Should I play a Binder?

[shilsen]

Good luck, and let us know how it goes!

What the king said.

 

[atomn]

Will do! It's been approved, so now on to the fun!!

 

[Jefe Bergenstein]

To me a binder feels like a weak incarnate, since the incarnate has much greater flexibility during the day. The binder pretends to do so, but is basically a vancian caster with fewer options. I was somewhat underwhelmed by the class, particularly after seeing an incarnate rogue in action. The binder suffers from too many abilities that emulate what should have been class features (armor/weapon proficiencies) and some poorly scaling abilities. Many of their abilities on a 5 round timer should be at will or on a d4+1 round timer. Tons of great flavor, so-so mechanics IMO.

Rapid pact making and expel visage should be bonus feats at level 2 and 3 IMO. Anything thats virtually required to play a class should be a class feature.

The armor/weapon thing really is irritating, since the binder will need several suits of armor unless the vestige grants a summoned armor/weapon.

 

[amethal]

Rapid pact making and expel visage should be bonus feats at level 2 and 3 IMO. Anything thats virtually required to play a class should be a class feature.

I've player a binder from 1st level to 10th level (so far) and I don't have either feat. They didn't fit in with my character concept, and I haven't missed them.

My character is a tiefling; playing an outsider is handy as a binder because it gives you martial weapon proficiency - its irritating to be a good archer one day and not be able to shoot straight the next day because you are bound to something other than Leraje.

 

[Jefe Bergenstein]

My character is a tiefling; playing an outsider is handy as a binder because it gives you martial weapon proficiency - its irritating to be a good archer one day and not be able to shoot straight the next day because you are bound to something other than Leraje.

That is handy to avoid having to lug around a golf bag full of weapons because your proficiency keeps changing.

 

[atomn]

I've player a binder from 1st level to 10th level (so far) and I don't have either feat. They didn't fit in with my character concept, and I haven't missed them.

My character is a tiefling; playing an outsider is handy as a binder because it gives you martial weapon proficiency - its irritating to be a good archer one day and not be able to shoot straight the next day because you are bound to something other than Leraje.

What sorts of feats did you take instead?

 

[Driddle]

The binder is a good choice, especially after a little experience when you can add the half-dragon swarm templates.
And then a few levels of bard to top it off.

 

[Kurotowa]

I keep wanting to play a Binder, because of the wonderful flavor. But every time I try to mock up a character I find they're not powerful enough to make up for their lack of flexibility and not flexible enough to make up for their lack of power.

I think that Ehren has the right of it. The Incarnate with their a la cart power selection and on the fly essentia distribution fill the role a hundred times better than the Binder and their clumsy package deals. Which is too bad, because the Incarnate's flavor is a little weak, and the Binder looks like so much fun.