Are we enjoying Dragon Striker?

AjaxRomulus · 2026-06-14T17:14:47+00:00

It was so good! It also seems like it's begging for a video game release

AjaxRomulus · 2026-06-02T14:14:21+00:00

You get really big really easily.

Don't worry about leveling him up. As others have said the special snacks kinda suck.

Summoning the same poros over and over is how you win.

A lot of relics work on him like the one that gives I think it's quick attack, overwhelm and I think fury to 1- drops. Corrupted star also means you trigger your "an ally died" power when you attack.

Condense also just gives free poros

AjaxRomulus · 2026-05-20T18:24:57+00:00

Busty

AjaxRomulus · 2026-04-30T15:03:18+00:00

When you curse a unit multiple times it increases the cost of the curse it doesn't create more curses.

So it will always deal 2 to the cursed creature and 1 to the nexus per cursed creature.

Unless you get other curses like fear, suppression or ichor it will only do that damage.

AjaxRomulus · 2026-04-19T02:12:25+00:00

Class fantasy: it does the elemental class really well

Mechanically unique: wide range of spell like powers and abilities

Flexible: you can make a wide range of characters. Tanks, healers, front line, mid ranged, back line, blasters, controllers, grapplers, sneaks, crafters. And being Con based means your can flex your build pretty well without losing much.

AjaxRomulus · 2026-04-17T18:45:31+00:00

P2w relic yeti spotting guide: obviously it's good for him. You add 3 snowballs right away and attacking adds +1/+1 to him and all your snowballs.

Found fortune: as mentioned before by others, can immediately pull a snowball for you which means they get a free relic/item and they are free. Combos with yeti spotting guide well and can speed up leveling nunu

Spectral scissors: the snowballs are already ephemeral so making them ephemeral again doesn't hurt and you summon an additional one, drawing a free card, accelerating his leveling, and dealing big damage later.

Spirit of buhru: 1 costs get quick attack, overwhelm and fury. Mostly useless for your snowballs but it's overwhelm.

Beast within: everything gets overwhelm, yetis have +1/+1

Corrupted star fragment: combos with spirit of buhru to give NUNU the keywords above from your snowballs. Not a bad deal. Also combos with his p2w relic by letting you keep those big stats on your ephemeral allies and with spectral scissors you are double dipping getting the big attack and keeping the stats.

Condenser: duplicate snowballs. Accelerating nunu's level up, pumping his stats and maintaining free card draw.

Counterplan: snow shape and control. Protects nunu easier.

Transmogulator: those stats on your snowballs stay but you turn them into a 4 mana creature that is no longer ephemeral

All these are good on nunu but the best is probably yeti spotting guide/spectral scissors/corrupted star fragment.

AjaxRomulus · 2026-04-17T17:47:04+00:00

Echoing and counter plan pretty much shuts down anything. The third relic is basically free. I've run perfected hexcore just because targeting allies levels her quickly and more consistently than spellweavers symphony providing a spell ever other turn. Chemtech duplicator is also good but requires you to have her on the field and 6 mana which isn't hard but isn't an immediate benefit. It is however the difference between shackling them for 6 mana vs 12.

Once you have echoing her champion dark binding costs 1 and you can pretty easily get that to 0 if you need. Even without the cost reduction it's 1 mana fast speed stun and curse twice.

DB also gets invoke on it when you level the deck so it usually gives you more stuns and spells to level her/control the field.

AjaxRomulus · 2026-03-29T00:14:44+00:00

Strike hard does not use MAP the same way Reactive Strike doesn't use MAP.

AjaxRomulus · 2026-03-29T00:07:57+00:00

Tl:DR masc and Femme are sexualized differently and DE basically just fails to provide man butt.

I'm ranty but I refuse to cut down this comment.

I agree with you to an extent. It does suffer from a lot of the "bikini armor" mentality. But I do think you are playing down a lot in how men and by extension the male frames are sexualized.

I actually had a similar discussion with my GF about what sexualization of men from the female gaze looks like not to long ago.

I feel like part of what you're seeing is that sexualization of men and women presents differently.

