Now, we finally finished the bedamned Crimson Throne campaign, my Tiefling Rogue is now the new Black Mask, along with his friend/rival Trinia Sabor, and the Party is now firmly cemented as local Heroes, going out of their way to bring as much peace and prosperity to the region, not just the City but the tribes in the badlands too, as they can.
We'll soon be starting the "Legacy of Fire" campaign, and for once I've managed to beg out of being DM for every second campaign and have gotten the chance to roll myself a Half-Orc ... but what class?
Now, I have the Legacy of Fire manuals, but haven't read them in a long, long time and am trying to NOT read them, for as much fun as I had 'playing along' with the DM in the Crimson Throne and helping move the plot along when the other players would get stumped or start going off on a tangent, I want to just make it up as I go along this time around and just be my character.
Rolls this time around are:
1) 1, 5, 4, 6 (discard the 1) 15
2) 1, 3, 2, 6 (discard the 1) 11
3) 5, 4, 5, 2 (discard the 2) 14
4) 1, 5, 3, 6 (discard the 1) 14
5) 6, 5, 6, 1 (discard the 1) 17
6) 4, 5, 1, 1 (discard the 1) 10
Pathfinder Variant Barbarian: Brutal Pugilist appeals to me, as the self-trained fighter, as much at ease lashing out with his fists and feet as a sword or spear.
I'm thinking scores along the lines of:
Str) 15
Dex) 17
Con) 16(14+2 Racial)
Int) 10
Wis) 14
Cha) 11
:and increasing the Strength and Stamina Scores as I level up. I'm also intending to take the Improved Unarmed Strike, TWF and Imp TWF feats, so that's levels 1, 3 and 7 taken care of, but Power Attack, Improved Grapple and Improved Overrun also could be useful here. Rage Powers would likely focus upon Brawler, Strength Surge, Knockdown, Knockback, Overbearing Advance and Overbearing Assault, and likely Improved Damage Reduction three times to make myself as 'tough' as possible. Improved Dirty Trick also sounds fun with this build.
I'm thinking dual wielding Cestus and carrying a one-handed weapon like a Battleaxe or Morning Star for those hairy situations where sheer outright damage is required, but pounding the crap out of things with my hands while laughing like a maniac appeals to me (I do work in an workshop that unfortunately deals with the general public on all-too frequent basis, so that gives me a lot of material to work with >_>) and with the Brawler Rage-Power and a crap-load of Strength behind the Cestus (aiming for natural bonus of +4 to both Constitution and Strength, and then +6 to those again from Greater Rage, and then another +6 from a Belt of Physical Perfection, that's +16 to both attack damage with each Cestus, not including enchantment bonuses or other bonuses, let alone that in a pinch that gives me a +24 bonus to damage when using a weapon 2-handed.) I should be dealing plenty of damage for the Party. +5 Cestus should do me fine, really, and that leaves me enough Gold to possibly buy a +3 Longsword and/or a ranged weapon of some kind, probably a returning Spear or something similar that can put my character's freakishly high strength to good use!
Alternatively I can just go 'Vanilla' Barbarian (few of the other Barbarian variants peak my interest, which is sad, but I've got a few ideas for the Mounted Version for a later campaign, maybe.) and go the old reliable method of grabbing a Keen Falchion (later upgrading to Cold Burst or something similar to have fun with the nearly-constant criticals! ) and ramping up the fun with Power Attack, Cleave, Great Cleave and possibly some 'tactical movement' feats such as Improved Reposition to push enemies around for the rest of the party to have fun with or get them away from our more fragile people.
Any other suggestions? I haven't played any of the 'new' classes except for the Beta Summoner, and while that was a real hoot, I'm not sure that the concept would work in the "Legacy of Fire" campaign.
:and increasing the Strength and Stamina Scores as I level up. I'm also intending to take the Improved Unarmed Strike, TWF and Imp TWF feats,
So you take feats you will get for free while in rage (Brawler:, Greater Brawler) At least the TWF feats can be achived via Greater Brawler. Unarmed strike is needed for grapple feats
that's +16 to both attack damage with each Cestus
Do i miss somthing you need the feat double splice or you only get 1/2 str mod to damge with you off hand.
