I've got a Backstory. So what class am I?


Advice


Hi,

In the interest of Role Playing instead of ROLL playing. Our DM had us write up some Backstories and exchange them with another player.

We were then to come up with a build/class for that backstory. Proplem is me and the person who swapped thought of the same class and we don't wanna do that.

I'm wondering what you guys would make in terms of class/combat style.

Dugald:
Dugald was born into nobility. Growing up with love for his deity created steadfast belief and passion in the young man, until his home and family were destroyed by a long forgotten enemy. A lich necromancer from generations past dropped him in a pit and exterminated his family in front of him.

He was given a choice- slay his young sister or watch his entire house- Father, mother, grandfather, brother, cousins, servants etc all die by evisceration. The choice nearly destroyed him. He suffered watching his parents and brother die before his grandfather’s shouts drove him to action- “You must do the greatest good for the greatest number, though it ruins you, you must sacrifice for the all. Your sister will be welcomed by the gods” right before he too was killed. Dugald, he and his sister crying, held her close and whispered a prayer to speed her journey and ask for forgiveness, then plunged a dagger into her back while holding her and lying that it was going to be ok. Though the necromancer released what remained of his family and left, satisfied at the suffering inflicted, Dugald has been awash with grief ever since. He knows he saved his family but destroyed himself and his dear sister. His deity still hears him, this is a sign of his gods anger at the necromancer. Dugald quests endlessly to find him, in the mean time he clings to his faith- justice for the innocent and damnation for the wicked. He is a weapon.

Dugald sees himself as a judge and executioner. He will punish evil as often as able but will prioritize doing good and innocent lives first, he is not stupid and will use whatever tactical advantage he can gain without causing unnecessary harm. He prefers to formalize execution- listing crimes, judging and last rites, but against foes too dangerous is not above sneaky tactics as he is loathe to risk allies.

Daniel Arisen:

Daniel Arisen is so named because he was thought stillborn at birth. His Elven mother died bringing him into this world and his paladin father had been killed at the world wound months before. Raised by his dad's brother, he was groomed to be a knight in Indomae's church. Starting as a medic at the world wound, he saw first hand the threat the infernal relms are. Learning to fight well and focus his faith offensively he now specializes in killing demons. He has left the world wound now, specifically to hunt down and destroy demons and devils which have escaped the notice of the church in Golarion. He has a paladin’s outlook in terms of good, believing a good deed worth it for it’s own sake. He is more inclined to good than completely rigid law, a life time raised in war has taught him pragmatism.

As far as combat goes he is quite the leader, inspiring courage in allies and fear in enemies. His ability to do damage is quite good but he is not stupid enough to give a foe even terms. He will arrange the field to his advantage and happily use magic against a fighter in single combat. He is honorable though and will give quarter to a foe who asks, except for evil outsiders of course who need to be destroyed on sight.


The obvious seems to be inquisitor and paladin or battle-oriented cleric. But what do I know?


I would probably make Dugald as an inquisitor, as he seems to be more concerned about being a judge and executioner than a shining example of his faith reaching out to help others. Daniel, I would probably make a paladin as he seems inclined to look beyond himself and his own needs as he goes about his chosen task. The differences between the two are both minor and major at the same time, particularly their level of concern for others as they go about their chosen tasks, which in many ways is the key difference between a paladin and an inquisitor. It effects how an individual is likely to go about his chosen task, and how he is likely to be perceived by others.


"He will punish evil as often as able but will prioritize doing good and innocent lives first.."

Paladin all the way...

"...He prefers to formalize execution- listing crimes, judging and last rites, but against foes too dangerous is not above sneaky tactics as he is loathe to risk allies."

...unless your GM is one of those still convinced that LG Paladin means total fool.

In the latter case I would say LG Cleric of Justice or Oracle of Battle or Life instead.

Liberty's Edge

I'd say Inquisitor and Cavalier (Order of the Lion).

TWF for the Inquisitor IMO. Sword and shield for the Cavalier.

Liberty's Edge

Dugald - Inquisitor.

Daniel - Paladin, Cavalier, or Oracle.
-Kle.


Ardenup wrote:

Hi,

In the interest of Role Playing instead of ROLL playing. Our DM had us write up some Backstories and exchange them with another player.

We were then to come up with a build/class for that backstory. Proplem is me and the person who swapped thought of the same class and we don't wanna do that.

I'm wondering what you guys would make in terms of class/combat style.

** spoiler omitted **...

First guy sounds like a pally all the way.

Second sounds like a battle cleric/ battle oracle or celestial-ish sorcerer. Perhaps with a couple levels of bard.


MicMan wrote:

"He will punish evil as often as able but will prioritize doing good and innocent lives first.."

Paladin all the way...

"...He prefers to formalize execution- listing crimes, judging and last rites, but against foes too dangerous is not above sneaky tactics as he is loathe to risk allies."

...unless your GM is one of those still convinced that LG Paladin means total fool.

In the latter case I would say LG Cleric of Justice or Oracle of Battle or Life instead.

Our DM Doesn't think LG=Lawful Stupid.

I actually loved the Idea of Dugald as a Paladin. The whole killing his sister thing reminds me of so many of the hardbreaking cinema scenes where the hero loses everything. But I thought it might be nice to play against type and have a bloke who probably will fall and have to be redeemed (hopefully not until I find the SOB lich that made me knife my sister- kinda like that pally from the Erevis Cale books who falls when he kills the bloke who tortured his son)
I'm still not sure what to make. Whatever it is he seems tortured.

My buddy with the other backstroy (which I wrote- incidently I was thinking pally when I wrote it) was thinking battle oracle or Cleric/Holy Vindicator but he's not sure if a Martial could play this type (he liked paladin but unless I choose something else, I won the coin toss)


Actually this might sound a bit off, but I think the first one rather sounds like a ranger with favored enemy:undead.

