Jedi or Sith in Pathfinder?


Pathfinder First Edition General Discussion


I know this is a topic that has been done many times over, but with many of the major Pathfinder resources now out there, I want your thoughts.

As Jedi & Sith were recruited from all races, I am not going to focus that aspect, though opinions will be taken under consideration.

This is a "How would you build it?" thread. Please include archetypes, PrC, or any other ideas that you may have.

Also, how to handle the lightsaber?

Liberty's Edge

A lightsaber is obviously a brilliant energy weapon, maybe with something else to make it concealable.

As a class...I'd be inclined to say Oracle with a custom Mystery seems solid if designing this as a GM, and doable even otherwise. Inquisitor is also a solid choice, especially with the right Domain/Inquisition.


In my games it's basically just Jedi = tweaked Paladins and Sith = tweaked anti-Paladins.

Liberty's Edge

Make lightsaber a Weapon Finesse using weapon (for all intents and purposes, and Aldori Dueling sword (brilliant energy/conealment). They would be Free Hand Fighters with the Aldori feat chain (+2 AC, can WF) HIGH dex. Very high. From there, transmuter wizard, barred schools conjuration and universal. Mage hand cantrip for sure.


Pick up the Star Wars D20 system and tweak from there. I adapt the noble class from it all the time. The Jedi systems should work fairly well.


That's the cop out answer. I want to know if and how it is possible under Pathfinder rules. NO 3rd PARTY!!!

Liberty's Edge

I have a guy at my Lodge who playtested it. I'll ask him what he thinks in PF terms. In July.


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Brilliant energy katana for lightsaber and the kensai archetype with a focus on force spells and enhancement arcanas.


Craig Frankum wrote:
That's the cop out answer. I want to know if and how it is possible under Pathfinder rules. NO 3rd PARTY!!!

Sorry, only skimmed your OP. Seriously though, the system is arcane, but works decent well.

As to pathfinder only:

Lightsabers are clearly brilliant weapons.

I'd look at the Magus as a class with a focus on Mage Hand, Unseen Servant, buff spells and I'd let them add some charm spells to their list.

Throw in some Monk dips for the unarmoured AC, arrow deflection and crane style for the "can't be hit" factor. Fluff it so the weapon does the deflecting.


Deflect arrows as a bonus feat somewhere that also can deflect firearms as well as some ranged spells (with some obvious limitations).

Also would look at giving them a throwing/returning on their weapon so they can throw their lightsaber.


What about a Monk Jedi archetype? The lightsaber could be a new monk weapon. I think a lot of what the Monk can do now is Jedi related.


lucky7 wrote:
Make lightsaber a Weapon Finesse using weapon (for all intents and purposes, and Aldori Dueling sword (brilliant energy/conealment). They would be Free Hand Fighters with the Aldori feat chain (+2 AC, can WF) HIGH dex. Very high. From there, transmuter wizard, barred schools conjuration and universal. Mage hand cantrip for sure.

Where do I find the Aldori Dueling sword?


Dr. Calvin Murgunstrumm wrote:
Throw in some Monk dips for the unarmoured AC, arrow deflection and crane style for the "can't be hit" factor. Fluff it so the weapon does the deflecting.

Even though Crane Style is a defensive fighting feat, would you use an archetype (Master of Many Styles) to achieve that or to gain the higher feats in the tree quicker?


My 'Jedi' monk build is a Monk of the Lotus/Qinggong. (But aren't all monks Qinggong these days?)

Going Crane Style, deflect arrows, Combat Reflexes and weapon Focus. Just reached level 4 in PFS and took hydraulic push. Its a wet force push basically. He will also take hydraulic torrent. Maxing out diplomacy (even with 8 cha)

The monk's wisdom armour has always seemed perfect for Jedi. As its a kind of Dodge from intuition move. They also gain disease immunity, high jump, bonus vs enchantment and lead a disciplined life.

For my lightsaber, I am using a temple sword.

