So I'm starting up a new campaign and I want to make a Halfing with the simmilar personality and fighting style as Samwise Gamgee. He's my favorite character from LOTR and I want to play that style character. I care more about the character than his abilities, but I don't want him to suck the big one. I'm willing to compromise a little bit, I just need a build that can keep up and not die.
First of all I'd suggest going with the Burgler archetype for the rogue. It specializes in infiltration and disarming traps in dungeons. Plus it works as a callback to The Hobbit because all the dwarves called Bilbo a "burgler." Focus on his ability to hide. Also you could give him some skills in cooking and Survival. It also might not hurt to take a trait which gives you Suvival as a class skill. He was the one gathering all the food. But mostly it will come down to you as a player and the choices you make which will make the character.
I'd suggest starting with Sam in mind. But don't beat yourself up if he evolves in a different direction. Let your character grow organically and become who he wants to become. One of my favorite parts of roleplaying is when circumstances take a character in a different direction than I thought they'd go.
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For a Samwise, I would suggest a bard. There's a lot of paths you can take with a bard, and you need not sing or dance to inspire and boost your allies. You may end up more "magical" than you intended initially, but bards are also wonderful characters if you're into playing a role, and are a useful addition to any party.
Sam had a very strong will and wisdom (iron will feat + high wisdom), but was a bit simple minded. He had ALL of Bilbo Baggins' songs, stories, and poem memorized (perform oratory and sing). He was loyal and sensible (good aligned). He had great fondness for the Elven race. He was a gardener by trade (profession). He knew nothing of magic, but feared and respected it (rules out him being a bard). I'd give him levels in expert at first and choose the class skills appropriate to his character. But do to his overwhelming will to resist the evil ring, his loyalty to his master, and his bravery in the face of evil, I'd vote him to be a Paladin without spells.
I played a character very much in this vein back in 3.5. "Roscoe Tosscoble," he was a rogue but heavy on the cooking skills and things a hobbit would be good at since childhood; sneaking a bit and recognizing traps cause lots of farmers like ole maggot put traps on the verges of the fields to prevent unwanted gardeners. Here is what I recommend. From the old oriental hand book there was a shield like hand held deflector, usually held in the off hand, darn it can't remember what it was called but basically it was like a buckler but you held it rather than wore it on the arm it was +1 AC -1 check penalty. I asked my DM if I could use my iron skillet in the same way. Likewise aagin from the old oreiental handbook 3.0 there was a armor augment called a Chan-aing (spelling?) basically a disk or metal plate that was strapped to your chest, it was +1 AC -1 check. Again working with the DM I asked if I could make a strap for my flat iron baking dish. Though he was a rogue I did not in personality play him as a theif rather just a nice guy, liked to cook, prior to adventuring he was the son of a cook for an orphanage. I loved thinking of him walking around wielding a frying pan shield, with leather armor augmented with a bit of bakeware, and of course the Johnny Appleseed pot on his head. He was a blast to play. Though I think he was more a mix of Sam and Merry.
Sam is what I would like to refer to as the "forgotten class". He's a regular guy who proves to be extraordinary when caught up in extraordinary events. He's not especially good at anything except being a loyal friend.
If I had to pick a Pathfinder class for him, I say go with fighter with the "Unarmed" archetype. Give him the Catch Off Guard feat to explain his combat handiness with frying pans and give him ranks in knowledge (nature), Profession (cooking), and Sense Motive.
Don't confuse his job with what he was capable of doing, sure, he mostly cooks and takes care f Frodo, but he also fights a spider demon and hides from all of Mordor. Even though he doesn't use obvious magic, he enhances the effectiveness of others and has incredible luck and quite a few skills. He could easily have learned to be a healer with a little more tutelage from Aragorn and the elves.
Really, you change the race, skills, and flavor of my rogue, Siinsa, you pretty much have Sam (and you don't lose out on effectiveness either). Sam was known for using bludgeoning objects anyhow. A +1 merciful frying pan and you're good to go.
I actually had a big long post on this last night and didn't post it.
Yeah, I agree with Arcanemuses. Sam is an NPC class, for sure, as are all the hobbits. Thats where their heroism comes from, in that the world is so much bigger than them and yet they're capable of so much heroism. I think a lot of Sam's heroism doesnt come from "he was the only one of the hobbits to fell an orc in Moria" but more from the little things, such as carrying more on his back than the entire fellowship combined in the films. You can do that with any class.
