Recommendations for a sixth character

Here's the rest of the party. My apologies for not having full builds available. We are currently at 4th level.

*URogue, human: Max dex, TWF with short swords.
*Wizard (Universalist),Custom race.
*Inquisitor/Investigator, human: Really good skill and knowledge checks.
*Fighter1/Cleric3, human: Better at Charisma-based checks than the rest of us.
*Inquisitor, human: Archery build

Depends on where you will adventure, but I would go with one of the wilderness classes for your group. Barbarian, Bloodrager, Druid, Hunter, Ranger. If it is an urban adventure that would change the suggestions.

BARD!!!!!

Not personal Buffs but GROUP buffs. Can pick up the CHA based stuff and make all your damage dealers better. Saves the wizard on Haste. Tho I do worry about the groups front lines not having a full BaB class and nothing over a d8 HD classes (other than the single Fighter dip on the Cleric)

Another Option would be to To roll a True Frontliner for the Rogue and Investigator to flank with. The Cleric may be designed to do some damage but we all know he will be spending some of his turns Healing because all those d8 HD classes taking a beating. He still can get AoO with reach weapon but he will be denied Full attacks due to needing to heal someone that goes down. Any chance to push a Bloodrager I will take....and It would def. hold the frontlines.

I am really concerned about a Inquisitor/Investigator Multi-class just falling dead and not hitting as much as he should. So giving him flank or buffing him up more with a bard seems to be the Best options.

Bard or Combat Maneuver Offense).

Get someone that either team buffs the party (bard or the skald which is a bard that gives everyone barbarian rage) or does damage in a different way.

CMB can be fun. A trip focused monk can eventually deal tons of damage with getting 2 AoO per tripped foe and giving 1 AoO to all his allies around him.

Looks like your bases are fairly well covered, I'm inclined to suggest maybe a witch? They kind of bring a different texture to arcane magic than a wizard. Otherwise a controller druid might not hurt?

If not then I think a full BAB melee character wouldn't be bad, you currently only have a Dex based character and a mostly cleric in melee who is apparently tuned towards Cha. Some of the more meaty melee creatures of certain CR might be able to punch through that frontline.
Although I guess the investigator can do melee too?

you know its kinda annoying that you don't get Alchemists ranged Aoe might be something you're missing.

Took me a while to find it, but someone linked me to this a while ago, and it really helps find the weak spots in your party. Entering your party as Rogue, Wizard, Investigator, Cleric, Inquisitor, the result is that you need a frontliner, and I'd agree. You don't have someone who's able to hold the front line for a bit. Damage output is, as you said, already covered, but someone who can stand between the enemies and the back-row party would be ideal. A Paladin for some extra social skills (mainly Diplomacy), or any full-BAB class, really.

In all honesty, the classes don't really tell us much. How they various characters are built and what positions they are trying to fill in combat is critical to making a choice.

If, for example, the rogue, fighter/cleric and inquisitor/investigator are all really happy at being the front line and primarily are being melee strikers, than a full BAB guy probably won't help out all that much and might end up just getting in the way (sometimes getting more that 2 or 3 characters into the front lines can be a challenge.) On the other hand, if the Cleric and Investigator a more interested in staying back, casting support and or ranged spells and the poor TWF Rogue is desperate for a flank partner such a character could be hugely beneficial.

Bard, as others have mentioned is a pretty solid choice in any large party, and if your cleric is your best CHR guy then the party could probably use the social skills you will have. It is pretty easy to build it as primarily support (i.e. mostly you use bard song and cast spells) or as split support and striker (bard song and attacks, spells only rarely in combat) and the striker portion can be either melee or ranged, depended on what is most needed for the group. A bard with good tumbling that focused on getting into position so the rogue could full attack with flank each turn and using bard song could add a huge amount of damage to what the group did even if he never made an attack roll.

I would suggest a bard, as well. The group buffs are highly valuable. And as far as there not being a full BAB fighter or other martial in the group isn't a problem as long as you tailor the encounters to fit the party.

bloodrager will suit you

isn't a problem as long as you tailor the encounters to fit the party.

Him not being the GM he has no control over that. Some GMs do not like to tailor fights to suit groups and run the adventures as is.

So I would not look for that to happen. Prepare for the worst, Hope for the Best....Be Prepared....I'd rather be a Warrior in a Garden, than a Gardener in a war. Or Whatever else your preferred motto for preparedness is.

bloodrager will suit you

Love it...Bloodrager will work anywhere..Love the class.

I missed the part where he wasn't the GM.

Thanks for all the suggestions!

Let me throw out a little more background.

We're a fairly experienced group, playing together every two weeks for three or four years now. The group is all men in their forties or older, with various levels of D&D experience, some going back to the original box set. I'm the only regular PFS player and the only one who frequents the forums here.

We just started this campaign, with a 'new' GM (he's part of the group from day one, just hasn't run a campaign for this bunch before). We're still getting a feel for how he likes to run things. We thought it was going to be heavily nautical, but that's not as clear now.

