I am curious here as to what is everyones "go to" class in Pathfinder. That one class you find yourself playing again and again. Myself, I sadly don't have enough experience in the system yet to have one (although Oracle, Summoner, and Monk are peakin my interest!) but I would like to hear yours!
Any fun stories you can share about your favorite class would also be cool!
Martial: I would have to say the Monk. I love the acrobatics and movement. You can cross a battlefield as fast as horse. Get a set of slippers of spiderclimb and gravity becomes something optional in a way that not even flying characters get to enjoy. They may not be the most effective from a DPR standpoint but they can almost always do something to have an impact.
Caster: For a long time it was the bard. I love being a skill monkey. But lately I've been drifting more towards Sorcerer for the flavor and the strangeness. One of these days I will try out a gnome abberent blood line. Two feet nothing with 15 foot long arms. Worth it for the looks on the other players faces the first time you do it.
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I love, love, LOVE bards. The new archetypes make an all-bard party a force to be reckoned with, and the class itself is just such a wonderful blend of skills and combat capability.
That said, I also greatly enjoy Paladins and Barbarians. I've tried most other classes, but none of them provide the breadth of roleplaying opportunities that Paladin does for me (yeah, it seems crazy, but I don't roleplay paladins as unshakable pillars of righteousness: I like flawed heroes). As for Barbarian, I just like the playstyle. It's simple, but with lots of flavor and creativity. Plus, the image of a barbarian is an icon of the fantasy genre, and everyone likes playing the beefy, rugged hero of the wilds.
Inquisitor, for the sweet, delicious savory flavor blended seamlessly with a crisp, well balanced crunch. Classes like Inquisitor are how you know you're getting something fresh.The more I read about the noncombat abilities, the more I fall in love with this class. Having a stern gaze that gives you a mechanical benefit to gain role playing clout? Fantastic! Using the bane weapon property and passing down judgment upon your foes during combat? Spectacularly fun to role play.
My second favorite character so far was a Paladin. Auren the Confessor, "The Mouth of Heironius." So nicknamed by the DM after I barked a line about being "the righteous fist of Heironius" to every enemy we faced down in an attempt to draw their attention away, as I was an AC tank in a party of low AC characters. I loved the name so much I decided to adopt it. I use knowledge checks to figure out what insults monsters would be "vulnerable" to so that I can set up a flank or draw the monsters away from the wounded.
My favorite Inquisitor so far would have to be the man known as "sheriff"--I played him a combination between a western movie sheriff and batman, I reckon.
The only class my gaming group allows me to play is Game Master.
Still, if I could play a character, I'd go with the Alchemist. I absolutely love the concept for this class and had much fun testing its possibilities. Strenght-based alchemists are extremely powerful at low levels : a +4 Strenght mutagen and an Enlarge extract will make same level barbarians cower in fear, and adding a Shield extract will only make things easier.
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Fighter. I have less paperwork to deal with, there are many possible builds, I can actually keep up with other party members throughout the different levels, and I can get up and take a break while the spell casters identify magic items.
Second favorite? I haven't played anything else yet, but I want to tackle rogue (an all around rogue first, then sniper, burglar, personality.) and I really want to try the Hound Master archetype for the Cavalier.
Witch: A full caster with healing spells, at-will special abilities (including the ability to cackle?) Where do i sign up?
So Torn,So Torn, So many Good ones, So Torn. Magus.
back in Basic days (78-80) I was always a chaotic or neutral elf. Back then they had names like "Silverleaf" or "Hawkmoon".
Magus IS the Basic Elf. But Better!
Since it's technically not a class, yet.
Barbarian, for the Kull/Conan Feel.
I've always been a sucker for Clerics and Wizards (Sorcerers, Oracles and Bards come a close second). Now that the Witch is around, i'd have to go with the Witch. It has a lot of options, a broad (enough) spell list, at-will curse-like abilities, NON-DIVINE HEALING OTHER THAN THE BARD, and of course, the flavor of the class is wonderful.
Sorcerer hands down. I love the flavor and style. I've always loved the idea of a spell caster that can stand back and with a wave of his hand completely nullify an oncoming attack. Plus arcane spells have so much versatility. I love casting spells, and the fact that I can do it spontaneously? Sign me up. And they only got better and more flavorful with the introduction of bloodlines.