I don't really see Jedi as LG... more like LN. Paladins also wear too much armour.

just my 2 cents.


Monk seems to be general consensus. Is magus or a dip in magus a viable option?

Shadow Lodge

Kensai Magus is very viable as a Jedi - they don't wear armour and get Int to AC and some other reflexes-based abilities (Int to Initiative, AoO while flat-footed, Int to number of AoO, never surprised at level 19).

I don't know that I would dip Magus since your CL will be low. Dipping Monk on a mostly Kensai Magus Jedi might be better. Two levels of Master of Many Styles will give you two Crane Style feats and Evasion.


Play a Psychic Warrior from UP. Done, you have a Jedi.


truthfully I think this will largely depend on how deep in the star wars lore u want to go. there were multiple different kinds of both jedi and sith spread across thousands of years, and the more recent in history u examine the weaker they are. if u seek jedi that are mostly straight saber swinging guys then for the most part just go with a monk weapon adept focusing on weapon finesse.

if u go back to times when knowledge of the force was equally important as the lightsaber, then a magus would be the best starting place in my mind.

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder PF Special Edition, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
Renegadeshepherd wrote:

truthfully I think this will largely depend on how deep in the star wars lore u want to go. there were multiple different kinds of both jedi and sith spread across thousands of years, and the more recent in history u examine the weaker they are. if u seek jedi that are mostly straight saber swinging guys then for the most part just go with a monk weapon adept focusing on weapon finesse.

if u go back to times when knowledge of the force was equally important as the lightsaber, then a magus would be the best starting place in my mind.

OP did not have to be that rude to one of the other posters. Though. even with all of this compared to using the actual D20 rules, you're still hammering square pegs into round holes.

The problem is, it's not just Jedi and Sith, it's the whole freaking world of Star Wars. Just using the two and dumping them into a fantasy d20 world is freakish and asinine, because they are a lousy fit. And the other aspects of the Star Wars world simply can't be made to fit into a game system designed around swords and bear skins.


I always thought hexcrafter and possibly white-haired witch would be fun, with the prehensile hair stuff refluffed as telekinetic abilities.


lucky7 wrote:
Make lightsaber a Weapon Finesse using weapon (for all intents and purposes, and Aldori Dueling sword (brilliant energy/conealment). They would be Free Hand Fighters with the Aldori feat chain (+2 AC, can WF) HIGH dex. Very high. From there, transmuter wizard, barred schools conjuration and universal. Mage hand cantrip for sure.

Brilliant energy would be great but for one thing... a lightsaber doesn't so much pass through nonliving matter as it slices through it with equal ease... so brilliant energy doesn't work because it doesn't affect undead or constructs. A lightsaber would.


Craig Frankum wrote:
That's the cop out answer. I want to know if and how it is possible under Pathfinder rules. NO 3rd PARTY!!!

No. It's not a cop out. It's the smart answer. How would you make a d20 game for a movie/book series that already has a d20 game... Ta-Da!

That said, the third party I'd most likely recommend because it would do an excellent job...

Yora wrote:
Play a Psychic Warrior from UP. Done, you have a Jedi.

... or a psion. Sith could be wilders thematically, since their emotions drive them.

AbsolutGrndZer0 wrote:
Brilliant energy would be great but for one thing... a lightsaber doesn't so much pass through nonliving matter as it slices through it with equal ease... so brilliant energy doesn't work because it doesn't affect undead or constructs. A lightsaber would.

Agreed.

I'd recommend casters of some sort. Mind reading, telekinesis, healing, precognition... you'd want to be able to use the powers a lot, which makes limited spell slots less desirable... Sorcerer would be easiest in that respect, but misses some spells...

I will think on it.


Worship Sarenre be a bard

(in gods and magic bards that worship sarenre get flame blade).

Use meta magic to boost it.