Our current #6 character is indeed a front-liner as several suggested, but his player is frustrated because things have been rather combat-lite so far and his lack of skills keeps him from contributing meaningfully in too many situations. To some extent it's build issues, but he's also struggling with the RP aspect. He's somewhat nerfed in both respects if we aren't at sea.

We *will* talk about this with the GM in a friendly and adult fashion, have no fear. In the meantime I appreciate hearing your ideas, which have echoed some of what the other guy and I discussed. If you have more, I'm all ears!

bloodrager or barbarian i would be great as it seems the party doesnt have a frontline

For a full bab martial that can be happy outside of combat I'd look at the unchained monk, 4 skills per level and the wisdom focus allows them to play around outside of combat too.

They also don't exactly 'need' any skills in particular.

For a full bab martial that can be happy outside of combat I'd look at the unchained monk, 4 skills per level and the wisdom focus allows them to play around outside of combat too.

They also don't exactly 'need' any skills in particular.

if you do end up going unchained monk see if you can talk your dm into houseruling that they get good will saves they usualy will if they dont already.

If you want a frontliner with skills, I'd suggest Slayer or Ranger. Both d10 hit dice, 6 skill points per level. Slayer can be slightly more social (has Bluff as class skill, I'm sure there are more archetypes that give Diplomacy and stuff. There's the Dandy Ranger, but he feels too niche) and has a little more flexibility, while Ranger would excel once he hits Favored Terrain (Water).

Chromantic Durgon <3 wrote:

For a full bab martial that can be happy outside of combat I'd look at the unchained monk, 4 skills per level and the wisdom focus allows them to play around outside of combat too.

They also don't exactly 'need' any skills in particular.

if you do end up going unchained monk see if you can talk your dm into houseruling that they get good will saves they usualy will if they dont already.

I really don't see the need for boosting Will as well. Yeah, it sucks that they lost it, but you're Wisdom-based anyway, you're probably rocking a +2 or +3 at level 1 anyway. Your Will save will only be lagging slightly behind your other saves. That's not that bad, IMHO.

Lady-J wrote:

Chromantic Durgon <3 wrote:

For a full bab martial that can be happy outside of combat I'd look at the unchained monk, 4 skills per level and the wisdom focus allows them to play around outside of combat too.

They also don't exactly 'need' any skills in particular.

if you do end up going unchained monk see if you can talk your dm into houseruling that they get good will saves they usualy will if they dont already.

I really don't see the need for boosting Will as well. Yeah, it sucks that they lost it, but you're Wisdom-based anyway, you're probably rocking a +2 or +3 at level 1 anyway. Your Will save will only be lagging slightly behind your other saves. That's not that bad, IMHO.

about 90% of dms ive played with take one look at the fact unchained monks dont have good will saves and say "thats stupid, im house ruling that unchained monks get good will saves"

That doesn't really answer why they need it. Those knee jerk reactions DMs have are normally based on previous editions.

They don't need good will saves really.

That doesn't really answer why they need it. Those knee jerk reactions DMs have are normally based on previous editions.

They don't need good will saves really.

thematicly monks have good will saves tho if any of the saves would be at poor progresion i would say reflex would make the most sence

They have good will saves anyway though, because they're wisdom focused classes. My unmonk's saves ends up at Ref - 26 Will - 20 Fort - 23 and with still mind and eventually flawless mind fort is really a weaker save.

How does a martial artist having poor reflexes make any more sense than a monk being weak willed? Their saves are fine but if I was to change something I'd swap their Fort and Will.

That's purely 3.5 holdover. There's nothing thematic about it other than "it's always been like that." There's a case to be made for monks being of strong will for their training, but there are also lots of classes that do have strong Will saves without that training. I think the distinction is now mostly that magical classes get strong Will saves (basically all casters get Will saves, non-casters don't), with an exception here and there.

That's purely 3.5 holdover. There's nothing thematic about it other than "it's always been like that." There's a case to be made for monks being of strong will for their training, but there are also lots of classes that do have strong Will saves without that training. I think the distinction is now mostly that magical classes get strong Will saves (basically all casters get Will saves, non-casters don't), with an exception here and there.

its been thematic cuz monks work hard on perfecting themselves physically and mentally(fort and will saves)

As I said, flavour doesn't always explain mechanics. Wizards get strong Will saves because they study a lot. That I understand, mental discipline and all that. But Sorcerers also get strong Will saves, and they don't have to study or anything. Paladins get strong Will saves because they're devoted to their deity. Bards get strong Will saves because... I dunno, they're casters, practically all casters get Will as a good save. Monks strive for self-perfection, but don't get strong Will saves. That might be a flavour fail, but I've demonstrated enough classes whose saves don't line up with their actual flavour.
As I've said, with the Paladin as the only exception, the precedent is that full-BAB classes don't get a strong Will save.