So, I really like the set of mechanics that the inquisitor has, but my hold-up to actually playing one is that I haven't been able to come up with a solid roleplaying concept for one that doesn't veer sharply into the unrelenting and brooding territory of decidedly juvenile melodrama.
Maybe you guys can help with some more well-rounded ideas for inquisitors. I'm not super interested in mechanics here (though they can certainly inform the roleplaying and vice versa), I'm mainly looking for concept. If you played an awesome inquisitor, or someone in your game did, let me know.
@Doomey: My group usually prefers heroic fantasy-type games. I don't have a specific build in mind for an inquisitor, they just have an ability set that appeals to me (knowledge/attack boosters/spells).
@Axebeard: Good point about with the conspiracy theorist idea, I remember having a lot of fun once in a 3.5 game with a cleric of Olidammara who was a conspiracy theorist.
I play a ranger: when the PC's fiancee was killed by the enemies of a church I was proposed by the church to exterminate its enemies and promised to have her brought back to life if I did.
I did immediately think this was a good opportunity to switch to inquisitor and I still think that it would have been cool (eventually I decided against it for balance reasons).
I just created an Inquisitor of Desna, who, as a child, was the only survivor of an attack on a caravan, an was adopted by a priest of D. The rage he felt in him led him to be an enemy of those who prey on travellers, both bandits and monsters. He also strongly dislikes people who hinders the free movement of others (slavers). He's goodnatured and sociable when he's in town, but the total opposite when he's confronting his enemies.
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The key thing to remember is that, despite the name, an Inquisitor need not do anything bad or morally questionable. They can but it's hardly required.
All an Inquisitor is, really, is a completely independent agent of their god who does what they believe is right and/or what their god wishes. That's it.
That could be an Inquisitor of Cayden Cailean who outside observers reqularly mistake for a Bard or Rogue who simply wanders the countryside righting wrongs and partying. It could be a LN Inquisitor of Asmodeus who worships him specifically as god of contracts and hunts down those who've broken sacred oaths to any god, and would never commit an atrocity. It could be a CG (and legitimately nice) Inquisitor of Calistria who is on a personal quest for vengeance, and never actually does any work for the church or the goddess beyond that quest, Calistria has simply favored his particular vengeance with her power and blessing. It could be a NG Half-Orc Inquisitor of Iomedae who serves as a spy for Lastwall in the Hold of Belkzen, helping slaves to escape and warning of attacks.
The posibilities are limitless.
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Take the Heresy or Conversion Inquisition and have yourself a gruff no-nonsense detective. Your Diplomacy, Bluff, Intimidate, and Sense Motive will be through the roof. Grab a good nonlethal weapon and enchant it with the guided property to max damage, and decrease MAD. Choosing a Deity with a net as a favored weapon will open up net mastery, which will allow you to take down foes, but keep them alive. A Cheliaxian who hunts down demon cults, or a member of a trading company who tracks down smugglers is fitting for this.
I have an inquisitor of the Goddess of Freedom, Free Thought and Paradox (an atheist goddess if ever there was one). The Goddess is CG, the inquisitor is NG with lawful tendencies. He's tolerant and easygoing with all manners of people or monsters, until someone commits an act really evil or lesive of someone else's freedom: in this case he becomes a relentless and pitiless hunter and avenger. However, if possible he'd rather talk an enemy out of its evil actions and tries to redeem it. He also loves to hunt hidden holy treasures of the past, much like Indiana Jones, has a fast tongue and a quick wit and makes clever jokes. I gave him an archetype switching rogue talents for teamwork feats. His weapons are the bastard sword (favorite weapon of the goddess), whip (he's an half-elf with the Ancestral Weapon racial trait and the Whip Mastery feat chain), the repetition crossbow and the rapier for close-quarter duels. He has the Godling Domain (from The Genius Guide to the Godling Ascendant) which gives him Channel Energy (1st-level scion talent) and the Celestial Bloodline powers chain (Mystic Inheritance divine trait), plus the Conversion Inquisition (with Extra Ascendancy). ^_^ All in all, a good "jack-of-all-trades" character- a-bit-rogue-a-bit-paladin inquisitor.
I just created an Inquisitor of Desna, who, as a child, was the only survivor of an attack on a caravan, an was adopted by a priest of D. The rage he felt in him led him to be an enemy of those who prey on travellers, both bandits and monsters. He also strongly dislikes people who hinders the free movement of others (slavers). He's goodnatured and sociable when he's in town, but the total opposite when he's confronting his enemies.
I have a half-orc inquisitor of Desna who's got pretty much the same concept.
I play a multiclass Inquisitor / Gunslinger (musket master), and until now I find the two classes synergize very well. Both get great benefit from prioritizing Dex and Wis.
Mine is a LN inquisitor of Iomedae, sent on a mission with his fellow church member. He's played as the gritty, sour tracker/detective, who's suspisious of anything and anyone, and makes sure that completing the mission succesfully comes first.
Basically, you can flavor an inquisitor the way you like. Mechanically, it should be a damage class, but their weapon choices are lacking if you don't multiclass. Your divine patron of choice goes a long way in helping you here. If you favor melee weapons, Gorum is a great choice (Greatsword), or even Ragathiel (Bastard sword, and you get to be an agent of holy vengeance).
I just had one from the Sandpoint game. A deputy Constable, worked for the Sherriff, took that trait and all. Shelyn. Hates the local crime syndicate and the hellknights. Very much into protecting people, took BodyGuard and In Harms way.