Urban Fantasy

A friend of mine really likes urban fantasy stories and we were discussing the best classes to use in them. He was thinking of creating a setting that involves magitech/steampunk, something more akin to the Victorian Era. He really liked Ebberon's magical industrial age and the Warforged and wants to include the latter in some way.

Some classes I suggested for the main "civilized" area included the Alchemist, one of the multitude of Artificers, Gunslingers, Rogues, Urban Rangers and Urban Druids.

I think most of the other classes will be around as well, but I'd like some suggestions on ways to flavor them for a setting based on stories from H.G. Wells, Jules Verne, H.P Lovecraft, Mary Shelly, and Bram Stoker among others.

What suggestions might folks have here for the other classes to make them fit in?

The Cleric, Fighter, Wizard, Magus, Summoner, and Cavalier may need some tweaking, but I'm not sure how.

The Druid, Monk, Sorcerer, and Barbarian would probably work as they are, but I'm not sure. The Oracle and Witch may also be around in certain areas... No Paladins.

The Lore Warden and (if going guns) Trench Fighter archetypes make excellent Fighters for this setting (the first a gentleman adventurer, the second a soldier with serious firearms training).

The Wizard seems to need little modification to be excellent in this setting, assuming magic is still prevalent. Ditto Magus, actually. And Cleric. What about those three seems in need of changing in the first place.

Summoner seems out of place, I agree, but I'm unsure how to fix it.

A Musketeer Luring Cavalier seems like an excellent character, as does a more standard Cavalier as a devoted cavalryman to a slightly lesser degree. More saber and less lance, but still very workable.

Oracle and Witch make very nice 'barbarian' or 'lower class' spellcasters (along with Druids and Sorcerers), contrasting with the more civilized likes of Wizard and Cleric.

You might want to check out the super genius games Anachronistic Advntures line of classes. They are designed to represent modern or modernish characters in a fantasy setting, but they can just as easily be used to represent those characters in their own time period. In particular for a victorian setting, something like the investigator would be great to make a sherlock holmes type.

The Lore Warden and (if going guns) Trench Fighter archetypes make excellent Fighters for this setting (the first a gentleman adventurer, the second a soldier with serious firearms training).

The Wizard seems to need little modification to be excellent in this setting, assuming magic is still prevalent. Ditto Magus, actually. And Cleric. What about those three seems in need of changing in the first place.

Summoner seems out of place, I agree, but I'm unsure how to fix it.

A Musketeer Luring Cavalier seems like an excellent character, as does a more standard Cavalier as a devoted cavalryman to a slightly lesser degree. More saber and less lance, but still very workable.

Oracle and Witch make very nice 'barbarian' or 'lower class' spellcasters (along with Druids and Sorcerers), contrasting with the more civilized likes of Wizard and Cleric.

Thanks for the suggestions! I think with the Magus, Wizard, and Cleric I wasn't sure what sorts of arms and armors they'd have - if any. Particularly I was wondering if Clerics are less likely to be holy warriors and more likely to be proselytizers or similar. I could see Inquisitors replacing the Paladins in this sort of setting.

Summoners could fit in with the more Lovecraftian aspects, perhaps?

GAH! Bad connection ate my post!

Anyways, the Lovecraft twist could work for Summoners, or there is another option; refluff everything about them. Call them Gadgeteers or something similar. There eidolon becomes a clockwork/steam-powered golem of sorts, their summon monster abilities are explained via a gadget that teleports the summons in, and their spells are explained as being effects of various gadgets they've invented.

As far as Magus, Wizard and Cleric go, I agree with the Deadman on this. Not really any need for tweaking. I doubt the Clerics role would change much. Maybe there would be fewer of them, but I don't think the class would completely change in focus. Same for Paladins, really. Inquisitors would likely become more prevalent though.

First thing that came to mind on Summoner. Clockwork animals was the first thing that came to mind. Little steam and magic powered critters of brass and gears. They have magic for sure, but a good portion of the power is syphoned off to power their creations and manipulate the extra dementional spaces they store them in...

For bonus points...

Synthesist Summoner = Mech Pilot.

