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Hello Paizo fans. My name is Robert Gresham and over at pathfinderchronicler.com I, and other writers have been developing fan fiction in Golarion for the past few years. We produce the Pathfinder Chronicler Anthology (available for download here, at paizo).
My stories feature a James Bond inspired character named Purvis Wade (named for two scribes of the recent films).
At the up coming Norwescon in Seattle (march 28-31, 2013) there will be some Pathfinder Society games being held, and I have never played in one.
I'd like to play as Purvis Wade.
I'm asking the community out there to help me make his PC.
I've never made a society character before, and as I began I thought, lets see what else the community can come up with.
Depending on what you are wanting this character to do, there are many ways to go about this.
Bard gives you the skills to be dashing and daring while still being able to max out quite a few other spy skills. Bond is a loner, so I would choose an archetype that allows your key performances only count for you.
Inquisitor does much of the same with a bit more emphasis on combat potential.
Rogue/ ninja would be good if the classes weren't so underpowered.
Monk/ martial artist capitalizes on some of the fighting and still gives you some skills to work with, but I wouldn't take it more than a dip.
Urban ranger would be pretty good for a subterfuge focused character, but you lose out on some of the social skills.
So it really depends on what you are looking for.
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I do have him winding up as a Taldoran Lions Blade later in life...
I was thinking fighter/rogue. Urban ranger and Bard are good ideas too.
So, what should he be able to do...
My "Bond" is an exclellent hand to hand fighter and knows a little something about everything. He wears the standard falcatta sword favored among his people. He is fluent in many languages (I'm thinking the trait cosmopolitan). He is a ladies man, but at heart a loner. He is a commander in the Imperial Taldan Navy, but does not hold noble rank and therfore, has no beard. While in the navy acadamy he posted a record for the holding his breath underwater longer than anyone before. Like all Taldans, he is tanned and snobbish, prefering expensive tastes to mundane, though his favorite meal is over easy eggs and black toast with orange marmalade. In his early missions for Taldor, he used a wand of magic missiles, but was upgraded to a pistol recently. He uses an assortment of 'gadgets'(Use magical device?) when required, and are issued to him through the Lions Blade quartermaster.
My biggest issue is making sure that the PC is made Society legal.
Gunslinger 1/Arcane Duelist X? Use a pocket pistol called "Walther PPK".
haha, um.... I think that gun bard thread is influencing me...
Tell us more about Purvis Wade. We know he is inspired by James Bond, but... does he cast spells in your stories? what weapon(s) does he use? Does he have any specific magic items?
Well I think we are looking at a bard build with a dash of monk (master of many styles). Crane and snake style give you plenty of "Martial arts" flavor in combat, while the brawling armor property helps capitalize on it. The dip puts you behind a bit, but it could certainly fit what you are looking. It won't be super optimized, but it will be fun.
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Got to remember that this is a different universe.
Some things he might be awesome at, or even the best at, he won't be in the Golarion universe.
Also, not all the same tactics will work.
This is world of different enemies, different weapons, different societies.
I tell this to everyone trying to build a PC based around a character from a different universe.
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Purvis Wade is firmly rooted in Golarion. He is a Taldan spy, working to protect the intrests of his Imperial Majesty, Stavan III.
In the stories,
(located here: http://www.pathfinderchronicler.com/ and in past issues of Wayfinder)
he hasn't cast spells...yet. I never really built the PC, just wrote an action piece.
He uses a falcatta and a revolver. He wears a mithril shirt under his noble outfit. The society game will be my first, and Wade will need to start at 1st level. Kat...thanks for that thread link. I'm liking the builds there.
Blackblood: he's only 1st level for the build. He won't be the best at anything yet, ;)
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So, the Falcatta is an Exotic weapon so if you want to wield it at 1st level you will need to make Purvis a martial class to start for the +1 BAB prerequisite (probably Fighter or Ranger), or perhaps a Half-Elf (Ancestral Arms: Falcatta).
Half-Elf would let you start as a Ninja/Rogue/Bard and give you extra HP's if you intend to Multi-class.
Could Purvis have some Elven heritage? Choosing Falcatta as your "ancestral" weapon would be good RP - paying homage to your Taldan roots.
well.