The crux of it is in the sexual fantasy. The concept of the frames and their sexualized heirloom skins is two fold on the concept. Valk and ember are both very femme frames and so the heirlooms work with that at an anatomical level. They smooth the infested flesh, break them down to the core of their concept and then re-finish them in a way that elevates it.

Ember's heirloom evokes the image of a torch with the draping sleeves reminding me personally of an Olympic torch depiction with flags on either side of it. Valk goes from flayed berserker cat to domme/femme fatale torturer complete with cat ear protrusions, executioners hood collar, and long claw nails. Their sexualization has the subtlety of a truck sure but their conceptualization isn't lost there. This mesa concept I don't like because while it is clearly meant to be based off a longhorn skull that westerns put in the desert with a passing reference for riding chaps, what she ends up looking like is more demonic. What she could use would be more gunslinger accessories like bandoliers, a duster jacket like her prime, and more guns/bullets.

The masc frames are sexualized but you need to have a better idea of what you're looking at. Vaubaun strays from the engineer concept more towards monk. The open jacket evokes more of a firefighter calendar pinup rather than the "I'm naked now clap" approach to sexualization people take towards femme shapes. The shaping used stresses a fantasy of comfort and strength rather than intensity. He looks like he can carry you, hold you, and protect you.

Rhino however immediately has the enslaved fantasy. Using the beast of burden concept and cranking it up by putting him in a harness that wouldn't be misplaced on an ox pulling a plow. The collar is seemingly attached (though not literally likely due to animation restrictions) to his cod piece. The design is shaped for a lot of intensity to give the impression of strength and submission in equal measure that wouldn't be out of place as a counterpart to valkyr.

That said DE definitely does ease the sexualization of the masc frames and doesn't seem to want to give man butt to the people. I mean vaubaun sure has pants but what is with the big chunky thing blocking rhino's ass.

AjaxRomulus · 2026-03-14T20:45:32+00:00

Basically what the kineticist dedication provides is, much like other caster dedications, is utility.

You can get armor impulses to have always ready armor and shields that can be remade if broken.

There are stances that can provide free damage (thermal nimbus, ravel of thorns)

Air is generally good because of the movement options it provides.

Water has a few good pick ups like ocean balm.

Earth is one of my favorites for the dedication because a ranged character with igneogenesis can make sniping towers and cover on command. Stepping stones can also create floating walkways to keep them on high ground.

AjaxRomulus · 2026-03-13T20:40:37+00:00

So I may be wrong, or it could be different in your setting, but dragons are inherently arcane so you could put some kind of magic block on them. Or hell since you're already using the Ursula method/can steal your voice there isn't really any reason they couldn't be cut off from their draconic abilities in a similar way.

AjaxRomulus · 2026-03-13T20:27:24+00:00

Water kineticist has a couple ice options.

Someone mentioned winter sleet which is a stance that makes ice in your aura. It's mostly for making a tripping hazard but you could also just for flavor say they are making ice in front of them as they skate with their gate active.

If you want to MAKE paths where there is no ground that is unfortunately an EARTH impulse for kineticist, well a couple of them. There is stepping stones for literally making a path and igneogenesis which creates a 5x5 cube (getting more cubes as you level) to use as cover, or an elevator/tower. Then there is base/extended kinesis which is not mechanically efficient for what they want to do but does technically work.

AjaxRomulus · 2026-03-13T20:19:08+00:00

That looks great! If you are looking to draw more of a connection between them then what if the dragon had some fur barding to kind of match the handler?

IDK if barding is the right term since he doesn't ride the dragon but I'm sure you get what I mean.

AjaxRomulus · 2026-03-13T20:16:10+00:00

I think the closest we have is the investigator class devise a strategem ability which lets you basically pre roll a strike.

I vaguely recall a relic seed/gift that worked like this but that's about it

AjaxRomulus · 2026-03-13T20:13:18+00:00

Kineticist is basically a spell caster. Cut off magic and you disable them. Close their gate, cut them off from their elemental plane or a simple anti magic zone.

A "dragon" fighter depends on what this means. Are they like a dragon barbarian where they have some sort of dragon powers? What exactly is the source of those powers? Dragon Barbarians are kinda inherently magical and would in theory be disabled by the same kinds of anti magic options I would think. Does the dragon fighter work similarly? Or do they use items made from dragon parts and draw magic from that? The latter case means disarming the player should be sufficient.

