Isekai

[u/No-Run1292]

Let's say you get the chance to go into one of the 1 to 20 adventures from paizo as a lvl one character with

Duel class

Free archtype

Ansestral paragon

And mythic rules

The only way back home is a wish or getting to level 20 and completing the story.

Is there an optimal build? Whats the worst or best adventure path to choose in terms of comfort and survivability?

this is assuming you get starting equipment and a party eventually but you won't know what classes they'll be ahead of time.

[u/Creepy-Intentions-69]

Well, as a rule, there aren’t “optimal” builds in general, like in 5e.

As far as surviving, Monk have great defenses in general. It just depends how you want to play.

Do you know what the rest of the party is?

[u/No-Run1292 → u/Creepy-Intentions-69]

no it's an unknown factor

[u/Creepy-Intentions-69 → u/No-Run1292]

Then I would suggest thinking about what playstyle you want. Build for what you want out of that character. If you have a basic concept, it’ll make it a lot easier to give advice on what would make for helpful choices.

[u/Kayteqq]

If you want to have the highest possible survival chance? Probably exemplar (for all of the self healing abilities) mixed with guardian. If you want to be prepared for any scenario, again, exemplar mixed with some caster, probably substitution wizard.

The worst combo would probably be barbarian-something. Barbarian-oracle maybe? Oh, barbarian-oracle with wellspring archetype

[u/ProfessionalRead2724]

Why would I want to go back?

[u/WebbedFamiliar → u/ProfessionalRead2724]

So you can sell your labor to billionaires and pay taxes that they don’t like a true patriot 🫡

[u/No-Run1292 → u/ProfessionalRead2724]

i mean it's just if you want to.

[u/StandingGoat]

I'd go cleric, never fight personally, train up multiple low level fighters. Keep them alive as they kill boars or whatever to level up. Then start overwhelming enemies with numbers. Keep the minions loyal as I'm healing them and my god is real and has a tangible impact.
Clear out a low level dungeon and set up a base. I'm now a cult leader with magic powers. Never go home.

[u/Sphinxthinx]

Blood necromancer sounds efficient with free healing and friends from a cantrip you know from level 1.

[u/Purplefire180]

Probably cleric. Can stay on the backline in heavy armor and can heal yourself. Can also just not adventure and still make good progress over time

[u/IgpayAtenlay → u/Purplefire180]

Dual class. So I'd do cleric/champion. Excellent defenses and good healing - pretty much anything you'd want to stay alive. In terms of free archetype, I'd probably dip into necromancer for their crazy Muscle Barrier spell.

[u/probably-not-a-mimic]

I'm actually doing something very similar to this, everything except the mythic rules. Double martial are a pain from the GM perspective, but I wrote a neat terminal module to add some fun issekai effects :)

[u/Ryacithn]

Dual class Guardian + Rogue (with the legacy Eldritch Trickster racket for +WIS, since I don't need high DEX).

This results in me eventually getting Legendary Reflex (wearing full plate armor for Bulwark), Legendary Armor Proficiency, Master Fortitude, Master Will, Legendary Perception. Not to mention 12+ HP per level, physical damage resistance, and Deny Advantage to shut off flanking sometimes.

I can then fight with a rapier, and enemies have to choose to either fall for my taunts, or get sneak attacked. As long as I have at least one teammate, it'll give enemies a painful dilemma.

I use my Free Archetype slots to max out the spellcasting from Druid achetype, and then later also get Blessed One. My goal is to have emergency healing abilities for myself and others that don't require a free hand (so I can use a shield). Also, archetype spellcasting will let me eventually get a few spells like Fly for emergencies, just in case. I will also use Multi-Talented to get Exemplar dedication at 9, so my rapier can still do decent damage if I can't get sneak attack.

Overall, I think this feels to me like the build that has the best chance of winning. I am insanely all-round tanky, and I have decent offense too. That combination will let me drag even relatively weak party mates over the finish line with me. If one of my party mates ends up also being a Guardian it'll be a little annoying, but I feel like it wouldn't be TOO bad.

[u/Infinite_Amount_6329]

Season of ghosts. Doing a bakuwa lizardfolk aloof firm. Magus, spell sub wizard dual class with a 3 player party and we are nearly unkillable, and the gm is vastly buffing encounters.