I've had a chance now to read through Ultimate Magic a couple times now. In the process I've also had the opportunity to look at Oracle more closely. (especially now that we have a Battle Oracle in our Second Darkness game.)

Honestly I'm kind of torn as to which is better. I mean I see the benefits of Battle as it pertains to an Oracle to assist in fights...but Metal has some great benefits ESPECIALLY when you consider some of the best weapons in Pathfinder RPG are wholly metal.

So seriously guys, what is your opinion? Is Metal better for a combat oriented Oracle, or is Battle STILL better?

I haven't bought Ultimate Magic yet. But I've always been one to go with what seems fun to role play at the time, rather than what seems to be mechanically superior. So my answer would likely be, whatever appeals to me at the moment I am making the character.

I'd have to read the classes to make a judgement call on what is mechanically superior (if either).

CA,

Oracle is still an oracle. The classes themselves in Ultimate Magic don't make that much different. It's merely their Mysteries that separate them. Battle is one and Metal is the other. If you want to look it over, here:
http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/oracle

Time?

I guess between those two, it really depends on what you are going for conceptually. I think the battle oracle is a little more boring though. It's not that different from the old fashioned buff-cleric. I find the metal oracle a little more interesting.

Mechanically, the battle oracle does have a lot going for it--free stoneskin, the ability to shuck off a variety of "screw the player" effects, and repositioning as an immediate action. It's a nice meal if you like a little tactical richness.

Metal has a lot of the same combat oriented effects like iron skin, a little less of the tactical stuff, and a little more useful outside of combat--like riddle of steel and vision in iron. And I think steel scarf makes a cool image.

Psion/Alan,

Time? Seriously?

*I know you're kidding...but if you're not...*

I'm glad you pointed out stuff to me that I hadn't considered. Buff cleric isn't something I see that much with Battle Oracle...but then again Buff clerics aren't as common as they once were. (Especially if said cleric doesn't feel like spending the feat for heavy armor proficiency.) Mostly my concept comes from the idea that you have a fairly heavy combat oriented guy that does some healing along side some buffing. I guess the thing about Battle Oracle is the fact it is more tactically sound in some ways...but I'm not convinced of its effectiveness in combat compared to Metal.

Time will tell I guess. Unless you seriously think Time Mystery is better than both...

Quote from: Nightfall;466129Psion/Alan,

Time? Seriously?

*I know you're kidding...but if you're not...*

Oh, absolutely. Funny thing is, it's probably not something I might have suggested before I actually started playing PF regularly, and seen good party buffers in play.

The time oracle doesn't make a good frontline fighter as written... too little defense and mobility. But it makes a great party maximizer.

First off, haste is your friend. You have some maxed out barbarian or fighter in your party, piling on extra attacks goes a long way in pathfinder... more than it did in 3.5.

Second, once you have been in a few hairy fights, you realize what a treasure Erase from Time is. It helps erase enemy synergies, and if your companions get pinned down, it takes the pressure off until you can stabilize the situation.

Now to be fair, after you pick up those two Rewind Time, I think the choices are less clear, though some may be more useful depending on the style of game you are in. But nothing there is going to maximize your frontline staying power like the stone/iron skin do.

Well I will agree Time is probably one of the better maximize buffers around. I just never thought of it as a particular frontliner.

In any case you do raise excellent points about Time's usefulness once you get Erase and ability to cast Haste.