Second would be either fighter or magus, but I've been having trouble hitting things in melee nowadays. I'm currently playing a TWF fighter and hardly hitting anything (bad rolls do account for some of this). The char before was a magus but he died to a crit.
Fourth would be oracle for the flavor as well. Plus spontaneous casting. Not too many blast spells from the arcane side though. And the ones they do get are ok. The char before the magus was an oracle but he died to the same fate as the magus.
Bard, hands down.
Paladin, Wizard (cannot wait for Ultimate Magic and Arcane Discoveries!), Inquisitor, Fighter.
Really, I like making Gish characters (warrior-mages), but for some reason can't get excited about the Bard or Magus. Alchemist is pretty cool, though.
I can't say I have a favorite...I want to play them all(with the exception of a Summoner...but that is more due to disliking Summoning spells than the actual class...and I have some wicked ideas for Eidlons(sp?).
Inquisitor!!!
Skill monkey, caster some mage and clerics spells, a single domain power, then judgements and Bane... Greater Bane and solo tactics free teamwork feats.
To much for one man to love, Ultimate Magic achetypes coming, need to make another...
I always let other pick first sense and then try to plug any perceived gaps since every time I play in a nonconvential party things tend to be more difficult than they need to be. This normally leaves me stuck with the skills/knowledge guy, or the heavy hitter. I don't really have a favorite though. I am currently playing a wizard for the first time in over 5 years as a PC. I hate picking X number of a certain spell, but I figured I would try it for a different experience. I also get to see if the specialist wizard gives me any boost over a regular wizard.
I would have to say Wizard... mixing it up with various specialties to make them a little more unique. I work on a theme for spells so most of my wizards are very different from one another. (At least in my head. LOL)
I am also a fan of fighters for when I want to mix it up a little. Back in the day I was a huge fan of the Human Dual class fighter Lvl 7 then Magic-user character. I always got a kick out of the guy in robes pulling out a two handed flaming sword when he ran low on spells.
Needless to say I am looking forward to checking out the Magus too.
I'm greatly enjoying the Magus -- but it is bitter sweet -- I keep thinking, "if I was a real caster I would have... or could do <x>"
Of course then I tank a hit that would have dropped the party fighter (I focused on Con a bit more than she did) and that makes me grin -- especially when my retort to the attack is a full attack and dragon's breath spell on the same round.
Otherwise I would go with an arcane caster, alchemist, or multiclass fighter/cavalier more than likely... but I enjoy the barbarian too -- I used the barbarian to make a 'lycanthrope" character: invulnerable rager, beast totem, animal fury on a half-orc with pass for human and scent. Worked well for me.
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I like a lot of things: Barbarian, Rogue, and Paladin are old favorites. Barbarian for the raw combat prowess and berserker rage, Rogue for the skills (particularly the social ones) and swashbuckler flavor, and Paladin for pure flavor, even back in 3.0 when it sucked. Hell, if I could get a CG Paladin variant that gave up a good Fortitude Save for 4+Int mod skills per level and Bluff and Knowledge (Local) as Class Skills I'd never play anything else.
The more I look at Bards the more I want to play one, though I've never gotten to. They definitely look awesome and fun, though. Ditto Alchemist, though not to quite the same extent...well, maybe with Master Chymist.
I actually don't like playing Primary casters...something about them just bugs me, but the Oracle's flavor is luring me in with it's seductive call...as is the Witch's, though less so.
Always been partial to clerics and paladins. I have a secret love for the ranger, and also have played more than one fighter/mage combination. I guess any build with good fighting skills and some magic. I like balance.
Also, especially cleric tonight, in response to a certain joy sucking thread.
Sorcerer. The idea of being innately magical, having power that NO ONE can ever take away from you, is intoxicating. No spellbook, component pouch, familiar, focus item, holy symbol, or magic weapon. Nothing at all to tie you down. You ARE power. Someone might say something similar about monks, but I'm addicted to MAGIC.