Breiti
I like the invulnerable Barbarian: low level is where you need the DR the most. Yes, you lose stuff like uncanny dodge, but DR is worth it.
Half-Orc Ranger (Desert) with Humanoide (Gnoll) as a favored enemy and the Gnoll Killer trait. This build is a great base for a LoF Half-Orc.
that's +16 to both attack damage with each Cestus
Do i miss somthing you need the feat double splice or you only get 1/2 str mod to damge with you off hand.
Breiti
Thank you for spotting that, I really should have gone to bed rather than trying to do math-fu at 1 in the morning. That would be +8 damage with the Main-Hand Cestus, and +4 damage with the Off-Hand. Gaaaaaaah I screwed up badly there. Two-Handing a Longsword (For example) would give me instead +12.
*facepalm* Thank you for picking that up *goes to try and scrub the DERP off his face*
Now, I don't think that the 'Brawler' feat will enable me to also take the Improved Two Weapon Fighting Feat, which is why I took them in the first place. I'm not sure being able to use a Feat via a rage-power counts as having the feat in the first place. If I'm wrong please tell me, I wouldn't mind swapping out a Feat-slot for something more useful.
I also took those feats as it allows, in a pinch, for the Barbarian to keep dual-wielding outside of combat, just when he goes feral and starts pounding on something he becomes a lot more effective.
Actually, would the damage increase of the Brawler Rage Power work with Cestus? The Cestus states that it turns your Unarmed Strikes from Non-Lethal to Lethal, but it had a damage value of 1d4 for a Medium wielder, which is strange as the normal Unarmed Strike value, even with a Gauntlet, remains at 1d3. Re-reading the text describing the Cestus, I don't think it should be a problem but I was wondering if anyone else had wondered about that?
I'll post more when I'm not rushing to go to work! Thank you all for the comments thus far!
*pokes* I think I killed it with the mangling of the Maths-Fu.
Alternatively, how would a Half-Orc Witch specializing in Healing and has access to either the Elemental Patron or the Animal Patron survive in this style of campaign? I'm an open Skill Fetishest, loving the ability to push the class beyond it's normal boundaries and creating talking Fighters, Wilderness Rogues and Merchant-King Wizards, and with this particular character I am planning on using cross-rank Skills Diplomacy, Survival and possibly even Perception to throw myself into the role of a wandering Mystic without straying too far from the Witch's role as a Healer and 'Seer', but with the Elemental Patron, I get some bang for my buck, and with the Animal Patron I get even more summons as well as some nifty shape-changing abilities that tie in well with the character thematics.
However I've never played a Witch before, so any advice for me? Currently statting him out as:
Str) 14
Dex) 15
Con) 14
Int) 17
Wis) 10
Cha) 13 (+2 Racial)
Now I know that might seem strange, but the increased Charisma plays a part with the Diplomacy angle, and as a Half-Orc you need every rank to either A) intimidate the crap out of the mob and get them to leave you alone or B) get them to understand you're on their side before they start arguing over who knows the tallest tree in the land to hang you from. Also, having a higher Charisma will enable me to pull off some great combos with Use Magical Device class-skill, supplementing the Witch's array of illusion, conjuration and healing spells with a handy dollop of lovely Evocation spells for when something is really pissing me off.
Anybody? I'm hoping to avoid taking the same 'classes' I always did and try to use either an alternative version or one of the new 'Core' Classes to shake myself up a bit, but I've never played of the 'finished' APG Core Classes.
Two different schools of thought here.
1) Aggressive character that can go in and tear somebody in half with either weapons or unarmed strikes (or possibly spells, but I'm trying to avoid the 'over 9000!' trope here) and still have utility outside of combat, such as being a Survival/Outdoors Expert and/or Skill Monkey.
2) Support Character with some strong offensive abilities but mostly support abilities. A Character that can keep the party going without stealing the spot-light or being slotted into the old 'potion on legs' role in Combat, although there will be obvious encounters where the party will need Cure spells every other round, no doubt.
