I did a search and found nothing on this.
I would do two levels of monk than the rest as bard. Other alternatives?
Mentats also get my mind going as psionics/diviners, perhaps cleric with knowledge linked domains?
I'd go with Monk, yes. I take it the bard levels to deal with 'Voice'? Hmmm. That's more like psion or psychic warrior, but they aren't PF core.
How about a straight enchanter or an enchanter with a starting level of monk and/or bard?
How about a straight enchanter or an enchanter with a starting level of monk and/or bard?
Why enchanter? Still for the voice?
There is also their ability to tap into their gene pool...
How about a straight enchanter or an enchanter with a starting level of monk and/or bard?Why enchanter? Still for the voice?
There is also their ability to tap into their gene pool...
That could be either Bardic Knowledge or this great psionic power called metafaculty - you know all there is to know about a subject, kind of tapping into the akashic record.
The more I think on it, the more I think that you need a kind of monk with some of the powers swapped out for bardic once (bardic song, bardic knowledge).
I really like Bardic knowledge as the Reverend Mother's power to tap into their genetic consciousness!
The monk levels are to give them some control over their body, as well as some martial skills without weapons.
It's true that a variant monk would do well here, though I'm looking first inside PF's possibilities.
Bard spells can give them abilities to control behaviour and discern lies, as well as cure their body.
The witch in Paths of Power from 4 winds might make a viable alternative to bard..the APG witch just doesnt have the right flavour.
Thanks. For now though, I'd like to stay PF+APG
How about the Inquisitor?
Some of his powers are based off Wis instead of Chr for the bard. It creates some nice synergies I think.
I can also see the oracle with the monk, but it's not that close to the concept I believe.
I might go with inquisitor. You get good verbal only spells, like True Strike and Command.
Take Still spell, and then ALL your spells are verbal only.
Thank you rkraus2, good suggestions.
Would you still take some levels of monk?
I would. You seem to know what you want as a character, which is always the hard part. Now, you just have to find ways to do that mechanically. Bene Gesserit are all about the power of the mind, so getting away from the fighter's reliance on weapons and armor is cool.
Besides, Monk 2/Inquisitor 18 has some good synergy. You'll have great saves, and with light armor you can combine evasion and whatever they're calling mettle these days. You can get Wis to add to Stunning Fist DC's, AC, initiative, Intimidate checks, and any Knowledge roll to ID a creature.
Just remember NOT to make a guy with a 22 Wisdom and 10s everywhere else. You're a melee character, and will STILL need good STR and CON. With a 20 point buy, I'd put a 14 in Str, Con, and Wis, and then bump STR with the +2 for being human.
Your BAB will take a hit initially (+2 at level 4). Offset that with Divine favor, the judgement that adds to hitting, or both.
The judgement abilities can EASILY be reflavored as insight, focus, or whatever Herbert used to describe them (I haven't read the books in a looong time).
For flavor, I'd think you would want to pick up Knowledge History. You've got a choice between Linguistics and Tongues. Possibly Knowledge Geography or Local depending on the character's backstory. With the right DM, profession (Bene Gesserit) might be a nice way to give yourself the background knowledge you need.
And don't get down on yourself if you do less damage than the raging barbarian. You'll have a lot more to offer out of combat (4 skills /level + abilities), and you'll have CRAZY defenses. When the dragon's breath weapon is evaded, and you make the fear save, you can see who is laughing then.
Interesting. You put dexterity after str con and wis.
I would have gone str, wis, dex myself. It's all personal.
You can opt to go Reactionary (trait), Improved initiative. At Inquisitor 2, your initiative is +6+dex+wis, easily +11.
Quite true about the defense. The jugements will take care of the offense when necessary. What I like is that you can also switch to defense if need be. Quite versatile...
How about going with a Monk/Sorcerer, then altering the energy type of all her spells to sonic?
Link?
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I would go with PF Monk/Witch (the latter from APG, naturally). In fact, they'd only need the 'Charm' hex (for the Voice) i.e. 1 level of Witch.
I was just about to suggest this!
And there was even a line in the movie, "The Bene Gesserit witch must leave!"
Bard might be the straight class option. Some combat ability, some enchantment / divination / illusion spells, and the fascinate / suggest ability of bardic performance could be worked into it.
If there was a Psi Bard option in UA similar to the Divine Bard option, that could be pretty darn perfect...
Link?There are some things missing like the class features of the swordmaster Prc but on the whole it seems useful.