The fact that Sorcerers come with a large choice of "themes" and now have class abilities in Pathfinder just makes them rock all the more.
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Ranger is my favorite Martial. Decent skills, Divine Magic, and Full BAB all make this clase very accessable in most campaigns.
Bard is my Favorite Caster, but that's mostly because I like versatility and not having a spellbook. The Arcane Duelist Variant is likely my favorite.
Like So many others though, I love Inquisitors. In a homebrew campaign filled with vampires, zombies, gouls, and skeletons; I am very much the belmont or van helsing.
Zen Archer Monk. A monk based archtype of my favorite 3.x feat. The multitude of abilities, bonus feats, and class features are just icing on the cake...
-Kurocyn
Monk in general; though paladin and barbarian too. Monks just tickle my reality bone. Just surreal enough to be fantastical, but otherwise freaking Bruce Lee.
I've said it before, but the bard, paladin, ranger and sorcerer are all exceedingly well designed and very tempting to play. Choosing which classes I don't like would be easier, but that's another story.
Game Master :(
I love fighter and rogues for customization, but flavour is more important so Druid.
But each class has something I love. There is no class I would never play (and i generally play them all, as NPCs :P)
Gamesmaster too for PF:(
Back in the day my first character was a thief from the old Basic red box and I still love rogues to this day. But I particularly like sorcerers in PF for the flavour - I'm using a stormborn sorcerer as an NPC at the moment, and she's pretty cool.
I tend to like fighters. They are tough, and simple to run (no abilities and spells to resource manage). Thus you can focus your thinking on build precision and tactical execution. I really like high AC tank builds.
I have been having good fun with a summoner in PFS. There's so many role playing options you can take advantage of because of the customization of the Eidolon that I have more ideas than I'm likely to ever play.
Class: Inquisitor.
Reason: Good combat, lots of skill, a Domain power, spells, and cool class features. For role playing there is so many different angles that you play the Inquisitor. Like an Inquisitor of Iomade who hunts demonic corruption among the ranks of the World Wound crusaders. Or an Inquisitor of Pharasma hunting down the Undead in Ulstav. A monster Hunting inquisitor of Sarenrae in Katapesh. An Inquisitor of Asmodeus enforcing contracts and hunting down those fleeing from the consequences as member of a Hell Knight Order. So much to do with Inquisitors, I just love them.
Class: Inquisitor.
Reason: Good combat, lots of skill, a Domain power, spells, and cool class features. For role playing there is so many different angles that you play the Inquisitor. Like an Inquisitor of Iomade who hunts demonic corruption among the ranks of the World Wound crusaders. Or an Inquisitor of Pharasma hunting down the Undead in Ulstav. A monster Hunting inquisitor of Sarenrae in Katapesh. An Inquisitor of Asmodeus enforcing contracts and hunting down those fleeing from the consequences as member of a Hell Knight Order. So much to do with Inquisitors, I just love them.
I made an undead hunting Inquisitor of Pharasma for Carrion Crown (ustlav) I have yet to play him. Human with Gunsmithing and Amateur Gunslinger Feats. He's gonna tote a pepper box. I wanted to try the amateur gunslinger feat on something, to see if it was worthwhile and inquisitor really seemed like the only viable option, I'm glad I got to do this at the same time.
I'll be seeing what the inquisitor is like.
I never really though about it, because APg wasnt out at the time, but an inquisitor in Legacy of Fire could be fun!
inquisitor
Has great in, and out of combat functionality.
Very well put together class.
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Oof, so hard to pick. Top three are probably the fighter, just classic beat down ability and plenty of potential variety.
If game time allows I like builders, either a fighter enhanced to make magical or more commonly a wizard with an armory of shiny items.
And then probably the inquisitor, it feels like a paladin bounty hunter and has plenty of team work ability but isn't limited by it.
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Alchemist is my new favorite.
Running a melle centered half-orc (Jasper) in Serpent Skull right now and am having an absolute blast! Jasper is chewing through most enemies pretty efficiantly and I'm able to buff teemmates and soon debuff enemies. The previewed archtype was only frosting as I wasn't using the bombs much anyway.
I always fall back on the Sorcerer as the class I most like.