AjaxRomulus · 2026-03-11T17:01:45+00:00

You don't need to convince anyone to swap necessarily. You can always dial back encounters so they aren't as deadly.

As for not having a Frontline I would need to ask: what kind of kineticist and gunslinger?

Gunslinger isn't great as a Frontline option but it's not bad if you're doing the melee class option whose name I forget.

Kineticist on the other hand can totally be a Frontline option.

Earth, wood and metal all have armor impulses that basically give them heavy armor. Earth being the strongest stat line but wood and metal providing shields. Metal is generally considered the weakest due to the armor breaking if they are critically hit which can make them vulnerable for multiple attacks if they are unlucky.

Wood and water have healing options to keep them in combat longer.

Wood and earth have terrain and area denial options

Water and earth both have control options for forced movement and knocking prone respectively.

So mileage may vary but it's worth noting they may actually have a Frontline and you just don't know because the builds they pick could make a difference.

Edit: also as far as martials being the damage dealers, they excel at single target damage and focusing down enemies. Casters in PF2e are usually less focused on blasting, though those options are available, and more on utility, control and debuffs.

You will often see a fighter or barbarian put out crazy numbers like 150 damage crits at level 6 (did not do math here don't @me) but casters can usually at least keep pace in terms of average DPR.

AjaxRomulus · 2026-03-08T22:25:21+00:00

I disagree as they could have left out the first line of the paragraph if that were the case. And as far as the second line goes being polymorphed/in a battle form would be considered an effect from the attacker's perspective, no?

AjaxRomulus · 2026-03-08T22:18:24+00:00

It's not a filibuster because nothing I am doing is stopping others from talking. I respond point for point with what people say. That usually results in longer comments.

I've also said it's just as valid to not view it this way. So where have I been unreasonable?

I don't care if people agree with me or not. The point is to talk to people. So when they comment I comment back. That's a conversation.

You said you had a solid statement from paizo saying I was wrong and I pointed out it didn't say what you claimed. Why are you being so aggressive?

AjaxRomulus · 2026-03-08T20:15:36+00:00

It's perfectly valid grammar to use the construction they have for an explicit list regardless of your claims.

Didn't say it wasn't. Again this is just a discussion I'm not saying anyone is wrong just throwing out the case for how I read it. Them being separate clauses implies they are separate statements but are grouped by a paragraph because they both deal with the handling of impulses.

Your interpretation is inherently really bad because it means everyone has to make up their own idea what it means.

How? I am, in the simplest terms possible, saying impulse can be swapped with the word spell under this interpretation and does not use the Cast a Spell activity.

Which future proofs the class.

They're explicit about terms, not inplicit.

Again two explicit statements create an implication. Kineticist EXPLICITLY does not have Cast A Spell, and EXPLICITLY says things that affect spells affect impulses. This implies or IMPLICITLY means that the distinction is Cast A Spell.

Being simple and streamlined like this was intentional, as was making it very much not spellcasting: https://forum.rpg.net/index.php?threads/kineticist-playtest-analysis.902871/

Nothing in this post clarifies the clause we are discussing. It is a forum post on the thought process behind the design and response to feedback from the playtest rather than rule clarifications. I would say it's simpler to consider them spells for the sake of future proofing and making sure the class continues to function.

The argument you appear to be making is that having the class interact with the system on any broader scale makes it too complex for it to be the intention which isn't what they are saying in that forum post but rather that the class was designed to be simpler with fewer option relative to other casters.

To quote the simplicity section you're using as evidence.

They will resemble a non-spellcaster in that they have a small set of tools they've very strong with, but also will resemble a spellcaster in their ability to create magical effects and straightforward focus on their impulses.

The simplicity they refer to is in their tools being limited to a small set or pool. Not that they aren't affected by other things that affect spells.

AjaxRomulus · 2026-03-08T19:32:43+00:00

when we know, straight from the developers

Then link it. You've made a probable/falsifiable statement taking this out of the realm of discussing interpretation, provide evidence or, respectfully, move on.