Good skills, Great knowledge checks, charismatic, can do melee, spells (expeditious retreat, gallant inspiration, suggestion, feather fall, cure light wounds, clairvoyance, detect thoughts, silent image, heroism, dance of 100 cuts, elocation, acute senses, glibness, haste, open/close, sonic thrust.

Bards work really well as jedi.

Also could make some neverending

FLAME FOUNTAIN FIREWORK
Price 100 gp; Weight —
This hollow metal or wooden tube contains slow-burning powder. When you light the fuse (a move action), it creates a 3-foot-long, blazing fountain of red-hot fiery sparks. You wield this fountain of sparks as if it were a heavy mace. Attacks with the fountain are melee touch attacks. The fountain deals 1d8 points of fire damage (your Strength modifier does not apply to the damage).

The fountain sheds light as a torch and can ignite combustible materials such as parchment, straw, dry sticks, and cloth. Once ignited, it lasts for 1 minute. If extinguished before this time, the remaining duration is wasted. Crafting this item is a DC 25 Craft (alchemy) check.

http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/ultimateEquipment/gear/alchemicalWeapons .html


Would Darth Sidious be a mythic Sith?


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Something I threw at my players awhile back:

Darth Maul CR 19
XP 204,800
Demon-Spawn Tiefling Eldritch Knight 10/Fighter 1/Sorcerer 9
CE Medium outsider (native)
Init +10; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +2
________________________________________
Defense
________________________________________
AC 34, touch 21, flat-footed 28 (+8 armor, +6 Dex, +5 natural, +5 deflection)
hp 213 (11d10+9d6+49)
Fort +17, Ref +17, Will +14; +4 vs. poison
Resist cold 5, electricity 10, fire 5
________________________________________
Offense
________________________________________
Speed 30 ft.
Melee +1 brilliant energy, spell storing two-bladed sword +23/+18/+13 (1d8+10/1d8+10/17-20)
Sorcerer Spells Known (CL 18th; concentration +28):
9th (4/day) weird (DC 29)
8th (6/day) mind blank, power word stun
7th (7/day) deflection, resonating word (DC 29), spell turning
6th (8/day) chain lightning (DC 26), disintegrate (DC 28), mass suggestion (DC 26)
5th (8/day) fickle winds, hold monster (DC 25), telekinesis, waves of fatigue
4th (8/day) charm monster (DC 24), crushing despair (DC 24), fear (DC 24), greater false life, stoneskin
3rd (8/day) greater magic weapon, haste, heroism, rage, suggestion (DC 23)
2nd (9/day) bear's endurance, blur, bull's strength, detect thoughts (DC 22), ghoul touch (DC 22), resist energy
1st (9/day) cause fear (DC 21), feather fall (DC 23), jump, shield, shocking grasp, true strike
0 (at will) arcane mark, detect magic, ghost sound (DC 20), mage hand, open/close (DC 22), prestidigitation (DC 20), read magic, resistance, spark (DC 20)
________________________________________
Statistics
________________________________________
Str 24, Dex 22, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 28
Base Atk +15; CMB +22; CMD 43
Feats Combat Casting, Double Slice, Empower Spell, Eschew Materials, Exotic Weapon Proficiency (two-bladed sword), Greater Spell Focus (transmutation), Greater Two-weapon Fighting, Greater Weapon Focus (two-bladed sword), Improved Critical (two-bladed sword), Improved Initiative, Improved Two-weapon Fighting, Spell Focus (transmutation), Spontaneous Metafocus (telekinesis), Two-weapon Fighting, Weapon Focus (two-bladed sword), Weapon Specialization (two-bladed sword)
Skills Spellcraft +23, Stealth +26
Languages Abyssal, Common
SQ bloodlines (abyssal), fiendish sorcery, spell critical
Gear +1 brilliant energy, spell storing two-bladed sword, amulet of natural armor +5, belt of physical might (str & dex +6), bracers of armor +8, cloak of resistance +5, headband of alluring charisma +6, page of spell knowledge (vampiric touch), ring of protection +5
________________________________________
Special Abilities
________________________________________
Fiendish Sorcery Tiefling sorcerers with the Abyssal or Infernal bloodline treat their Charisma score as 2 points higher for all sorcerer class abilities.

