I was looking at making a character that wouldn't necesarily be the most in battle damage dealer, but be more of the party lead and intimidating presence...
This MIGHT be used for the Skull and Shackles AP I havent read the Players guide so I have no clue if this is even viable. (Please no spoilers)
I was leaning towards a Half-Orc Bard for the high charisma and racial traits... also I planned to have a high enough INT to take combat expertise and use more CMB attacks...
Concept would be to take inspiring courage and mix that in with some intimidating to debuff... then stand a lil back with a Scorpion Whip and trip or disarm people while talking slow and methodically about the systematic dismantling of the creature or creatures we are fighting. EX. "The Gods frown upon you today and sent you to your death when he walked you out in front of me. The group with me was seen in a vision taking the items off your dismembered bodies. It is a shame you didnt travel in a different direction for then maybe you would have lived."
Rolled stats:
Str-14
Dex-12
Con-13
Wis-11
Int-13 (need for Combat Expertise and Improved CMBs down the line)
Cha-16 +2 Race=18
Skills: Intimidate, Diplomacy, Bluff, Sense Motive, Preception, Linguistics (Shoanti), Perform: Oratory
I was planning on taking the Adopted trait and going with Bred for War trait which is exclusive for Shoanti humans. It gets a +1 Intimidate and +1 CMB due to being big. Prereq. 6ft. tall. (my half-orc is 6'5")
Then as a racial trait take Chain Fighter to get proficient with the Flail for more damage options and keeping in mind my CMB trips and disarms.
For flavor I took Prestidigitation and Ghost sound as 0 LVL spells... so I can talk and have lightining and thunder going off behind me as I speak. It just seems like a fun way to play it. I thought about Vocal Alteration as LVL 1 Spell, but want a few damage spells so I took Ear Piercing Scream and Chord of Shards to go with my mostly talking character. I think some of the others would be great, but the limited amount of things you can do with the low HD effected people. I just felt these would be more long term beneficial. However I am up for options on other spells.
I haven't gotten a chance to read over all the classes with this in mind nor any of the archetypes for the bard. This was my first thought and I thre it together. So if anyone can think of a class that might fit this role better please feel free to suggest. Thanks in advance for any tips and advice!
Half-Orc inquisitor is the best at intimidating even more. +1/2 per level to intimidate from stern gaze AND +1/2 per level to intimidate from the alternate favored class option.
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Blistering invective from ultimate combat is a great low level inquisitor spell as well, aoe intimidate that sets opponents on fire.
Don't forget to throw in two levels of Cavalier (order of the cockatrice) so you can use dazzling display as a standard action and gain a +2 attack bonus on all shaken opponents. You can go gendarme to get power attack as a bonus feat, and proficiency in martial weapons and heavy armor.
While I hear you that the inquisitor is the best intimidater, order of the cockatrice cavalier is quite good. They get dazzling display for free, with any weapon, and an attack bonus to shaken enemies. The mount is probably not ideal for skulls and shackles, but there's probably a way to make it work. Thug rogue is also good. It intimidates for longer and can frighten with intimidate.
Sort of ninja'd! Damn.
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While I hear you that the inquisitor is the best intimidater, order of the cockatrice cavalier is quite good. They get dazzling display for free, with any weapon, and an attack bonus to shaken enemies. The mount is probably not ideal for skulls and shackles, but there's probably a way to make it work. Thug rogue is also good. It intimidates for longer and can frighten with intimidate.
be a beast rider cav, so you can pick a more appropriate mount
Good call, violation.
Cavalier prolly would be hard to pull off in a pirate game, but then again it might work... I dont see it though.
Inquisitor would work great, but it really doesn't allow me to help out others unless I am missing out on something. We have an Inquistior in the current group and granted they arent very experienced, but I dont see alot of abilities to buff others. I would be solid at intimidating but not be able to also inspire courage giving the party a buff. Intimidate would be something I would want to use here and there, but as it is only a short term debuff I would like to have other benefits.
