Character opinions, implementation, rules questions?

[ArcTanGentleman]

The dwarf glares across the table. "Life is short, and so's my temper. If ye say one more word, I shall prove both."
"Aren't you supposed to heal people."
"RAAA" the Dwarf roars, the tavern jumps and the pointy eared CENSORED.
"Do you know why I'm a healer, DO YA, BECAUSE WHEN I BEAT YA TO WITHIN AN INCH OF YER LIFE, I CAN HEAL YA UP AN' DO IT AGAIN!!!"

"I'll not be startin' nothin', but OOOOO will I be finishin' it."

The character is a dwarf, zionist (thinks dwarves are better than everyone else), gender biased (thinks his gender is better, but will back down on this one if challenged with authority or a contest of skill, of which he'll accept any challenge), and

There hasn't been much discussion about building an optimal cleric for pathfinder.

Second character idea: A wizard (either gnome, halfling, or elf), child of the streets (has slight of hand as an in-class skill) wizard with a propensity for pickpocketing.
And likely

***Rules question, I considered statting him out as a thief. I noticed in the Piazo PRD under 'Explosive Runes' it said that a rogue with trapfinding and only a rogue with trapfinding can find and disable explosive runes.
http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/spells/explosiveRunes.html
So using my second trait to get 'disable device' and/or search would be rather useless.
That said, there is a discussion on another board about how trapfinding isn't necessary anymore.

Third Question: Does anyone play the (suboptimal?) rogue?

Third character idea. Either a sage sorcerer/Arcane Trickster or a Fey Wildblooded

I'm also looking to optimize by minimum number of books required as $$$ are short.

Ninja Doesn't optimize well, but I thought about taking the ninja trick that lets me get a rogue talent and taking 'Ki Pool' to boost my ki pool by my wis modifier. Then possibly taking Grit and 'No Name' to get +20 to one disguise check once a day. A cahracter concept I had where you're suddenly facing yourself... and the you in the mirror pulls out a gun and tries to shoot you.
Inspired by the song 'with a thousand lies and a big disguise, hit em right between the eyes.

Final Character thought: I like the tattooed familiar. Either a scroll wizard with Eldritch Heritage to get tattooed familiar, or... a sage wizard taking Eldritch Heritage to get Tattoo Familiar later, or... if both Archetypes can be mixed, a Tattooed Sage (one trait replaces arcane bond with a 1st level ability, then the tatooed replaces that first level ability with with Tattoo Familiar. It's not /technically/ the same ability that was replaced, but I'm rules lawyering. XD)

Sorry if this is a lot, I'm looking for opinions on the characters and how well they'll play, rules glitches/hangups, and any other problems these builds might encounter.

[TwilightKnight]

ArcTanGentleman wrote:

I am not one to disparage a player for wanting to play a perfectly legal character concept, so you would play whatever interests regardless of what others say. I have a character who some advised against because he is not the "best" at doing what he does. I don't have fighter BAB, so my combat skills are less than optimized, but I am playing him anyway and having a blast.

Anyway, a specific responses Don't let someone tell you that trapfinding isn't necessary. Sure in the first season of scenarios or so, there was a serious lack of traps. However, they become more and more prevalent as time goes on, increasing the usefulness of rogues. Second, you don't HAVE to be a rogue to find magic traps, you just need to have the trapfinding class skill. If you have access to all the hard cover books, I seem to recall there are a few archetypes that have it. Don't forget that you can always buy the digital copy of the book, in pdf form, for only $10. If not, you can always take a single level dip into rogue to get it. Taking two levels in rogue grant you a rogue talent. If traps are a concern, you can select trap spotter so you get to make an automatic check whenever you are within 10ft of a trap.

Good luck!

[ArcTanGentleman]

Actually, I've already seen several people who thought of the same character idea's I did and regretted it. One made a cleric and specced him wrong, etc. I'm the type who would stubbornly trudge along with the character I can't have fun with, until I realize I should have just started over again at my 3rd mission, and then I'd quit entirely because I'd lose too much

I'm an optimizer, and I know I won't play something suboptimal enjoyably.

Honestly, there are lots of ways to play an optimized character (or even a character that's too strong) fun. One way I'm particularly partial to is being completely insane.

Trapfinding is necessary, it just seems that they (suboptimally) moved the

New character designs: Summoner with 'Child of the Streets' at a certain level uses the 'Skilled' option (and the class feather that gives them an evolution point) to get +8 to stealth.
"Did the guy controlling the giant monster just vanish?"
"Yeah."
"Is it still trying to kill us?"
"Yeah."
"Screw this, I'm outta here."

Total stealth bonus would be +9 (8 racial, 1 trait). +3 bonus for skill ranks, average roll would be level + 12. XD
The rogue: "What the? Oh he's gooood." Minimum 10th level though.

Similar can be done with 'Evolved Familiar' (less one, plus size) +8 size, +8 racial, total +16)

Another fun build, cleric optimizing for Stealth.
Wisdom in the Flesh (use wisdom instead of Dex, and it's a class skill).
Armor Expert (reduce armor check by one).
Get trait bonus with additional feat

Sadly, Grippli aren't allowed, but dwarf would do fine for a cleric.
Magic Resistant is fun... As a cleric they work, as SR doesn't interfere with one's own spells.

[ArcTanGentleman]

It's now looking more complicated, there's something called 'TPA'.
Which rogues can get more of.
http://paizo.com/paizo/messageboards/paizoPublishing/pathfinder/pathfinderS ociety/general/roguesInPFS&page=1&source=rss

Sorcers have 'bluff', and Clerics with the Trickery Domain get Bluff as a class skill.

So far, what looks good:
Wizard(top), (If only they got the bard spells 'Modify Memory' or 'Glibness'. Though, lullaby with a trait sounds like fun. n.n

Skillmonkey rogues are fun.
http://paizo.com/paizo/messageboards/paizoPublishing/pathfinder/pathfinderS ociety/general/roguesInPFS&page=1&source=rss
But I'd rather be an arcane trickster, and with the lack of the trait that boosts CL by 2... and no real way to fix the build, that's out. Due to the general weakness of being a Rogue, that's out. Tripping bard is possible, but again, I prefer an optimal character (as long as that character can be RP-ed and have fun).

Elf Wizard build is looking nice. Dwarven Cleric with size bonus to stealth and all the sneakiness to accompany a rogue would be fun. (You're going to laugh, the cleric design is a cleric of Irori with Wisdom in the flesh. He's lawful good and comes along just to watch over the Rogue's shoulders so he doesn't steal anything.). n.n Good for PFS play, not so good outside of it.

Small note: I as the player have the right to voluntarily fail a skill check... so even if my character says, "I'm watching you." It's more fun if the rogue gets away with things some time.

Other builds being considered (possibly before the cleric) is a sorcerer... possibly even a Sage Sorcerer/Arcane Trickster... A fey sorcerer with an animal companion. Etc.

I'm looking to both optimize for RollPlaying and Roleplaying, to create a character who can get the maximum reward for each adventure played, to minimize the risk of death, and to have fun roleplaying. n.n As such... the wizard should be as paranoid as humanly (or elvenly) possible.