Wolfbeard's page

Wow I was surprised to see this bubble back to the top :D

So many good ansswers!, as dor Wolfbeard That wont work simply because a teifling is not a humanoid.

For the rest, I've found a 'Method'

Orc blooded sorcerer--->Keen Scent--->Scent of fear(Moster)

Thanks Dustyboy, I was confused by that until I checked out that indeed Tieflings never count as Humanoid. That actually makes them even more powerful in the long run, since they're immune to certain monster effects (like creating spawn from Morgh's etc).

Wolfbeard wrote:

Half (Drow) Elf, taking Racial heritage (Half-Elves qualify for Human feats, don't they?) to get Tiefling "Fiend Sight" twice, second time grants you See in Darkness.

Problem is, this requires a huge feat investment, and it means you won't get it at low levels.

Tiefling abilities are not Human feats. And you really can't take Racial Heritage "Tiefling".

Have you read the Racial Heritage (Human) feat? I don't believe you have. It allows you to choose another humanoid race and qualify as that race for the purpose of taking traits, feats, etc from that race. Since Fiend Sight is a Tiefling racial feat, you'd be able to choose tiefling as your race for Racial Heritage, and then follow that up with taking Fiend Sight twice.

Level 1 - Go Half Elf, take Drow Magic and Drow-Blooded alternate racial traits. Take Racial Heritage: Tiefling as your level 1 feat.
Level 3 - Take Fiend Sight as your level 3 feat.
Level 5 - Take Fiend Sight again as your level 5 feat, you can now see in Supernatural Darkness.

Level 7, 9, 11 and 13 you can take the Half Drow Paragon and Drow Nobility feats.

Half (Drow) Elf, taking Racial heritage (Half-Elves qualify for Human feats, don't they?) to get Tiefling "Fiend Sight" twice, second time grants you See in Darkness.

Problem is, this requires a huge feat investment, and it means you won't get it at low levels.

Barbarian for the best anti-wizard, as mentioned for superstition rage power, but also for Spell Sunder rage power. If you are rage-cycling, you can use this multiple times an encounter and dispel magical effects with your weapon.

There are rage powers that allow you to use Disruptive and Spellbreaker feats while raging.

And the massive HP will help you stand up against high damage blasts, as well.

-Change was needed, but is now too weak and needs revision

Two things:
1. The errata is too harsh on a feat tree that already requires a hefty investment for monks and more so for non-monks. My suggestion would be to add a line to the original crane wing that says something to the effect of "deflecting an attack this way counts as an attack of opportunity" limiting the amount of AoO's the target might have, or "the next attack made by the character who deflects an attack is made at a -2 penalty."

2. Crane Riposte no longer functions UNLESS the specific overrides the general, meaning that Crane Riposte allows the character to make an attack of opportunity even while using the Total Defense action. This is a band-aid on a particularly poor errata, however, and would be best avoided in favor of a better errata for Crane Wing.

Crane Wing used to be one of the vanishingly few feats actually worth being third in a chain. Now it's balanced against skill focus: profession (hobo).

Way to go, Paizo.

That's amazing. Post of the day, right there.

Also, the nerf is way over the top, not to mention breaks the next and final feat in the chain (Can't take AoO in total defense). Who is testing this stuff?

Vivisectionist Alchemist works too.

Just nab the Student of Philosophy and Pragmatic Activator traits.

Is this actually for a Forgotten Realms campaign?

I'm going to have to read up on that BBT, but the group has an alchemist, fighter/barbarian and Inquisitor already (inquisitor is eyeing up Grey Gardener PrC). I don't really want to step on toes.

This isn't for Forgotten Realms, but for a homebrewed version of Golarion where Nethys is in slumber, which is part of the reason there are fewer full casters in existence (the DM decided in order to facilitate the story a bit more, high level casting and item creation has and XP cost - which is purely RP and story driven since as PC's we don't have access to either).

Ravingdork - hilarious. ;)

Ok - Swashbuckler is awesome. If my DM will allow it, this may be the class to do it.

Thanks for all the assistance everyone. I am still going to build a few versions of this character (without the swashbuckler class) and I will post them here when I get the chance (likely later tonight).

Wolfbeard wrote:

Ravingdork wrote:

Seems to me the new Swashbuckler playtest class would be perfect for representing Jarlaxle. It's like a gunslinger, but with swords. It has full base attack bonus, more skills than a fighter, and is Charisma based for its bravado, isn't it?

It even has many of the Charisma-based skills mentioned in this thread.

Where can I see this new class?

It's a free, official Paizo download.

Thanks RD, checking it out now.

Seems to me the new Swashbuckler playtest class would be perfect for representing Jarlaxle. It's like a gunslinger, but with swords. It has full base attack bonus, more skills than a fighter, and is Charisma based for its bravado, isn't it?

It even has many of the Charisma-based skills mentioned in this thread.

Where can I see this new class?

I forgot to mention, since it is a low-magic game (meaning, no full caster classes) we don't have access to craft feats outside of Brew Potion. Which makes Black Market Connections even more attractive.

Playing Jarlaxle is going to be a cash sink.

Buy every odd wonderous item you can and max out Use Magic Device.

Go rogue for the Charisma based checks and and maybe a few levels of fighter, remember he went toe to toe with Ellery in the second Sellswords book and she was pobably a fighter/rogue/assassin.

Exactly, gonna have to pick up as many little trinkets... odds and ends... that sort of thing as I can to try to emulate the bag o' tricks he's always using.

That makes me think of that Rogue Talent Black Market Connections. http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/rogue/rogue-talents/paizo---ro gue-talents/black-market-connections-ex

This post intrigued me so I looked into it myself.

