Starting a new game with a veteran GM at the helm. I am trying to build a Thor-esque (from the Marvel comics) character for the campaign. I brain stormed with a friend of mine and came up with a 1st level build. I am looking for suggestions for later levels and tweaking the current build I have. I am trying to keep the character as close as possible to Thor.
The campaign is using gestalt rules.
Name: Thoras Odinson
Alignment: Neutral Good
Traits: No idea. Need suggestions.
Class: Barbarian 1 (Hurler Archetype)/Magus 1
Stats: 25 point build
Str: 16 (20 while Raging)
Dex: 14
Con: 16 (20 while Raging)
Int:14
Wis: 10
Cha: 10
Special Abilities:
Skilled Throw (Hurler ability, replaces fast movement)
Rage (7 times a day)
Spell Combat (Magus)
Feats:
1 - Human bonus: Racial Heritage (Dwarf) - so I can get the 60k gold dwarven throwing hammer at later levels.
1st - Power Attack
Spells:
1st - Detect Magic, Mage Hand (to retrieve warhammer if thrown), Read Magic, Spark
2nd - Shocking Grasp, True Strike
Consider the Urban Barbarian, using a scimitar, and taking the Dervish Dancer feat. This will cut down on MAD.
Except that I want to be exactly like Thor and I want to use a hammer.
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Are you allowed 3PP content ? Because the Secrets of Tactical Archetypes contains the Peltast, a fighter specialized in thrown weapons using Intelligence as one of his main abilities.
He gets more skills, combat maneuvers at range, can do cool charge and actions with hammers (for example), ignore some DR, give bonuses against ennemies hit by a thrown weapon, apply an AC penalty to foes depending on his Intelligence modifier... lots of stats and concept synergy with a magus (Dex + Int ftw), and makes the whole "throwing weapons" a viable concept in PF without having to carry thousands of GP in magic weapons in your quiver. Plus, your pals in the group will love you even more. People love it !
Otherwise, urban barbarian + hurling feats and traits is the way to go, but you will not be efficient in full-round attacks unless you spend a lot of money in magic weapons so you don't suck too much on iterative... the barbarian makes throwing bigger and bigger things with two hands somewhat doable, not throwing normal weapons efficient.
Actually, outside of the Peltast, no available class or archetype makes ranged combat with weapons in PF efficient outside of archery. Even the official crossbowman is a pain.
Raging would prevent spellcasting, how do you plan on working around that?
This is a major issue. A big point of the magus to be spellcasting and attacking at the same time. Raging will completely mess that up. I'd suggest a different full BAB class to combine with Magus, with background/fluff to make him wild/rough/outdoorsy/savage/whatever if you want.
Hrm. I might go fighter instead to get more feats and like you guys have mentioned raging would be difficult with the spell casting. The only thing I see that would be able to help it would be moment of clarity but that only last one round. At least with fighter I could specialize around his hammer.
Question about the Urban Barbarian controlled rage: It says you can still use int based skills, but I'm assuming that does not include spells? Otherwise, I really like the flavor of urban barbarian.
@Max: I would have access to that content but I don't have that book nor a way to access the content of it.
The Barbarian fits very nicely with the theme. The rage power Moment of Clarity gives you plenty of options to cast while raging, especially since you can cast first, then rage and finish the round. Next round, attack first, use moment of clarity, cast. 3rd round attack, end rage, cast, 5-ft out of there. I'd also recommend taking a single level dip into cleric for the community or healing(restoration) domain to be able to remove the fatigued condition.
As to the "hammer" in question, are you talking about a warhammer? If so, it's a 1-handed martial weapon with no range increment, thus you would need the throw anything feat. If you're talking about a light hammer, that's all well and good, but the d4 damage is kind of weak. I would recommend just sticking with javelins until you get your "Mjollnir."
Also, does this character use a shield? I would imagine not, since you're going magus. That will free up a hand slot to hold the javelin (or light hammer, or whatever) When you need to use spell combat, just drop the item, if you haven't thrown it already.
If I may suggest, Thor was quite the drinker as well. Have you considered taking the drunken brute archetype? It would be quite easy to buy a couple of wineskins to have ever-stocked and at the ready. (I'd also recommend the Internal Fortitude power)
I never considered a cleric dip. That would be great to get rid of the fatigue. The hammer in question is indeed a warhammer. I considered the throw anything feet with the hurling rage powers.
I do not recall Thor ever using a shield, so definitely not but I love the idea of throwing the javelin and having the shield in the other hand.
Drunken brute seems weird to me. It implies that Thor gets a degree of his power from drinking...which eh, I don't like. Urban Barbarian seems like it would be a perfect fit.
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Mmh... I don't know if I can copy-paste the Peltast here for you to use, it's OGL and will eventually find a way to the public on d20pfsrd.com, but I'm not the only one affected by the product's well-going, and it came out quite recently. If Cheapy comes around and greenlights it, I'll do ! :)
Urban barbarian lets you cast spells, at least it's what is suggested since it doesn't interfer with any skill that requires concentration.
You trade all the benefits and penalties from raging, for lighter benefits and penalties while still having a clear mind. It may not be the clearest RAW, but it is strongly RAI. :)