Wierd idea for a potential character


Advice


Deuce started a thread in Rules, and we uncovered an interesting factoid: You can use Raise Dead on someone with missing body parts just present or loosely attached. He turned that into an odd twist for a PC who'd died due to losing his... brain... and in the end, the party had to install a random brain(!) in the PC's corpse, raised dead, and the halfling rogue ended up with a half-elf Luckbringer's brain. Player's happy, GM's happy, good story.

Now I don't want to get into a rules rehash over whether Raise Dead really could raise someone with a brain other than their own tucked inside their skull. Or, the way I'm spinning it, whether it could raise someone (the brain) tucked into a body other than their own. I'm simply thinking that it's a cool backstory!

Let's say that the daughter of a noble (or king?) got caught up in politics over her level & was betrayed by someone she trusted. One de-braining later, and she's accepting a Raise Dead, not knowing that her brain has been put into the body of a monster of some kind. (I assume that the noble/royal body is being sequestered now that it has the brain of a monster... But that's not my story, or rather, dealing with that is my quest.)

So I'm trying to work out a new character idea, and I'd love suggestions.

The brain:
This is of course what determines my main role in the party and my class as I level up. If I replace my current PC, who's a blasty sorceress, I'd want to keep some artillery power but add healing ability -- our main healer these days is a bard.

I've been making eyes at Arcanist ever since I read the class description, so Arcanist/ White Mage could be an option. Arcane Spell Failure could be a problem, however, and my overall healing abilities would be limited. Being able to cycle arcane spells in to best defeat what I think we'll be facing, yet still cast as a spontaneous caster, is what attracts me.

But maybe instead I should turn to Oracle/ Life, Waves, or Wind. Oracles get to wear up to medium armor, which is a significant consideration for this character, as is the 3/4 BAB. If I really want all-out healer, of course, Life is the only way to go. Waves has a bit of a cold theme, though, and I've been reading about the effectiveness of Rimed Spell. It would give me a good excuse to stock up on blasty, cold spells (in contrast to my blasty, fire spells now). Or Wind... just because flying is fun. All of them would get all the Cure spells (on a spontaneous basis) automatically, and I'd be eligible to take lovely spells like Restoration regardless of Mystery. (I do wish there had been an Ice Mystery!) I'll probably pick the Wasting curse if I take Oracle.

Whether that of an arcanist, oracle, or some third class you all recommend (but not cleric, please), I'm presuming that my brain would carry with it the high-ish mental stats that I'd end up with post-surgery. And my "mental" skills -- those based on INT, WIS, & CHA -- from my first few levels in that class, before "treatment." I'll probably also want the human preferred class bonus to carry over; that is, I'll want this class to "win" as preferred class.

The party is 10th level right now, so I can aim to be at 7th or 8th in this class when I start play, counting time before & after de-braining. Alternatively, the character might come into a different campaign at maybe 2nd in this class.

So: recommendations?

The body:
The big question here is: what monster? It has to be a race allowed for PCs; it could of course be a half-orc, except that I'm playing one now. I'd prefer to lobby for something more exotic. However, if there's a level adjustment, it's best to assume that I'll have to carry it throughout my career, since the party levels up together. I can take into account at least some of the alternate racial traits -- but not, as I said, a preferred class bonus, and I'll have to pick and choose to avoid purely mental ones. I am expecting that my physical stats and the first level or two of physical skills (STR & DEX) from the class that the body took would carry over as "body memory," and other physical racial abilities would as well. Obviously, since I'm not rolling randomly, I'd like a "host" that would play well with my main class.

And that body is going to have built itself up taking a level or two in a martial class. The question is: which one? I'm thinking DEX-based, since I'll be using ranged-touch rather than melee-touch spells. This is going to count as a dip, just a level or two. Two levels of rogue get me 1d6 sneak attack & evasion, which should both count as "muscle memory." Plus a combat-oriented rogue talent, like perhaps Weapon Finesse. While I don't think of barbarian as exactly DEX-based, two levels of fighter would get me two combat feats (again, muscle memory) and a welcome boost to BAB. (Other than that, two levels of both fighter & rogue get me +2 to one save and -1 to the other, along with -1 to Will: a wash.)

I'm hoping you all can recommend a third option, or help me pick between rogue & fighter. (For the record, I don't think I can play brawler or monk effectively.)

At the moment the whole concept is not only nebulous, I have no idea if my GM, or any GM, will approve it. But it's teasing at me... So thanks for your help! (Oh, at this point, I don't need full builds, just guidelines.)


Body could be strix. Distrusted enough in human circles, and flight would definitely useful, especially for a caster.


Well, our GM is not, as far as I am aware, using the Ultimate Race Guide, (homebrew world) so Strix may not be an option. But I wanted to point out that Ranger could be a possibility - they are usually DEX-based, and get medium armor.

Just a quick post before going to work, so not thought out at all.