I think a big part of his ability to go toe to toe with Shelob is as much to do with Sting than being a powerful character. Elven weapons were made specifically to fight creatures of Mordor. They were also totally pimped out. I'd say they're +2 holy weapons, at a minimum, and a fiendish giant spider is still only CR1.
However, playing an NPC class at the table isn't going to be much fun, so I'd suggest a rogue or fighter. Really, I can't see Sam casting any spells. Save some skill points to spread around in your profession skills and drop a rank in perform too. A rogue COULD two weapon fight if you're really worried about damage, but it might be a bit hammy for a hobbit.
A fighter, even a small size one, can do well with any weapon. Even a shortsword, but it probably won't keep up with sneak attack. Shoot for 15 or 16 str. (the 15 can become a 16 at 4th level). Take Power Attack. There's no penalty on using a light weapon in Pathfinder, so at 4th level with power attack and Weapon specialisation, you'll be dealing 1d4+7, which is fairly passable damage. If you want to be a bit more effective, take a two handed weapon or wield a morningstar or something in two hands for 1d6+10. Whatever feels right for the character (a greatsword is definately out, if you ask me.)
Weapon training, gloves of dueling and magic weapons will gradually bring it up to more respectable levels. It's not IDEAL, but you should be able to keep up, and your party will be surprised at the tiny, plucky halfling pulling his weight with his crappy shortsword or mace, despite the odds. That's got a bit of Samwise's appeal in it. At least for me.
My only advice on the "not dying" front is to not skimp on your saves. You can react to low health, for the most part, unless they roll a really nasty critical hit, you should be able to withdraw, or chug a potion or something. Not so for a failed saving throw. You're paralysed, fallen down the pit trap, or dominated, and that's a much harder situation to save yourself from.
I would go with either the Guide or Warden Archetype of Ranger. Strong leaning towards the Warden for its lack of Combat Style and the Live in Comfort. Samwise starts with Plains as his first Favored Terrain and expands from there as he explores the wide world. Both of those steer away from Favored Enemies and I think fit Samwise with a little thought. As for the spells, one can also add in the Trapper Archetype, though I am not sure if Traps exactly fit either it does give Disable Device and make the character more tricksey. I have heard good things about the Expanded Spell-less Ranger 3PP book so that might be something to look into as well. Personally, I would just go with the spells and accept Middle Earth is less magically saturated than standard D&D worlds, so the extra proficiency is not unheard of.
Skirmisher is a spelless ranger option that can help. I could see ranger work as well as rogue. Give him twf fighting so the frying pan is not just a deflector but he hits with it too.
Okay this is what I've created so far.
Russel Furfoot
Halfling Rogue NG
Russel is the cook for his adopted brother and his party of adventurers, usually making sausage, bacon, potatoes, and much much more. He never skips a meal (all eight of them). The Halfling isn't very tough, but what he lacks in strength he makes up in courage and dedication to his adopted brother. Russel isn't someone you would expect to fight, but when he does, it is with fervence, passion, love, and the hope that what he does will bring good into the world.
Russel loves music. He is usually never without his signature Dobro guitar that he uses to play the blues while sitting around the campfire. His favorite songs mainly feature Treants and other fey creatures which he hopes to stumble across in his travels. The Elvish Wizard in his party frightens and fascinates him all at once. Magic is something he is very interested in and he'd like to learn a lot more about it.
Russel is someone easily underestimated. With his small stature and cheerful disposition he can bring a smile to anyone's face. All the little Halfling wants is to bring good into this world and protect the brother he so deeply cares about. Russel may be small, but he is the unlikely hero in a time of great troubles.
Okay here is my concept and here is what I want to do with him: I want to go every level Rogue, Bard, Rogue, Bard until I reach eigth level (Rogue 4/Bard 4) then I'll start taking levels as an Arcane Trickster. I picked Bard because of the Dobro and the buffing the bard does, But I'll be getting my sneak attacks very slowly. I kind of want to take the Elven Curved Blade and go finesse two weapon two-handed fighting plus buff either myself or my party members with wands and junk, plus my Dobro. What spells should I use? is my build too crappy? what magic items should I go for? and what feats should I take? Thanks