wish whoever designed it that way would play A1 unfair every evening of their life. Most anything can work on unfair, just the amount of effort might vary. Caster MC has the advantage of less reloads due to MC being dead, but losing that kind of damage potential is a bit painful, since MC caster is not that much better or different from a merc.

Is there anything you'd change about the Noble Assassin build? Especially after the patch to Sneak Attack.

You mean closer to tabletop mod? Well that one is more of a concept build. If you want an actual TWF sneak attacker you go Vivi16/M1/Slayer3 with STR double sword . Of you go dex you'd use agile pick you get from old sycamore and agile rapier you can get by killing one of stag lord henchmen. and then upgrade to whatever agile weapons till you get twin crystals

As to flanking rules... It matters little, except outflank is less valuable, so I'd probably skip it. You will likely use shatter and dirge before too long anyways.

I meant more in the lines of Sneak Attack only applying once per attack, so it doesn't proc from Alkali Gloves damage. I might be recalling it incorrectly though.

Huh.. I respecced one of the goat sisters (the red eyed one plus i never really got a chance to use them and im nearing the end) then took her to the DLC dungeon to test this and it's very strong. Pounce + Charge w/ buffed Firebrand, Thundering Claw and Geniekind gives me 5 damage Per claw hit (Firebrand proc, claw hit, 1d6sonic, 1d6 electric, geniekind proc).

I just want to say Thundering Claw of the Bear God works.(Scimitar, gives +1d6 sonic and 1d6 electric for each natural attack, becomes 1d10 if you're shapeshifted as a bear and for your bear companion).
Apex Predator (Headgear, +3 armor bonus to AC, +3 to attack rolls while shapeshifted). Found in the DLC dungeon.
And not sure if Oak' Pelt works. Haven't tried (the 0 ac leather armor that gives natural armor instead).
Also just found out Druids dont get Sense Vitals.. that would've been so good.

thundering claw just comes too late imo. Although adding thorn body dice to those will add some value. By then you have perfection that is better and dodge AC never hurt anyone. And headgear is not an option, You need int for trip to work and you need wis for the natural spell and cha for spell-casting. Would you try to reach those without headgear you are in a world of trouble. And no body slot will ever be melded into your form afaik. as far as shifter druid is concerned it's a dead slot. Guess you can use thundering+perfection and it'd be alright as well, but bear forms will be long past their prime and bear pet is quite a bit worse than most anything else.

yeah its a shame they always put all the good/interesting stuff at the end.

thundering effect works w/ smilodon and even the elemental forms. i opted for the bear pet for flair and the synergy but im kinda regretting it since its too crowded when they're enlarged or proportioned..

anyway this whole experiment made me excited for wrath of the righteous since i know what char im making (and i never really used druids and i always played sorcs as mc). hopefully we get more shapeshifting focused druid archetype like skinshaper too.