I'm making a Half-Elf Barbarian/Shadowdancer for my first character in the Core Campaign, but it seems a waste to ignore the multitalented racial trait. Is there a class in the Core Rulebook that's at least half decent for a 1 level dip, or should I ignore this trait and stay Barb?
BTW, I am happy with my class choice and have no intention of changing. I want to make a fun character, not an optimized one. Furthermore, I intend to use a Scythe. (I actually wanted to use a Large scythe, but a Medium character can't do that.)
If you are going just from the Core Rulebook then Fighter may be worth for the feat. Outside of core the Unbreakable fighter archetype is always fun for Barabarians.
It's probably not that advantageous to dip with only Core material. Although... for a Barbarian, a level of Cayden Cleric could get you the Chaos and Travel domains, or other cleric goodies. Though if you don't have at least 11/12 wisdom I probably wouldn't bother.
Are Pearls of Power Core material? I don't remember. If they are, then a couple level 1 pearls and 1 level of Cleric can actually get you a few interesting spell abilities - things like being able to cast a 1 minute Enlarge Person or Shield on yourself a couple times a day.
Pearls of Power are core magic items.
I was actually thinking of grabbing a level of Cleric. I may not be the best divine caster ever, but even the ability to use people's wands of CLW would be a bonus. (can even use it on myself after battle)
That said, I was looking at the Death domain to fit my reaper image better.
if not core book. id go with mutant fighter, you get a free combat feat, bab incraese and you get 10 min mutigen that you an cook in 1 hour(and can be repeatedly cooked again and again if you have time) that can be adjusted to your build. +4 to ether str\dex\con with +2 to natural ac. at the cost of -2 to wis\cha\int (not sure which give panilty to which so read that up) it's allways a great dip.(and somewhat a cheat as the mutigen you gain at level 1 replace an armor ability you won't take at level 3 since you only take one level dip ;)
if healing and again ,not core.go with warpriest. ud get the healing you want and weapon focus feat for free and some blessings and stuff.
Not to be rude, but...
This advice might've been helpful if I didn't specifically say that this was for a character for the Core Campaign in my first post...
na, ur not rude. i just didn't know if the core book was a limit you can't pass or not. i find that it is allways usfull to ask the gm for exceptions even if he does state "only core"
as for this limit , how about a level of druid? you get the healing items to use and you get terian and more combat orianted spells you migh like:
Aspect of the Falcon get you a min of combined weapon focus and improved critical for bows and +3 to perception,
Commune with Birds is great ofr getting information even outside of cities, faerie fire is your invisability purge (you just need to ready the spell to hit up to long distance at where ever the enemy is attaacking from,if he's in greater invisability- no save .), longstrider is 1 hour of +10 feet to your speed and Shellelagh gets yo ua nce damaging magic weapon for 1 min.
also you can make goodberies a day ahead and have them ready for healing in quest.
not to mantion an animal companian(a monkey is allways usefull!, or you can try the domains he get instead)
edit
yea. im so stupid. didnt bother looking at the spells i posted. first 2 of which are not core... but longstrider,shelelagh,feaire fire and goodberies are
I was actually thinking of grabbing a level of Cleric. I may not be the best divine caster ever, but even the ability to use people's wands of CLW would be a bonus. (can even use it on myself after battle)
If you go that route, I'd even consider getting your own wand of CLW to have on hand, so you don't have to worry as much about passing one around, or to be able to help speed up recovery for everyone if you get in a situation where you're pressed for time in between fights. Getting a couple of buff spells you can cast on yourself can be helpful too. (Plus, you'll be able to use scrolls for any level 1 spells you want, so not having a lot of spells per day may not make much difference.)
It's really, really nice to have the Guidance and Create Water orisons available, too, if no one in your group has them yet. Playing an oracle right now, I use Guidance literally every day I play, and being able to completely disregard the need to look for water is nice.
Edit: Dipping Cleric will mean a loss of +1 BAB, although the +2 to will save is another point in its favor.
With only the core rulebook stay barbarian. There is no reason to dip even if it gives you a extra hit point.
IDK. The idea of a cleric dip for another 10 foot speed, combined with longstrider wands you can use, and another domain AND another 2 to the willsave... I wouldn´t say it is useless. What do you loose? One BAB and one ragepower. With core only, giving you versality I think it is a good trade!
Do you often fight the same kinds of opponents? If so ranger for favoured enemy could be an option.
I could see me dipping in a lot of ways. Perhaps even a level of rogue for sneak attack. As a shadowdancer you might sneak around enough to make it worth it.
So currently looking at a potential Barbarian 4/Cleric of Pharasma 1/Shadowdancer 7 if I make it to 12. The only thing I worry about is that my feats are locked until 7th, and if I'm knocked unconscious while raging, I'm a dead duck...
Still, seems like a versatile and fun character. A reaper of death on the battlefield!
If I spread my abilities out with 14, 14, 14, 13, 12, 10 (not dropping anything below 10), with a +2 still to add as well...
14
14
16
10
12
13
with +1Cha @ 3rd, and Str or Dex @ 8th and 12th.
I guess my last question before I finish up is +5hp or +5skill for FCB?
Since the character isn't min-maxed, I'd go for a +5 to HP. You'll need a bit of a survivability boost.
I'd probably take a level of Rogue for a bit of Sneak Attack, Trapfinding, plus Stealth as a class skill, since you have to invest in it anyway.
Pharasma was totally who I was going to suggest if you didn't already have a deity in mind for a cleric dip. :)