Id like to see an Inquisitor, Cavalier, Bard and a Ranger with the Party as his companions instead of an animal, in a group, would be pretty wicked against the right favored enemies.
I always fall back on the Sorcerer as the class I most like.
But why?
Nobody truly cares what class any one person likes, but determining why roleplayers as a whole like a given class is a most useful thing to know (if nothing else, it can shoe the developers what they are doing right).
We get enough posters in this thread, and we can get a semblance of that...provided they say WHY they like their given class best.
Bard -- I love the bard. His class abilities are game changers, his spells with the APG are solid, he has good defensive and offensive capabilities which are generally mundane in source (which is good since it saves other resources). He can use his abilities independent of his feat choices which means there is a lot of flexibility in what you want to do with your feats for the character.
Barbarian -- Barbarians are just as nice. They are solid on defensive stats and have good offensive abilities. The rage powers and archetypes grant a huge array of different possible characters that are still all ragers. A few feats and they are solid enough that you can 'waste' (if such a word is appropriate) the rest.
Alchemist -- Much like the Bard and Barbarian there is so much potential in so many directions.
Fighter -- A solid if sometimes bland choice. The fighter is nice because of his lack of options. Grab a few levels and you don't feel bad about leaving, take a lot of levels and you don't feel bad for staying. Several of the archetypes are really nice but several are lackluster in my opinion.
Cavalier -- More focused but there is still playing room -- with archetypes I think the Cavalier will be right where it needs too be. It does play well with multi-classing which is really nice too.
Sorcerers -- I like sorcerers for the flavor they bring. I wish they were... not necessarily more powerful, but had more options and versatility. A lot of the special abilities make sense... but don't really connect well with the class as a whole.
Wizards -- Yeah I really like playing wizards. Each of the specialist have good abilities that match their specialty well, and the ability to have the right spells each day really helps. The fact that I can then convert those spells to scrolls at the end of the day means that if I don't need the spell today I can still have it tomorrow without burning a slot on it. I really enjoy familiars, and the arcane item bond isn't a bad deal either. It's rather easy to make up for the 2 skill points since you want Int anyways and with the bonus feats I can look towards other choices with my regular feats.
(more later).
My favorite Pathfinder character I've played so far is my elvin magus. Think destitute wanna-be noble who dabbles in fencing and magecraft. There's not much to choose from though, as with Pathfinder I mostly GM the few opportunities I have to get involved with a game. Only played a rogue (Merisciel pregen) and a ranger...and the magus.
As far as all editions worth...I've always had a soft spot for thieves/rogues, though I do best with a bossy neutral evil wizard, and a bunch of manipulatable dupes to order around in combat.
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I've really only ever played full casters. I have a slight preference for clerics vs. wizards. I actually enjoy being the party healbot/buffer/debuffer more than getting into the thick of things. Many a combat has gone by without my ever pulling out my weapon (currently a holy double crossbow), just casting spells and channelling as necessary. And I'm fine with that. Also, I've found clerics really great to RP...the plot hooks almost write themselves sometimes.
I always fall back on the Sorcerer as the class I most like.But why?
Nobody truly cares what class any one person likes, but determining why roleplayers as a whole like a given class is a most useful thing to know (if nothing else, it can shoe the developers what they are doing right).
We get enough posters in this thread, and we can get a semblance of that...provided they say WHY they like their given class best.
I like the flavour of the class, an arcane caster whose mastery of magic comes from within.
I like the flexibility the class grants you, even if the spell selection is limited.
I like the possibility to apply metamagic feats on the fly.
I always fall back on the Sorcerer as the class I most like.But why?
Nobody truly cares what class any one person likes, but determining why roleplayers as a whole like a given class is a most useful thing to know (if nothing else, it can shoe the developers what they are doing right).
We get enough posters in this thread, and we can get a semblance of that...provided they say WHY they like their given class best.
I like the flavour of the class, an arcane caster whose mastery of magic comes from within.
I like the flexibility the class grants you, even if the spell selection is limited.
I like the possibility to apply metamagic feats on the fly.
I am really starting to like the look of Oracles myself. I want to play one..or maybe multiclass into one :D