I definitely see the draw to really ramp up combat, but I'm trying to stick to the skill monkey role as much as possible and do it well.
This all sounds great if he was playing a MAgus who doesn't need to spend feats for a familiar and actually has loads of incentive to go after fencing/slashing/dervishing grace. The other two can be anything you like, with the 'skill monkey' top four being Infusion, Expanded Inspiration, Underworld Inspiration, and Empathy (this last is hyper-specialized...but very powerful in its' sphere), at least, IMO. Feat-wise, I'd go with the following: Technically, the correct secondary stat is Con, but that's kind of boring and probably not what you have in mind. It's less versatility and options, really. With that said, these other classes do not get 8+Int skill points per level. Frankly, if you don't take that route just go strength based. Watch the video now.
It's doable and effective, but a rather more focused combat build than the Str Investigator needs to be.No such thing as too many skills. You can make an argument for the Pathfinder bard actually being tier 4, sad as that is. Maybe there’s a rules-lawyer in your Pathfinder 2e game. Then you get dex to hit. Int 14 is not amazing for a investigator but 16 is better and only a cheap headband away.
That's without the racial. Mutagen is also excellent...but pretty exclusively combat oriented.Make sure to put all your FC bonuses into the Half Elf FCB...a bonus on all Inspiration rolls is very nice indeed. )Keen Adamantine Rapier 5020 gold, 3030 gold remaining (more cries = more inspiration)Wand of Cure Light Wounds 750 gold, 2280 gold remainingBuy some armor, a backpack, etc. Basically with the innate buffs from that one dip and studied combat means you can hold your own ina fight or become a good flanker for someone. I'm also quite set on half-elf. mutagen: a Dex mutagen subtract from wis, Str does it from int. You may want power attack earlier but I'd advise against it.
You gain a good weapon, some good defensive utility, and can be based almost mainly off Int and Dex. He's an empiricist investigator, but I'm currently completely unsure how to build him for combat. I honestly don't get the obsession people have with trying to shove fencing grace/slashing grace onto investigators. one feat is dex to damage. Seriously folks, you don't need to go Dex based to make a solid Investigator.
Add in +1 to your weapons and armor, add in some important consumables and survival gear like holy water, weapon oils, adamantine/silver/cold iron blanches, potions, etc, and that should be your WBL.I'd go 16/16 on a Str build. Your strength (which isn't lowered by Alter Self btw) adds another +2. Any advice?Why Half Elf? Furthermore, the 3.5e bard was a class that benefited immensely from supplements, which are unavailable in Pathfinder and replacements for which have not been published. What she said, and the above is a half doc build.... You can also use a move action. not 3, 5, 7 due to Inspired Blade at level 1.Level 4 Investigator Talent: Alchemical Discovery: Mutagen Ant Haul lasts 2 hours/level, so by time you start at level 6, your carrying capacity will be tripled for 12 hours, 4 hours longer than the typical adventuring day.Extracts should be whatever you can't reasonably afford to turn into potions for alchemical allocation.Traits: Reactionary and Fate's Favored come to mind. Pump dex with level increases. 2 people marked this as a favorite.
Int higher than 16 is really not necessary for an Investigator per se.
Pathfinder - Vigilante Archetypes Breakdown Disclaimer. You'll eventually want an Inspired Weapon, but that's too pricey for this level.This'll make you a very solid skill monkey and a good combatant to boot.I'm personally in favor of TWF builds with weapon finnesse or natural attack builds using tieflings.The idea is to maximize the number of attacks you can get which can easily get into ludicrous numbers between buffs and studied combat.TWF is too feat-intensive, and they don't have the stats for it.Natural attacks could work, but besides being a tiefling, an investigator doesn't have many options to gain others besides using rather valuable magic item slots.Honestly, if they do go with Weapon Finesse routes, definitely go with 18 dex, and 13 strength.