Current Build Ideas:
The Monster:
Str) 15
Dex) 17
Con) 16(14+2 Racial)
Int) 10
Wis) 14
Cha) 11
Favoured Class Bonus to 'Skill Point'.
Skills: Acrobatics 7, Handle Animal 4, Intimidate 6, Perception 6, Survival 6.
Starting Feat: Improved Unarmed Strike
Starting Hitpoints: 15
Gear: 2x Cestus, 1 Spear, 2 Throwing Axes, Hide Armor, Tent, Blanket, assorted travelling gear, five days worth of rations and two water-skins.
Str) 16
Dex) 17
Con) 16
Int) 10
Wis) 14
Cha) 11
Hit-Points : 53 (Raging 73)
Skills: Acrobatics 8, Climb 10, Handle Animal 8, Intimidate 10, Perception 10, Stealth 7, Survival 10.
Feat: Improved Unarmed Strike, Two Weapon Fighting, Improved Grapple.
Rage Powers: Brawler and Intimidating Glare.
Gear: +1 Cestus, Masterwork Cestus, Masterwork Longsword, Masterwork Composite (+3) Longbow, +1 Breastplate, Cloak of Resistance (+1), Handy Haversack, assorted travelling gear.
Str) 18 (+2 Belt)
Dex) 17
Con) 18 (+2 Belt)
Int) 10
Wis) 14
Cha) 12
Hit-Points : 100 (Raging 140)
Skills: Acrobatics 14, Climb 14, Handle Animal 10, Intimidate 15, Perception 12, Stealth 8, Survival 12.
Feat: Improved Unarmed Strike, Two Weapon Fighting, Improved Grapple, Improved Two Weapon Fighting, Vital Strike.
Rage Powers: Brawler, Intimidating Glare, Knockback, Strength Surge and Clear Mind.
Gear: Pair of +1 Raging Cestus, Masterwork Mithril Longsword, +1 Composite (+3) Longbow, +3 Breastplate, Cloak of Resistance +3, Belt of Physical Might (+2 Strength and Constitution), Rope of Climbing, Grappler's Mask, assorted Adventuring Gear, Mount of some kind.
The Healer:
Str) 14
Dex) 15
Con) 14
Int) 17
Wis) 10
Cha) 13 (+2 Racial)
Favoured Class bonus to 'Skill Point'
Skills: Heal 4, Diplomacy 2, Intimidate 7, Knowledge (Arcana) 7, Knowledge (Nature) 7, Spellcraft 7.
Feat: Combat Casting.
Starting Hitpoints: 8
Gear: 20gp Tattoo of a Raven on the back, done in red and black ink, Hot Weather Outfit, Dagger, Longspear and Sling, Spell Component Pouch, Blanket and Bedroll , spare clothing (additional Hot-Weather Outfit, Traveler's Outfit), single-person tent, 5 days worth of rations and 2 water-skins, as well as several pieces of chalk and a sack containing several items of relatively worthless items used in his rituals.
Spells:
Cantrips: Stabilize, Spark and Touch of Fatigue.
1-level Spells: Cure Light Wounds, Sleep.
Patron: Khor'Gozeth, He-Who-Survives (Endurance)
Familiar: Raven, Half-Orc Witch treats it as a 'Spirit Guide' and would get frantic if the familiar got hurt.
I know the Witch is short compared to the Barbarian but it's nearly midnight where I am, and I tend to make hilariously obvious mistakes when tired, so I'll cut it short here and post the rest sometime tomorrow after work.
Many thanks to everyone who has taken the time to come in and help me with this, it is greatly appreciated! Other 'variations' are Sorcerer, Ranger and Monk, but I'll get to them later!
*Final Bump* I'll try to get the other builds up soon. Sorry for dragging this out, game starts in 4 days *sweats*
*Final Bump* I'll try to get the other builds up soon. Sorry for dragging this out, game starts in 4 days *sweats*
If it was me I would play the Barbarian, but thats mainly because I always play magic users or skill monkeys and the idea of a pure damage dealer appeals to me.