Other takes would be the clasical Frankenstien/ ReAnimator and the Lovecraftian pact with the great beyond. really the rules do not have to functionally change for any of the above three you just have to re-skin the critters to screwed up tentacle faced dream cats, semi-undead creepy wolves and clock work owls and of course design the Eidolon to suit the theme.

Also...

A true Paladin isnt strictly impossible. I would refrain from having large pubilc organizations of them and stick to Inqusitior for that, but as a unique character it could certainly work...sort of a Rose growing up through the parking lot if you will.

In fact it could be a really cool character arc for a PC to constantly be faced with the depravity and chaos of the rapidly modernizing world and trying to beat it back with just his faith and antiquated armor to protect him.

Assuming in this setting Firearms go from Exotic to Martial perharps Paladins are forbiden to use them along with a general mandate to foresake technological advances in general. A small and secret organization of Holy powered Menonites who use their faith to bring low evil where they find it.

They use torches when gaslights exist, they wear full plate when most are wearing chain and the like, The may even refuse to use things like Airships because a good horse as provided by the gods is all a devout soldier needs.

I posted this a few years ago, and though it's not exactly what you are looking for I thought it might give you a few ideas.

You know, an anime style campaign using straight Pathfinder rules wouldn't be that difficult now that I think about it. After all, the starting age for a Pathfinder character by RAW is 15 +1d4, giving you a range of 16-19, and that could easily be houseruled down a bit. After all, one of the most popular conceits in anime is that the characters are the guardians of some ancient fighting style/magic tradition that's wildly superior to modern methods.

So instead of your Monk, Ninja, Wizard, Paladin, etc...being sent on a quest to storm the nearest dungeon, they're kids trained in these ancient secret fighting arts and sent to be new students at a modern High School to help protect the mystic relic buried deep beneath it.

PC's have to deal with evil demonic creatures trying to infiltrate, challengers from rival high schools, minions of the math teacher who's secretly a worshiper of the Old Ones, and homework. All while keeping the normal students and faculty (low level commoners and experts) from finding out about he "hidden world".

Or something else. There are plenty of manga/anime out there where the characters could be simulated as Pathfinder PC's. Ikkitousen, Ranma 1/2, MxO, Historys Strongest Disciple, etc....

Also, Summoners make perfect "foreign" sorcerers. Someone who is from, or learned, the secret techniques of far-off Araby, Asia, Atlantis, etc....

And Paladins needn't be that rare, the Knights of Malta held the island until 1798 and still exist to this day as a sovereign entity. They retain a military arm and recently returned to Malta in fact.

Give Paladins Touch AC, and just say that they have faith that they won't get hurt, or whatever.

Before you rule out Paladins, read or watch The Dresdin Files. There are also several Animes where clerics with guns act more like paladins. I'm thinking of Chrono Crusade, and the one where the vatican and vampires are having a world war.

Well, you'll have to read the books, Michael doesn't appear in the show.

Magitech/Steampunk? PureSteam (which just got out of beta) and World of Terah seem right up your alley! I'm not sure if PureSteam is out yet, but Terah's for sale right here on the site!

Also, if you want a d20 modern feel, Modern Path and Arcana of the Modern World are good options too. The "Modern Hero" is pretty customizable, with countless subclasses and archetypes to choose from (albeit, all inspired by D20 Modern and D20 Past) Also, this setting's firearms are up to par with D20M, so melee might be hindered if you use these rules. However, I do recommend the class archetypes that can easily "modernize" Pathfinder/D&D classes. For example, the Shadow Slayer Paladin provides an easy method of updating the class.

On the less PF-compatible side of things, I'd recommend mining Ravenloft's Masque of the Red Death for some more gothic-tinged ideas. Not to mention, I'd recommend checking the faux-Victorian world of Planescape as well (in case you want a more extraplanar side of things.)

And, if you have a GOG account, playing Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura is a must!

In Arcana, I never got anywhere because I always played a smart Ogre in a suit. And literally, all I would do is walk up to people, let them insult me, and then choose the sarcastic threatening option. "Oh really, is that what I am?" I never, ever got tired of that.

Well, you'll have to read the books, Michael doesn't appear in the show.

He didn't? Well the Were Ravens in the show were cool.

Re: Dresden....

Show baaaaad..books Gooood!