I agree that in a min/max way the inquisitor would eventually out pace a bard in intimidate, but with a bard relying on charisma and an inquisitor relying on wisdom the lower level inquisitor would be a little less than the bard. With my current rolled stats Charisma would likely be my low stat at 11. The Inquisitor would catch the bard around lvl 4 with no magic items as both would be at 14 intimidate IF I dropped all my bonus HPs into the 1/2 intimidate ability. I would prefer to keep the HP so the Inquisitor wouldn't catch the bard until 10. They would also be level at 11... and that is ONLY if the Bard which relies on Charisma doesn't get anything to boost Charisma by lvl 10-11. In an AP that stops at lvl 15 or 16... I would play almost 2/3 of it with less benefits from what I want to be one of my abilities. All while providing no buffs to the party.
Notice I said most USEFUL not Best intimidation build. I just dont see how an inquisitor would be better in a group than a bard. I will look more into it, but I am still leaning towards the bard.
It's important to mention the half-orc's favored class bonus for inquisitor, which gives +1/2 to intimidate checks (and less importantly, knowledge checks to identify creatures).
Jackissocool-
The Inquisitor would catch the bard around lvl 4 with no magic items as both would be at 14 intimidate IF I dropped all my bonus HPs into the 1/2 intimidate ability. I would prefer to keep the HP so the Inquisitor wouldn't catch the bard until 10.
I think that it is a solid option I am not getting attacked much and the extra HP won't be useful, but when are extra HP not useful? My Con isnt great. I don't have a great Dex and only Light Armor Prof. So at best Chain shirt and a heavy shield for a 17 AC. I can't see ditching 10 HP for +5 intimidate. However, if a few magic items fall my way and I get a respectable AC then a possible HP loss here or there for the bonus intimidate might be ok.
I kept the high Charisma for the extra rounds of Bardic Performance. I doubt I would need them, but you never know and if you use Virtuoso Performance Spell they go quick. Also the spell saves are harder to pass with the buff. I don't plan to do a TON of melee so I would expect a higher Charisma to be more useful. This could change when I get in the game and see what works best. A magic item here or there and I might not need the Charima or they might not be able to save on my spells. I can buy a belt of strength if it gets to that point. It is all a work in progress.
If this was a Dark Heresy game that would be a totally different situation. I would love to try that game out. I just listened to a few podcasts and man it sounds pretty wicked.
I don't have a great Dex and only Light Armor Prof. So at best Chain shirt and a heavy shield for a 17 AC
Inquisitors have medium armor proficiency sir.
As to makign a cavalier work note I only suggested it as a dip. You can dump your mount overboard since you won't be getting any of the cavalier's mounted stuff.
I agree that Intimidate alone isn't something to build around, that was a skill I thought could help out from tyme to tyme. That is why I thought the Bard with the group Buffs it provides as well as with a solid spell list and a Whip to attack from 10-15 ft. back would be my go to combonation. A flail for backup in case I get into melee range to avoid the attacks of opportunity. The inquisitor looks to be a great class with tons of solid abilities, but it is less group oriented. If I play more of a caster I would want more benefits from other abilities. The bard also has a ton of voice focused spells... Ear- Piercing Scream, Chord of Shards, , Piercing Shriek, Haunting Choir. The flavor is just a better fit. Thanks for all the feedback.
Don't put your highest ability into Charisma, unless you are playing a Cha caster. The overall +1 to Intimidate will not be as useful as a better attack, AC, HP, or saving throw, considering how many other bonused you will be fishing for.
Consider trying out the Lore Warden archetype for Fighter. You can specialize in tripping with a whip, and if you take the Enforcer feat, you can use the whip to intimidate your enemies. You aid the party with by incapacitating the enemy.
Also, take a look at the Scarred Rager archetype for barbarian, though it is more of a damage dealing class, and less a support role that you are looking for.
I forgot that if you're cool with third party stuff, DSP has a psionic class called the dread that is based around fear and fear alone. It beats enemies immune to fear and gets all sorts of nifty scary abilities.
I like the feat Cornugan Smash, because of action economy.
Chelish Deva Bard, used RAW where the song to frighten gives no save, would be quite good.
It depends a bit on level. Once you can get BAB +11, anyone w/ Dreadful Carnage and high damage output is just outstanding at demoralizing whole groups w/o any action cost.