Lantern Lodge

Something that I've been working on for PFS goes like this:
Eldritch scion magus. 1/2 elf for arcane training.
Flamboyant arcana. Precise strike deed.
Wand of flame blade. It's not a stretch to find that a wand of flame blade would allow the blade to extend from it instead of from one's hand. In fact Paizo did this in dawn of the scarlet sun.

I picked up a toppling rod, this is so that I can use a toppling magic missile to knock several enemies prone.

I love the bard idea, in my opinion a bard would represent more of the consular skill set style, more mind tricks and things, while the magus is more of the guardian skill set.

Liberty's Edge

Well, after Occult Adventures, I'm pretty sure the way you do this is with Kineticist. Kinetic Blade isn't quite a lightsaber, but it might as well be.

And a telekineticist gets a lot of other Jedi tricks as well. Gestalt with something or go VMC Wizard (Diviner) and you're definitely getting there.

Silver Crusade

Id Rager also makes for a nice Sith.


We've used the laser torch from the Technology guide before. Touch attack, bypasses hardness. Only real issue is fire resistance.
Monks are great. Most classes with a little casting can work I think, depending on spell selection. I liked a mesmerist for force "suggestions".

Silver Crusade

Pathfinder #100 also gives stats for a straight up lightsaber style sword.


Craig Frankum wrote:

I know this is a topic that has been done many times over, but with many of the major Pathfinder resources now out there, I want your thoughts.

As Jedi & Sith were recruited from all races, I am not going to focus that aspect, though opinions will be taken under consideration.

This is a "How would you build it?" thread. Please include archetypes, PrC, or any other ideas that you may have.

Also, how to handle the lightsaber?

Aether & Fire Kineticist would be pretty good for a sith.

You could go the kinetic blade route or brilliant energy weapon as mentioned.


Ninja in the Rye wrote:
In my games it's basically just Jedi = tweaked Paladins and Sith = tweaked anti-Paladins.

Jedi are explicitly not lawful good, and sith are not chaotic.

It's more like true neutral order with members of all non-evil alignments whose spellcasting may forcibly change their alignment to evil while maintaining their law-chaos axis alignment.

In terms of pathfinder they would be acolytes of Pharasma (with a healthy dose of Nethys and Irori) while the Sith would be an extremist cult of Nethys who only cares about the raw power of magic.


back in 3.5 mongoose publishing made the set of "The Quintessential X" where X was placed with a class. their "The Quintessential Monk II" which was suited for 3.5 had the "ki swordsman" prestige class fro monks. which was as close to a Jedi as i could have found. had steep requirement to enter. most could only get in after level 10 and do 11-20 as levels in that class. among the main abilities it had was a class ability to pull out an energy blade and flurry and such with it. it grow in power. and the level 8 upgrade actually made it a better suit to a lightsaber then a brilliant weapon, as a brilliant weapon won't harm undead\constructs and this one had:

spoiler:
At 8th level, the sword gains the brilliant energy special ability. Note that the blade is composed of pure ki energy, which is far more potent than the magical energy that a brilliant energy blade is normally composed from. The sword can affect undead, constructs and objects normally. In all other respects, the blade is treated exactly the same as a magical weapon with the brilliant energy ability
.

Silver Crusade

Kineticist would be a good fit, personally I go with the Jedi as Fighters/Universalist Wizards/Eldritch Knights, Hand of the Apprentice is throwing the lightsaber, adamantine weapons for lightsabers, just reflavor it as a crystal weapon that LOOKS like pure energy.


Shimesen wrote:
Brilliant energy katana for lightsaber and the kensai archetype with a focus on force spells and enhancement arcanas.

Use the Plasma Blade form Pathfinder AP 100. That's much more like a light sabre than anything else.

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