Sideromancer, thanks for the idea of the Strix!

Debnor, I asked for exotic, knowing I had no guarantees of getting it... Putting together a package and then going to the GM is what I had in mind.

But thank you for mentioning ranger: the class offers the fighter's +1 BAB and +2 on both of a caster's weak saves, for merely the same -1 to Will. And some interesting first-level abilities (favored enemy, track, wild empathy)... that sadly might well be classed as mental. Drat! Still, at 2nd level, I can apparently take Precise Shot while skipping straight over Point-Blank Shot???? That's both of the Fighter combat feats right there. (Okay, I lose the +1 bonus w/in 30 feet; I'm heartbroken.)


Rogue 1 + Accomplished sneak attacker feat + Arcanist 4 = Arcane Trickster. Works great with ranged touch spells too.

If the character was raised recently that sort of synergy is out of course.

Edit: or replace rogue w/snakebite brawler for the BAB.


avr, is there a reason not to just take 2nd level rogue for Evasion, if one wants Arcane Trickster? (Unfortunately, I don't in this case, although it is a cool prestige class.)


Sure. First rule of multiclassing full casters: Thou shalt not sacrifice caster levels. Or if thou must, just the one.

At character level 7 it could make the difference between being able to cast Fly or not, for example.


I've come to the conclusion that oracle (with 3/4 BAB, no arcane spell failure, & full healing) is really what I need. Which mystery is going to wait. So, assume that I follow avr's advice: I pick a body race w/out a level adjustment & dip into a martial class for only 1 level, so that I'm 9th oracle at character level 10th.

Looking at the build w/ eyes for mechanics:

  • Rogue delivers nothing much but minuses. Scratch. (I'm not especially interested in 1d6 sneak attacks -- from range!)
  • Fighter delivers 1 combat feat (call it Point-Blank Shot) -- and +2 Fort.
  • Ranger delivers a +1 Favored Enemy bonus to attack & damage. Maybe I can argue that Perception is in fact physical, in which case the FE bonus for Perception & Sense Motive would make it too, as would Track. What about the FE bonus for Survival? As for Wild Empathy or FE bonuses to Bluff & Knowledge -- no. Just no. In addition, ranger delivers a welcome +2 to both Fort & Reflex. I do dearly regret losing the +1 BAB & the free Precise Shot from a second level of dip!
  • Is there a 4th option?

So please: what would be best? Fighter? Ranger? Can I afford a second level of ranger?

And then there's race. I'm still hoping for some other suggestions -- Strix sounded wonderful, right up until I closed in on oracle. Sadly, that -2 to CHA is punitive.


A 4th option could be a zen archer monk. At first level they can take precise shot as a bonus feat without prereqs. They also get bow proficiencies, and the perfect shot feat with bows, as well as +2 to all saves (tho' no BAB increase). Wis to AC won't matter in armor, not that you'd want to claim it given you just want physical/muscle memory type abilities from the body. Flurry of blows with a bow you might want but won't get in armor either.

Just as an aside a Winter mystery has been produced by Paizo. It's better for blasting with cold.

Edit: some races with worrying looks and a cha bonus are drow, fetchlings, nagaji and vishkanya. Fetchlings may be the best mechanically.


Zen archer is tasty... I hadn't ever looked at Perfect Strike/ Shot!
However, they must be lawful. <sigh!>

Fetchlings:
...are very, very interesting... We've already encountered some (in a negative way, of course). It could make for a great RP session when my new character meets up with the party... assuming I survive it! LOL

Looking at racial abilities, I have to rephrase my recipe for integration: I'll be taking the body's stat bonuses/penalties, since the human ones are so amorphous. These (+2 DEX, +2 CHA, -2 WIS) fit well with where I'm taking the character. On top of that, the two(!) forms of vision in darkness would definitely carry over, as would Shadow Blending (50% miss chance instead of 20% in dim light). Shadowy Resistance is weird -- how does an affinity for shadows grant both cold & electrical resistance? I'm not complaining; it's clearly physical, and useful!

The spell-likes do look somewhat iffy. Disguise Self is okay, and I can take Displacement in exchange for Shadow-walk (w/ Gloom Shimmer). That leaves Plane Shift as the only odd-guy out. Likewise, Skilled gives me a +2 racial bonus on Stealth, for sure, but not on Knowledge (planes) skill. Oh well. <shrug>


Fetchlings are such a great package and such a good fit with the campaign that I never even got to looking at your other choices! Thank you so much. My only real question is, can you really get all that for GM approval and no level adjustment??? It doesn't seem right...

PS: I searched the PRD to no avail for a Winter Mystery. Oh. It's in d20SRD, because it's from a Player Companion. No chance at all. <sigh some more> It's all right; I've talked myself into a Life Oracle who specializes in Necromancy spells (largely wielded with Reach Spell). Seems truly thematic!

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