So, I'm about to begin playing in a game in which I was originally going to play an Enchanter but we have a Witch in our party and I'm having second thoughts on that character now. So, I've decided to go ahead and make another character similar to that of The Marquis de Carabas from Neverwhere and also sort of throwing in some elements from other "trickster" type characters that were influencing my Enchanter (such as Johnathan Strange from Johnathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, Howl from Howl's Moving Castle, and even Mr. Croup from Neverwhere as well).
Anyway, the main issue I'm having is picking a class for this character. The only other characters I know that will be in the party are a Witch and a Gunslinger. My initial thoughts are a Rogue (Charlatan) making it's way into a Master Spy or a Bard of some sort (knowledge being very important to the character). I've considered the Archaeologist Bard and various other ideas. Any thoughts?
As far as ability scores go I rolled the following: 10, 14, 14, 14, 15, 18 and I can place them anywhere. As for a race I was looking at an Elf, Gnome, or Fetchling although I'm open to other suggestions. Finally, I should probably mention that we're limited to the Core Rulebook, the Advanced Players Guide, Ultimate Magic, Ultimate Combat, and Beastiary 1-3. Anyway, thanks in advanced.
EDIT: I should probably also mention that we are starting at first level and we have to commit one skill point to either a Craft or Profession skill (at least at first level) as sort of a background concept.
Honestly the Rogue and Bard are mainly what I was looking at as I see his somewhat magical abilities as magic items mostly (although I definitely know what you mean) and I can work on obtaining favors as the game progresses through various means. The Charlatan would be exceptionally useful at doing that as well as I could start a rumor about a person and then just as easily start a rumor that the rumor I started was a rumor started by someone else in order to obtain some sort of favor :P
The reason I'd thought about playing an Elf though was actually for the purpose of taking Breadth of Experience as a Rogue without having to be a middle aged Gnome, which would help me to explain his various knowledge of things. That way I'd be netting about a +9 when I had a rank in a Knowledge skill as the Elf Rogue. The Fetchling would however give him a more London Below feel though. Lastly, I suppose I should mention that I'm kind of trying to establish this character as an Information Broker as the game progresses, possibly eventually opening a shop based on his craft or profession skill as a front for selling information.
Almost definitely a Tiefling (either Pit-spawn, Spite-spawn, Shacklborn, or Beastbrood), though Spite-Spawn (Div-spawn Tiefling) is most appropriate given the skills (Diplomacy and Linguistics) and SLA (Misdirection). But the biggest reason I suggest a Tiefling is that it would let you give him BLACK skin, not Negroid, not Walnut Brown, but black skin. I'd go with the Rogue (Charlatan) personally, and the skill Profession (barrister) to account for the Marquis' knowledge of contracts and the trading of favours.
I realize that this is outside of the realm of possibilty, based on the initial post, however as the Tiefling bloodlines are out of Blood of Fiends from the Pathfinder Companion line and not from the 7 books you listed. Still it might be worth it to ask your DM, JIC as this character sounds like a really cool concept, but in order tyo really do it up proper, you need to get out of the box you've been put in, if only slightly.
I would go for the bard.
15 str
14 dex
10 con
14 int
14 wis
18 cha
I wouldn't take Gnome. Fetlings are awesome if your GM will allow them, but it describes them as distractable and the marquis is anything but.
You have made me look at the Ultimate Combat bard archtypes. I just found the ArchAeologist. Thank you, and I think it would serve your purposes nicely. He loses versatile performance though, so no using Perform:Act and Oratory for all the skills you will ever need.
Almost definitely a Tiefling (either Pit-spawn, Spite-spawn, Shacklborn, or Beastbrood), though Spite-Spawn (Div-spawn Tiefling) is most appropriate given the skills (Diplomacy and Linguistics) and SLA (Misdirection). But the biggest reason I suggest a Tiefling is that it would let you give him BLACK skin, not Negroid, not Walnut Brown, but black skin. I'd go with the Rogue (Charlatan) personally, and the skill Profession (barrister) to account for the Marquis' knowledge of contracts and the trading of favours.
I realize that this is outside of the realm of possibilty, based on the initial post, however as the Tiefling bloodlines are out of Blood of Fiends from the Pathfinder Companion line and not from the 7 books you listed. Still it might be worth it to ask your DM, JIC as this character sounds like a really cool concept, but in order tyo really do it up proper, you need to get out of the box you've been put in, if only slightly.
Unfortunately I am bound to the books I listed. However, the Fetchling can have black skin (the description says "their flesh has no color - it is either stark white, midnight black, or a shade of gray). So I could very well take care of that as a Fetchling. I'm honestly trying to capture more of the personality and abilities of the Marquis though, not necessarily the look (although I wouldn't mind doing that if it happened). As of now I'm sort of leaning towards the Elf if I play a Rogue and then I'm leaning towards the Fetchling if I play the Bard but I'm a bit indecisive still.
So as of now, this is what I've come up with (if I play a Rogue).
Fetchling Rogue (Charlatan)
Str: 14
Dex: 16 (14+2)
Con: 10
Int: 18
Wis: 12 (14-2)
Cha: 17 (15+2)
I'm still a little iffy about the 10 Con, I may switch it with Str and just rely on sneak attack for most of my damage. As far as feats go I'm thinking of doing the Feint Tree and Weapon Finesse as far as combat goes and then using other feats more for social situations. I may work my way into the Master Spy class as well in which case I'd take Deceitful and Iron Will somewhere along the line (possibly the Betrayer feat and Underhand talent as well to insure I could dish out a lot of damage in threatening situations).
Skills - Acrobatics, Bluff, Diplomacy, Disable Device, Disguise, Knowledge (local), Linguistics, Perception, Sense Motive, Sleight of Hand, Stealth, Use Magic Device, and I'll use my favored class bonus Craft/Profession (still not sure which type) at first level and maybe Climb or various Knowledge skills afterwards if I don't have to continue putting ranks into it.
I imagine if I go Bard that I'm just going to stick to the standard Bard and possibly just use the same ability score set up as I did for the Rogue. My skill points would diminish a little but I could make up for a lot of it with Versatile Performance, probably using Oratory for my first set. I may also see if I can replace the mandatory Craft/Profession with Perform if I decide to go with a Bard. The lack of Diplomacy at first level is slightly upsetting but first level is always slightly upsetting in my opinion.
Does anyone have a good idea for a feat tree if I were to play the Archaeologist? I considered using a whip to kind of help control the battlefield but I'd need a decent strength and the highest I'm going to get is probably a 14.