Awesomesauce! Thanks, Bill.
Thanks for all the suggestions.
Again, I must point out that I'm first looking for PF and APG derived ideas. Of course, if it doesn't work, I'll try other material.
Regarding the Monk/Witch suggestion, I wonder how the hex will remain relevant as the character gains levels. Wouldn't it just fade? One thing that would bother me is the familiar in that case too. Finally, while it's true they were call witches, as you move through the book, you realize that it's a name based on false judgement from outsiders; a false judgement the Order fed, as it served its purpose.
I also thought that Voice was a lot more like Command or Suggestion, no?
That's in part why the bard or Inquisitor direction seemed a little more interesting to me.
From some of the comments, I understood that people were suggesting more than two levels of monk. It's true some of the monk's powers, reflect well the biochemical control they have over their body. Also, immunity to poisons is basically the ability to become a Reverend Mother.
But I also like Other Memory, for which the bard presents a good mechanics. Even his Versatility I find in line with the flavor.
As to the inquisitor, what first comes to my attention is that he relies also on Wisdom and that a few interesting things synergize very well.
The judgements I would see more as biochemical control that allow a sister to adjust her ability (offense, defense, etc.) according to the situation, in line with the prana-bindu and the weirding way of fighting.
Anyway, I'm still not sold. So more creative ideas are certainly welcome. It's even harder when you try to put it together to create a character that will have nice fluff, but also nice crunch.
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Thanks for all the suggestions.
Again, I must point out that I'm first looking for PF and APG derived ideas. Of course, if it doesn't work, I'll try other material.
Regarding the Monk/Witch suggestion, I wonder how the hex will remain relevant as the character gains levels. Wouldn't it just fade? One thing that would bother me is the familiar in that case too. Finally, while it's true they were call witches, as you move through the book, you realize that it's a name based on false judgement from outsiders; a false judgement the Order fed, as it served its purpose.
I also thought that Voice was a lot more like Command or Suggestion, no?
That's in part why the bard or Inquisitor direction seemed a little more interesting to me.
From some of the comments, I understood that people were suggesting more than two levels of monk. It's true some of the monk's powers, reflect well the biochemical control they have over their body. Also, immunity to poisons is basically the ability to become a Reverend Mother.
But I also like Other Memory, for which the bard presents a good mechanics. Even his Versatility I find in line with the flavor.
As to the inquisitor, what first comes to my attention is that he relies also on Wisdom and that a few interesting things synergize very well.
The judgements I would see more as biochemical control that allow a sister to adjust her ability (offense, defense, etc.) according to the situation, in line with the prana-bindu and the weirding way of fighting.
Anyway, I'm still not sold. So more creative ideas are certainly welcome. It's even harder when you try to put it together to create a character that will have nice fluff, but also nice crunch.
In my opinion the problem is that no edition of D&D is very good at modeling fiction other than certain types of high fantasy. And out of all the editions 4E does it -- ironically enough -- probably "best" with its "building blocks" approach (especially if you're statting NPCs and not PCs; you *could* probably use the hybrid classes for PCs as well). In fact, in 4E a good DM could probably whip up a decent stat block for the Bene Gesserit in less than an hour. In 3E or PF -- especially if you're multiclassing into several classes or prestige classes -- it won't be as easy. In fact, I'd probably create a whole new class for them.
If you want to use RAW, I think a level or two of bard or witch combined with monk (and psion, if you're using 3E books as well) is the closest thing for creating a Bene Gesserit. It's not a perfect match, but I don't you *can* get a better BG in 3E or PF -- unless you create a new core class for them. YMMV, of course.
Don't know if this will be of any use.....BUT.....
There was a D20 Dune game (which I happen to have).
The Bene Gesserit class is actually very much like a watered down Monk.
By that I mean they didn't really receive flurry and increased unarmed damage....and gained Wierding abilities (minor, lesser, and greater) during class advancement, many of which are similer to things allready covered by the monk class.
Voice was gained at 3rd level, and basically allowed a Will save (DC 10 +1/2 adepts level) to resist doing what the adept commanded for one round.
EDIT: Pulled out the material and gave it a look over.
IMO....trading flurry of blows, for the Voice should be plenty balanced, in fact I would add cha mod to the save roll.
Other than that have them focus on Cha based plus select skills (bluff, diplomacy, intimidate, Knowledge, perception, sense motive, stealth) and you pretty much have a Bene Gesserit.