hi ineffect, I know you're not updating builds anymore but question: on your dex scion build, you take weapon finesse to convert str > dex for attack rolls, but then you use a longsword, which doesn't fall under what is described in weapon finesse. is there a mixup or am i missing something?

with slashing grace it qualifies.

The nice thing about Sensei is that he substitutes somewhat for a Bard, if you want to throw a brick through your monitor every time you hear Linzi :)

He has no mirror image. Sensei is a bad tank. Bard does. Even at the thing sensei is supposedly better sensei really is worse.

Too bad two-bladed sword doesn't. Can confirm that both blades trigger sneak dice with two-weapon fighting though. And flames.

Currently running Viv4/THF5 thru Varnhold with the flaming two-blader for sale at beginning. She brings the pain.

There's a necrotic dwarven urgrosh later on that could save you a feat if you roll a dwarf.

InEffect, why is a community/annimal ecclesitheurge good for harder difficulties in particular? When would you pick up the vivisectionist levels and are there any particular feats to look out for?

community level 8 ability. With maxed out Wis it nets 13+ AB/AC for hard fights. That's insane. It pretty much turns unfair into normal, apart from damage. As to animal... there is nothing better to take and an extra meat on the field never hurt anyone and animal in particular is pretty OP earlygame. Below unfair it actually slaps things around decently well, on unfair it's free fodder for you. Vivi is usually taken at 18-19, as spell progression is too valuable prior. For feats you will need boon companion, heighten and evo foci(for aura and blade barrier) for sure, the rest is mostly whatever - might grab dazzling to fill empty rounds and maybe extend.

Awesome, thanks for the tips.

If I was to use the respecability mod to change jaethal to a monster tactician, would it make sense to follow the general guide of the jaethal herald caller build, as far as feats go? Are they similar enough and does she get enough feats to make it worth it?

I should be about the same feats, but in different order as you would have to get summoning feats fast, Other than that, only things you have to have would be outflank/seize the moment for team feats and, probably, dazzling/shatter/crit. Maybe some persuasion or perception foci if you would have some to spare and you'd have to go full str as inquisitor spell-list sucks balls. On the bright side evil summons are better than good ones(much unlike pnp, cause no spells for summons). You would also have 3 free levels at the end, which, likely should go to two-handed fighter to buff AoO's.

Yes, Sensei can provide unique buffs to your party (other classes cant provide those), like immunity to disease, improved evasion, movespeed boost, etc.
He also can quickly buff whole party with buffs like Oakskin, spell resist, etc. (saves a lot of time, really).

there are 3 main problems with sensei.
1) He's buggy AF with abilities vanishing and appearing as they please.
2) He doesn't do anything too special. Most of things he provides you don't need by midgame.
3) He can't really ramp the damage, so he's just a beefy object on the field.

It's actually one of the better balanced RPG's out there. Balance doesn't mean equality. When everything is equal the choice is meaningless. Grab whatever without thinking and it'll be fine in a world of equality.

Most bugs that are out there are in the game mechanics. I don't even remember when I last encountered a quest-related bug. All the classes can be made to work on unfair. That's good enough in my book. Most spell schools are decent enough to be used if one wants to. When I say sensei has no damage ramp I mean it is so compared to even other monks. Some kits are just meh.

He doesn't have the most important thing bard provides: Dirge. And as far as immovable object he's worse that above-mentioned bard, cause he doesn't have mirror. Long story short, sensei can't compete neither with other monk subs nor with bards. Even if I would want a monk support with songs and all I'd just go grab a level of SF on a bard and call it a day.

Does energy resistance from different items not add up? Why do I have two different ones listed here?

One from Flameguard shield and another from the recently acquired Shroud of Abbadon cape.