Revolvers are going to be hard to use... mostly because most games don't allow them.
I would suggest using a pepperbox or double barreled pistol instead.
Since you are going to be using pistols, i will once again suggest a level of gunslinger. This keeps your chance of misfire low, allows you to clear a jam, gives you a bit of Grit to toy with. Most importantly, it quickly and easily gives you the weapon proficiency you need straight off the bat at level 1.
IF Purvis Wade was a half elf, he could pick up the Falacata proficiency via the alternate racial trait: Ancestral Arms.
After that, I would shoot for whatever class makes you feel like a spy. I would go bard, but rogue, ranger, alchemist, inquisitor, urban druid or even sorcerer could pull it off with a bit of creativity.
Interesting. Do you have a specific link to the stories ? What age/experience-level does he have in the story? Is his background/history already known?
If you want to qualify for the Lion Blade prc that does set some very specific parameters: sneak attack +2d6, inspire competence, 3 feats (deceitful, SF(perform), improved initiative), and some skills (bluff, disguise, stealth, diplomacy , perform acting or singing).
Definitely some multiclassing, default would probably be rogue3/bard3/lionblade x.
It would be a bad idea to add monk to that too. Perhaps a level of gunslinger might be feasible though. Or a fighter or Ranger level or two.
And perhaps there are some innovative ways to get sneak attack or Inspire courage without going bard3/rogue3.
A bard does get spell casting (albeit low level spells) from level 1. Maybe he just didn't use any obvious ones yet?
Half elf would help with falcata proficiency via Ancestral Arms (but he'd be proficient only with that specific heirloom falcata.), multiclassing and nets a free Skill Focus. Pick up human looking feat or simply use disguise skill to pass as a human if his appearance in the stories is human.
Can he see well in the dark? (half elves get lowlight vision).
Firearm proficiency could also be acquired via a Rogue talent.
A revolver really? Those don't even exist officially on Golarion don't they? Is this some kind of super secret tech weapon from Numeria, or do you actually mean a pistol/flintlock?
Now which archetypes to use? Hmmm...
Ps: not sure if the prestige class is Society sanctioned btw.
Though of course the lionblade prestige class does present a very specific skill set and it would be odd if he weren't using those skills in the stories.
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You can find some of the Purvis Wade stories here:
pathfinderchronicler.com
Wayfinder has also printed a couple, they can be found in the downloads here at Paizo.
I have used some disguise aspects in the stories...maybe Bard, with acting as a performance? I love the gunslinger aspect and haven't really tried that build.
Anyone wanna help with stats?
Ooh, I love a challenge (and what little of From Oppara With Love I read when I discovered the chroniclers site so long ago. Unfortunately pathfinder fiction just makes me want to get writing myself, and I never end up finishing any...)
As it stands your main concern is getting proficiency in falcatas and rapiers for first level. Unfortunately the "heirloom weapon" from the Adventurer's Armory got nerfed, but I'm not certain if that book was pathfinder society legal to begin with. Do you mean to shoot for that prestige class? One can be a lion blade without taking that prestige class, after all. I'd personally shoot for a rogue or a straight gunslinger.
So let's look at the gunslinger. It has full BAB (a huge plus), 4+Int skills with Bluff, Intimidate, Knowledge (local), Sleight of Hand and all of the Acrobatics, Climb and Swim bases covered as well. They're proficient in martial weapons and all firearms and are given a starting pistol. Given that the plain bare bones pistol will put you out 1000gp (and is well out of the price range of a first level character), if you don't go gunslinger you may be waiting a while to get your pistol, sadly.
Gunslingers have full BAB, which means they can be pretty mean in melee with just a feat or two, provided one of those feats is Power Attack. Down this route I'd go for Deadly Aim and Power Attack as your feats, a little damage boost that lets you focus less on your STR and DEX and crank more points into INT and CHA, to put the focus on the things you're good at: skills. However, this means no falcata proficiency. If a cutlass wouldn't suffice delay Deadly Aim til third, perhaps. For traits I'd look at things that expand the gunslinger skill list, but I fear this guide is all the help I can give you there. Edit: I forgot the pistolero archetype! It's pretty good.