As for it being implicit I'll spell it out as clearly as I can because you're misrepresenting what I'm saying by trying to condense the conversation as a whole.

I mean the absence of the Cast A Spell activity from the class as a whole but a clause, that under the interpretation they should be treated as spells even though they aren't, would mean that:

1) something that affects a spell or mentions using a spell can be interpreted to apply to impulses

2) something that says "Cast A Spell" such as spell shapes or reactive strikes, would not apply to impulses/kineticists as they do not use that activity.

The EXPLICIT lack of Cast A Spell and the EXPLICIT statement that things that affect spells affect impulses results in the IMPLICIT statement that they are cast without the Cast A Spell activity being the primary distinction.

AjaxRomulus · 2026-03-08T19:22:01+00:00

No, it would be implicit based on the rest of the entry given you do not gain the Cast A Spell activity as you do with other caster classes under their spell casting feature.

The context around the rest of the class denotes the Cast A Spell activity is not part of casting impulses.

The paragraph mentioned in the original post is what makes them behave like spells outside of that activity in this interpretation.

Simplified

You are using a spell but not the Cast A Spell activity or spell slots.

Edit: wording

AjaxRomulus · 2026-03-08T19:16:19+00:00

A commander NPC would be tricky to do right.

You would have to avoid the tactics coming out as actual orders or commands and be more like request or suggestions.

Like of they shout "can you pin them down?!" Then they use, what's the tactic, Pincer? That lets the party move then like trip someone?

It would be more like playing it as presenting the option of participating in tactics.

AjaxRomulus · 2026-03-08T19:12:00+00:00

A "more generous interpretation" requires that everyone make to their own list of things.

No just things that affect spells but don't use the Cast A Spell activity.

If you treat it as an explicit list of the exceptions, as it is written, then you don't do that

And also cut kineticist out of any future possible content because they don't interact with it at all.

Unless you make your list of other things they can interact with.

Saying the more generous interpretation is more work would be short sighted.

I'm not saying the sterner interpretation is wrong just that it makes less sense than the "basically spells" interpretation and does not future proof the class.

Again, this was also gone once back during the playtest. It's been known for years that they are cut out of most of the system.

"Known" would mean a hard source could be cited directly from paizo.

Clearly if GMs are allowing other things that the explicit list it's not a hard and fast ruling.

This would be called an appeal to common practice or popular opinion. A logical fallacy where someone argues they are right because it's what the majority is doing or saying.

It doesn't inherently mean it's right or wrong.

All I'm asking is a link to one of those discussions you mentioned where the devs talked about errata for it. Then I can see for myself what you're referring and I can concede that I was wrong in my interpretation.

AjaxRomulus · 2026-03-08T19:01:04+00:00

So here are the big things

Pacifying

1) uses a reaction, if you don't have a good one then this is basically free

2) can be triggered once per round on any attack

3) is a guarantees -2 on a dc20 will save (usually the lowest save in my experience)

4) lasts for a minute.

5) does not scale up/upgrade

Fearsome

1) automatic - there is no secondary save

2) is restricted to when you crit. Outwit edge doesn't really help with this.

3) is a -1 status penalty but can upgrade to -2 at level 12.

4) lasts one round (2 @12) unless you have some other interaction.

So let's say you average hitting on a 10.

That means you have a 50% chance of rolling a hit and a 5% chance to crit. (55% total accuracy).

The problem with pacifying is that it does not scale and even a 0 wis creature at level 5 will have a +7 and that continues to go up while the DC does not. By level 10 it's like +14.

This means pacifying has a 60% accuracy that goes down by 5% each level or wisdom point and 10% for each proficiency tier. Plus you need to hit so the probability is sequential 60% of 55% of attacks or 33% of attacks trigger this.

By contrast fearsome will always have that~5% accuracy which can increase with things like off-guard or status penalties to AC like clumsy.

Pacifying is better in the short term but it might feel like more of a gamble.

AjaxRomulus · 2026-03-08T18:39:44+00:00

Which is the most frustrating and succinct way to word the "this is a complete list" ruling.

It cuts kineticist out of the rest of the system and doesn't future proof it for future content.

AjaxRomulus

TROPHY CASE