Jarlaxle was extremely deadly with his throwing daggers. Often against flat footed opponents. This would suggest possible sneak attack and clearly high initiative. This would point towards ninja (which would be better than rogue). Flurry of stars (throwing knives) would fit nicely as ninja tricks

Jarlaxle was extremely confident, charismatic and never shut up. He inspired confidence in others with his words and charisma which points toward bard.

Both classes are 3/4 BAB and high skill points.

Jarlaxle was nearly irresistable to females. This would point towards Charming, Fast Talker or Convincing Liar traits.

It is a tough call. Ninja is going to way up his damage where Bard will indicate his high charisma and spellcasting abilities.

In the spirit of Jarlaxle, which gladly let others do the fighting for him (he would unleash Artemis often to do the dirty work), Im leaning towards Bard. Ninja is very much an aggressive go kill class. And a typically shadowy quiet class. You can still do the throwing daggers with bard easy enough, just not as much damage. And TWF technically only requires 1 feat. You do not have to go all the way up the chain.

Jarlaxle the character was built around confidence and bravo. It was only in the sellsword series that he really showed his fighting competence.

The alluring trait would work well too, especially if I went without a casting class to gain access to Arcane Strike to improve damage.

You're right about the fact he would let others do the fighting for him first, but he was a competent fighter, quite deadly in his own right, but why get your hands dirty if you don't have to? ;)

I will consider Ninja over Rogue. It is possible this may require two builds (one Bard/X and another Ninja/Y) for critique.

personally I have never seen anything but jary as a rogue, though I guess fighter could work.. either way. Do what you feel ta be right lol.

I could see adding Rogue as a dip, maybe three levels, but I can't see going any further than that.

BBT - yes indeed... more Drizz't than Drizz't. ;)

I agree that Archaeologist fits the bill pretty well, but can you make a TWF Archaeologist that doesn't just suck up your feats? I've tried a magus before, for a short time, and found them just a little too one-trick-pony (might have been the fact I did the shocking grasp trick).

I do understand the general distaste for rogues around here, especially as a full progression, but what about a dip for a fighter? Maybe 3 levels total, getting some Sneak Attack and another feat via Combat Trick?

Bard (Archaeologist, with Fate's Favored) into Ranger (Guide Archetype) sounds like it has potential as well. I wouldn't be too worried about the loss of spell casting, maybe picking up Versatile Performance and Maestro of the Society trait could make up for the lack of rounds/day on Archaeologist's Luck?

Pathfinder generally penalizes you for multi-classing, but might it be the only way to make the character work?

Rorek - I don't think I want to play a support role so much as a combatant who has a role outside of combat as well. If that is technically defined as support, then maybe Bard is the way to go.

Ah. One of the many Drizzt-likes.

Are you going to be evil?

He's like Drizz't, but interesting. ;)

I'm playing him chaotic neutral. Sort of like a rebellious yet debonair musketeer, a freedom fighter, and a collector of magical trinkets. No real compunction to always choose the "good act", but rather the best suited to his needs and the needs of the mission.

Jarlaxle?

BBT - it's this guy: http://forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/Jarlaxle_Baenre

I find that Bard, Inquisitor, and Alchemist fit all those roles nicely.

You may want to customize them with a variant also.

Jarlaxle is a great character!
I would probably go with a Bard build for him.
I would take Nimble fingers, keen mind as a trait to allow disable device as a class skill too.
I am currently playing a Bard[Archivist] myself and I am really enjoying it. It is my first ever Bard build.

As far as abilities go: Str 13 Dex 15 Con 12 Int 12 Wis 11 Cha 14 plus racial would go to Cha. I would go human or 1/2 elf since Drow is out.
I like human better because I would swap out bonus feat for Focused Study to gain the skill focuses.
I also like the Silvered-tongue racial trait too.

I am curious as to what you come up with, so please post it here.

TY!

Sure! I will post one as soon as I feel I have a good grasp on what to do with him.

And I agree, both Focused Study and Silver-tongued look great. In fact, this game is already underway and I have taken Human - Silver Tongued. The DM is being generous and allowing us the opportunity to swap out aspects of or flat out change the character before our next session. He's a good fella that way. :)

I will review Rogue and Bard and see what I can do with them both. I appreciate the feedback so far everyone.

Hey folks,

I fully understand that this is an overdone concept, but since I usually play a full caster class in every game (either Oracle, Cleric, Wizard or Witch) I am challenging myself to play something different.

So I started thinking about melee builds for an upcoming low-magic campaign my DM decided to try out. We've cut the full-caster classes from availability to PCs, and are making do with a few modified rules to make healing less of an issue without a cleric/oracle.

What I've been trying to build is a competent character in these areas:
1. Solid melee combatant, hopefully a TWF'er since I rarely play Melee and enjoy this type of combat, I'd like to try to fit it in.
2. A good amount of social skills (specifically Bluff, Diplomacy and Sense Motive) and enough Knowledge (Local and Nobility) to get along with pretty much anyone.
3. Use Magic Device should be in the mix, in case we find some good items (Jarlaxle loves his magic items)
4. Stipulations are - Core Rulebook races only (modified via Advanced Race Guide is acceptable). No full caster classes. No 3rd party (without the GM allowing specifics, and even then it is unlikely). Stat array of 15, 14, 13, 12, 12, 11.

I've been toying with Lore Warden, Archaeologist, even Samurai, but I can't seem to come up with a build that won't get destroyed in combat or fall short in social situations. Therefore I do not have a build to post and ask for critiques, but, rather, would like your feedback or advice on how to go about creating a character as dynamic as Jarlaxle.

Thanks in advance.

I believe the Variant Channelling for Tyranny/Slavery can get rid of both for a short duration.