He's got a serious grudge, and a very targeted one. Inquisitor also would work, but I thought this was a perfect case for favored enemy.

The second one is a straightforward Paladin.


I could see cavalier for the second guy, but it doesn't have the feel of oracle to me.

The first guy seems too inclined to focus on law and justice to be a true paladin to me. Inquisitor works very well in this case as it gets around the alignment issues and allows for a slightly more, for lack of a better word, "selfish" personality and approach while maintaining the paladin feel. Ranger could work, but I think inquisitor maintains the religious feel a bit better, particularly the part where the god talks to him.


I would also like to point out that just because they are mechanically one class, doesn't mean that they couldn't hold the an in game title of another class. In game, I could see Dugald being viewed as a paladin as long as his mechanical class was divine based, so battle cleric, inquisitor, and paladin, even ranger with the right flavor, could all potentially fall under the ingame title of paladin.


To be honest, I love the idea of gritty paladins. So I would like to see this guy go that route. To be honest about the story, though, I think the suggestions of Inquisitor or Ranger with favored enemy work well too. At this point for me, it is a question of balancing the party.

Now, there isn't any reason why two paladins can't be in a group. In fact, with so many characters out there that don't play well with paladins, it might not even be a bad idea. There are different builds however. For instance, your first guy could be an archer paladin with high dexterity or even a TWF, go with the Undead Scourge Archetype for flavor, and the second guy could be mounted with a higher charisma with the Shining Knight or Warrior of the Holy Light Archetype.

But if you don't want that, and it sounds like you don't, then I will have to say that your second fellow sounds like a battle oracle or even a Battle Herald to me. A few levels of Bard and the feat Boon Companion would be enough to keep the horse (or other mount) in the game. I would probably pick between the two depending on the adventure you are doing. Mounted is not good for dungeons, or in the midst of cities for instance.

Over all, as long as they can get along, don't worry too much about it. Two of the same class can be brothers in arms, or rivals, and either could be fun, but there are so many cool options out there, anything can be awesome. Sometimes I find that the only thing I really need to change about a character is my attitude playing him.


Oterisk wrote:

To be honest, I love the idea of gritty paladins. So I would like to see this guy go that route. To be honest about the story, though, I think the suggestions of Inquisitor or Ranger with favored enemy work well too. At this point for me, it is a question of balancing the party.

Now, there isn't any reason why two paladins can't be in a group. In fact, with so many characters out there that don't play well with paladins, it might not even be a bad idea. There are different builds however. For instance, your first guy could be an archer paladin with high dexterity or even a TWF, go with the Undead Scourge Archetype for flavor, and the second guy could be mounted with a higher charisma with the Shining Knight or Warrior of the Holy Light Archetype.

This is why I pointed out that in game titles don't have to match mechanical class titles, especially when the class could potentially be called by the name of another class. Any battle oriented divine based character could potentially be called a paladin, even if their actual abilities weren't technically like those of the paladin class presented in the core book, giving characters faced with this situation a few more options mechanically.

Scarab Sages

I actually think Dugald would make a rather awesome Barbarian, with his rage being brought out against undead. You could take all of the anti-spellcaster Barbarian Rage Powers, and get yourself an Undead-Bane weapon. Maybe take a level or 2 of Ranger for the Favored Enemy (Undead).

Daniel, on the other hand, seems like an excellent candidate for an Oracle of Life or Battle. The stillborn thing could leave him cursed (haunted and crippled work best, I think), and you can always take Alignment Channel to use your Positive Energy to harm evil outsiders. Plus, the only thing you need to be good in combat is the Cleric Spell List. The other abilities are just icing on the cake.

Alternatively, if you want to go the obvious route, Dugald is an Inquisitor/Paladin, Daniel is a Paladin (Warrior of Holy Light/Hospitaler [both]).


Dugald: Inquisitor

Daniel: Paladin

both backstories: very cool.


Kaiyanwang wrote:

Dugald: Inquisitor

Daniel: Paladin

both backstories: very cool.

I agree :-)

Good luck in your game.


Hey,

just thought I'd get back- I'm going with a pally for Dugald. He is gonna struggle with his guilt a lot, but he's gonna work hard to keep his righteousness no matter how much sh*t he goes though. Will he get to find the lich? Dunno but any undead/evil outsiders he finds get no quarter. He'll tithe some of his money to what remains of his old noble house.

Daniel is gonna be a Battle cleric of Imodae and the heart of the group. He's gonna be.Dugald's best bud and sheperd so he won't fall.


Sounds like you came up with a solid plan to work with. Enjoy the campaign.


What about the paladin APG Undead Scourge since he has so much hatred for the undead? Or ranger with favored enemy undead?


Second I would make a ranger, favored enemies leaning to outsiders with your skill focus (heal) as the half-elven racial trait. Little bit of stealth focus. Consider die hard as another flavor feat down the road.

Bard (particularly arcane duelist) would fit this, as well.

The first could be anything from a fighter to inquisitor to paladin with an interest in harming undead and seeing justice done. Personally I'd steer away from anything with a good alignment, as that doesn't mesh well with a desire for horrible vengeance.


Ok first guy? I'm thinking, rogue/assassin. He flips off the deep end (no reason why evil can't hunt evil) If you want to keep him heroic, and not full put revenge, Go Ranger/Inquisitor with a focus on the undead.

Second Guy, Magus. Half-elf? Raised by Uncle, elf blood, father had "powers" but never classically trained as a pally, no mention in back story about being 'called'. The fighter part of him he got from experience so close to the world wound, and the last mini paragraph says it all for the magic part.

Give him a rank in heal skill to support the medic part of his backround.

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