A rogue (or rogue/fighter) has to tackle things differently. They'll have a hell of a lot of skill points but will have to go to lengths to pick up their weapon proficiencies and will have to do a few scenarios and level up a bit before they can use a falcata and pistol at all, as the exotic weapon feat requires +1 BAB and the firearm training talent requires level 2. A rogue can rely on sneak attack for moderate damage in fights, but needs to get the drop on enemies whenever possible, and probably grab improved intitative. The surprise round and first round are where you'll do most of your damage, before having to flank, fall back, or get creative with positioning and manuevers (dirty trick is great for this, and very bond-esque) to get your sneak attack damage. A Combat Expertise/Dirty Trick start, or Expertise/Improved Initiative would be my reccomendation here.
And I'll lurk the thread if you have any more questions. :)
Page 42 of the Npc codex features a very Sean Connery bond type spy, maybe start there for inspiration?
A meh (pistol + falcata) gunslinger/bard build (in my opinion) is:
Half Elf, 20 point buy
STR 10
DEX 16 (18)
CON 14
INT 12
WIS 8
CHA 14
(more optimized would be 10 INT and 10 WIS, but smart spies are better)
Gunslinger 1/Bard (Arcane Duelist)X
Half Elf: Ancestral Arms: Falcata
1 Point blank Shot
2 Arcane Strike, AD 1
3 Combat Casting, AD 2
3 Precise Shot
5 Rapid Reload
7 Disruptive, AD
7 Rapid Shot
9 Deadly Aim
11 Spellbreaker, AD 10
11 Lingering Performance
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Couple problems with this build: Arcane Duelist takes penalties for casting without their Arcane Bond: which must be a weapon. So, in non combat situations, you are going to have troubles. You also have a low STR, so Falcata is pretty much for Coup De Grace situations. (could swap it out for a +1 agile kukri?)
On the other hand, You get several feats out of this.
Personally, I would pick ONE weapon to focus on: either melee or ranged.
In which case you can use vanilla Bard. You will have less combat feats, but more versatility. You will keep your place as the best skillmonkey in the game, make your allies better, and still be a good combatant on your own. You also won't look like a crazy/threat when casting disguise self via waving around a weapon at the nice court ball.
Same stats... 20 point buy, human
STR 10
DEX 16 (18)
CON 14
INT 12
WIS 8
CHA 14
1 Point Blank Shot (Human Bonus)
1 Precise Shot
3 Rapid Reload
5 Rapid Shot
7 Arcane Strike
9 Deadly Aim
11 Lingering Performance
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Snag a pistol to start with, (battered, of course) trade up for double pistol or pepperbox pistol.
A lot of people will suggest Mysterious Stranger archetype for gunslinger. There are a few reasons i think this is a bad idea.
1.) You lose Quick Clear. At best, you cast Jury-Rig, and your gun works for 1 round/caster level. Mending takes 10 minutes, so is fine out of combat. IN any case, hopefully you have a (very expensive) back up pistol. (Not likely at low levels.)
2.) Though you can add CHA mod as damage bonus to all attacks, Arcane Strike does +1 damage, +1/5 caster levels. you need at least 20 CHA as a mysterious Stranger to match this. Arcane Strike can be done an infinite amount/day. Mysterious Stranger can add CHA mod to damage... CHA mod times /day. Thus, Arcane Strike deals FAR more damage over the course of a day.
3.) Though you key Grit off of CHA... this is a trap. You have AT LEAST 1 grit point no matter how low your WIS is... once you have 14 WIS, you get one extra Grit. Getting it keyed off of CHA gets you 1 (ONE, singular) point more of Grit, if you follow my stat suggestions. At 16 CHA you get 2 more points than have 7-12 WIS.
In all, non of this adds up to being good enough to lose Quick Clear.
Vanilla Gunslinger with Arcane Strike is equal in DPR, greater in damage output over time, and you still have Quick Clear.
(I left off at 11 because thats the feat cutoff for PFS play, and is a good place to start.)
Reactionary is good... armor expert+ mithril kikko or breastplate armor is light with no attack penalties, even though it is technically medium armor without proficiency. Magical Knack will make up for the caster level you lost by taking Gunslinger.
You should start with Gunslinger (more HP).